Antebellum (Gone For Soldiers)

by Jeffry S. Hepple

  “We always had our own ideas.”

  “Merry Christmas, Nancy. I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

  “And a merry Christmas to you, Anna. I’ll try to forgive you.”

  December 25, 1852

  Van Buskirk Point, New Jersey

  The family and guests had gathered around the Christmas tree. Each of them had a steaming cup. The boys also had dessert plates loaded with pastries. This was a larger family than usual because it included several of the Livingston branch of the family who lived in nearby Elizabeth. In Marina’s absence, Anna, as the acting hostess, clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and waited until the conversations died. “Merry Christmas,” she shouted.

  “Merry Christmas,” the others shouted back in less than perfect unison.

  “It looks like Johnny is the youngest,” Anna said, “so in keeping with an old family tradition he will be our Saint Nicholas and pass out the gifts.”

  Everyone cheered loudly.

  Johnny stood up, bowed, started toward the tree and then stopped to look around. “We can’t start yet. Abe, Ginger and Samuel aren’t here.”

  “They can’t make it,” Anna said, casting her eyes toward young Jeb Stuart, in what she hoped would be a silent signal for Johnny to drop it.

  Johnny caught the signal but was not about to drop the subject. “Cadet Stuart is a gentleman from Virginia,” he said. “I cannot imagine that he would not respect our family’s values and beliefs, or our friends.”

  “What’s this?” Stuart looked at Pea.

  Pea pointed vaguely toward New York Bay. “That big house on the water that you asked about is owned and occupied by a colored family who are very dear family friends.”

  Stuart still seemed baffled. “Am I to understand that they are not here because I am?”

  “Abraham felt that it would be best,” Anna said. “He was concerned it might create tension that spoiled our Christmas.”

  “Not having him here will spoil my Christmas,” Johnny said firmly.

  “Are y’all aware that there are free Negroes in the South,” Stuart asked. “And even if there were not, those of us who frequent the North encounter free Negroes almost daily. I have never been discourteous or condescending to anyone black or white, unless it was over an insult that was directed at me or mine.” He stood up. “I shall be going.”

  “Now wait,” Quincy stood up and blocked Stuart’s path. “There is a way around this.”

  “I doubt that you can convince Abe to come here,” Anna said. “He has lately been badly treated by people that he once trusted. White people.”

  “Surely he doesn’t include us with…” Johnny looked around the room and noticed some of those from Elizabeth were not making eye contact. “Or maybe he does. Maybe he’s even right.”

  “This is what we’ll do,” Anna announced. “We’ll open our gifts here, as usual, then some of us will load up a sled with the gifts intended for Abe and his family and we’ll…”

  “I would like to go with you,” Stuart interrupted.

  “That’s a bad idea, Beauty,” Pea replied.

  “I am an educated gentleman of Virginia,” Stuart said. The depth of hurt showed in his face. “I know how to behave in all social situations, including one of mixed races in a Northern town.”

  “You can come,” Quincy pronounced. “But you must be color blind. When you’re introduced you must imagine that everyone has white skin.” He raised his hand to stop Stuart from interrupting. “You will not call them by their given names unless they offer. When Ginger stands, you will stand, just as you would if she was a white lady.”

  “I can do that,” Stuart said. “But I haven’t brought gifts for them.”

  “We’ll find something suitable,” Anna said. “Thank you, Mr. Stuart. Your offer to come with us is very brave and speaks well of your manners and upbringing.” She nodded to Johnny. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Johnny picked up the nearest package and read the tag. “To Caitlin, from Anna and Nancy.” He crossed the room and handed the gift to a pretty girl of about sixteen.

  She looked up at him through long eyelashes and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Johnny.”

  Johnny backed up too quickly and stumbled over his own feet, nearly falling.

  “Boom.” Pea cackled. “Lightning strikes and another one bites the dust.”

  ~

  As they were all trekking back through the snow toward the Home Place, Quincy put his arm over Jeb Stuart’s shoulders and gave him a hug. “You did very well back there, Beauty. I’m very proud of you.”

  “Abraham and his family are nice people,” Stuart replied.

  “Yes they are.” Quincy agreed. “It’s a shame that this single decision of the government has upset their lives and made them afraid of white people.”

  “Who’s Samuel’s father?” Stuart asked to change the subject.

  Quincy shook his head. “Ginger won’t say, but I think she’s told Samuel.”

  “A white man, obviously. Samuel looks nearly white.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know how those things work. Both Ginger and Abe have white fathers, but, as you saw, he’s quite dark and she’s fair with the red hair that earned her the nickname, Ginger.”

  “I suspected that she was Quadroon when I first saw her,” Stuart said. “Although I would never think the same of Abraham. Maybe his father had some black blood, but passed for white.”

  “Yes. That’s possible.” Quincy removed his arm from the younger man’s shoulders.

  “I didn’t mean anything by that,” Stuart said.

  Quincy took a moment to reply. “It troubles me that some find it necessary to define a person’s race in terms of hypodescent terms such as Quadroon, Octoroon, Quintroon, and whatever-else-oroon.”

  “How can anti-miscegenation laws be enforced without some accurate definition of mixed-race people?”

  “There should be no such laws.” Quincy pointed over his shoulder. “If it wasn’t against the law, Ginger would have married Samuel’s father and they would be an American family, just as they should be.”

  “They could have gone to Pennsylvania and gotten married,” Stuart suggested.

  “And then be arrested if they ever came home, or if the Pennsylvania law changed?”

  Stuart shrugged. “We didn’t make this world, Pug. And I doubt that we can fix it.”

  “It’ll take a war to do that,” Quincy replied.

  “Or peacefully splitting the United States into two countries,” Stuart said.

  January 10, 1853

  Washington, D.C.

  Carlotta Ramirez was sitting at her writing desk in her office. “Please sit down, Anna,” she said without looking up. I just need a moment.”

  “I’m in no hurry, Carla.” Anna closed the door behind her.

  “If you want something hot to drink, just pull the bell cord.”

  “No thank you.” Anna took off her gloves, put them in her coat pocket, then removed her coat and hung it on a coat tree by the door. “It’s damnably cold outside. I cannot fathom how this is considered to be part of the South. It’s as cold here as anywhere in the North.”

  “I haven’t seen you since the Strafford’s New Year’s Eve party,” Carlotta said. “Where have you been?”

  “On a train, most of the time, between here and Massachusetts,” Anna replied.

  “What’s taken you to Massachusetts? Business or pleasure?”

  “Business. President-elect Pierce’s youngest son, Bennie, was killed in a train wreck near Andover. I’ve been covering the story for the paper.”

  “Oh yes. I heard about it. How very sad. How old was the boy?”

  “Eleven. Jane Pierce is taking it very, very badly.” Anna sat down on the couch and crossed her legs like a man.

  “I heard that too. Jane Pierce has always been a fragile woman. It was already rumored that Varina Davis will be the official White House hostess during the Pierce administration. I
suppose that’s beyond question now. Do you know her?”

  “Who, Varina Davis?” Anna asked.

  “Yes. The wife of Jefferson Davis.”

  “I’ve met her a few times. Her husband served with my father and brothers in Mexico. Frankly, I don’t like either of them. They’re much too Southern. The feeling’s mutual, I fear. Varina excludes me from her guest lists. That could prove to be a problem for me if she becomes the official White House hostess.”

  Carlotta waved her hand dismissively. “There will always be men on her guest list who will be happy to have you on their arm in lieu of their frumpy old wives.”

  “I suppose so. Until I become as old and frumpy as their wives.”

  “Jeff Davis is to be Secretary of War, I’m told.”

  “Yes,” Anna nodded. “That’s what I’ve heard as well.”

  “There. That’s finished.” Carlotta got up and joined Anna on the couch. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Ask it and I’ll do my best to grant it,” Anna said.

  “I know it may not be possible, but I would dearly love to attend the inaugural ball.”

  “Nothing could be easier. I have two tickets and you shall accompany me.”

  “That is a generous but imprudent offer, Anna. We should create a scandal.”

  “It would be scandalous for me to attend unescorted, which is precisely what I was planning to do before you said you’d like to go.”

  “Bringing me as your guest may reinforce the rumors about you and your friend Nancy Vreeland.”

  “I requested the second ticket for Nancy, but she’s been invited by Senator Burroughs.” Anna looked closely into Carlotta’s eyes. “Are you troubled that you might be suspected of being my lover, Carla?”

  “Not in the least.”

  “Then the discussion is over. You will attend with me.”

  “Your friend Nancy sees men too?”

  “Nancy is what might be described as a free thinker. Her philosophy is to do whatever she wants to do so long as it harms no one. She refuses to submit to what she calls the ‘tyranny of the majority’.”

  “Interesting. How does she justify being seen in public with a married man like Senator Burroughs? Would that not harm Mrs. Burroughs?”

  “Nancy’s logic, and I quite agree with her, is that she is not a party to their marriage vows and has no responsibility for a wandering husband’s action.”

  “I think that logic’s flawed, but speaking of wandering husbands: What’s this I hear about you and Phillip Key?”

  Anna looked surprised. “I have no idea.”

  “The gossip is that you and Phillip are keeping company.”

  “Where did you hear such a vicious rumor?”

  “I heard it from a gentleman friend who said that Mr. Key was bragging about sleeping with you. He apparently also mentioned that you are a very accomplished lover and completely unrestrained in bed.”

  “The fool,” Anna grumbled.

  Carlotta laughed. “So you’re a home wrecker too, Anna. I would have never guessed.”

  “As I said, I don’t consider myself to be a home wrecker, Carla. The men who seek other women are the responsible parties. My son is illegitimate, you know. His father was a married Senator who convinced me, when I was very young and innocent, that he would leave his wife and marry me.”

  “Was?”

  “What?”

  “You said he was a married Senator, implying that he is either no longer married, no longer a senator or no longer living. I wondered which.”

  “Oh. He’s dead. Very dead. My mother arranged his untimely demise.”

  “Who was he?”

  “Some things are best left as secrets.”

  “If you want to keep any secrets, get rid of Phillip Key.”

  “He’s very good in bed.”

  “Even so, he talks too much when he’s been drinking and he drinks a great deal lately.”

  “Any suggestions for a replacement?”

  “I won’t suggest any married men.”

  “Have you an unmarried man in mind?”

  Carlotta nodded. “What do you think of William King?”

  “As a man or as our duly elected Vice President?”

  “As a man, of course. I could arrange for a discreet and very private dinner party some time after the inauguration. Just you and Mr. King.”

  “He’s too old and there’s a rumor that he’s – you know.” She hung her wrist limply.

  “I don’t believe that rumor, but knowing for certain might be very valuable information for both of us.”

  Anna considered a moment, then shook her head. “No, Carla. Too much risk and intrigue for too little fun.”

  “But if you were successful, think of all the secrets that you’d be privy to as the Vice President’s mistress. Or even his wife.”

  “I’m not at all interested in marriage.”

  “His mistress, then?”

  Anna shook her head. “Vice President Elect King is much too visible. I prefer being able to move about without being recognized and that wouldn’t be possible.”

  “I could give you a room here and no one would ever know.”

  Anna raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

  “Interested?”

  “Yes, very. But I still say no to William King.”

  “He’s the only eligible bachelor that I know.” She looked thoughtful. “There are, however, several widowers who visit us here. Senator Rucker comes to mind, but he wouldn’t do.” She shook her head decisively.

  Anna raised her eyebrows. “Samuel Rucker? I wouldn’t mind meeting him privately.”

  Carla shook her head. “Senator Rucker is a blue-nosed bible thumper, Anna.”

  “If he comes here, he cannot be as blue-nosed as you say.”

  “He comes here occasionally, not often. And when he does visit us, he confines himself to the saloon and reading room. He has once or twice conversed with a girl, but always in public and he has never yet ventured above the first floor.”

  “I wager that he does a lot of looking at all your pretty girls.”

  Carlotta shrugged. “No more than any other man.”

  “Could you arrange a private meeting?”

  “With Senator Rucker?” she asked incredulously.

  “Yes. With Senator Rucker.”

  “If you insist, I think I can arrange it. Should I reserve a bedroom for you too?”

  Anna shook her head. “Not the first time. Well, maybe. Yes. Please do.”

  Carlotta giggled. “Don’t take this as an insult, but I sincerely doubt that you can seduce him, Anna. He seems a very cold fish.”

  “First, he has been twice married and a widower for the last eight years,” Anna said, raising her index finger. “Second, he visits here to be in the company of women, he looks at them, but he fears any intimate contact that might put his career at risk.” She added her middle finger to the count. “Third, he has a thirteen-year-old daughter who would be ruined by a scandal,” she said, wiggling three fingers. “If I explain to him that I am in similar circumstances and that I find him attractive, I doubt that he’ll refuse my proposal.”

  Carlotta rubbed her hands together gleefully. “This is a whole other side of you that I never expected. I think we’re going to be very good friends. I’ll arrange a meeting with you and Senator Rucker as soon as possible.”

  “Thank you. But would you mind holding off until after the Inauguration?”

  “No, not at all. Are you also attending the public Inaugural events?”

  “Yes. Would you like to come along? Nancy will be with me during the day.”

  “I’d love to go with you and I’m eager to meet Nancy. She sounds like someone I’d like.”

  “I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like Nancy. Anyone that knows her, that is.”

  March 4, 1853

  Washington, D.C.

  Snow was falling on the East Portico of the Capitol as Chief Justice Roger Taney adm
inistered the oath of office to President Franklin Pierce. On religious grounds, Pierce had refused to swear on a bible and instead affirmed the oath.

  “I’m freezing,” Anna said through chattering teeth.

  “You should have dressed warmer.” Nancy put her right arm around Anna.

  Carlotta moved to Anna’s right and added her arm above Nancy’s, then moved her umbrella to cover them all, as the new President stepped to the podium to begin his speech. “We can’t leave now,” Carlotta whispered to Anna. “It’s too crowded.”

  Anna shivered. “I know.”

  “My Countrymen,” Pierce said. “It is a relief to feel that no heart but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sorrow over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for others rather than desirable for myself.

  “The circumstances under which I have been called for a limited period to preside over the destinies of the Republic fill me with a profound sense of responsibility, but with nothing like shrinking apprehension. I repair to the post assigned me not as to one sought, but in obedience to the unsolicited expression of your will, answerable only for a fearless, faithful, and diligent exercise of my best powers. I ought to be, and am, truly grateful for the rare manifestation of the nation's confidence; but this, so far from lightening my obligations, only adds to their weight. You have summoned me in my weakness; you must sustain me by your strength. When looking for the fulfillment of reasonable requirements, you will not be unmindful of the great changes which have occurred, even within the last quarter of a century, and the consequent augmentation and complexity of duties imposed in the administration both of your home and foreign affairs.”

  “Double talk,” Anna said, under her breath.

  “Where’s the Vice President?” Carlotta murmured.

  “Cuba,” Anna hissed. “He’s very ill and hoping the warm weather will cure him. My sources say it’s too late.”

  “Shh.” Nancy squeezed Anna. “It’s almost over.”

  “We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis,” Pierce was saying. “Wise counsels, like those which gave us the Constitution, prevailed to uphold it. Let the period be remembered as an admonition, and not as an encouragement, in any section of the Union, to make experiments where experiments are fraught with such fearful hazard. Let it be impressed upon all hearts that, beautiful as our fabric is, no earthly power or wisdom could ever reunite its broken fragments. Standing, as I do, almost within view of the green slopes of Monticello, and, as it were, within reach of the tomb of Washington, with all the cherished memories of the past gathering around me like so many eloquent voices of exhortation from heaven, I can express no better hope for my country than that the kind Providence which smiled upon our fathers may enable their children to preserve the blessings they have inherited.” He stepped back from the podium and raised his hands to wave at the assembly.