America Über Alles

by Jack Fernley

  ‘There I must intervene, sir.’ It was von Steuben. ‘At the beginning of our adventures, when I was persuading the men under me to make this journey to the Americas under the pretence of serving the British crown, there was one person who I entrusted with our safe delivery here, one person who I knew would deliver us to the Americas in the best possible condition. That was Frau Reitsch. From the state of our men, I would think you could not disagree with that decision. How do we compare with other fighting forces you have come across? General Sullivan, how do we compare?’

  ‘You are in most excellent shape, I would allow that,’ he said more meekly.

  ‘Good, I am happy that you would accept that. Then you must agree that Frau Reitsch is the author of our success and has the necessary experience to equip the Continental Army.’

  ‘Well, frankly, she could do no worse,’ said Knox. ‘I think we would all acknowledge that we are dissatisfied with our present arrangements. I have heard rumours of false dealing.’

  ‘Rumours, Knox, rumours,’ interrupted Sullivan.

  ‘There’s no smoke without a fire.’

  ‘Aye, I have heard tales of profiteering on both sides, from the suppliers and our own men,’ added Ewing.

  ‘Regardless of rumours, I see an army in tatters,’ von Steuben raised his voice. ‘Yesterday I witnessed men with no boots. In winter! And now they are out and about scavenging for food – which will only alienate them from the locals. This has to be sorted.’

  Washington now raised himself from the chair, chewed his jaw and spoke: ‘Baron, again you are right. The situation is not as we would like. Given her appetite for this, I am happy to place our quartermastering in the hands of Frau Reitsch. However, I expect to find by spring an army that is fully clothed, fully fed and fully armed. Anything less is unacceptable.’

  ‘To me as well as yourself, Your Grace.’

  With that there was a commotion outside in the town, an unruly noise.

  ‘Alexander, go and find out what’s causing such a racket. I pray it is not an outburst of fighting among the men again.’

  Hamilton exited and a few of the generals made for the windows, but it was difficult to see out through the small panes.

  ‘Baron,’ Washington continued. ‘You have brought to us good fortune in battle and now you and Frau Reitsch inspire us to think differently. Such innovations as you suggest may prove to be bigger wins than the battles we have fought latterly at Princeton and Trenton.’

  ‘I cannot vouch for that, General, but they will lay the foundations for even greater victories in the future. That I can vouch for.’

  Outside the noise was getting louder, whoops and cheering now distinct among the hubbub. Hamilton reentered the room: ‘General Washington, generals, madame, you must come at once and witness this glorious scene.’

  The men rushed out of the door, von Steuben turned to Reitsch and whispered, ‘Conze with the British supplies, I would wager.’

  Reitsch smiled, ‘I expect so. And now we have control of supplying everything to this army, that and its expenditure. These fools have no idea what they have agreed to. But come, let us see how successful Conze has been.’

  Outside the coal-black night was lit by a procession of Stormtroopers carrying burning torches, behind them came the wagons containing the British Army’s winter supplies and behind them came the tired, bedraggled Pennsylvanian Riflemen. The Americans were almost an afterthought in this great triumph.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  They buried Hugh Mercer the following week in Morris Town. It was a celebration of the Continental Army’s recent victories as much as the man himself, the first time in which the military and political leaders of the new republic had come together since defeat had turned into victory. Into Morris Town came Congress and with it a carnival of the corrupt: speculators from the northern towns, aristocracy from southern estates, snake-oil salesmen from struggling townships, mothers with children, women looking for fathers for children, beggars, paupers, men on the make, men on the break and a new emerging class, the political class. Even Horatio Gates had returned to the camp. For once, Washington and his ragbag army offered the chance of success and there were plenty who thought in turn it offered them the chance of a lifetime.

  That evening the funeral party was an opportunity for the emerging political and military elites to come together, many with their wives attached. For the first time, von Steuben, Conze and Reitsch were to be introduced to the likes of John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Charles Thomson and Thomas Paine. This was a time for new alliances to emerge.

  ‘I am told that we owe much to you, madame. The honour is mine.’ Thomas Jefferson, flaxen-haired, tall, elegant, in his own mind, a European intellectual cast into an American wilderness.

  ‘Not at all, it is an honour for me to meet you, sir, the architect of the declaration that set this world on fire.’

  ‘Ah, the fire was already lit. I merely fanned it with my bellows, if you will.’ He laughed, heartily, the laughter echoed by the sycophants who surrounded him.

  ‘You have a rare talent, Mister Jefferson. No ordinary man can articulate the thoughts and passions of thousands of people on their behalf. To produce a mirror by which they may see their own – yet to be expressed – thoughts so clearly and distinctly. I have met one other person with such a talent, but yours clearly rivals his.’ Her tone was flirtatious, and Jefferson warmed to her, flattered by her. He supposed she spoke of King Frederick, but she had another in mind, from a very different world.

  ‘I am again honoured.’

  ‘“We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable, that all men are created equal and independent; that from that equal creation they derive in rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty and the pursuit of happiness” – they were your original words I believe?’

  ‘Madame, you do indeed flatter me. Yes, they were my original draft, but the great men of Congress took out some of the words and added others.’

  ‘Yes, the great men of Congress, all men you say, but what of us women, Mister Jefferson? Are we not to be accorded the same rights, to be allowed the same pursuit of happiness?’

  ‘Yes of course, madame. Indeed, I have within a land bill for my colony of Virginia a clause that every native-born citizen, male or female, should be able to receive seventy-five acres of land on marriage.’

  ‘On marriage?’

  ‘To encourage the settlement of the wilder parts of the colony. However, it is my firm view that property ownership should be the right of both sexes.’

  ‘I am pleased to hear it. But these inalienable rights, do they not extend to the rights of the native Indians? Or to the black slaves that work your lands?’

  ‘They do not, Frau Reitsch. The savage and the Negro, their rights may come later, perhaps when they are educated to a necessary level or hold property themselves.’

  ‘Ah, your republic is based on the ownership of property. That is not a democracy, Mister Jefferson, that is an aristocracy, surely.’

  ‘Pish, not an aristocracy! I abhor the aristocracy—’

  ‘Despite being one of their most prominent members.’

  Jefferson began to blush. He had been expecting a convivial conversation, but this woman was something different. He was not offended; he admired her pluck. He needed to sharpen his tools. Jefferson was about to respond when into their circle broke a stout figure

  ‘What’s this I hear? My friend Thom Jefferson being spiked by the redoubtable Frau Reitsch? I come here to save you, Tommy.’

  ‘Frau Reitsch, this fellow goes by the name of John Adams. He is a lawyer and consequently believes he has seen all the good and the bad of the world. The problem is, he is prepared to offer advice and guidance to both the devil and the angels and often fails to distinguish between the two.’

  Adams good-naturedly swiped his friend’s cheek. ‘Unfortunately, my friend Jefferson comes from our southern colon
ies, where they regard education rather like the African elephant. They have heard of it, they know it exists, but they have no idea where to find it.’

  ‘I presume it would be in Africa, John.’

  ‘Ah, you are learning, Thom. There may be hope for Virginia after all.’

  ‘Frau Reitsch was questioning me about the rights of women in the new republic.’

  ‘I am disappointed, sir, that only men appear to be invited to play a role in your politics.’

  ‘Ah, you must meet my wife Abigail. She has assailed me on this issue many times over the last few months. I am not unsympathetic. However, we are in the midst of war, madame, and it would seem that under these circumstances, prudence would dictate that it is not the moment to open so fruitful a source of controversy and altercation.’

  ‘I would disagree. Now is exactly the time to open up this controversy. Otherwise, I suspect once we have won this war, the issue will be settled. And conservatism will win out and your new republic would be based not on equality but inequality.’

  ‘Our new republic will be based on many things, madame. Foremost, I would imagine will be property, and property will be open to both sexes,’ Jefferson interrupted.

  ‘Property always sides with established power. And emerging power always looks to property.’

  ‘In your Europe, perhaps, but not here, not in a nation where land is almost limitless. Power always follows property, I would argue. Men in general, in every society, who are wholly destitute of property, are also too little acquainted with public affairs for a right judgement, too dependent upon other men to have a will of their own. They talk and they vote as some man of property, who has attached their minds to his interest, directs them. No, from property comes power.’

  ‘Power comes from the barrel of a gun.’

  Jefferson was stunned. ‘I am sorry, madame. What was that?’

  ‘Power comes from the barrel of a gun – it is an expression I have heard in Europe. Those who have the military means hold the power. This land will be led by those who have the strength and the weaponry to succeed.’

  Jefferson’s face had whitened. He was reeling, for there was something terrifying in the nonchalant manner in which Reitsch said this. It was at odds with everything he believed in. She held his eyes with a strong, unflinching gaze. There was no flirting now. He felt her coldness. Calmly, he replied: ‘I cannot accept that, madame. There will be separation between the military and the civil in our new republic. We have already established the principle. Our esteemed General Washington is answerable to our Congress.’

  ‘But you raise an interesting point, madame,’ said Adams. ‘We live in the age of political experiments. I am sure that we are not finished with our experiments as yet – you would agree with that, Thom.’

  ‘I would, but tyranny is one experiment we have had enough of in these lands.’

  ‘Tyranny is one thing,’ Reitsch replied, ‘but the need for strong leadership, that is another. A nation needs strength in its leadership, it needs direction, otherwise it lacks morality. I have seen too many states in Europe fall because of weak men flailing for compromise.’

  ‘Excellent,’ said Adams. ‘This is the source of our disagreements, Thom. You would rather the emphasis in our future constitution lies with Congress. I, however, wish the balance of power lies more greatly in an executive, for example.’

  On the other side of the room, von Steuben, who also had two men in tow, had cornered Washington and Hamilton.

  ‘Sir, I want to introduce you to one of the finest of the new industrialists of Europe. This is my old friend Alfried Krupp. He has established the most advanced iron and steel manufacturing in Germany. You may have heard of the name Krupp. It is famous throughout Europe.’

  Krupp offered his hand to Washington. Stiffly, the general replied, surprised when Krupp held his wrist with his left hand in a double embrace. An unusual and intimate greeting that made Washington uncomfortable. ‘General Washington, this is indeed the greatest of honours. I have long admired you and your many triumphs. What you have achieved is most wonderful.’

  Washington raised his eyebrow. He was hard pressed to imagine what triumphs these might have been. He had taken a dislike to the man. He reminded Washington of the two-faced, moneyed men of New York, so quick to flatter him when the war had started, so much quicker to disappear when the war appeared to be slipping from his grasp.

  ‘I have personally developed a new process for producing steel from molten pig iron in ways that can produce huge amounts of quality steel.’

  ‘Molten pig iron?’ Washington asked quizzically, for he had no idea what the man was talking about.

  ‘Yes. Ah, apologies, you must excuse my excitement. The key problem from steel manufacture in this age – I mean, in the present day – is the impurities oxidation creates in iron. By blowing air through the iron when it is in its molten stage, we can minimise these impurities. In turn, the oxidation raises the temperature of the iron mass, keeping it molten. We can reduce the time of manufacture from over three hours to about thirty minutes, and it uses far less fuel than the traditional processes. So the price falls. And the quality, well. You will have the finest steel ever produced, here or in Europe.’

  Washington looked about him, confused. ‘This is all very interesting, but what, gentlemen, is the point of this information?’

  Von Steuben and Krupp exchanged glances before Krupp replied, a look of surprise across his face.

  ‘Why, weapons, sir. Weapons. We can manufacture you a different kind of rifle.’

  ‘Guns that will give you an advantage over the British forces that they will never be able to compete with,’ added von Steuben.

  ‘My family have been gunsmiths since the Thirty Years’ War. For over one hundred and fifty years, we have led the way in developing the most advanced weapons and—’

  Krupp was interrupted by a loud cough from behind him. Washington looked around the tall German to see a smaller, balding, jowly older man. It was almost as if Krupp was deliberately hiding him.

  ‘Hugo Schmeisser, Your Excellency. I am a gunsmith also. I personally have designed many weapons and I have studied the weaponry at your disposal. I have undertaken a review of the efficiency of your muskets, sir. I had my men establish a target at two hundred and twenty-five yards, and only twenty-five per cent of shots hit the target. At one hundred and fifty, we achieved forty per cent, then sixty per cent at seventy-five yards. And this was with no enemy on the field. These are not good returns. We need better gunnery, more accuracy. And I have the answer.’

  Washington looked at the smaller man and said, ‘And what is this answer?’

  ‘This.’

  He held out a Brown Bess to Washington, the standard issue for the British and the most favoured weapon of his own men. The leader took it and inspected it. ‘You have removed the powder pan and cock.’

  ‘I have. You are wondering what the small, perforated nipple is for, no?’

  Washington nodded.

  ‘Good. We no longer need those flints that are so tiresome and unpredictable. Instead, a small hammer, with a hollow, which fits on to the nipple when the trigger is released. Now if we place one of these on the nipple—’ He raised a small metal cap in his hand. ‘And we place it on the nipple, we will have a detonation when the trigger is released.’

  ‘And it fires a ball?’

  ‘No, sir. The ball is finished. It is redundant.’ He held up a thin brass finger. ‘It fires this, a brass cartridge that is attached to the cap. The accuracy is completely different. In my tests, I found at two hundred and twenty-five yards well over fifty per cent accuracy, a doubling of the Brown Bess’s previous best. At seventy-five yards, the accuracy is close to ninety per cent.’

  ‘With trained men.’

  ‘No, I used some of Colonel Hand’s Pennsylvanians. They were most pleased with the results. After further training, I am sure we will achieve even better results.’

  ‘Mar
vellous, quite marvellous. But how is the cartridge removed?’

  ‘Ah, very good, sir, very good. You have spotted immediately the weakness. We have an issue with extraction and ejection. The Bess does not allow an easy answer to that, I am afraid, but the accuracy of the cartridge overcomes the cumbersome nature of removing the spent case.’

  ‘Even in the heat of battle?’

  ‘In my view, yes. I would rather a riflemen were able to fire five accurate rounds than ten inaccurate rounds.’

  ‘I agree,’ muttered Washington. He liked this chap. There was no nonsense with him.

  ‘But if I may . . .’ Krupp interrupted. ‘This is only the first stage of our plan. There is only so far we can go with the present technology. Our aim is to create for you a new generation of weapons far superior to anything seen before.’

  ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Schmeisser. ‘My aim is to present you with an entirely different weapon. First, it will be what I call “automatic”. The cartridges will be held in a magazine and a rifleman will be able to fire five or more shots without the need to reload. And because we will be using these brass cartridges, the barrel itself will be properly rifled, which will again improve the accuracy of the weapon. But this will take some time to build.’

  ‘How long?’

  Krupp answered before Schmeisser could reply. ‘Well, first I have to build a modern steel plant using the technology I spoke of earlier. Schmeisser and myself have been travelling around the colonies and reviewing the existing steel plants. Although far from perfect, the best we have found is at Boone Town, established by Samuel Ogden a few years ago along a river. It has the benefit of charcoal and iron-ore reserves close by, the Boone Town falls will provide the necessary power and the river can be used to transport everything. And it is but an hour on horseback from here. They have been making iron there for thirty years or more, so there are skilled operatives we can call upon. We suggest that we seize the factory and instal the practices I outlined above.’

  ‘Seize the factory?’