"Why Do The Men Fight?" Topic

"There is a story told about General Lee: After the battle of Second Manassas, General Lee was seated on Traveller at the Groveton crossroads, watching his soldiers digging graves for the burial of their pals. A drummer boy from the 40th Virginia Regiment, Field's Brigade, Hill's division approached him, trembling and in tears. Two days before, the boy had been at the railroad cut and had witnessed his regiment's bloody struggle with the bluecoats of Leasure's brigade, Kearny's division, Heintzelman's corps. And the day before he had steadily beaten his drum, despite the terrifying whine and explosion of the shells, advancing with the pitiful few left of the regiment after Pope's final attack had failed.

Now, the drummer boy, his shock of sandy hair caked with greasy dirt, his shallow face black with smudges of powder, his homespun clothes in tatters, came up to Traveller's stirrup and, laying a hand on the big stallion's moist shoulder, said to General Lee, in a quavering voice: "Please sir, why must the men fight?"…."
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Amicalement
Armand

Hill's Light Division was on the left end of Jackson's line, close to Bull Run. Groveton was located near the right end of Jackson's line. Plus the day after the battle didn't Jackson's wing, including Hill's Light Division move up to Little River Turnpike to launch the attack on Pope's flank that resulted in the Battle of Ox Hill? So what would a drummer from the 40th Virginia, Field's Brigade, Hill's Light Division be doing at Groveton?

Uh, you do realize that this is just a piece of fiction that this fellow wrote? Nicely written, but just fiction.

Fiction indeed… glad you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand