Wednesday, August 30, 2006
This Day in American History
On this day in 1862, the Second Battle of Manassas concluded in defeat and retreat of the federal Army of Virginia under General Pope to Centreville. Having turned back the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan on the Peninsula earlier in the year, Robert E. Lee sent Jackson to prevent Pope's army from linking up with McClellan's to become an overwhelming force-- 180,000 to the Confederates' 60,000. Jackson with 24,000 men attacked Pope's much more numerous forces and pinned them while Lee and Longstreet, with another 28,000 arrived unnoticed, turned Pope's flank and rolled up the Yankees and sent them home. Stiff rearguard action kept it from becoming a total rout like the first battle there a year before.
One can be proud of the fighting prowess of the Confederate soldiers, several of whom were my ancestors, without being a racist. I am proud of them, just as I'm glad they lost.
One can be proud of the fighting prowess of the Confederate soldiers, several of whom were my ancestors, without being a racist. I am proud of them, just as I'm glad they lost.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 7:32 AM 
