1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 681 The Southern Army’s Decision

"It would be best if we could capture Washington, the capital of the North, in one fell swoop. If not, we can settle for the next best thing and wipe out the remnants of the Shenandoah Army. This would also force Lincoln to come to the negotiation table and negotiate with us."

Robert Lee took out a pocket watch and a bloody suicide note from his pocket.

There was only one line of crooked words written on the suicide note: Tell Mary I smell the scent of cedar.

"What is this?" Beauregard glanced at the last words on the suicide note and felt confused.

"I found this pocket watch and suicide note in the church. Its owner was a major from Maine and also my student," said Robert Lee.

"I've been to Maine, it's a beautiful place full of cedars, and maybe the smell of his hometown lingered in his mind in his last moments before he died."

At this time, Robert Lee had no intention of capturing Washington. His idea was very simple, so simple that it was a little simplistic. He wanted to use war to promote peace, and quickly force the North to the negotiating table to sign a humiliating treaty through a decisive victory, so that the North would recognize the established fact of the South's independence and thus end the war.

"If the war can be ended soon, our men in the South will shed less blood." There was not much joy on Beauregard's face after having just won a battle.

Although there was a common saying among the Confederate Army that one Southerner could defeat five Northerners, and after the Battle of Manassas, there was even a saying that one Southerner could defeat ten Northerners, this saying was more popular among the middle and lower-level Confederate officers and soldiers.

Beauregard has a deep understanding of the huge gap between the North and the South. The South cannot compete in terms of national strength, consumption, and manpower. A quick victory, allowing foreign forces to mediate, and forcing the North to submit is the best solution for the South.

"Yes, although we won the battle of Manassas, more than a thousand good men of the South are buried here forever," said Robert Lee.

"Alfred Putnam's cavalry suffered almost no losses, and I am worried that if our Virginia Army moves north to Fairfax, Alfred Putnam's cavalry will cut off our logistical routes." Beauregard expressed his concerns.

"The railroad from Manassas to Fairfax was blown up five days ago. If we choose to attack Fairfax from the north now, we can only march on foot."

There are two main cavalry units in the north. One is the Frontier Cavalry Corps commanded by Colonel Cook on the Western Front, with the Second Cavalry Regiment as its core. The other is the newly formed Fourth Cavalry Regiment. The number of people in the Frontier Cavalry Corps is about 2100.

The other was the cavalry unit under Alfred Putnam of the Army of the Shenandoah. Its core consisted of the 4400st Cavalry Regiment, the th Cavalry Regiment, and the th Cavalry Regiment. There was also a militia cavalry regiment that had not yet been officially assigned a number. The total number of people was approximately .

"Putnam is a mediocre person and is more cautious in employing troops than you. In the Battle of Manassas, we basically wiped out the infantry of the Shenandoah Army, while Putnam's cavalry suffered almost no losses." Robert Lee said with regret.

During the Battle of Manassas, he was looking for an opportunity to destroy the Union cavalry, but Putnam was too cowardly and had few opportunities to come into contact with the Northern cavalry.

If Putnam's cavalry had not been destroyed, or even severely damaged, the risk of marching into Fairfax would be much smaller now.

"You mean I'm a mediocre person too?" Beauregard said self-deprecatingly. "That's not what I mean. There's nothing wrong with being cautious. But when it's time to strike, you must not hesitate. Putnam is too indecisive and has no sense of adventure." Robert said, "If you were Putnam, it would be hard to say who would win or lose in the battle of Manassas."

"I heard that the Western Army is also making rapid progress. It hasn't been long since they reached Omaha." Beauregard said, "The Yankees have cavalry, and we have cavalry too. With Stuart here, it won't be easy for Putnam to cut off our logistics. If Liang Yao's Western Army can defeat McClellan in Omaha, and we can march to the gates of Washington, it's not impossible to end the war before winter."

"So, Beauregard, you agree with my proposal to continue moving north?" Robert Lee was very happy. Before this, he was worried that moving north was too risky and Beauregard would not agree to this proposal.

"You just said that we should have an adventurous spirit. When it is time to attack decisively, we must not hesitate and miss the opportunity." Beauregard smiled. Beauregard's idea was the same as Robert Lee's. He hoped to end this damn war as soon as possible.

Thanks to the mobilization of railroad workers from various railroad companies on the West Coast to work on the railroad repair, the railroad from Omaha to Rio Grande that was damaged by the Union Cavalry engineers was finally repaired as scheduled.

Although McClellan still did not give up and sent cavalry to harass the railroad day and night, the Northern Army, whose combat effectiveness had been greatly reduced, was no match for the Western cavalry, and the results achieved were very limited.

Because they could not destroy the railway as fast as the Western Army engineers and Western Railway workers could repair it, McClellan's plan to delay the Western Army's eastward advance by destroying the Pacific Railway completely failed.

On the contrary, the Western Army had achieved considerable results by accumulating small amounts of force over the past twenty days, killing or capturing nearly a thousand Union cavalry and engineers.

In July 1861, Liang Yao arrived in Horn, a small town along the Pacific Railway, only 7 kilometers away from Omaha, on his loyal armored train.

The town of Horn prospered because of the Pacific Railroad. Before the construction of the Pacific Railroad, it was just a small frontier village with a population of less than 300 people. Now it has become a large town with a population of more than 2000 people.

The name of this town reminded Liang Yao of an old friend who had been angered to death by him. He guessed that the grass on the grave of this respected old friend was already three feet tall.

"Omaha is the most important railway hub in the central frontier region. As long as we take Omaha, we can take Minneapolis (the largest city in Minnesota) to the north, Kansas City to the south, and Des Moines, Iowa, to the east." Liang Yao pointed to Omaha on the sand table.

"The rise and fall of the Republic depends on this battle! I hope you will return victorious. I am waiting for your good news in Horn."

Liang Yao was not exaggerating. Although the results achieved in the previous battle at the Kearny Fortress Group were gratifying, they did not shake the foundation of the North. Washington did not react much, but continued to focus their strategic focus on the Eastern Front.

In the Battle of Kearny Fort Group, the Western Army only won a battle at best. The Northern Army did not suffer any serious damage, and the Western Army did not break through the situation in the central border area.

If they could defeat McClellan's Union Army on the Western Front in the subsequent frontal battle of Omaha, it would be a strategic victory.

As long as they win the battle of Omaha, the strategic initiative in the central region will be in the hands of the Western Army, at least for the next year. By then, the Great Plains region will be free to swim and fly.

(End of this chapter)