3 thoughts on “The “The Civil War Invalid Corps & the Battle of Fort Stevens” Kickstarter.”

  1. IIRC, this was an instance where Lincoln was under fire. He went to the fort and was asked to please get down.

    After this, Phil Sheridan burned out the Shenandoah Valley; IIRC.

    1. Yes, and when Lincoln stepped up on a parapet to get a better look at the enemy lines, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (understandably agitated that the President might get his head shot off) yelled, “Get down, you damned fool!” Lincoln being Lincoln, he just smiled and stepped down as requested.

  2. BTW – the Invalid Corps were neither cripples not cowards. They were men who survived severe wounds, who could not keep up with the army in the field, but could fill plenty of roles in the rear. (Cripes to get into the Invalid Corps you had to survive a Civil War military hospital….) I think it is instructive that when Grant had the heavy artillery troops from the forts sent in as replacements he did not call for the Invalid Corps to come in.

    Run QMC depots? Garrison forts? Sure.
    Do a speed march in July? No.
    (Cripes to get into the Invalid Corps you had to survive a Civil War military hospital….)

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