Providing a documentary history of a Virginia Burned County from the Colonial Era through the early Twentieth Century
Young Martha Dandridge Custis
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Keyes Tries to Justify his Actions . . . and Inactions
Some final words on the July 1863 raid/diversion . . .
. . . well I have to admit this is the first time I've heard New Kent compared to the Vendée . . . but in the end his justifications did him little good.
perhaps timing had something to do with it as well. While others faced tremendous force at Gettysburg the same time without retreating, Keyes appears to have flinched when he could have held his ground.
His casualties certainly don't seem to justify the level of his concern. But perhaps the operational plan should have been a bit grander in it's scope, with a more direct testing of Richmond's defenses rather than demonstrations and railroad burnings.
perhaps timing had something to do with it as well. While others faced tremendous force at Gettysburg the same time without retreating, Keyes appears to have flinched when he could have held his ground.
ReplyDeleteHis casualties certainly don't seem to justify the level of his concern. But perhaps the operational plan should have been a bit grander in it's scope, with a more direct testing of Richmond's defenses rather than demonstrations and railroad burnings.
ReplyDelete