With the Mississippi captured cats from west an east of the river began to move into Arkansas and Tennessee. However on the coast, the black cats that signed up were going to get their first baptism of fire as they were going into their first major battle. Abraham was praying for them to make it through.
July 18th, 1863, Fort Wagner, Morris Island, South Carolina
The Blue uniformed cats were all in their rows as they were on the beach. Many of these blue uniformed cats were black. A brown tom walked along as he drew his saber. Looking behind all the trained cats he had behind him. He looked behind him as he was happy to be fighting by their side.
"Remember, we march out across the sand dunes and take the battery securing us another island and a possible staging area for an invasion of South Carolina itself. The white general mewed as he outlined the operation. He soon turned to a dark black tom that was holding the flag as it waved Thunderclan and its colors. The brown cat came to the black tom that was holding the flag as he was wondering who would take his place if he fell. "If this cat should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on?" He asked. Soon a black tom with glasses raised his paw as the brown tom turned to him. He stepped forward to the brown tom as he was going to courageously continue the fight.
"I will." He spoke. He soon walked back to his spot as the brown tom nodded as he raised his saber to the air.
"May Starclan be with us and march." He ordered, the unit began walking forward as they were prideful and excited to take the fort but they were walking straight into a trap. Once he saw the fort was in sight, he was ready to dash over and take the cats inside by surprise. "Now… run." He gave the order as drums and trumpets echoed along the beach as they began charging along the beach. The Confederates held up in their forts were hearing the charge as they rolled out their cannons, they had dug themselves into the fort as the cannons began to fire.
The charging cats turned their heads as they saw the cannonballs rain down on them. The first shot fell short exploding, sending a fountain of sand flying, the cats turned to see a black crater in the hole, they were lucky to not have got hit but more cannonballs were coming in. Sand was being shuffled between their paws as they kept running, The Cannonballs were exploding all over the place, sending fountains of sand flying only to have them rain down on them. A black cat charged through the storm covered in sand from the beach. He soon turned seeing some of his fellow troops get flung into the air as a cannonball landed nearby. They continued to charge as they knew keeping their formations tight would be the only way to get through this. The brown tom looked around as many holes were being blown into his formation. He soon turned seeing some dunes nearby.
"To the dunes!" He ordered. They soon began to run in a disorganized fashion as they knew the dunes would provide some cover. They soon piled onto the dunes as more of their troops were getting shot down by a combination of musket and cannon fire. "It's no use, we continue under the cover of darkness!" He ordered, the cats knew they had to sit tight before they would continue down the dunes to take those cats on. The confederates fired as they were trying to hold them off as long as possible. Some of the troops raised their rifles and fired back taking a couple confederates down with them. The sun was setting which meant they can now keep going.
They began to charge out under the darkness hoping their uniforms would help them blend in with the darkening sky but it did little as the cannon and musket fire continued to light up the battlefield. Soon flares and firecrackers were being shot off as they left long, thin gray tails as they streaked across the sky. They continued charging along despite the flurry of musket and cannon fire. They came to a ridge where they began to charge over. The first few were instantly picked off by the withering trails of gun fire as the rest came running down the ridge. They soon stacked themselves onto and embankment as the muskets continued to fire. The brown tom leading the operation soon drew out his revolver as he was ready to move. He soon cocked the hammer as the cannons began to be pointed to the lowest angle they could go. It soon fired as one cat was blown up. The cat was still hugging the sand dunes as he was slowly scrambling his way up but seeing this, he looked up as a musket fired, the bullet entered through his skull and out the back killing him. The black tom looked at him as he turned him over. With emotional guilt, he soon grabbed the revolver as well as holding the flag. Others were watching in horror as their leader was shot dead. The cat stood up with the revolver.
"Come on!" He shouted as he wanted to avenge their leader's death. Soon the cats stood up and began to charge up the embankment. The muskets continuously fired on them as they were nearing the top cutting down many waves of blue uniformed black cats. Some jumped over jabbing their bayonets into their enemy as they kept moving. Some even tried kicking them down the hill but they couldn't contain the breakthrough. Some leaped up screeching like eagles as they charged the cannon batteries overwhelming them. One even thrusted his saber into the enemy as he finished him off. The tom who ordered the charge saw the flag bearer was down so he grabbed the flag waving it around. "Come on!" He ordered as the fighting continued. The black tom with the glasses was looking for a rifle since he lost his in the frenzy. A confederate charged at him as he grabbed the rifle from the enemy knocking him down. Once wrenching it free, he thrusted the bayonet of the rifle into the chest of his enemy. But, another confederate charged from behind him as his bayonet entered the tom's back. The black tom yowled in pain as another black cat came over shooting the confederate, knocking him over, he soon grabbed his comrade. The commander charged out seeing a line of confederates taking position on the hill.
"Fire!" One of the commanders shouted, they soon opened up with their muskets shredding the enemies on the hill but many of them fell down as well. Seeing this, they decided to keep pushing onward. More and more troops were joining the fight as they wanted to swarm the enemy that was going to overwhelm them. The troops saw this as they continued to run. Now was the time to press the enemy onward so they were now jumping into their main positions and using the paths to run along in. The two cats were being evacuated as the others ran along into the positions. A black cat knocked out a confederate with the butt of his rifle as they continue charging through as confederates were steamrolled and knocked down. Soon they were running into a trap as they saw several confederates with their cannons, they ran to take position but the cannons beat them to it, the two cannons opened fire as everything went black.
The sun rose the next day as the Confederate flag was being risen, they had lost the battle despite many brave troops willing to fight, this was a hard bitter lesson for them on what not to do in battle.
Abraham's POV
Abraham was reading his papers on reports as well as pardoning deserters sentences, when Frederick entered the room as he wanted to speak to him.
"Mister president, you seem tired, is there anything that is bothering you?" Frederick asked. Abraham took his head out of the papers as he looked up. He saw Frederick as he prepared to speak.
"Yes I do, the work of a president is never over. The war seems to be dragging further and further on than what I liked, we're making progress out west as we're moving in and Fort Wagner wasn't taken but the good news is that more and more black cats are signing themselves since they would have their families free when the war is over. I think you're a bright light in the room that is often considered dark Frederick. Continue doing what you do best and we can make it through." Abraham placed his faith on his friend as he was now hoping this war could wrap itself up but sadly it was still being dragged on and on, he was hoping General Meade was up for invading the south. Frederick looked at him as he spoke.
"I understand, the work to getting slavery abolished nationwide is being a difficult one and now seeing how we're taking several key points to crippling their economy, we're still facing opposition everywhere we are. We're still a long way away from achieving our ultimate goals and sadly, we're running out of time." Frederick responded. He soon walked away as Abraham watched, it was clear he had a lot more to do but he didn't have the time, it would be another 19 months before someone new was going to be elected into office, would it be him or another leader. If another leader came, it would be unknown on what he did, but for now they had to keep on their paws to see who would come on top.
Patch's POV
Patch had been head of the household for the past 3 years. Mapleshade was sending out letters occasionally to see how he was holding up but Patch was having rough. The price of food was becoming increasingly harder to handle due to how spoiled Petal was being. They were now living on mush made from flour and water seeing how the price of normal food was out of control. Patch went to the door as he heard a knocking sound, He looked out as he saw no one at the door but he definitely saw that the mail was up. He walked over to the mailbox as he soon opened it, pushing the hatch down seeing how there was no mail going out. He soon took the mail as he walked back inside. Looking through the mail, he saw various things, bills, some letters but he also saw something peculiar. There was a conscription note, it was clear they wanted Patch now. Lark came along to Patch seeing how the tom had a depressed look on his muzzle.
"Patch, big brother, what's wrong?" Lark asked Patch. Patch turned to face his little brother as he wanted to bring up the news to him.
"It's the confederate army, they want me too. Haven't I suffered enough with all of the high prices, the war and the bloodshed caused by the riots? Why can't we have peace? Haven't we endured enough for them too? This war is for nothing, nothing but a force that tears our families apart." Patch responded. He knew he had to say goodbye to his family as he wanted to be back He soon turned to Lark. "Take care of Petal, if neither of us gets home, try getting as far away as possible. The enemy is our friends so if you see them, come to them, they'll treat you well, there is nowhere to run but to them." Patch soon got up as he went to pack. He soon took his essential supplies he needed as he left the door. Outside was Patch's friend who was busy helping them out. She looked as she saw Patch was walking out. She was around his age but she knew she was super upset when she saw he was leaving. She decided to speak to him.
"Do you really have to go Patch?" She asked as she had grown fondly on the tom. Patch looked at her as he had to break the news to her.
"Sadly yes, the confederacy is calling and what way to ruin it too, we were about to go out on horses sometime in the future. I wanted to see the country but now they want me." Patch hugged her as she began to weep. Tears were beginning to flow out of her eyes as she was going to miss Patch.
"I love you Patch." She mewed as she didn't want to see him go but it was what they wanted. Patch hugged her as she cried into him.
"I know, I promise I will be back as soon as possible. Take care." Patch told her as he left her drowning herself in her own tears as he left the property.
Patch would be deployed in the Atlanta Garrison sometime later as it was his job to protect the city and the surrounding countryside from the impending union invasion into Georgia but Patch had a somewhat more complex plan, he would head off to join the Union, march into Atlanta itself and try to rescue his family and the lover he had to leave behind. He grew up a lover of the north much like Appledusk before him and now he was seeking an opportunity of joining the Union ranks but those days were going to wait, however those days were quickly approaching.
[A/N]: How do you like seeing Patch for the first time in the past 10 chapters or so? He's got a plan on how to join his enemies and try to march down to Atlanta itself. I know this chapter didn't really focus on much since it was mostly just focusing on a battle that doesn't have to do with our characters but still holds some significance. Will focus on the western campaign afterward, and the leaders will be split into two forces as someone will be relocated soon.
In honor of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment that participated in the battle, I weep for them as they gave their lives to help shape the country on how it is today. Even though the fort wasn't taken, it still makes me happy to see that the country is diverse when it comes to whoever fights and will continue to diversify as time goes on. Hope to see you in the next chapter.
