4 Chapter 4
AUGUST 10th, 1861: Along the banks of the Potomac River
The long lines of horseless artillery lay silent, waiting for the orders to spring into action. The Confederate artillerymen, now with German soldiers only observing, stood idly by their guns. Some smokes cigars, others smokes a new invention that the German allies has brought, cigarettes. Some played cards, some talked or wrote letters to loved ones back home, but all has been trained to peak perfection.
General Thomas Jackson, General Robert E. Lee, and General James Longstreet stood together atop a small hill looking over the river, the federal capital Washington DC off in the distance. Behind the thick trees and rolling hills stretching along the long banks of the Potomac, the mighty Army of Northern Virginia lay silently waiting.
By this date almost the entire army has been refitted with the new uniform and arms supplied by their allies. Most of the soldiers, mainly the infantry, has been also trained in the use of another new weapon. It was a hand held bomb attached to a wooden handle. The German name for them had been unpronounceable by the simple southern soldiers. They simply called them handbombs. Alongside the long line of the ANV army, units of the German soldiers has joined up for this battle. Wearing all the same uniforms now gave the illusion of an army 3 times it's real size. Lee was proud to lead such a force. A puttering noice approached the hill from behind the three generals. Lee saw one of the Germans horseless carriages come up carrying a familiar face. President Davis stepped out of the carriage followed by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the leader of the German forces. As Davis walked up to the small gathering, he spoke. " Well, unsurprisingly I haven't heard from Mr Lincoln over there yet on wether he is amiable to open discussions with us yet. " Davis paused, and sighed looking over the river at the federal side of the Potomac. " How I do so wish he would just let us go our way, and we let them go theirs." He idly said. Once more he turned to the generals again. " I'd the federal government does not respond to our demand by 2pm this afternoon, then I hereby authorize your movement against Washington DC." He said. The generals nodded at Davis. He then took one more wistful look across the river and strode off to speak with other soldiers in the area. Rommel shook hands with the generals and began speaking. " Generals, I have a special treat for that city over there." He said while staring at Washington DC through the distance. " Please inform me before you order the artillery to fire." He added. The generals, who all implicitly trusted him, agreed. There would be no artillery fire until Rommels surprise was unwrapped.
As the 2pm deadline approached, no news came from the federal side. The Confederate army had left one bridge remaining over the river. It has been hoped a courier would have came over the bridge but he never came.
Suddenly at 1:55 pm a lone union officer appeared on the far side of the bridge carrying a large white flag. He met with the rebel scouts on the bridge and requested a meeting with General Lee.
Several moments later the federal officer was escorted to Lee, and Lee was handed a note from the union government. Lee read the note then stared deep into the union officers eyes, intimidating him briefly. He handed the note back to the man then. "Do you know, sir, what this note says? Lee asked the man. The nodded, unable to find his voice in fear. Lee then turned to his generals and spoke. " I have here a brief note from President A. Lincoln USA. He informs us that since the Confederate government is Illegal, it doesn't exist, this he can't take our demands. He also, again, requests that the rebel forces stand down peacefully and surrender to the lawful forces of the United States Government." Many soldiers nearby who had heard the exchange began laughing heartily. Some made derragatory comments about the USA and lincoln himself.
Lee finished writing something down and turned to the federal messenger again. " Son, take this back over to your side and please inform the president, directly from me, that with a heavy heart I will order the attack on your capital city. Also inform him that if he should so desire, to fire a red star shell into the sky if he has a change of heart. I will then immediately order a cease fire to discuss the cities surrender." The union soldier nodded, saluting. He jumped back atop his horse and galloped down the hill to recross the bridge.
With a sigh Lee checked his pocket watch and nodded to Rommel, who had been eagerly waiting for the courier to leave. Rommel walked back to his horseless carriage, leaned over and spoke do his radio operator. After a puzzling silence for around 15 minutes while the Confederate generals had anxiously awaited this suprise, a humming could be heard in the sky from the south. As they watched in awe the flying objects streamed overhead many moments towards the city. As they flew over the city small black objects could be seen falling from the bigger flying ones above. In moments far off explosions and rumbling could be heard from DC. Smoke rose high in the sky from seemingly all over. Rommel smiled and spoke to Lee. " What you are seeing general, is our Luftwaffe or air Force. Those flying objects are called airplanes and they are carrying 500 lb bombs to drop on the city from far above. If you would kindly order the artillery to begin, I think we will make short work of the Army of the Potomac." General Lee nodded and waved to a nearby orderly. " Please kindly inform General Alexander to begin the bombardment of Washington, sir." The orderly saluted and holding his sword and hat ran down the hill to the artillery command post.
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Minutes later the distant sounds of exploding bombs was drowned out by the enormous roar of all 200 Artillery pieces firing at once.
Far off inside the city the exploding artillery rounds were adding to the already chaotic scene caused by the objects that had fallen on the city a short time ago. The president and his family were hurriedly rushed to a waiting carriage and it and a union cavalry escort went North to a large home the army had appropriated far into the country, away from the capital. Arriving at the home, and in the dying light of day Lincoln we watched the flashes of light and listened to the explosions as the Confederates pummeled the city. He knew that the Confederate forces would look to exploit this new technology by trying to take Washington DC, but he was determined to hold it at all costs. Not only would the cause suffer should it be lost, but the loss of prestige would be devestating in the eyes of other world governments. He slapped his fist into his other palm. "By God those rebs will never to take our capital." He mumbled to himself.
As the long night slowly became day, the far off thundering of artillery tapered off. All along the Confederate side of the river the mighty Army of Northern Virginia and it's German allies began preparations to cross the Potomac. The German engineers had spent much of the night building a pontoon bridge to get the Panzers across the river. A few stray lucky federal morter shells had however pushed back their time table. One had destroyed the center span of the remaining bridge over the river, and 2 more lucky hits had severely damaged the pontoon bridge. The engineers were furiously trying to repair both bridges but they were under constant fire from hidden union troops behind breastworks on the far embankment. General Jackson, not a man to be held up by anything Ordered his entire corps to cross the river and clean out those enemy works. Hundreds of motorized assault craft on tracks like a Panzer rolled down the embankments to splash into the river. Hundreds more assault boats with 12-20 soldiers apiece began getting into the river and paddling across as well. As the forces slowly crossed the river the enemy firing became more apparent. A few union shells fell into the river, some lucky enough to hit assault boats, and the assault craft as well. The assault boats fared much worse in this contest. Enemy shells would land inside the boats sinking them instantly, drowning the heavily laden soldiers inside. The assault craft however were armored on both the top and sides. Most of the federal round shot would hit the armor with a loud bang and explode, or simply fall into the river then. A lucky few found weak spots and penetrated the armor. The explosion inside the armored box instantly killing All passengers aboard. But this did not happen enough to effect the tide of battle.
The first boats made it to the far shore disgorging their troops and adding them to those already unloading from the assault craft. The craft would then back up slowly and return to the other side for a fresh load of troops.
The Confederate and German troops slowly worked their way up the embankment to the breastworks only to be forced back by superior numbers of federal troops. McClellan, who Lincoln and installed as the new commander of the Army of the Potomac, was throwing every unit he could get at the riverbank to hold it.
A small group of Jubal Earlys Confederate division had found a small depression in the embankment, giving them cover from the murderous Yankee fire above. With them were two German soldiers who has also managed to take cover. One of the men had a device that the Confederates knew of but had not yet seen in action. The second German motioned to one of the Confederates who carried a radio. " Private" He said. " Get on the command net and give the word Klokwurk." The Confederate radio operator did so. In moments the only firing was coming from the federals above. All along the embankment troops are putting on breathing masks. Some helping others with the still unfamiliar device. General Lee grunted in disappointment as he watched all this through his binoculars. He knew that Klokwurk had been given, and was upset by it. The Germans had came up with Operation Klokwurk in the event that expected casualties would be unacceptable.
The Confederate artillerymen uncovered the pile of wooden crates that had been put at each gun. The Confederates had only been told that these shells contained special chemicals that would tip any battle in their favor. The Confederate gunners, now under German supervision, gently loaded the shells, waiting for the fire order.
