Nelly

Image by Camera Slayer via Flickr

The Civil War seems to me to be filled with characters and contradictions. It was a time when soldiers were known for their dedication to one leader and sometimes when there was a transition in leadership the ongoing support of those under and above the new leader would be less than what in our modern armed forces. At the same time military punishment could be harsh. General Bragg is reported to have a young solder court martialed and executed for eating a few apples [1]. But the opposite is equally true as well. Soldiers were on occasion unexpectedly informal.

Which brings me to the story of Nelly. Nelly had been courted by and engaged to A.P. Hill, but shortly before their wedding, she broke it off. Some years later she became reacquainted with another West Point graduate George McClellan. She eventually married McClellan. During the conflict between north and south at one of the Battles of Seven Pines, Hill clashed with McClellan. Hill was known to be a tough and energetic fighter. McClellan's men who came in his way were sure that his energy was in part due to his desire for vengeance on McClellan for the loss of Nelly. They are said to have cried out in battle, "God's sake Nelly -- why didn't you marry him?"