At noon on June 9, 1861, the battle on the east bank of the Potomac River.

On the roof of every building in the small town of Poolsville stood a curious American, a supporter of the Union, of course, a spectator of the warring that was about to begin, of course...... Or cheerleaders. Most of them came from Rockville, Germantown, and Gaithersburg in Maryland, and some followed the Potomac Corps from Washington. Most of them were idle and panicked citizens, Washington lawmakers, journalists, and Maryland celebrities, some of whom were armed with black slaves—the capitals of the United States at this time, Washington and Maryland, were all black slaves, but in small numbers, most of them were domestic slaves of wealthy families.

Because the U.S. federal government has been making a lot of noise for the past two or three months, publicizing how strong the federal army is and how vulnerable the Confederate army is. Thus, optimism pervades Washington, and all the Federalists' fantasies about victory and reunification are imminent. And it was obviously interesting to witness the powerful Union army ravaging the weak Southerners, so as soon as the news of the troops spread in Washington, many Americans who wanted to seek excitement followed the Potomac Corps behind the ass to watch the battle.

And the current battlefield situation also seems to confirm this optimistic sentiment. A steady stream of Union troops was arriving, some encamped around Poolsville, some ready to fight the invading Southerners. Two divisions of the Federation Army, including dozens of artillery pieces and thousands of cavalry, set up a position on the battlefield with great vigour. But their opponents are only a few ...... It seems like there are less than 1,000 people! And there is no strict formation. Baggy. Some people ride horses, some people stand. There are also people running around, and at first glance they are a rabble!

"This is...... What's going on? ”

Seeing this scene, the commander of the Potomac Corps, Owen . McDowell is also inexplicable. "Didn't you say there were 50,000 people? Where are they? ”

"Commander, they're squatting in the pit." The answer to this question was Brigadier General Banks, whose two divisions were now about to attack, with about 16,000 soldiers already on the battlefield.

"Squatting in ...... In the pit? And the same as the Europeans? McDowell frowned, and raised his binoculars to look ahead, and he spotted a number of stakes wrapped in barbed wire, as well as faint human heads moving up and down the horizon.

"Where are their cannons? Why didn't I see the cannon? ”

"I don't know." Brigadier General Banks shook his head. "They don't seem to be carrying...... Cannon. ”

"Without a cannon? How can it be? McDowell shook his head repeatedly, "Did they move the cannon into the pit too?" ”

"Won't you...... It's only been a dozen hours, how many big pits can they dig? ”

McDowell nodded, "That's right...... What the hell are these Southerners doing? Is there really no war? By the way, find out who their commander is? ”

"It's Borretgaard, Jackson seems to be there, and maybe Robert. Plum. ”

"They're all quite shrewd, not like stupid people!"

"I heard that there were some French military advisers, led by a man named Jérôme. Peel's old man. ”

"Jérôme. Pierre...... It's a familiar name, as if I've heard it somewhere. ”

"Author of the book "Defensive Omnipotence". In the book, he said that now that there has been a revolution in the world's military, an offensive is no longer a meaningful action. Defense is the best option. He also built a long line of French defense along the eastern border, consisting of trenches, barbed wire, and concrete fortresses. Then you can sit back and relax...... There won't be any problems at least for 50 years. ”

"It's him!" McDowell laughed, "I heard that the French military circles are arguing about this person, and everyone thinks that this old man's idea is too bizarre, and he must be old and confused." Perhaps, today's deployment of the Southerners was his idea, right? ”

Brigadier General Banks shrugged, "Whether this old man is confused or not, we'll find out soon." ”

McDowell nodded and waved his hand: "Okay, let's start attacking the lads and let the Southerners know what a real war is!" ”

……

"Boom, boom, boom......"

The cannons of the Union Army began to roar, all 12-pounder cannons, imitations of the French M1857 12-pounder field guns. This cannon is the most practical smoothbore gun after rifled guns became popular, and the range of the cannon barely exceeds that of rifled guns, and it is highly mobile and firepower...... Ferocious, uh, very ferocious for an opponent who is in line to shoot a stream. However, to the opponent crouching in the pit, this artillery did not pose any threat.

Rather than squatting in the pit, Old Peel and Chen Yucheng were 500 yards behind their trenches, already outside the effective range of Napoleon's guns, and the Beauretgard command was also in this position. Thomas. Brigadier General Jackson was further forward, braving the constant flying shells to direct his troops into battle.

"Brigadier General, let the artillery continue to hide, and don't fire machine guns." Old Peel, who was sitting on his horse, was now holding up his binoculars and speaking to Beauretgard. From the telescope, about 12,000 Northern troops in blue uniforms have formed 12 horizontal formations, and they are probably about to attack soon.

Without putting down his binoculars, he continued, "You can't beat them too badly now...... It's just a test now, the real offensive hasn't started yet, and you can't scare the Yankees away! ”

The senseless shelling finally stopped. The three horizontal formations of the Northern Army, accompanied by drums, slowly moved forward, just like the days of smoothbore guns. There were also stragglers who walked in front of the horizontal formation, using Jason-style rifles, who stopped and fired a few shots after a few steps, trying to suppress the Confederate troops in the trenches.

It's really outdated. Jérôme. Peel sneered inwardly. It's a pity that the north can't always be so outdated, and when this battle is over, they will wake up, and in 6 months at most, they will fight like the Ming and the French army. If the North is not weakened as much as possible before then, it will be difficult for the South to hold out......

The infantry of the 1st Virginia Division commanded by Jackson also fired, and at first because the distance was still far away, only veterans with better marksmanship were shooting, and the gunfire was a little sparse, but people kept falling in the horizontal formation of the Northern Army, and almost two or three gunshots could knock down a Northern Army!

However, these northerners were indeed brave, and they still maintained their formation, pressing towards the southern positions with a speed of walking in a hurry. Soon the ranks approached the first barbed wire fence of the Confederates, and at the same time that the brave stragglers of the Northern Army began to destroy the barbed wire with vices, their brigade also began to counterattack with platoon guns. The firepower of the Southern Army also increased sharply, and countless Jason-style rifles were erected. With the officers "All - Shoot!" The password sound. On the trench line of the Southern Army, rows of large and small fires suddenly flashed! The officers and soldiers of the North who were blocked in front of the barbed wire fence were cut down piece by piece, like wheat. The screams also rang out uncontrollably, and everywhere there were people who had fallen headlong. However, these northern Yankees also have a ruthless energy, although they were defeated by rows and rows, they still fought to the death! Under the command of the officer, he fought back with a platoon of guns.

Behind the battle line of the Federal Army, whether it was the crowd watching the battle or the generals commanding, they couldn't help but gasp when they saw this scene. Looking out of the various types of binoculars in their hands, they saw only the officers and soldiers of the federal army falling one by one, and the number of casualties was so high that it was difficult to estimate!

McDowell finally put down the binoculars and said in a calm tone, "Let's let the lads back down first." ”

Brigadier General Banks waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Retreat!" Then a long trumpet sounded, and the Union officers and soldiers who had not been able to die at the front line retreated like a tide.

"What do you think, Commander?" Banksy looked at the retreating troops and asked in a low voice, his tone equally calm.

"No, nothing...... It's just a comparison of numbers and firepower! McDowell shook his head slightly, "If the enemy's defense is like this, they may not be able to escape the end of the total annihilation!" (To be continued......)