Captain Floyd "the Parson" Farthingdale walked into a trap. He managed to lose three groups but kept his Officers alive!
Colonel Quincy Ewing Whitmore held his ground, but could not pursue. The Union will be able to advance from Kiln Creek this turn.
The Parson leaves Kiln Creek at 8am and has soon reached Grafton. Here he is confronted by Grandma Wilkes astride her old mule. She gives him a sample of her pro-Southern feelings with a rendition of Dixie, but the Captain is a Gentleman and merely bows before leading his men in a hymn.
At Grafton Bridge the banjo playing Billy-bob informs the Union Officers that the rebels are nowhere to be seen. Unconvinced the Parson deploys across the bridge, and faces a company of the 7th Virginia. He ensures that both Billy-bob and banjo are thrown into the Poquoson River.
It seems however that unlike the Yanks, the Confederates are running short of men since they can only field three groups plus skirmishers.
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| 12 Noon the Union advance in two formations, skirmishers into the woods on that left flank. Captain Frasier Crane takes the left, the parson on the right, and Lieutenant Niles Crane the Skrimishers. |
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| The Parson advances at a slow walk. |
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| The Union Skirmishers are reluctant to get into those woods! Is Lieutenant Niles Crane a yellah belly? |
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| The Confederates hunker down behind a split rail fence. Full of tricks Colonel Whitmore! |
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| The Union skirmishers take on the rebel skirmishers in the woods. Lieutenant Crane leads from the rear. |
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| The Colonel draws three flags. This is going to be nasty! |
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| The Union ranks are starting to thin... but they have four groups to three in the firing line. |
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| The Parson gives them a controlled volley, and the Rebs stagger back. Colonel Quincy Ewing Whitmore takes a ball to the chest. Six months in a Richmond Hospital and it will still be touch and go... |
A long awaited win for the Union, but against a weak confederate Company. Rumour in the Company is that it was the Parson himself who used his Navy Colt to shoot the Reb Colonel! Praise the Lord!
Alas the Colonel will be out of the game for some time. I shall order in some Old Ma Finnigan's Patent Restorative and Purgative, and perhaps Billy-bob's soggy banjo playing will speed his recovery!
Da da... dang dang... dang dang... dang dang... dang... Yeeh-har!
Muttering "Dang and blast!" (the only time he has ever been heard to curse outside the family home), Col. Whitmore realises that one of his best $10 silk shirts is ruined. Luckily the eminent and expensive surgeon Eustace P. Fegg, an old college friend, is in Richmond. The doctor only accepts bullion coin, thankfully Whitmore has plenty.
ReplyDeleteThe bold Colonel is currently residing in the Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond VA. His Doctors have recommended a mint julep and grits diet. He will be out of the game for six months. The feint strains of a banjo waft from the terrace...
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