OSPREY…SWOOSH
UO: Hey guys
(Sounds of retching can be heard)
UO: Yeah…I expected that to happen.
Natsu: What the hell happened last chapter? My nose is killing me.
Lucy: (Crying openly) Why did you do this to us?
UO: (Sigh) I am sorry you went through that, but let's be honest…that was the tip of the iceberg.
Grey: Are you F*&^ing king me?
UO: Yeah…Let's see, there's still Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, and Gettysburg for you guys. I think Atlanta and a couple of others for the western theatre. U.S Civil War. Not pretty.
Gajeel: You're a sadist you know.
UO: Hey be thankful I chose this. The other option was World War 2, and I was going to stick you guys in the Western Theatre.
Lucy: That doesn't sound so…(UO Shows Opening scene of Saving Private Ryan) OH GOD! (Runs and throws up)
UO: Any other complaints? (Sees the cast shake their heads.) Good! Disclaimer!
Grey: UnitedOsprey1991 doesn't own Fairy Tail only the plot. He makes no money and wants to tell the story of his country's greatest conflicts through his own interpretation. He also means no disrespect to the dead or the men who defend our country.
UO: Thank you, this chapter is mostly behind the scenes development away from the battle
Normal: Talk
Bold: Yelling
'Italics': Thoughts
Telegrams orders and locations and Time
Journal entries and letters
Chapter 11: Fallout and Emancipation
Union Camp September 18th X1862, Dawn
When we last left the Fiore Civil War, the Battle of Antietam had taken place. With the ferocity and the carnage of the previous day, the survivors seemed shellshocked from the amount of violence seen. The moans of those injured were combined with those who had their limbs amputated which resulted in a long and very sleepless night. Many fell ill from seeing their comrades dead or dying. Among those feeling the effect was Natsu's unit especially after getting caught up in the fire that occurred in the Cornfield. They were back under General Conbolt's command after they were separated prior to the fighting. After reporting with the commander and an apology, they were let off, mainly due to the chaos of the fighting
Natsu staggered out of his tent, sleep deprived from the restless night. He sat in front of the fire stoking it a little bit. Looking around his particular camp, he was the only one awake and considering the day they had, they didn't blame anyone. He rubbed his eyes and looked down. Flashes of what happened the previous came through his head and if he had anything in his stomach, he would have vomited. The carnage, the flames, the blood. He didn't sign up for this, none of them did. All he wanted to do was fight for his country. That wasn't war he experienced, that was barbarism.
Looking to his right, he saw his journal he had brought out of his tent. Taking the pen with shaky hands, he began to right.
September 18th, X1862
The battle yesterday…words cannot describe it. I swore I saw the Gates of Hell. People dying all around me. Could not do anything to save my allies or my enemies. We got separated from our Corps in an effort to scout. We nearly burned to death in the Cornfields. Mother, Father, Wendy, if you saw what I saw, you would take me away and make sure I never left home. If it weren't for my friends…I don't know what would happen.
He closed the book and place his pen in the sleeve and leaned on his hands which were in a prayer position. This was the position Lucy found him.
"Natsu?" Her gentle voice snapped him out of his depressing thoughts.
"Lucy. You are awake. How are you feeling?" Natsu asked with a forced smile.
She walked over and sat down on the log next to him. "You do not have to hide your feelings."
Natsu dropped his smile and looked away. "I…I am still shook up about yesterday. God Lucy, what in the God's Green Earth was that yesterday?"
Lucy took his hand. "We are still here. You save me, you came back for me. We are alive thanks to you and Colonel Scarlet."
"But not everyone in our regiment survived. You heard the roll call. Ten People dead. Ten people not going to see their families again. And more than likely we won't be able to identify their bodies! How am I supposed to get them home!?" Natsu said standing up abruptly.
Lucy chewed her lips. "I guess, if you want to look at it…they are the lucky ones." She said.
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked curiously
Rather than saying anything, Lucy took his hand and led them through the camp towards the back. As they got closer they saw sheets that gave a vaguely human appearance. Natsu gulped at the implications.
Lucy pulled back a tent flap and Natsu had to fight down his stomach. Men were missing arms, legs, eyes and they all look like death was coming to them. A muffled scream from another tent confirmed what they heard.
"Medicine is not an exact science. With these wounds, the best way to help is to amputate the limbs. Unfortunately, we have no way of numbing the pain so its quite brutal. Even then…I counted sixty people in here yesterday with various limbs cut off. I only see about 35 or so."
Natsu looked at Lucy and widened his eyes at the implications. Lucy looked back into the tent. "I prayed for them last night. I don't think any of them will see the Day of the Lord." She said with a sad voice."
Natsu looked back into the tent and quietly walked away, his last image of a doctor covering another dead soldier.
Walking back to their camp, they could see Col. Scarlet barking out orders and his unit begrudgingly following them.
"Colonel? What is going on?" Natsu called out.
Erza turned to Natsu. "Sergeant Dragneel. Off doing who knows what with Miss Heartfillia?" She smirked at the blustering couple who uttered denials.
"Colonel. As much as you want to interfere with our private life, we were not doing any funny business as you put it. We…were visiting the medical tents."
Erza sighed. "Not a pretty sight. And unfortunately, you got to see those who got to come back to our side. We have orders to go back onto the field and…recover and bury the dead."
Natsu and Lucy widened their eyes. "What about the Confederates?" Natsu asked.
"Orders from the top say we have an improvise truce with them. We are to recover the bodies and either wrap them up to be sent home, or bury them where they lay." Erza replied.
"How would we know whether to send them home or not?" Lucy asked.
Erza shook her head. "No clue. Just…please stay out of the way, this is going to be exhausting and more importantly dirty work."
Lucy gulped, figuring what that entailed. Silently she fell in line with the rest of the group as they headed towards the battlefield. The regiment was given what should have been their area of operation under General Conbolt's side. While it wouldn't be as gruesome as the area being called the Bloody Lane, burying bodies was always going to be a task from hell.
The first thing they did was create a large trench for the bodies. As they dug the trenches, the soldiers would take each body that was not positively identified and carried it over to the trench and they buried it, not even knowing the story of each soldier.
Natsu sat down after moving another body, an Enca soldier by the looks of it. "Good Lord, most of these men died and their families won't know what happened to them. None of them had any personal effects to identify them."
Grey sat down next to him. "I guess they thought they would be fighting to be remembered, now they are just a footnote."
Natsu looked at Gray. "What about us? What happens if we die?" He asked.
Gray scoffed. "You? Your too much of an idiot to be forgotten."
"Well thank you Fish Face, your smell makes it really hard to forget you!" Natsu said sarcastically.
"Being remembered is Manly!" Elfman shouted.
"Pipe down you idiots!" Gajeel yelled. Before it could devolve into fighting, rocks moving around caught their attention. Looking up they spotted a couple of Confederate soldiers. Gajeel snarled and went to pull out his sword.
"Gajeel you bastard. What part of Ceasefire don't you get!?" Natsu yelled grabbing his hand. "Can't you see they are unarmed?"
Closer inspection of the approaching troops, showed they were in fact unarmed. This meant they were there to recover any of the Confederate bodies or bury them as well.
"All of you relax, today we are not enemies." Natsu called out.
The Confederates nodded thankful for Natsu speaking in their defense and began to take the bodies of their fallen comrades. By the end of it, both sides must have buried about 700 bodies and wrapped up about 200 to send home. One last glance at the Confederate troops and they all separated, knowing they would probably not see each other again.
Confederate Camp Three Days Later
General Eucliffe sighed as he looked over the numbers. Once he was sure that General Fernandez was not going to follow him, he ordered a head count from all of his top generals. He knew he 36,000 on paper, but that was a shame. Most either bribed their way out or they had begun deserting the army. After this battle, he expected the number of desertions to increase.
A shuffling at his tent flap diverted his attention. "General Eucliffe sir. General Cheney to see you."
"Send him in."
A moment later, the dark haired general showed his face.
"Sting my old friend."
"Rouge, its nice to see you doing well."
Rouge took a seat and the blonde prepared some tea.
"I appreciate you haste in getting to battlefield from Harper's Ferry." Sting said after a moment.
"It is no trouble at all. The capitulation was quicker than I expected. We are more fortunate that our adversaries could not bring their full might against us at the same time. We were hopelessly outnumbered." Rouge commented taking a sip of his tea.
"Yes. We lost about a quarter of our fighting strength. That's based on those we have records. Who knows how many we actually lost, and how many just up and left."
"What was the point of that battle? Matter of fact, why were we in Laylaland in the first place?" Rogue inquired.
"We needed the food. And then our illustrious president wanted a win on Union soil to get Europe to recognize us. I personally don't want to bring Europe into this fight, I want this to be decided between our rebellion and our former government." Sting replied. "Since we were the ones that retreated, technically the Union won the battle. But I feel neither side gained anything."
There was quiet in the tent for a few moments with some noises from the camp breaking the silence.
"What do we do now?" Rouge asked.
"We retreat back to Richmond and prepare for the winter." Sting said standing up.
"By your leave then." Rouge replied.
Sting watched the dark haired man leave and he sighed. "This war I feel is only going to get worse."
Outside Crocus, October 16th X1862, Early Afternoon
Natsu was sitting in just his white shite and overalls playing cards with Gray and the others. With a laugh he played his hand, four Kings, which got the others to swear about the devil's luck. With a chuckle at their cries, he headed back to his tent. On the way, he passed by the colonel's tent and Lucy popped out.
"Natsu, there you are." She called out. She ducked back in as Natsu walked over.
"What is going on Lucy?" He asked curiously. Lucy came back out with something behind her back.
"Well…I saw you uniform. It was a bit, well torn. Here." Lucy held out his uniform all patched up.
"Oh wow! Thanks Lucy!" Natsu grinned.
"Its nothing. Levy and I are busy working on the rest of the regiment's shirts." Lucy blushed.
He unfolded the shirt and noticed something on his left shoulder. It read: "Natsu Dragneel, 2nd Magnolia, Company B."
Natsu raised a questioning eyebrow at Lucy who looked away. "It's just…I saw many soldiers just lying there. No way to identify them and buried without their families to go back to. What if that happened to all of you?"
Natsu softened his look. "Lucy." He place a hand on her chin. "I am too stubborn to die. Besides, I have a feeling that if I died, Fish Boy and Metal Man would make sure I get home to my family." He took her hand. "But I have a promise to keep you know. I promised I would get you to your family and I can very well do that six feet under."
Lucy smiled shyly and looked at her suitor. The two leaned in to try to kiss each other. They were inches away when Erza's voice shouted.
"Natsu! Lucy! There you are!" Erza said in a huff.
"Colonel? What's going on?" Natsu asked saluting.
"We have a high ranking government official coming to the camp. Get your uniform on now!"
Natsu scrambled to get his shirt and trousers on. Lucy looked at Erza. "How important are we talking?"
"Important enough to get the Generals scrambling their men together. Now come on." Erza ordered and Lucy quickly changed into blue dress that went to her ankles and immediately followed Natsu to the center of the camp. There most of the army was standing in line and the regiment took their spots. A few minutes later two horse drawn carriages pulled up, with multiple soldiers on each one. The two pulled to a stop and the soldiers hopped off and saluted the camp. Then one opened the back carriage and out popped a very tall man. He looked older than most of the army by a significant margin but he carried a calm disposition. He was wearing a black suit over a white shirt, black tie and a large top hat. As he stepped down, the soldiers saluted him and a couple of them fell in step behind them.
"Men Salute!" The order came down and they all saluted the man as he walked by.
Natsu looked at the man as he walked by. "Who is that man? He looks like a politician. Thought they would be far away from the battle."
"That's because he is." Erza said. "Gentlemen, ladies, that man is our commander-in-chief of all armies. The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln."
Lucy widened her eyes. "I've heard of him. He was one of the presidential candidates in the last election. Unfortunately, he was not on the ticket where father voted."
"What's the big deal about him? He's an elected official right? Why would they go through so much for him?" Gray asked.
"Its because he is our leader. The president is among other titles, known as the Commander in Chief. Which means that even General Fernandez answers to him." Erza sternly said. She looked back to where the president was heading. "If he is here, it means one of two things. He is either here to strengthen morale. Or…"
"Or what?" Gray prodded.
"Someone is losing their job." She said with some trepidation.
Across the camp, President Lincoln had approached where the General officers were waiting for him. General Fernandez walked up to the President.
"Mr. President, it is wonderful to see you once again. I hope our accommodations are to your liking."
"General Fernandez, a pleasure to see you once again. Please come we have much to discuss." President Lincoln said.
They headed towards the General's personal tent and an attendant brought them tea.
"So what brings you to the frontlines?" Jellal asked.
"Oh me. Well, I just happened to hear of your daring exploits at Antietam. Quite a great battle. You managed to force General Lee to leave the battle."
"Oh that. It was nothing, we could have easily won with more troops, but I feel the battle was dealt with in sufficient course." Jellal said.
"And I keep telling you. The troops you have are plenty. You easily outnumber your opposition." The president said annoyed.
"I am not. The enemy definitely has more troops prepared than we expected." Jellal said gripping his teacup.
"You have more than enough to crush General Lee. You could have easily routed General Lee once he left the field. But instead you took your sweet time and now he's back behind Richmond's defenses. If you had taken the initiative this rebellion would be over."
Jellal stood up. "I am fighting a war here, Mr. President. And I will use my men how I see fit."
"Those states are not a nation and I refuse to accept them as such. I want this rebellion put down as fast as possible, before more men are lost." He said without raising his voice.
"You think I don't know that, just give me the manpower and I can march and destroy Lee right now." Jellal demanded.
The president sat there and calmly looked at his General. "My answer is no. If you can't win with the men you've got, then I will find someone who will."
Here Jellal froze. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying, you are will be relieved of the Grand Army of the Republic if you don't show any progress." The president said.
"You…you can't do this! I've been leading this army successfully for the last 5 months. And for what nothing!"
"As President I can and I just did. If you can't show any progress, then you are no use to this army. Now, I suggest you leave before I have you arrested on treason charges!" Lincoln said as he walked out of the tent.
"You will rue this day Mr. President." Jellal growled.
"I may rue this day, but my conscious is clear. Good Day."
President Lincoln walked out of the tent and sighed. "What a day." He said wiping his forehead.
"What shall you do now Mr. President?" A guard asked.
The president hummed. "Perhaps a stroll through the ranks. See what could be done about appointing a leader. Come on now."
The President and his entourage walked through the camp examined the men fighting to put down the rebellion as he put it. He was met with curiosity and fondness as he walked through the camp. It was about sundown when he made his way over to where the 2nd Magnolia was camped.
Natsu and Lucy were writing in their respective journals when the entourage approached them. Lucy spotted them first and nudged Natsu. Spotting him, he quickly wiped off the dust and went into a quick salute, while Lucy curtseyed.
"Mr. President, sir, uh, you honor us with your presence. Sergant Natsu Dragneel, 2nd Magnolia company B." Natsu stuttered.
"It's a pleasure to formally meet you Mr. President. My name is Lucy Heartfillia." Lucy said with some grace.
The president chuckled as he sat down \. "Such manners. Most of the men here were not as lucky I suppose." He looked at Lucy. "Odd that a fine young lady like yourself is out here."
Lucy looked away briefly. "It wasn't my intention sir. But I was separated from my family a year ago. Some shots from one of the battles south of here landed in my parent's tea room. One of the Confederate Generals had taken up residence. I was outside when those shots were fired. The regiment here was kind enough to look after me."
Abraham nodded surprised at the ordeal she went through. He turned to Natsu. "What about you young man? Do you have anything to say about her predicament?"
Natsu rubbed his head. "Regrettably, it was our regiment that fired on her house. But we didn't know any civilians were in the house."
"Fog of War my boy, you do not know whether or not civilians are in any place. Miss Heartfillia, was anyone hurt in your household?"
"No thank goodness, my parents and my…servants got out and are somewhere away from the war."
"It's okay to say slaves around me young lady. From your expression, you clearly treated yours with respect, almost human."
"Thank you Mr. President. But I just wish they could be free someday."
President Lincoln smiled. "I always believed in either having no slaves or having slaves, not having both. I campaigned for the Senate on that platform. A house divided cannot support itself. As for the Celestials, I hope that legislation can be passed after this forsaken rebellion is over. But right now, I have a plan in place to free at least from some of them, hopefully by the end of the year."
The young couple widened their eyes, getting the President to chuckle. "Don't let it get to far alright?" At the two's agreement he sat up. "Now then, let me find your commander and have a talk with him."
"Colonel Scarlet? She's over in here tent. She's got bright red hair can't miss her."
Lincoln was surprised but didn't show it. "I see. Thank you for your time." He got up to leave but stopped. "You know, you two remind me of when I was younger with my wife Mary. She was from a slave holding background as well but it didn't stop me from courting her. Sergeant." Natsu snapped to attention. "What do you plan to do with Ms. Heartfillia?"
"Easy sir. Protect her and deliver her to her family safe and sound. If her father lets me, I will also try to court her, though I am already doing so."
The president smiled. "Such youth. Take care you two. And survive for your future and your families."
The president walked off leaving the two stunned at what had transpired.
"Did we just talk to our country's leader Lucy?"
"I think we did Natsu. Who knew he was a nice man?"
"Man I wished I voted for him." Natsu said crossing his arms.
After a visit to most of the camp, President Lincoln retired to his carriage to head back to Crocus. On his lap was the very document that he hinted at Natsu and Lucy.
By the President of the United States of America:
A Proclamation.
Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."
Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.
By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
The president looked out the window of his carriage. "There is hope for the future. But whether it's for the Union or the Confederacy remains to be seen.
The Fiore Civil War has proven to be a bloody war, and it's only going to get worst. The President might have issued this proclamation, but to see its true ending, two more years of bloodshed must occur. What will happen? Find out as the Fiore Civil War continues.
END OF CHAPTER
UO: Not my best chapter but I want to get Grand Prix done soon so here's what I got.
Terms:
Emancipation Proclamation: This is the document that allowed all slaves to go free in Confederate controlled lands.
Preview: As the war continues a new general takes the helm and disaster nearly rips the 2nd Magnolia apart. What will happen? Find Out.
Next time: Bloodbath in the mud: Fredericksburg