As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
There are far too many stories about familiar legends of the making of heart strung stories of people who do not much other than being crippled by war, but never mentions of the little things some do which make all the difference in decisive times in a war.
Chickamauga was a loss to both Confederate and Union forces. Bragg simply "won" because he held the field while Rosecrans fell back to Chatanooga.
There as in this group of Second Kentucky Cavalry who having had enough of leaving the field of battle, decided to detatch itself from where it was assigned and attach itself to General Phil Sheridan.
As no one in command seemed to take note of it, General Sheridan sent it out on foraging parties, as the supply line was cut by the Confederates and the routes over the mountains were a quagmire.
Mules were dying in mass on those muddy roads and Phil Sheridan assessing the situation, sent out his Scout named Card, along with the Second Kentucky under Captain Lowell H. Thickstun. No one even hears the name Thickstun any longer in America, but what Thickstun accomplished was remarkable, as he hid his Cavalry in a deep cove of Sequatchie Valley and by readily paying the farmers for the food required, was never betrayed to Confederate General Wheeler's Cavalry, and soon enough grain for the horses was arriving as well as a mess for the men overflowing with turkeys, chickens, ducks and eggs.
General Sheridan was not going to allow his men or horses starve, and by Captain Thickstun he not only recouperated under the heavy fire from the Confederates, but when ordered to march out, Thickstun took along a small herd of beef cattle to feed the Soldiers.
Medals are always awarded for gallant dashes and heart strings always pluck for the cripple, but no one ever praises those who save an Army by foraging for food and for saving a nation in not stealing livestock and grain from the farmers who have long revolutionary memories.
The English made a disaster in the American South by antagonizing the Tories there in not handling the rural peoples well. General Sheridan was always interested in feeding his men as he knew that fed Soldiers were happy Soldiers and by keeping his supply trains healthy as that is what moved his fighting forces.
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was secured as a victory, because General Sheridan saved his wing of the Rosecrans Army due to the astute leadership and actions of the Second Kentucky in Captain Thickstun.
Ken Burns would never feature this as it had no blacks, no blood and no appeal to a liberal, as it was the astute leadership of a group of Americans fulfilling a mission of Union.
That should never be forgotten in what took place. Not one person betrayed the 2nd Kentucky to General Wheeler, not one.
That is remarkable.
agtG
