The Thackery Journal

by John Holt

“Captain I am here for one reason and one reason only.”

  “And that is?” asked Thackery.

  “Why to meet up with you of course,” Jarvis replied. “And now you and your men are my prisoners.”

  Jarvis looked over to the four troopers. “Please take our visitors to our quarters,” he instructed. He then turned back to face Thackery. “We’ll talk later.” He then mounted his horse and rode away.

  * * *

  A short time later Thackery and his men arrived at a clearing at the edge of the forest. To one side was a large tent. A number of smaller tents were scattered nearby, and over on the far side was a fenced off corral.

  General Jarvis’ Encampment

  “Welcome to our encampment,” said Jarvis, coming out of the large tent. “Please join me.”

  Thackery looked back at his men. “Oh don’t worry Captain, your men will be well taken care of,” Jarvis continued.

  Thackery took a deep breath and walked towards the tent. Jarvis stepped back holding the flap open. “Please go in,” he said. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked. “A whiskey, or maybe, what is it that you Southerners drink, a mint …”

  “A whiskey will be fine,” Thackery interrupted.

  “A man after my own heart,” Jarvis said as he poured the drinks. “Please sit down.”

  Thackery sat down. “How did you know I was here?” he asked.

  “Oh I know I lot more than that, Captain,” replied Jarvis. “For example I know about the gold bullion.”

  “What gold bullion?” Thackery replied. “I know nothing about any gold.”

  “Come now, Captain,” Jarvis replied. “I’m talking about the gold bullion that was taken from the Santa Ana Depository, a few days ago.”

  “I tell you that I know nothing about any gold bullion,” Thackery protested.

  “The gold that was to go to the French Navy anchored in St. Lawrence Bay,” Jarvis continued. Thackery said nothing. “They never got it though did they, such a pity. What a dreadful accident, very unfortunate, although not altogether surprising, with all of that gunpowder and dynamite on board. Highly dangerous I would say.” He looked at Thackery. “Let me get you another drink.”

  Thackery could keep silent no longer. “How do you know so much about it?” he asked angrily.

  “Captain, do you really need to ask? It really wasn’t that difficult,” Jarvis replied as he handed Thackery his drink. “I’m sure that the Confederates have spies, as I do.”

  For a second time in a matter of a few days Thackery wondered whether one of his own men was a spy. Jarvis saw the look on Thackery’s face. “Oh no, no, not at all,” he said. “It isn’t one of your men I can assure it.” He placed his glass on to a side table and stood up. “It is much closer to home.”

  He walked over to the tent entrance, pulled the flap open, and peered outside. “Corporal, please ask Lieutenant Chambers to join me,” he instructed.

  A few minutes later a tall, thickset man, with a long flowing moustache entered the tent. “You sent for me, sir” he said as he came smartly to attention and saluted.

  “I did Lieutenant,” Jarvis replied, returning the salute. He then turned to face Thackery. “Captain, this is Lieutenant Terrence Chambers the Third. I think you might know him.”

  Thackery stood up and moved forward for a closer look. Yes he knew him. He had last seen him some weeks ago at the Telegraph office at Stanway. At that time he was thought to be one of two French agents.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant,” said Jarvis. “That will be all.”

  The man saluted, turned and left.

  Jarvis closed the tent flap and returned to his seat. “Do sit down Captain,” he said. “And relax. Let me refill your glass.” He took a drink. He then opened a box of cigars and offered it to Thackery. “Cigar?” Thackery declined. “You don’t mind if I do,” he continued as he selected one and proceeded to light it.

  “I actually know a lot about you, Captain,” he continued, puffing on the cigar. “You were born in a small village just south of Danbury. You went to live in Larksburg. Your father, Aaron Thackery, a very well respected man in the community, served his Country in the war against Mexico.” He paused, watching Thackery. “You know, Captain, we have a lot in common. For example you are an anti-slaver just like I am.”

  “Not everyone in the South has slaves, General,” Thackery replied.

  “True enough, Captain. True enough,” Jarvis replied. “The point I am making is that this war is about anti-slavery. On that subject we are on the same side.”

  Thackery shook his head. “It was more than that,” he said. “It was about the South leaving the Union.”

  Now it was Jarvis’ turn to shake his head. “A mere side issue,” he replied. “The main item was slavery. I know that and you know that. Lincoln was against slavery and he brought in anti-slavery laws, and that was the reason the Southern States ceded from the Union.”

  Thackery said nothing. The General smiled. “I repeat we have a lot in common.”

  “We have nothing in common,” Thackery replied angrily.

  “Oh but we do, Captain,” replied Jarvis. “We are both a long way from home. We are both weary of this pointless war, a war neither of us wanted, and we have both killed far too many people.”

  “That’s as far as it goes, that and yes the opposition to slavery,” Thackery agreed. “But it was more than that, much more. It was to protect a way of life.”

  “Ah, yes, as you say a way of life, the gracious living and good manners, the old South, the mint julep as the sun goes down, and the sweet magnolia blossom.”

  “That’s right,” said Thackery indignantly.

  “Captain, those days have gone for good,” Jarvis said. “Get used to it. Despite your protests we could be on the same side you know, especially where the Mexican authorities are concerned.”

  Thackery looked puzzled.

  “You know, of course, that they are after you?” Jarvis continued. “They want their gold back, the gold that you appear not to know anything about. Now what do you say, Captain, I could make good use of that gold.”

  “As I said much earlier, General, there is no gold.”

  “That is a great pity, Captain. This war is nearly over for the South. Another week, a month, six months, it doesn’t matter. The South has lost. For you and your men the war is over now. You and your men are my prisoners. You will see out the rest of war, however long or short, in a prison camp near Washington, or perhaps Fort Delaware. You have heard of Fort Delaware have you not? It is quite well known shall we say.”

  Thackery nodded. “I’ve heard,” he replied. “You were saying about Mexico.”

  “So I was,” agreed Jarvis. “They are looking for you, so I could just hand you over to the Mexican authorities, your choice. Alternatively I could offer you a deal. If only there was some gold. But of course, as you say there is no gold.”

  “That’s right there is no gold.”

  Jarvis said nothing for a moment, and drained his glass. “Captain, we found the wagons.”

  “Wagons?” repeated Thackery. “What wagons?”

  “The wagons that you used to transport the gold,” Jarvis explained. “We know all about the gold, except where you have hidden it.”

  “I keep telling you I know nothing about any gold,” Thackery protested.

  “Captain, it is getting late. I’m sure that you wouldn’t say no to some food and then rest,” said Jarvis. “We’ll continue this discussion tomorrow. I have a proposition for you.”

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  A Proposition

  The following morning Thackery woke early. He had slept badly. Thoughts of gold bullion, and Union prison camps, and momentary thoughts of escape, had done little to relax his mind. All thoughts of getting back home had evaporated into thin air. In truth it was no more than a fleeting dream anyway. There had never been any real chance of it becoming a reality. Now it wasn’t even a dream, now it
was no more than a faded hope.

  “November 28th 1864 – All thoughts of going home are now gone. We are now prisoners of General Thomas Jarvis, and all that faces us is spending the remainder of the war, and beyond, incarcerated in a Union prisoner of war camp. The men are bitterly disappointed, although they do not show it. I pray that if it must be prison that it is not Fort Delaware. Stories abound of poor conditions, sickness, and even of death.

  General Jarvis has a proposition to make. I have no inclination as to what it is to be. I will know soon enough.”

  He emerged from the tent he had occupied, to be greeted by the guard at the entrance. The guard said nothing, and merely came to attention and saluted. Thackery returned the salute and walked past.

  It was a cold morning with a strong wind from the east. The sky was overcast and threatened rain, although the overnight fog had lifted. It was still early but already camp fires were lit, coffee pots were boiling, food was being prepared. Soldiers were busy cleaning their rifles, tending their horses, and a hundred and one other things.

  Thackery wrapped his cloak tightly around his body and walked across the clearing to a small stockade where his men were being held.

  “Good morning, Sergeant,” he said, as he spied Trelor just stirring over in the far corner.

  “Ah, good morning to you, sir,” he replied, as he walked over to where Thackery was waiting. “Did you sleep well sir?”

  “I slept badly Sergeant,” Thackery replied. “And you?”

  “Like a log,” the Sergeant said. “I didn’t stir the whole night.”

  “And how are the men?” Thackery asked.

  “Oh, they’re fine, sir,” replied the Sergeant. “You’ve no need to worry on that score, we are being well looked after. They even provided a dressing for young Will.”

  “A dressing?”

  “Yes, sir, he injured his arm disposing of those wagons,” the Sergeant explained. “Oh, he’s alright though. The Union doctor fixed him up right enough.”

  “Have they asked any of you about the gold at all?” Thackery whispered.

  The Sergeant shook his head. “No sir, no one has said anything about it.”

  “Good morning, Captain.” a voice called out from behind. It was Jarvis. Thackery wondered if he had heard any of his conversation with the Sergeant.

  “I trust you slept alright,” Jarvis continued.

  “Oh I slept fine,” Thackery lied. “Never better.”

  “Good,” said Jarvis. “And your men, being well looked after I hope.”

  “Oh yes General,” replied Thackery. “And I must thank you for your kindness and consideration, especially regarding young Cantwell.”

  Jarvis waved his hand in their air. “Captain, we may be at war but it costs nothing to be considerate. I would have it no other way, as I’m sure you would act the same way.”

  “I thank you nonetheless General,” said Thackery. “Now General, to other matters.”

  “Yes Captain? What is it?”

  “Last night you said something about a preposition.”

  “So I did,” replied Jarvis. “Let’s get some breakfast shall we, and then we can discuss it at length.”

  * * *

  An hour later, and after a breakfast of salted pork, cornbread and hardtack, Thackery and Jarvis were back inside Jarvis’ tent.

  “Please have a seat, Captain,” said Jarvis indicating a chair. “I hope that breakfast was satisfactory.”

  Thackery smiled. “It was fine General,” he replied. “We haven’t tasted meat for a few months now, so it was very welcome.”

  Jarvis nodded, as he poured two cups of coffee. “That’s good to hear.” He handed a cup to Thackery.

  “I was just wondering where the cornbread came from.”

  “Ah, actually I have a confession,” said Jarvis. “That came from your Sergeant, a good man by the way.” He paused for a moment and took a drink. “Captain, to turn to the proposition I mentioned to you. I am willing to let you and your men go free, right now. I’m also willing to provide a safe conduct through our lines back down south.”

  “And you would want what in return?” asked Thackery.

  Jarvis smiled. “And in return all I want from you is a share of the gold, but I’m sure that you already knew that.”

  “I did, but regrettably there is no gold,” Thackery replied, sighing and holding his hands out in front of him.

  “Right you are, there is no gold,” Jarvis replied, a broad grin across his face. “I keep forgetting. Such a pity.” He finished his coffee, and placed the cup on to the side table. “More coffee, Captain?” he said indicating the pot. Thackery shook his head.

  “Captain wouldn’t you like to go home?” he asked as he poured himself another cup. “Wouldn’t your men like to go back to their families, their loved ones? How long has it been?” He paused as he calculated how long it had been. “Almost three and a half years,” he continued. “I know that I want to go home, I can’t wait. I haven’t seen my wife and children since Shiloh.”

  He took a long drink of coffee. “This war is over, so why prolong it any longer? Why prolong the killing, and the suffering? There’s no point continuing to kill, or risk being killed. We have both seen so much, you and I.”

  He took another drink, and then lit a cigar. “You did your duty for the South, and you did it well. You can do no more. You fought a good fight and lost, there’s no shame in that. It’s over let the dream go, its dead. Go home Captain. Go home to your family, your friends. Forget all of this.” He held his arms out. “Just tell me where the gold is hidden and the nightmare will be over.”

  Thackery looked puzzled. “Assuming I had gold, which of course I don’t, why would you want it? Surely the Union already has gold reserves of its own.”

  “Correct, Captain they do,” Jarvis replied puffing on his cigar. “In fact their reserves are quite vast, no question about that. They are very substantial there’s no other word for it. The problem, however, is that the authorities would not be at all helpful to me. As I said it is I who wants the gold, and it is very unlikely that the Union would hand their gold over to me, especially when they knew why I wanted it.”

  Thackery was now even more puzzled. “Exactly why do you want it?”

  Jarvis hesitated, unsure as to whether he should proceed. Should he bring Thackery into his plans in order to get the gold? Could he be trusted? Possibly, he murmured. Besides if things went wrong then he could always be eliminated. He reached for the coffee pot, and poured two cups, passing one to Thackery.

  “Let me start by saying that I and my associates have major plans concerning the future of our country …”

  “Your country, not mine,” Thackery interrupted. “And as for the future, I have no future. All I have is a few years in a Union prison, at best, then what. My home has all but gone. What would I have to return to?”

  “It doesn’t have to be that way you know,” replied Jarvis.

  Thackery looked puzzled once again. “What do you mean?”

  Jarvis took another puff on his cigar. “I mean that perhaps you won’t go to prison.”

  “I don’t understand, of course I’ll go to prison,” said Thackery. “You said so yourself last night.”

  “Yes I did say that,” agreed Jarvis. “Nonetheless, it is conceivably possible that between us we could find a way to avoid prison.”

  “I still don’t understand,” said Thackery. “You’ll have to explain, don’t forget I’m a poor simple country boy.”

  “I doubt that very much, Captain,” said Jarvis. “Let me explain.” He finished his coffee, and lit a second cigar. “Just now I said the future of our country, and that is precisely what I meant. Despite what you may think, Captain, we do have one thing in common, that is our hatred of the one man who has caused more deaths, and destruction, that any other.” Thackery continued to stare, saying nothing. “We would both like to see Abraham Lincoln gone.” Thackery was stunned.

  �
�We plan to, what shall we say, replace him,” Jarvis continued.

  “You mean to assassinate him? A task I would undertake myself, I would gladly see him dead,” Thackery declared.

  “Just as I thought, Captain. You see we are alike.”

  “Him and several of his generals,” Thackery continued.

  Jarvis started to laugh. “I am sure that you would, Captain,” he replied. “I am sure that you would, of that I have no doubt. However we are merely talking about Lincoln alone, nobody else, not for the present.” He paused for a moment. Thackery said nothing. “In those circumstances would you still be interested in our plan?”

  Thackery could not believe what he was hearing. Had he heard correct? Had he misunderstood?

  “To be absolutely clear, Captain, we have issued an ultimatum to our President,” Jarvis explained. “It has been agreed that should he not agree to our terms he will be removed. We already have someone in mind to actually carry out the task. What we need is a backup, a contingency. Somebody to shadow our main player, to make sure that nothing happens to them, nothing to prevent them from carrying out their task. And if anything does happen, to take their place.”

  Thackery shook his head in disbelief. Here was a Union General openly talking about assassinating Abraham Lincoln, and perhaps worse discussing it with an enemy officer.

  “Why would you want Lincoln dead?” Thackery asked.

  The General looked up and smiled. He shrugged. “Let us just say that we have our reasons, and leave it at that shall we.”

  “You have your reasons, simple as that,” replied Thackery. “That’s hardly a good enough answer, General.”

  “As I said, Captain, we have our reasons. “As indeed I am sure that you have your reasons, Captain.”

  Thackery looked puzzled once again. Despite his initial outburst, his display of bravado, what reason would he have? Sure it was because of Lincoln that they had gone to war. Would that be a sufficient reason to see him dead? He didn’t think so. “I have no reason to see Lincoln dead,” he replied.

  The General smiled once again. “You are wrong, Captain,” he said. “You have a very good reason.”