by John Holt
“Let’s just say that I have my sources shall we,” Jarvis replied. “The last reports that came in seemed to suggest that our Captain Thackery is heading southward. He is going home to be precise.”
“Well then there goes the gold, and with it your finance,” replied Walker, sounding relieved.
“He will never get there,” replied Jarvis. I intend to meet with him, and relieve him of his burden. I also intend to recruit Captain Thackery.”
Walker was puzzled. “Why on earth would you do that?”
Jarvis looked at Walker for a few moments. As a military strategic Walker was one of the best, but he had no foresight, no vision, and certainly no drive. “Think about it George, it really is so simple.” Walker continued to look puzzled. “Remember the Southern sympathizer idea that I mentioned earlier. Getting a Reb Captain involved will give greater credibility don’t you think?”
Walker didn’t know what to think anymore. His head was reeling. “And what makes you so sure that he will join with you?”
“Don’t you worry about that George,” Jarvis replied. “I have something in mind, something that Captain Thackery will not be able to resist.”
Walker looked horrified. Obviously this was not idle conversation that much was clear. Jarvis really intended to carry out his plan.
“Tom you cannot possibly be serious,” Walker said. Jarvis said nothing. He was serious of that there was no doubt. “You have really thought this out haven’t you? Every last detail has been worked out hasn’t it?”
“Now George, you know as well as I that we are merely having a hypothetical conversation about what could happen.” He paused. “I mentioned earlier something about certain circumstances, do you remember that?” Walker remembered. “The point is if Lincoln agreed to certain requests shall we say, then none of this would be at all necessary. So you see you might be worrying for no reason.”
“May be, may be not,” Walker responded. “The question remains what if he did not agree to your requests, supposing he blatantly refused. What then?”
Jarvis shrugged his shoulders. “What do you think George?”
Walker started to shake once again. What did he think? He preferred not to think. He did not need to think he already knew the answer to his question. What he did not know though was why they were having this conversation. He looked directly at Jarvis. They had been friends for many years, ever since their time at military academy. Why they had enlisted on the same day. That friendship was being badly strained today. “Tom, why are you telling me all of this?” he asked.
“George we go back a long way. I have always admired you, and looked up to you,” Jarvis replied. He thought for a few moments. “Even at the academy I looked to you for guidance. You were always ahead of the others. Way ahead. You were always top, Cadet of the year, every year; head of the class; awarded the Medal of Honor; winner of the Chandler Ceremonial Sword. You certainly stood out, George, like a shining beacon. And now, here you are, a senior General, one out of a very small select group. I still look up to you, and I still value your advice and judgment.”
Walker shook his head, and laughed. “That’s all well and good, but flattery won’t get you anywhere Tom. You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you telling me?”
“All right, George, it’s a fair question. It deserves a fair answer,” Jarvis replied. “As I said you are one of a handful of senior generals. Why you were actually appointed by Lincoln himself.” He took another deep breath. “If anything like our plan was to be acted upon, we would certainly need your support and your influence, it’s as simple as that.” He looked directly at Walker, his hands held open, and outstretched. “We need you with us.”
Walker shook his head. This was all nonsense. “Why should I support you in this crazy scheme?” he asked dismissively. “What is there to stop me going straight to Lincoln, right now, and telling him everything?”
Jarvis looked at him for a few moments. “Firstly, George, what could you tell him? What do you actually know for a fact? More to the point what could you actually prove? It is all just talk. You said as much. Idle talk,” Jarvis replied. “There is nothing written down. No details, no names, nothing. You could tell him nothing without appearing foolish, or, worse still, bringing suspicion upon yourself.”
Walker said nothing. He had to admit that what Jarvis said was quite right. He could prove nothing. What could he say?
“Secondly,” Jarvis continued. “Unless I am very much mistaken, and I do not think I am, these ideas are not very far away from your own thoughts, are they?”
Again Walker said nothing, but he had to admit that there was an element of truth in what Jarvis had said. He had been thinking along similar lines for several weeks now. Similar lines maybe, although not quite as drastic.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-One
December 1864 - The Lincoln Ultimatum
Over the weeks that followed, Jarvis had argued the points over and over with the others. It had been a long, hard, struggle, but eventually, reluctantly, they had accepted the argument, and came round to his way of thinking. It was finally agreed that unless Lincoln accepted certain demands then he would be removed from office, and replaced by General Ulysses S Grant. There was no mention of an assassination.
* * *
Walker took another drink of brandy. He turned towards the next man. Sitting next to Jarvis was General Jed Butler. A tall, heavy set man, Butler had seen a lot of action on the Richmond campaign, and had lost his right arm at the second battle at Bull Run. A good man to have on your side, he murmured. Then there was General Jonathon Randall. Able enough in his own way but he wasn’t really strong enough. He was really much too hesitant, and did not take risks.
How had he ever become a General? Walker shook his head and smiled. He knew the answer to that question. Randall had many friends in high places, and his family had money, a lot of money. There was not much that money could not buy. And it had bought Randall a high rank, and a position of power and influence.
He looked at the three men once again. What was it that each brought to the venture, he wondered. Firstly, Jarvis, what did he contribute? Simple, it was of course his idea originally, and he was close to Grant. What about Butler? He was certainly a very clever man. His specialty was intelligence, spying, gathering information. He was well liked and much respected. He had a lot of influence, all very worthwhile attributes. Then lastly there was Randall. What value would he be? Although quite a weak insignificant man, he did have those friends in high places, friends who just might be required, who might be useful when the time came.
Walker shrugged his shoulders and took a deep breath. “Our problem will be Lincoln,” he continued. “Is he right for the Country?”
“I would say that he was not right,” said Jarvis. “Lincoln took us into this war, and he is already talking about reconciliation. Forgive and forget. I think we should have a say in what happens after the war, gentleman. After all we took the risks. We faced the dangers. It was our men that died.” He paused again. “Look at Jed over there, he lost an arm.” Still there was no comment from the others. “I vow that their deaths will not be in vain. I say we are not so quick to forgive. The South should be made to pay.”
Jarvis looked at the three men sitting in front of him. There was still no reaction from them. He looked down at the table, and began shuffling through the papers lying there. “After our little discussion the other day, I have prepared a document,” he said. He started tapping his fingers on the papers. “It contains a list of our demands.” There was an audible gasp from Walker. “A list of our requirements, if you prefer, George, a little reward for our past loyalty shall we say.”
Still the others said nothing. He looked up. “Doesn’t anyone have anything to say,” he cried out.
“Tom, you are doing such a good job,” Walker replied. “We have no need to add anything.” He looked at the other two men. They both nodded. “There we are, Tom,” Wa
lker continued. “We agree. You carry on.”
Jarvis took a deep breath and shrugged, before continuing. “Thank you for your vote of confidence gentlemen,” he said sarcastically. “But don’t think that if anything were to go wrong, you would be in the clear because you had said nothing.” He looked back down at the document. “Firstly our illustrious President intends to prosecute Union soldiers who may have committed slight indiscretions during the course of the war.”
“You are talking about war crimes,” Randall spoke up. “Not slight …”
Jarvis ignored the interruption, and continued. “Who may have committed slight indiscretions,” he repeated. He looked up and glared at Randall. “Whilst carrying out their orders and doing their duty for the Country.” He waited for further interruptions, there were none.
He picked up the document and started to read. “Item one. We the undersigned demand that no legal action be taken against our brave soldiers for anything they have done, or allegedly have done, or for any action that occurred during the war.” He paused once again and looked at the others. “Agreed?” he asked.
“Agreed,” the others replied.
“I didn’t quite hear you,” Jarvis said. “Is it agreed or not?” He looked at each of the men in turn.
“Agreed,” said Walker loudly.
“Agreed,” said Butler.
“I don’t know,” said Randall hesitantly. “I’m not really sure about this.”
“Is it agreed?” Jarvis repeated, as he continued to glare.
“I don’t know, I mean some pretty bad things were done especially in the prisoner of war camps,” he replied slowly. Jarvis looked at him hard. Randall looked at the others. Each man nodded imperceptibly. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Agreed,” he said almost in a whisper.
“I’m sorry,” said Jarvis. “I didn’t quite hear. What did you say Jonathon?”
“Agreed,” he repeated, louder this time.
“Now to Item number two,” Jarvis continued. “Did you know that Lincoln intends handing all of the property back to those southern landowners?” He paused. There was no response. “That cannot be right. That land should be given to the generals who won the war for him. It should be given to us.”
The others started to clap in agreement, except for Randall. He shook his head. There was something wrong. “I’m sorry,” he said. “But I don’t agree with that.”
The others stopped clapping and looked at him. “If you don’t agree you can always leave you know,” said Butler. Randall looked down at his clenched hands and said nothing.
Jarvis shook his head, and then continued. “So gentlemen, item number two states that all conquered lands should be confiscated, and given to the Generals.” He paused looking at Randall. “Is that agreed?”
The others all cried out “Agreed.”
Randall looked up and shook his head, and then he quickly lowered his eyes. “Agreed,” he mumbled.
“Good,” said Jarvis. “We are making good progress.” He looked at the document once more. “And next gentlemen we come to the question of General Russell Josiah Fraser.” He paused and started to shuffle through some papers. “Ah, here it is,” he announced as he held the document high in the air. “I am sure that you all know what this is.” There was no answer from the others, merely a nodding of heads. They knew precisely what the document was. “It is a copy of the official order for the Court Martial of General Fraser for alleged cowardice, signed by Lincoln himself.”
“He’s no coward,” called out Butler.
“Tom, we all know that,” Walker responded. “But this document says different. It alleges that he is. It actually purports to offer irrefutable proof that he is a coward. It goes on to say that if found guilty, it calls for the death penalty, by firing squad.” He paused and looked at the others.
“Would you pull the trigger George?” Jarvis interrupted. “Or what about you Jed, would you be prepared to fire? Perhaps you would do it Jonathon.” The others said nothing but merely shook their heads. “Well I certainly would not. Nor indeed would I give the order.” He looked down at the document that he had written. “Item number three states, we the undersigned request that all Court Martial action against General Fraser be dropped and that he be completely exonerated, and his rank restored.” He looked up. “Is that agreed?”
All agreed without hesitation.
“And now gentlemen, we come to the last and most important matter.” Jarvis looked down at the paper and started to read once again. “We the undersigned request that President Lincoln resigns from office, with immediate effect, and transfers power to General Ulysses S Grant.” He looked up. All of the others started to applaud, with the exception of Jonathon Randall. He was uneasy. He knew instinctively that it would end badly.
* * *
Jarvis looked back at the document. He crossed the last T, and dotted the last I. “There we are, gentlemen. It is all finished,” he announced. “It’s all listed as we agreed.”
“How long do we give him?” Randall asked nervously. “Lincoln I mean. How long do we give him to respond?”
Jarvis looked at the others and shrugged. It was a good question, perfectly valid. “Well gentlemen, how long?” he asked. “I would suggest five days.”
“No, no,” cried Butler. “He would certainly need a week at the very least.” He thought for a few moments before continuing. “It will take at least three days for our document to get through to him, a day or two for him to consider the document, and then three days to send the reply.”
“He could always send a telegraph,” Jarvis commented. “He could send it here or the Telegraph Office at Pine Bluff.”
“That doesn’t seem very fair to me,” Randall said. “We have to be reasonable about it.”
“That’s right, gentlemen,” said Walker. “We need to be reasonable. We have waited several months already. Another few weeks won’t make much difference.” He turned to face Jarvis. “Three weeks seems fair to me.”
Jarvis heaved a sign. “Alright we’ll give him three weeks. Does that meet with your approval, gentlemen?” The others merely nodded their agreement. “Good. I’ll just add a brief note to the document.”
He turned to the last page, picked up his pen and started to write. When he was satisfied he turned to face the others. “It is ready.”
“So what did you say?” asked Randall nervously.
“I merely said that we respectively request your answer within three weeks,” Jarvis replied.
“Did you really say respectively?” said Randall, his hands shaking.
Jarvis smiled. “What do you think Jonathon?”
Randall declined to say what he thought, but asked when was the document to be sent.
“As soon as we all sign it, Jonathon,” Jarvis replied impatiently. “As far as I am concerned, it can go tonight, the sooner the better. So let’s get on with it shall we?”
Jarvis passed the document to Jonathon Randall. “You can have the privilege of signing it first.”
Randall reluctantly took hold of the paper. The moment had finally arrived, the point of no return. He looked at the others hesitantly. He looked at the paper in his hand. “Are we sure about this? Really sure that is?” There was no reply. “I mean, this is serious stuff. If this doesn’t go right we could face a firing squad.”
“There’s no way that Lincoln will ignore this,” said Jarvis. “He would not dare go against his Generals would he?” he looked directly at Randall. “If you aren’t entirely happy though, Jonathon, you really must say so.” Randall looked at the others. Looking for support, none was forthcoming. “If you want out, Jonathon” Jarvis continued as he looked towards the tent flap. “You know where the exit is.”
Randall looked to his left, in the direction indicated. Oh yes he knew where the exit was, but he also knew that there was no way out, not really. The others would never let him go. He knew too much. He was in far too deep. He suddenly shivered and felt very co
ld, and very afraid. He looked longingly towards the exit, then quickly looked away, and back towards the man in the centre of the table. “What if he does not agree to our terms?” he asked, hoping that might provide an escape, a way out.
“Why would he not agree? What are we asking that is so onerous, so unacceptable?” said Butler. “All we want is for him to step down, and hand over the reins of power to Grant.” Butler stopped for a moment. “He has been in power for over four years anyway. So where is the problem?”
Randall was not convinced. It was not that easy. It could not be that easy. He took a deep breath and repeated his question. “What if he does not agree? What happens then?”
Jarvis looked at him for a few moments. He then looked at the others in turn. “He dies,” he said quite simply.
“He dies?” Randall repeated. “What do you mean he dies?” he asked anxiously.
“Jonathon, do you really need it spelt out?” Jarvis asked. “He will be assassinated, that’s what it means. He dies. I can’t be any plainer than that.”
Randall was visibly shocked. His breathing became labored. He had difficulty swallowing. “No one said anything about killing anyone. I thought we were talking about removing him, that’s all, replacing him. I didn’t think he would die.”
Jed Butler looked at Jarvis and shook his head. He then turned to face Randall. “Don’t take on so, Jonathon. You’re worrying for no reason. He’ll agree, you’ll see. Didn’t you hear what Jarvis just said? He’ll agree. He will have no choice but to agree. So you are worrying for nothing.”
Randall looked at Jarvis, and nodded. “I heard,” he replied. “But what if he is wrong?”
“Then he dies,” Butler replied.
“There you have it,” said Jarvis. “He dies, as simple as that.” He paused for a moment. “Now sign the paper Jonathon, or leave right now.”
Randall looked at him, and then without further delay signed the document. Jarvis quickly took the paper and gave it to Butler. Butler signed quickly, and handed the paper back. Jarvis then handed the document to Walker. “Now it’s your turn George.”