The Thackery Journal

by John Holt

  Seth, the rail clerk hadn’t been told about the train. It was Howard from the telegraph office who had gone to find him to notify him that it had arrived. There he was at home, repairing the back fence. Seth had been meaning to do it for some while now, and today had seemed a good time to start.

  “What do you mean there’s a train at the depot?” he asked Howard.

  “There’s a train,” replied Howard. “You know what a train is, I can’t say it no plainer than that, can I? It just arrived and that’s all there is to it.”

  “Well there can’t be no train, because there ain’t no train due today,” replied Seth trying to sound knowledgeable. “No train due for two more days.”

  “Well I don’t know nothing about that,” replied Howard. “All I know is that right this very minute there is a locomotive sitting at the platform, with steam a coming out of it an’ all. So what you gotta say about that?”

  Seth didn’t know what to say. It just couldn’t be that was all. Howard was just plain wrong. He had been mistaken before, and he probably would be in the future. He was mistaken right now. The train wasn’t there. The train shouldn’t be there. What was going on? Why hadn’t he been told? It wasn’t right. No trains were due, not for a few more days. He should have been told.

  He quickly changed into his official uniform. Picked up his silver whistle, and green and red flags, and hurried down to the depot. He wanted to see this train, and he had a few things to say to the engineer.

  As he approached the locomotive, he was stopped by the two guards at the end of the platform, and wasn’t allowed anywhere near it. The guards told him to go over to the opposite side of the street, and just wait.

  To wait, he murmured, wait for what? He needed to get to that engine, and get to it now. “I am a railroad official,” he had protested forcefully. “I demand to be allowed through.”

  The two guards said nothing, but merely raised their weapons. Seth quickly moved back. If that was how it was to be, well he would just wait, but he would certainly take further action later on, no doubt about that. However for the time being he had protested, that was the main thing. No one could say different in the future. He had protested, and protested strongly.

  * * *

  As the train had come to a stop one of the two men waiting in the trading post stood up and walked to the window. General Robert Franklin stared at the train for a few moments. On board were the two men he had been waiting for, two strangers who had a proposition to make, a proposal that could possibly affect the future of the Confederacy. He buttoned his coat, and put on his gloves. He heaved a sigh. “What future,” he murmured. He then put on his hat, turned around and looked at his companion.

  “Well there it is at last,” he said. He took a deep breath. “Are you ready,” he continued, as he walked towards the door.

  Captain Alex Moore nodded, and stood up. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” he replied and followed the General to the door.

  Although they had been well briefed, and had detailed instructions, neither man knew precisely what to expect. To be truthful both men were skeptical despite what they had been told by their superiors.

  The General stopped at the door for a moment, and looked at the Captain. “Come on, sir,” the Captain coaxed. “They’re waiting.”

  “So they are Captain,” the General replied. “So they are.” He opened the door and stepped out into the street. The two men then made their way past the livery stable, and the cantina, across to the track. They gave a brief acknowledgement to the two guards and entered the rear carriage.

  * * *

  As they entered the car a tall, grey haired man stood up to greet them.

  “Please come in, gentlemen” he said. “I am Claude Reynauld, Captain in the Navy of the French Republic, representative of his Excellency Emperor Napoleon.” He paused for a moment and turned to a younger man at his side. “This is my aide, Lieutenant Alain Delon.”

  “This is Captain Moore, my assistant,” replied Franklin.

  “Sit down gentlemen,” replied Reynauld. “Make yourself comfortable.” He turned to face Delon. “Some refreshments for our guests,” he said as he indicated a decanter on the side table. “I’m sure a glass of wine would be welcomed.”

  The General merely nodded. Reynauld smiled. Clearly an element of distrust still remained. It was, of course, to be expected. After all it wasn’t everyday that you would be offered a consignment of weapons, much needed weapons at that. Was it a genuine offer, or was there some kind of attachment?

  General Franklin took hold of the offered glass. Reynauld raised his glass. “Saluté,” he said enthusiastically. He was mildly amused, although not surprised, to note that Franklin did not follow suit. No matter, he thought, as he continued to look at the General for a moment. “Shall we commence?” he asked.

  “I’m listening,” replied Franklin, as he took a drink.

  “You are still unsure I see,” said Reynauld as he refilled Franklin’s glass. “That is understandable, although not necessary.”

  Franklin took another drink. “Captain, I have to admit that yes I am skeptical,” he said. “I have been ever since the idea was first put to me.”

  “And you Captain Moore, what do you think?” asked Reynauld.

  “Sir, all I know is that we are fighting a war, a bloody war,” the Captain began. “The South is badly in need of weapons. I have been ordered to come here today to talk about that problem.” He paused for a moment and looked at the General. “I am willing to listen to what is proposed, and then come to a decision.”

  Reynauld turned to face Franklin. “General I’m sure that the whole idea appears strange to you,” he said. “I must admit that I too thought it, shall we say, a little odd when I was first told of the arrangement.”

  “What exactly is the arrangement?” asked Captain Moore.

  “Simply put Captain, the French Government is willing to place a consignment of weapons at the disposal of the army of the Confederate States of America.”

  “But why would your government want to do that?” asked Franklin. “There must be something in it for them.”

  “Oh certainly, there is something in it, as you say,” replied Reynauld. “Let me get you another drink and I will explain.” He stood up, picked up the decanter and refilled everyone’s glass. He sat down and swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. “You may or may not be aware of France’s, shall we say, interests in Mexico.”

  Franklin looked at Reynauld for a few moments, wondering where this was leading. “I know that a couple of years ago your Emperor Napoleon III maneuvered to establish a friendly government in Mexico, to ensure European access to Latin American markets.”

  “I’m impressed,” said Reynauld. He took a drink, and placed his glass on the side table. “Anything else?”

  Franklin smiled. “Napoleon saw to it that Maximilian of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, was installed as Emperor of Mexico,” he replied.

  “Very good,” replied Reynauld clapping his hands together.

  “One more thing,” Franklin continued. “Your Emperor is in need of money to finance his empire. A possible source for that finance is the gold and silver mined inthe north-west of Mexico.”

  “Ten out of ten,” said Reynauld. “Excellent. You are very well informed.”

  “Knowing I was coming to this meeting Captain, I made it my business to be informed,” replied Franklin.

  “Very wise,” said Reynauld. “Can I get you another drink General?”

  “Not for me thank you,” Franklin said. “So France has certain interests in Mexico, and is in need of finance, and is more than happy to assist our President Jefferson Davis. I’m still not entirely sure where we come in.”

  “Let me see if I can explain,” replied Reynauld.

  “I wish you would,” replied Franklin, beginning to get slightly impatient.

  “We, that is, the Emperor, believes that a strong South would be beneficial to our ambition
s across the border,” Reynauld started to explain.

  “I’m sorry Captain, but that makes no sense at all,” said Franklin. “You must surely be aware that a Southern victory is now very unlikely. Not only are we short of weapons, our supply routes have been blocked, and we have lost too many men. Sadly there will be no strong South.”

  “Perhaps, but maybe there will be a settlement between the States,” Reynauld replied. “After all there can be no real winners in a Civil War. And besides you will get sufficient weaponry for at least a year or more. More than enough to turn the tide, I would guess, especially in the west.”

  “Even if that were correct, and I have my serious doubts, there would still be no guarantee of a victory, and no certainty that there would be a strong South,” Franklin replied. “So I’m afraid your Emperor will be sorely disappointed.”

  “Regrettably there is always that possibility,” Reynauld replied.

  “Well why on earth would France wish to supply arms to a defeated army?” asked Franklin.

  Reynauld slowly rubbed his chin, and smiled. “Well there is always the other reason,” he replied quite slowly.

  “And that is?” asked Captain Moore.

  “Money, as simple as that,” replied Reynauld. “Gold bullion to be precise, you said yourself that Napoleon needed finance to pay for his empire.”

  “I did say that didn’t I?” Franklin replied. “So how much gold are we talking about?”

  “Two hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion,” Reynauld replied.

  The General was stunned. He had expected a high price, but not quite so high. “Captain that is a considerable sum of money, and I’m not sure that we can …”

  “General I too, like you, made it my business to be informed about certain aspects before coming to this meeting,” said Reynauld. “It is a considerable sum of money, of that there is no doubt, but it will purchase a considerable quantity of weapons, weapons that you desperately need.” He paused for a few moments. “As for the sum mentioned I know that the Confederate treasury in Richmond contains considerably more than two hundred thousand dollars. In fact the last reported figure was in excess of four million I understand, so there should be no problem in concluding our little agreement.”

  “I congratulate you Captain,” replied Franklin. “You are perfectly correct in what you say.”

  “So do we have an agreement?” Reynauld asked.

  “There’s just one thing, Captain,” said Franklin.

  “Yes what is it?” asked Reynauld.

  “If the South has already lost this war, then why would they even consider buying these weapons,” said Franklin. “What would be the point?”

  Reynauld looked at Franklin for a few moments before saying anything. “That is simple, General,” he said eventually. “For despite what you say, your President Davis still feels that there is a chance, a slim one, but a chance nonetheless. He, and I suspect, you, feel that chance is worth taking.”

  Franklin took a deep breath. “You may be right Captain, you may be right.”

  “Then do we have an agreement?” asked Reynauld.

  Franklin looked at Moore, who merely nodded. “It is agreed,” he said. “It is of course imperative that the North knows nothing about our little arrangement.”

  Reynauld held out his hand. “Don’t worry about that. They won’t know anything about it. On the twenty-ninth there will be the first shipment of arms. Our ships will be anchored in St. Lawrence Bay. The weapons will be on board, and more will follow on the thirtieth.”

  “My men will be there,” replied Franklin, as he stood up. He grasped the offered hand and shook it. “They will have the two hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion with them.”

  “That is excellent General,” replied Reynauld. “So gentlemen, until the twenty-ninth let us say au-revoir and have a safe journey.”

  Then without a further word General Franklin and Captain Moore walked out of the carriage, and made their way back to the trading post. They stopped and looked back at the train. The two guards had gone. A few moments later there was a flurry of steam, and the train slowly moved away, gradually increasing speed.

  * * *

  No one had said a word to Seth. The train had just gone. There had been no whistles blown, nor any flags waved. He hadn’t given the signal. He hadn’t said that it was okay to go. He shook his head, and watched the train as it disappeared from sight. It just wasn’t right. He would contact the railroad company first thing in the morning. He wanted some answers.

  He looked back along the track, and then turned and walked back home. That fence still needed fixing.

  * * *

  After the French delegation had left, General Franklin put on his heavy grey coat, his gloves and his hat. He looked at his companion.

  “That’s that then,” he said. “Send a message to Captain Thackery. Tell him that all will be ready for the twenty-fifth. The consignment will be delivered.”

  “Yes sir,” Captain Moore said. “I’ll see to that right away.” He paused for a moment, hesitant.

  “What is it, Captain?” asked the General sensing there was something wrong. “Out with it, something is worrying you. Correct?”

  The Captain remained silent for a few moments longer. “Sir, I have a few concerns,” he said at last.

  “Go on,” coaxed the General.

  “So we have reached an agreement for the weapons, fine so far. But two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of gold. Where on earth would we get such a sum? I mean you know as well as I do that to get to the depository in Richmond is virtually impossible.”

  “Yes I know that Captain,” replied the General “Clearly our French friends were not as well informed as we first thought.”

  “No sir,” said Captain Moore. “So the problem remains. Where are we to get such a large quantity of gold?”

  The General looked up and smiled. “Well to be perfectly honest, I was actually thinking of Mexico. I have certain contacts with the Mexican authorities,” he replied.

  “You intend to use Mexican gold,” replied Moore puzzled. “Napoleon won’t like that.”

  “He’ll never know,” said Franklin. “And if he found out I think he would be delighted. I think it’s quite fitting that he should be paid Mexican gold to help finance his Mexican aims.”

  “Maybe,” replied Moore, not convinced. “So where do we obtain this Mexican gold?”

  “Well I actually had in mind the gold depository in Santa Ana,” replied Franklin. “Do you know it?”

  * * *

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mexican Gold

  The small town of El Paz lies some fifty miles to the south of the Rio Grande. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Montez, La Paz is in the centre of a wine growing area, the foothills being dotted with vineyard after vineyard. Along the main street are a number of small stores, and several cantinas, the blacksmith, livery stables, and Carlos Lopez and Son, who operates a small haulage business. Opposite is the Stage coach office, Manuel Cortes, the land agent, and the local newspaper office. At the end of the street is the white washed church of Our Lady de la Flores. Next to it is the small school house. At the opposite end of town are the town jail, the rail depot, and the Hotel Grande.

  Built just a few years earlier the hotel was quite ornate, possibly too much so some said. Absolutely ugly said others. Built on the site of a boarding house destroyed in a fire, it was, nonetheless, popular with its guests and by all accounts it offered a very satisfactory service, at reasonable rates. The hotel boasted an elaborate dining room, providing the finest of cuisine, a relaxing lobby area, and twenty-five guest rooms spread over its three floors.

  * * *

  Up on the second floor, in Room 24, two men were deep in conversation. One, Seńor Luiz Alvarez, was a high ranking official in the Finance Ministry of the Mexican Government; the other was General George Franklin of the Confederate Army.

  The meeting had been arranged some days previously
when Franklin had made contact with one of his sources. It had been made perfectly clear that a consignment of gold might be made available to him, but there would be certain conditions to be complied with. A certain Luiz Alvarez would meet with the General and the matter could be discussed at length, and in detail.

  * * *

  “So General, to be perfectly clear I am prepared to provide you with a substantial quantity of gold,” Alvarez said. He stood up and walked over to the table in the corner of the room. He picked up a bottle of wine and poured two glasses, and then returned to his seat. He handed one glass to the General. “I think you will find that to your liking,” he said as he took a drink. “It is popular hereabouts, and comes from a vineyard just a few miles away.”

  The General took a drink. “Yes it is excellent,” he agreed. “But you were saying about the gold. Exactly what do you mean by a substantial quantity?”

  “An excellent question, General,” Alvarez replied, taking another drink. “What would you consider to be substantial?”

  The General shook his head. “What is more to the point Seńor is what you consider to be substantial.”

  Alvarez bowed his head. “You are absolutely right, General,” he replied. “I am talking about no less a sum than three hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion.” He paused for a moment, allowing what he had said to sink in. “Is that substantial enough?”

  Franklin said nothing, but merely smiled. That was certainly substantial enough. In fact it was more than adequate for his purpose.

  “There is, however, one condition,” continued Alvarez.

  “A condition?” replied Franklin. “Precisely what would that be?”