What Would You Do If Death Was Lurking??

5fish

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What would you do if...???

What would you do if? Some how either by in a dream, or some solsticetreal event you were transported back in time to the civil war. Not only only are you transported back in time but as a soldier in either the AoP or the AoNV.

Not only are you a soldier but the army you are with is on the eve of battle with the other army.

Lets say you figure out what battle is about to occur like Cold Harbor. You learn you are in the NH. 12TH voluntary infantry and form your civil war knowledge knows that 21% of the regiment is kill and much more are wounded.

Or lets say you figure out what battle is about to occur like Gettysburg. You learn you are in Armstead's Brigade, 9th VA. infantry regiment and form your knowledge you know they reached Cemetery Hill in Pickette's Charge to epically be turned back in death.

Or lets say you figure out what battle is about to occur like Fredricksburg. You learn you are in Caldwell 1st Brigade, 7th NY. infantry regiment and form your knowledge know they assault Maryes's Heights and have the majority of the losses within Hancock's Division.

My question is what would you do?

You know you be facing death within the next 72 hours if you stay with your regiment. The odds of living are not good for you. Big Dilemma!!

Do you become a deserter and try to run off?

Do you try to reason with you superiors that your a time traveler and you know whats going to happen? Then you change history forever??(Bad)

Do you just follow history to your death?

You have a Big DILEMMA. How do you solve your predicament?

If your solution keeps you alive but changes history is that okay?....

What would you do if death was lurking?

Remember you not even suppose to be there....


A musing... a Classic Hot/Cold Empathy Gap question...
 

diane

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But death is always lurking, 5fish! ;) Destiny - ask Oedipus about those dingbat sisters...

There's examples of your theory without time travel - how do you explain the Forrest brothers being completely fearless? Forrest, for example, wasn't particularly religious or 'right with God' but he wasn't one bit scared to head for battle even knowing (just as surely as our time traveler) he would likely be shot dead - there were always at least dozens of rifles aimed right at him. He wasn't a soldier and didn't have that professional fatalism - ours is but to do and die! - and he had plans for life (not in the Beyond, either) but every battle was likely to be the last. He was never visited by the Angel of Death as was Jeb Stuart, but every time he went to fight he was right at the spot everybody always died on. Knowing for a certainty, absolutely 100 percent today's the day I die - just keep going.
 

5fish

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Runaway! Runaway!
What if the Provost Marshals caught and you were hung for running away...

I think most of us would actually role the dice and march out into the guns... this is where the Hot/Cold empathy gap would come into play...
 

Matt McKeon

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What if the Provost Marshals caught and you were hung for running away...

I think most of us would actually role the dice and march out into the guns... this is where the Hot/Cold empathy gap would come into play...
I don't know. I'm pretty cowardly. I can definitely see myself being dragged crying and begging to the gallows.
 

diane

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In certain instances the provost marshal didn't do much good! The Forrest/Gould Affair - Forrest was striding down the street covered with blood and pistols in both hands - the provost marshal stepped into his path... "Get out of my way! I am mortally wounded and will kill the man who killed me!" The provost marshal stepped out of his path... I suppose there's exceptions to every rule!
 

5fish

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Back on topic just for a moment ....

I think the best play is to tell your commanding offices your a time traveler and tell him either the future or lie about the future... maybe they will think you are crazy and give you over to the doctors...

Remember I suppose to know Civil War history so maybe there is something you can say to get their attention form you vast Civil War knowledge...
 

rittmeister

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Back on topic just for a moment ....

I think the best play is to tell your commanding offices your a time traveler and tell him either the future or lie about the future... maybe they will think you are crazy and give you over to the doctors...

Remember I suppose to know Civil War history so maybe there is something you can say to get their attention form you vast Civil War knowledge...
... if you want to get locked up
 

diane

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Back on topic just for a moment ....

I think the best play is to tell your commanding offices your a time traveler and tell him either the future or lie about the future... maybe they will think you are crazy and give you over to the doctors...

Remember I suppose to know Civil War history so maybe there is something you can say to get their attention form you vast Civil War knowledge...
An asylum? Ummm...There were some serious drawbacks to that option. Think I'd druther coward out another way!
 

5fish

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I can til everyone thinks this scenario will never happen to them... I hope you are right...
 
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