While the Union continued to struggle in the east, out west, Ulysses was making moves as always. In order to try to Vicksburg on the Mississippi river, he decided to make a series of risky and bold movements. First, he sent Grierson on a cavalry raid which was inconclusive on the former but successful on the latter. Then he decided to move Sherman's army to the north east to try to confuse the enemy. John Pemberton who was in charge of the Vicksburg garrison was confused whether or not Sherman had plans to attack him but he was missing what the true intentions were. Then aided by 7 ironclads and 3 troop boats, Ulysses raced his army south to try to cross the Mississippi.

"General Grant? Are you sure you want to move your army straight to Vicksburg, they will most likely have supplies coming in." One of the toms suggested. Ulysses soon got an idea, he began to strategically move northeast in an attempt to disrupt any supply line heading to Vicksburg. He also attacked the city of Jackson to defend his rear from any Confederate attacks. He soon moved west, pushing the enemy westward after a couple more battles, the enemy was trapped in Vicksburg but their defenses became hardened as Grant and Sherman were forced to settle in for a siege, upon this time they got bored.

"Whiskey anyone." Ulysses asked holding out two bottles of whiskey. Sherman began reading the battles on which Ulysses took part in as he made it this far. Grand Gulf was the first on 29th of April, then Synder's Bluff from the 29th to the 1st of May, Port Gibson on the same day, After 11 days of travel, he engaged them at Raymond on the 12th and part of the army defending her rear attacking Jackson on the 14th, Ulysses pushed onward attacking the cats trying to head out of their defenses trying to encircle him. Champion hill was one position they attacked on the 16th then Big Black River Bridge on the 17th, finally they were trapped in Vicksburg under the siege.

"Well it sounds like you had quite the adventure General Grant." William responded as he was more than willing to share a shot or two.


Abraham's POV

Abraham was still writing down the things he needed as he was still pardoning deserters death sentences. John Pope came with the reports as he was still running the messages from the armies to Washington D.C. as he approached him.

"President Abraham, General Grant has reached Vicksburg and has the city." John mewed as he wanted to report it. Abraham was surprised as one of his generals was making progress. Abraham spoke.

"Wait, General Grant took Vicksburg, then that means the Mississippi river is ours." Abraham mewed with excitement but John looked at him as he was completely wrong.

"That's what I didn't mean mister president. General Grant has reached Vicksburg and has the city under siege." John mewed as although he didn't take it, he had it trapped their forces in the city. Abraham was just as excited.

"I don't really know this General Grant that much but I love him already, tell him to hold firm." Abraham told him. Even though Grant didn't take the city directly, he was just as excited that he had the city surrounded. It would only be a matter of time before the Mississippi was in their paws.


Unknown POV

Around this time, the cats in the north western section of Virginia that had remained loyal to the union throughout finally broke away to form their own state. The cats were debating on what to name it.

"Okay we just broke away from the cruel confederacy and we needed a name for our state." The leader of all of the cats mewed as he needed a name for their state. The cats looking began thinking of their suggestions as they were ready to start calling them out.

"Let's name it left Virginia." One of them called out as they wanted to seem to be the left of Virginia. Left Virginia didn't really make much sense as one of the older cats looked up as he spoke.

"Left Virginia? That sounds a little silly. Seeing how left is west and we have states like North and South Carolina, it seems fair we name our state in the directions of the compass instead of up, down, left and right. So let's name the state instead of Left Virginia, it should be West Virginia." The older cat spoke. Soon the cats cheered as West Virginia would soon become its own state. The cats loved it as they knew now that they had their own state.


Abraham's POV

Abraham was busy talking to Frederick and Ambrose as they were discussing on what to do next when Winfield entered the room.

"Abraham, we need to pick a new general." Winfield expressed his concern to him as he soon lead the president off as the last two generals didn't do as good as he hoped for. Abraham turned to Ambrose and Frederick.

"I'll be back you two." Abraham spoke to the two of them as he walked off. The two nodded as they watched the president walk away. Abraham soon arrived at a personal room with Winfield who had the files of the generals again.

"We need a new leader of the army of the east. I wonder if you can choose a suitable one that would be up for the challenge." Winfield mewed as he wanted Abraham to find a general up for the challenge. Abraham sorted through the files as he saw that there were no good generals to choose from.

"Oh my goodness! Why do all these 19th century generals look so bust?" Abraham asked as he looked through the files as he saw no one he liked. Winfield looked on as he watched Abraham sort through the files looking at the pictures. "Look we got Sleepy eyes Joe here." He began as he tossed the file out as he looked at the next one. "That's Princess Leia with a mustache." He soon tossed the file out as he looked at the next one seeing he was somewhat grossed out about it. "E.T phone the doctor!" Abraham tossed the file out as he soon saw a scrawny gray tom with scruffy fur on his muzzle. Abraham soon found someone with some sense of leadership. "Fine, why don't we give Snapping Turtle Mcgee here a shot?" Abraham soon chose that cat to be the leader of the army of the east. And he knew it was a crucial time in doing so.

Later, the tom that Abraham had chosen had finally arrived in Washington D.C. as Abraham looked out; thinking he finally had a general that could get the job done.

"Hello, my name is George Meade, and you want me in charge of the new army of the east?" George asked the president. Abraham looked at the scrawny cat as he soon spoke.

"Yes I do, my other three generals were ineffective at doing their job so I chose you on how you can get your job done. I hope now I finally had a general that would lead us to victory, don't let me down." Abraham mewed as he was ready to choose him as the new leader. George knew he was up for the challenge but he knew that he needed to find out what the confederates were up to. Harriet soon appeared from the brush as she looked out as she saw the two of them talking.

"I bet I can be some assistance to the cause. I sense things are going to be rough and I can figure out what is going on." Harriet soon spoke; the two cats turned their heads as they were looking at the black she-cat wondering what was there for her to do.

"What can you do for us missy?" Abraham asked as he was wondering what she was capable of. Harriet began to think when she realized what she was up for. She spoke.

"I can go spy on them and gather their information if you wish." Harriet responded. Abraham was surprised a bit as he looked at her sensing she could have potential beside being just a cook. Abraham knew he needed something to happen if they were going to survive.

"Okay, if you can figure out what the confederates are up to, I can allow you to keep the spying up." Abraham told her as Harriet nodded. Soon she was sent out with another spy as they both galloped off to the front lines.


Robert's POV

Robert and Mapleshade were busy making preparations when the President of the Confederacy had arrived. Jefferson turned as he went front and center to speak with Robert.

"General Lee, I wish to speak to you." Jefferson addressed the general. Robert turned as he wouldn't be gone long. The two of them walked off as Robert was wondering what the president needed.

"What is it that you need mister president?" Robert asked as Jefferson cleared his voice. He soon spoke to the president as he was ready to express the situation.

"Yes I do, so far we've been doing well in terms of military progress but the economy is crumbling. I looked out this morning as I saw riots on the streets are soaring as the price of bread is still continuously going up. We're running out of supplies and fresh cats to fight on the front lines. I want to send some cats west to try to rescue the besieged forces in Vicksburg." Jefferson explained as he wanted to liberate the forces trapped in the town on the Mississippi river. Robert thought about this but he completely disagreed. He soon spoke in his response.

"There's nothing we can do about Vicksburg, our only hope is if we invade the north, and take the capitol, the demoralized north would surrender, even though we're racking up victories, it's not the victories I am looking for. All I want is for the north to be completely crushed and unable to fight back. I do agree on the first part but we need all the cats we can muster since we are going to go on the attack. If we would win, D.C. can fall. The longer this war drags out, the worse our chances will be." Robert mewed as he was chasing for that victory instead of holding out and defeating the attackers, he wanted to go in and attack the defenders to see if he can kick the bee hive down without aggravating the swarm. Jefferson knew Robert was taking a big risk by invading the north again as they got such a bloody nose at Antietam and he didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

"It's your call; we need to prepare several forces in the meantime if we are going to follow along with your plan. I hope you can go in there and devastate their army and morale to the point they surrender, I'm counting on you Robert." Jefferson soon turned and walked away. Robert watched the president walk off as he knew he needed to restructure the command system. Robert walked off as he wanted to hold a meeting as he wanted a new second in command for the army.

Robert soon stacked some crates up high as he was ready to call this meeting out. There was sense of amplifying his voice loud enough but he definitely informed his army ahead of time. Robert looked over his group as he soon spoke.

"All Confederate cats under my command, can I please have your attention." Robert began. All the cats turned their heads up to him as he began to speak. "I know I've been putting this off for a while but I have two things that I wish to get off my chest before we make any further moves. First off, we're planning on invading the north and we get their capitol, we can win the war." Robert mewed as he knew that was what his plan intended to be. The cats cheered as they knew they were going to go on the attack again. Once their cheers became quiet, Robert cleared his voice and spoke again revealing the second thing he wanted to get out of the way. "As I was saying, ever since the death of second in command Stonewall Jackson, I've been contemplating on who his replacement will be but I knew one little Calico cat was brave enough to keep the spirit of the Confederacy fighting even if she doesn't have a single clue on what we are fighting so I'm placing her in command of the army. Mapleshade, step up if you please." Mapleshade went to Robert silently as she soon got to the crates as Robert looked down on her. "Mapleshade, with your skills in combat over these last few years, I'm promoting you to second of command of the confederates under my control. I hope your bravery serves us well especially now since we are just finished with making our preparations to invade the north the second time. I made my promise to Thomas before he died that we will make D.C. fall, if we don't, we'll run out of steam. It is up to us and us alone to coordinate the attack." Mapleshade nodded as she turned to walk to the new horse she was assigned, it was Thomas' horse before but Mapleshade will now be riding it. Robert smiled as he mounted his horse.

"You ready for this?" Mapleshade asked with confidence at another high. Robert turned his head as he spoke.

"Yes I am. Let's go get us some." Robert responded as their army began moving. They would once again invade the north, fighting their way through Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Meade set out to fight him as this battle was to be the most crucial. If Mapleshade and Robert would win, D.C. would fall and the Confederates would win. If the Union won however, the confederates would run out of steam and would be unable to fight.

And the small town that would get caught in the crossfire of the biggest battle of the war was Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

[A/N]: Going to give us something big next chapter since they are going to clash for another battle and this battle is going to be a big three day one. If you want to see a Gettysburg battle, let me know if you want to see something like this. After this battle, will give Grant and Sherman more attention since they become very important after the battle the next chapter coming up. That's it for now.