Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | June 15, 2011
June 15, 1863 – President Lincoln Calls For Help
Lee divided his army and sent the regiments toward the Shenandoah Valley, using the Blue Ridge Mountains as a screen. After the Confederates took Winchester, Virginia, they were situated on the Potomac River, seemingly in a position to move on Washington, D.C. Lincoln did not know it, but Lee had no intention of attacking Washington. All Lincoln knew was that the Rebel army was moving en masse and that Union troops could not be certain as to the Confederates’ location.
On June 15, Lincoln put out an emergency call for 100,000 troops from the state militias of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia. Although the troops were not needed, and the call could not be fulfilled, it was an indication of how little the Union authorities knew of Lee’s movements and how vulnerable they thought the Federal capital was.
The lesson: Never underestimate the value of good military intelligence.
Topics: HHH | 6 Comments »
June 15th, 2011 at 4:35 am
Thanks, Wyatt.
June 15th, 2011 at 7:44 am
And don’t forget that Stuart had gone off gallivanting – “riding around up North gettin’ his name in the papers” – leaving Lee with no eyes either.
“Never underestimate the value of good military intelligence.”
My husband will appreciate that, too.
June 15th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
JT – Absolutely.
GroovyVic – I guess Stuart was doing a premature victory lap.
June 15th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Stuart was told by General Lee to report to General Early. As such, Lee would have had no contact with Stuart while he was riding around the Union Army. My ancestors had no need for Washington. They asked before the commencement of hostilities, “to be left alone”.
June 15th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
They asked before the commencement of hostilities, “to be left alone”.
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I never knew Greta Garbo was around back then.
June 16th, 2011 at 7:52 am
CMouse – A lot of states – North and South – are asking for that now.
JT – Her legs live forever.