DISCLIAMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER/ GODS AND GENERALS.


July 21, two months after James last seen his family back at Arlington, James shivered as he knew that soon he would experience his first taste of battle. He knew that this battle with either protect Virginia and the Confederacy from the Yankees or mean the end of the war and the Confederacy's independence. It was no doubt that the Confederate Army of the Potomac (led by Gen. Beauregard) was outnumbered a little bit, even with the reinforcements from Winchester. But that never scared James; as he and Col. Jackson (which is kind of like the equivalent of a Major in the Confederate Army) knew that is not the size of the Army that matters, but the discipline of the Army is what wins today.

Things happened so quick for James, after leaving his family at Arlington. he had returned to VMI, and then Corps cadets was sent to a camp near Richmond(the new capital of the Confederacy) for recruiting new regiments and training them. Though when they arrived at the camp, James was given the rank of Captain and was made an Adjutant to Col. Jackson, along with a Capt. Pendleton. James didn't know much about him, but he did know that his father is a Rev. Pendleton, who is also in charge of the four howitzers of the brigade. Though James didn't think about it much, because when he heard that his father was made in charge of the Citizen Army of Virginia it had shocked James so much that he almost fainted.

James couldn't help, but be proud of his father. As he knew that he would be seeing him more often. Though he did send a letter of congratulations to his father, he still wrote to his other family members Arlington. As he knew that if he didn't, he would get an angry letter from his mother. Though he did write a letter that would be sent to his family, if he were to die at this battle near Manassas Junction.

James stopped thinking of everything, as he followed (as he rode on Traveller, who his father sent him as a good luck present) Col. Jackson, and Capt. Pendleton (who were also on horseback) with Col. Jackson's other adjutants, Across the forest near Henry House Hill to where the brigade was standing at attention and waiting for the order to move forward and take part of the battle that was already happening.

James could hear the noise of muskets firing, cannons and howitzers firing, and the yell of soldiers both sides at the other side of the forest. James swore that it sounded like as if hell was let loose. He tried to not think about the battle too much, as he remembered the promise he made to his father. But it didn't mean he would try to die for his state, His beautiful Virginia that he loves so much as much just Col. Jackson does.

He looked up to the sky and said softly with his VMI hat on his chest, "O mighty father with your hands, I commend my spirit and pray that you be on our side as we fight on this field to protect the loves and places that we so dearly keep in our hearts."

He heard voices behind him say," Amen."

He turned around and saw Col. Jackson, Capt. Pendleton, and Dr. McGuire (the brigades field Doctor) with their hats on their left side of the chest's and their heads now down with their eyes closed, he saw the same thing with a few of the men of the brigade.

"Capt. Lee, thank you for that prayer. As many men in the brigade need it to warm up their hearts." Col. Jackson said to James with a tear in his eye.

James nodded, as Col. Jackson gave the order for the brigade to move forward. The men slowly marched up the hill to the top of Henry House Hill with hearts of steel, some were nervous; but had some courage in them. As they reached to the top of the hill, they could see the battle going on. Lines of men both Confederate and Union firing at each other with muskets and cannons. Bodies littered the land below them at Matthews Hill straight ahead. James pulled out his binoculars as Col. Jackson did the same, while Capt. Pendleton had good eyes and recognized one of the brigades at Matthews Hill.

"That's Gen. Bee's brigade." He said pointing to it.

James and Col. Jackson turned their binoculars to where Capt. Pendleton was pointing at. It was pandemonium, as Gen. Bee's brigade was being hit by musket fire and cannon fire all around them. James could tell that soon Gen. Bee's brigade would not hold very long.

"Kindly inform Gen. Bee that the 1st Virginians are on the field. Ask him if he can hold long enough for me to deploy my men?" Col. Jackson ordered an adjutant next to James.

The adjutant nodded and rode as fast as possible to Gen. Bee.

"They may not hold gentlemen, we must assume that they cannot.", Col. Jackson said, as he gave orders to another adjutant to tell the Regiment Commanders to where he wants each Regiment and the brigades artillery to be placed at on the hill.

Time passed by as James watched the regiments of the brigade form up where Col. Jackson ordered them to be placed at. He could see that some were even more nervous as they watch the battle on Matthews Hill raged, but their spirits rose as they cheered when they saw the artillery of the brigade came in position at the center of the hill. James couldn't help, but cheer with them as the artillery was ready to fire and Rev. Pendleton shouted out orders to the men of the artillery of things like: target, Range, shell size, fuse length, etc. then came the loud sound of the artillery firing at the Yankee cannons at the other side of Matthews Hill.

James then turned his attention to Gen. Bee's brigade, and saw that they had lost hold of the Confederate lines on Matthews Hill; men were retreating to Henry's House Hill. James was nervous; did this mean the end of the battle and the Confederacy? He then turned to Col. Jackson and saw by a look of his face that this battle is not over by a long shot.

Then came a man that James believed to be General Bee, he had a long Brown beard and hair that touched to his shoulders, and Brown eyes.

"Sir, our lines on Matthews Hill are broken. They're beating us back." He said.

All Col. Jackson had said was," Well then, general, we must give them the bayonet."

Then Col. Jackson ordered for the brigade to move to a position at the center of the hill and for them to stay low.

James then saw Gen. Bee head to his retreating boys. He could barely hear what he was saying.

"Rally, Men, Rally." General Bee yelled, as he was pointing his sword at the direction of Colonel Jackson, "Look, There's Jackson standing like a Stonewall. Let us determine to die here today and we will conquer… Rally behind the Virginians." His men cheered as they ran to form behind the Brigade.

James was impressed with the courage of the men, as he saw that the Yankee's advancing toward Henry House Hill. There were like thousands of them, marching together getting closer and closer to Henry's House Hill, Following the Yankee Infantry was a Battery (Artillery) Unit closed behind them. They set up bellow the bottom of the hill, as a forth of the numbers of Union Infantry stopped to guard the Artillery; while the rest continued advancing. Some were even already firing as they advanced. Unfortunately, Col. Jackson was hit by a bullet on his left hand.

"DAMN IT.", He yelled.

James rushed to Colonel Jackson and heard him curse. To which surprised him a little, because he had never heard him curse before; but sure enough he did. He was positively sure that it could be heard to all the way at Washington.

"Colonel, are you hurt badly?" James asked corned.

"I'm fine, Captain Lee. Just a scratch. I will be fine." Colonel Jackson answered.

James nodded, as Colonel Jackson then order to an adjutant to have the Brigade to lie down on the ground. James watch was as the first row of Infantry in each Regiment of the Brigade lay chest down, while the second row kneeled. He then turned around as he saw that the Yankee's were getting even more closer as he saw a large flag of the Stars and Stripes being flown by a man in each Yankee Regiment. As they march with hearts of steel.

But the next thing James saw shocked him, it was the 33rd Virginia Regiment (one of the infantry regiments of the brigade that was being engaged by a portion of the Union line of Infantry) charging through the line of Yankees sending them running to Washington, but not for long as the 33rd attack the Yankees manning the Artillery, the Yankees pushed the 33rd back and forced them to retreat with the help of the reserves they had guarding the Artillery.

"WHAT IN THE HELL WAS GOING THROUGH COLONEL CUMMINGS MIND? CHARGING LIKE THAT WITH HIS REGIMENT, WITHOUT THE REST OF THE BRIGADE AND KNOWING THAT HE HAS NO ORDERS TO ADVANCE." James thought angrily.

"Colonel, Sir. The Day is going against us." said a Soldier from the retreating 33rd.

Colonel Jackson stared at the Soldier and said sternly, "If you think so sir, you better not say anything about it."

The Soldier nodded as he ran with the rest of the 33rd to reform behind the Brigade.

Then came the sound of drum beat from the Yankees as they continued to advance slowly. James followed Colonel Jackson as he rode to the middle of the Brigade.

As he yelled to the Brigade, "RISE UP…RISE UP VIRGINIA, STAND UP YOU FREE MEN. STAND UP YOU FREE MEN. WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE THEM…WE'RE GONNA DRIVE THEM TO WASHINGTON! STAND UP, VIRGINIA."

That was the moment that James knew that he has to be in position. He quickly rode between the 2nd and 27th Virginia Regiments, as he pulled out his saber and look ahead to line of Yankee Infantry that we getting closer and closer , with the drum beats getting louder and louder. Like a Parade, the Yankees were showing no signs of fear.

Then came Colonel Jackson's loud voice saying, "1ST BRIGADE…RESERVE YOUR FIRE…TILL THEY COME WITHIN 50 YARDS…THEN FIRE! AND GIVE THEM YANKEE'S THE BAYONET! AND WHEN YOU CHARGE…YELL LIKE FURIES!"

James turned his attention to the men of the Brigade. They just looked ahead at the line of Yankee Infantry that threatened their homes and Families. He could tell that they were not going to retreat or run in fear. They were going to send the Yankees running to Washington with so much fear that President Lincoln would have to negotiate peace with the Confederacy, if the Yankees retreat unorganized ; Leaving an open road to Washington. Where the Confederacy can march all the way to Washington in a day.

If the capital of the Union was in Confederate hands, then Yankee morale and recruitment would mortally decrease. Especially if a few European Powers see that the Confederacy can win the war, they would recognize the Confederate States and join in against the Union. So James knew that if Confederacy wins the Battle today, then the Confederacy's independence is won.

He stopped thinking as he the Yankee's are in range of the 2nd and 27th Regiments, where he remembered his job to lead the two Regiments right before a charge or when ordered to.

"2nd and 27th Regiments take aim." He ordered loudly.

The two regiments quickly put their muskets to their shoulders as they took aim. While James saw that Yankee's were doing the same a few seconds too late and decided to use this to his advantage.

"FIRE.", he yelled.

Not a second later, bodies of Yankee Infantry that came from all the way in Minnesota ( as James can see from the Regiment's State Flag; which showed the name of the Regiment: 1st Minnesota ) began to fall to the ground and never to show movement of life.

At the same time, Yankee's were trying to return fire; but with so much bullets flying towards them and the brigades Howitzers firing at them with solid steel balls at a fast speed; it would be a small amount of them returning fire.

He then heard Colonel Jackson's yell of "CHARGE BAYONET" to the Brigade.

Once it was heard the men did as Colonel Jackson had ordered, they yelled so loud while they charge down the hill that James thought that it could be heard at President Lincoln's Office. The men ran so fast that the Yankee's began running back to the Artillery positions with sudden fear.

James followed behind the Brigade (as he remembered the promise he made to his father) with his saber pointing straight at the Yankees.

"Press on, Press on." he yelled.

James could see men in blue uniforms fall to the grass, as the Brigade kept on advancing. the Union Artillery were still firing, desperate to turn back the brigade; but it all was in vain as the brigade attacked the Artillery in close combat. James had to give the Yankee's credit as they fought hard to push the brigade back, but soon they surrendered as they were surrounded as the rest of Yankee's ran in fear.

The battle was over, the South is victorious.

James smiled and in his mind he the War will end today, if the army marched to Washington right now. But he could tell that the men need a little rest for a little bit. Then the March to Washington would begin, he was sure of it. General Beauregard knows that this is a perfect opportunity to end the war and would take advantage to it. But the order would never come.


Sorry, it took so long. I really have been busy, but I also been having a really long writers block of how to make the chapter longer as I hoped to put some more stuff into the chapter. So I decided to go with this for now. I have also decided to do with about 5 or 7 more chapters until James is sent to his original time line. Soon probably in Thanksgiving the next chapter will come ( i hope that it is better than this one), as big things changed after Manassas, and James Lee will possibly change the fate of the Confederacy.