Union Stops Confed Attempt To Capture US Capital - Battle of Ft Stevens 1864, Lincoln Wash Defenses

[thucythucy]

1. Among the soldiers defending DC during the battle

were members of the Invalid Corps, disabled Union soldiers who were supposed to only be stationed behind the lines, at hospitals, depots, POW camps etc. They were rushed into the line to help defend the city, and actually charged the rebels to make them think there were more defending troops than there were. This made the traitors hestitate just long enough for reinforcements sent by Grant to arrive.

It's described in a book--"The Civil War Letters of Charles F. Johnson, Invalid Corps." Colonel Johnson was the commander of an Invalid Corps regiment that also fought at White House Landing in Virginia, defending Grant's main supply depot. When a general sent the message, "Will your invalids stand?" Johnson replied, "Tell the general my men are cripples, and can't run." They too successfully fought off the rebels.

I should add, the name "Invalid Corps" was despised by its members. They pressured the army to change it to "Veterans Reserve Corps," which it was, but by and large it's still called "the Invalid Corps."

One of the great untold stories of the disability rights movement.