A dust cloud slowly rises above the horizon, just beyond the Cemitary Ridge, behind the unheard of little town of Gettysburg...
A mounted blue-clad column moves up, a staff unit in the lead. The general commanding turns to the ADC's to his left and orders in a sharp voice: "Captain, bring brigadiers Devin and Davis to me, at once!"
The two ADCs turn their mounts and gallopp to the rear, in search for the two brigadiers. The commanding general halts on a knoll besides the dusty road and surveys the landscape with his binoculars. The cavalry column comes slowly to a halt too. After just a few minutes, brigadiers Devin and Davis reports to general Buford. "I have just got word of a rebel column SW of us" says the general, still searching the landscape with his binoculars. "We will take up a screening position on the ridge below us and send out detachments in all directions to see what Johnny is up to."
The two brigadiers nodd in silence.
"Devin, you deploy your briagde along that ridge", says general Buford, poining with his left arm towards a rolling plain just beyond a building that seems to be some kind of school and which dominates the surrounding terrain. "Davis, your brigade will be supporting the left flank of Devin's brigade! I will have my command post over there, in the school building."
The two brigadiers raise their binoculars and swiftly surveys the terrain.
"Good defensive ground", brigadier Devin says."I think we can hold our own for quite some time here!" Brigadier Davis nodds and remarks slowly "Yes, at least until we can inform General Meade, so he can bring up some more reinforcements."
"Gentlemen, no time to lose! Deploy your brigades and report by couriers to me when you are deployed and have deployed skirmishers in front of your brigades!"
The two brigadiers make a sharp salute and return to their respective brigades. Soon the air is filled by clappering hooves..
"Two messengers to me!" general Bufords orders in a sharp voice. "Bring these despatches to generals Meade and Reynolds on the double!"
The ADCs gallopp off, leaving a dust cloud behind them.
The battle of Gettysburg is about to begin, deciding the fate of the Southern wish for an independent state...
Col Daley, a courier is on his way to you!
Gen Lars W
1/XIV
Army of the Cumberland
USA
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