"I would save the Union…If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that."
"A husband and wife may be divorced…but the different parts of our country cannot…Intercourse, either amicable or hostile must continue between them."
~ Abraham Lincoln
"We just sent supplies," Lincoln defended, sitting upright in his desk chair. "They fired the first shots. I'm only authorizing the necessary response."
"Recruiting," America bit out the word like a curse. "You can't do this. I don't want all this fighting. I don't want to have to sit and watch my people kill each other."
"It's war, America," Lincoln responded, lacing his fingers in front of him. "This is what happens. People fight, and people die. We need to fight back if we want to win."
Minutes passed, before the blond replied. "Four more states seceded," he stated, feeling his voice crack and hating it. "There are riots everywhere in Baltimore. The border states are a mess."
"I know," his president remarked, trying his best to be assuring.
"Troops are all over the place. They aren't organized."
"I know," Lincoln released an empathetic sigh.
"They're going to kill themselves," America continued, swallowing uneasily.
"I know," was Lincoln's only response.
America frowned, turning to look out of his favorite window. He wished he could stand beside it as he used to.
"Forward to Richmond!"
"On to Washington!"
America watched the two sides face off, before clattering against each other. Neither knew what they were doing, neither was properly trained. But they were both hopeful, fired up, ready to fight and do damage. Equally matched, in passion and naivety.
And then came a third force. For the South—the enemy? No, both sides were his. He cared for them both. Why were they doing this to him?
"Look, there is Jackson with his Virginians, standing like a stone wall against the enemy!" an enthused shout went out.
Jackson, here? What? Stone…wall…
Jackson was dead, wasn't he…?
The Union soldiers were driven back in a panic. Foolish watchers on the sidelines were trampled. Franticness, shouts, shots. America didn't want to see this. He closed his eyes, tried to cover his ears. But the sounds and images still reached him, still tugged at his heart.
"Stop!" he shouted. To the South, or to the North? To no one? To everyone? He didn't know. They didn't listen. He wasn't surprised.
"America!" Lincoln called, shaking him by the shoulders. The young Nation blinked: once, twice. And then became aware that he was in the Oval Office with his president, not out on the battlefield. That made sense. He couldn't walk, so how would he have gotten there?
"Yes?" he questioned, watching with increasing apprehension as Lincoln readied himself to relay news. Good or bad? He couldn't help but wonder how any news could be good at a time like this.
"The South managed to push back our forces. But they didn't make it to the capital, and causalities were light." Lincoln sat, waiting for a reaction from the younger man
Good then. If any causalities could be good. Little changed, just the start…
"Okay," he responded finally, letting his head fall back. It felt too heavy for his neck.
"I've begun working about a new plan of action. We'll blockade the South, and start by taking control of the Mississippi. McClellan…"
His brain felt weird, numb almost, and his eyes kept sliding shut. Buzzing filled his entire frame.
"Why didn't you push harder? You had the upper hand, you should've followed through. But still…we showed them we're a force to be reckoned with!"
"Why did you run? What are you, cowards? Letting them get ahead like that!"
America jerked up, heart thudding rapidly against his chest. What the hell was that?
"England will help us. You know he will. He'll need our trade. You'll need our supplies"
"No, that's a lie. We don't need your supplies. He doesn't need you."
"America?" Lincoln rushed over, concerned.
America felt sick. What was going on? What were these voices? And…which was right about England? When had he last seen the older man? The sweat felt cold as it dripped down his spine, leaving a trail of numbness in its wake. His throat wouldn't form words.
When the younger Nation didn't respond immediately, Lincoln extended a hand, checking the boy's forehead. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost?"
What could he say? That he was hearing things? He didn't need Lincoln thinking him mad, on top of everything else.
"Nothing," he lied. Raising an arm to scratch behind his head, he tried his best at a reassuring smile. Even he could tell how fake it must look.
"America, if there's something wrong, you can—" Lincoln began, only to be cut off.
"There isn't," the blond assured, with an odd sudden vehemence to his tone. But it didn't sound convincing, more like a child whole-heartedly defending their point of view on a matter beyond their understanding. Lost, but determined.
Still, Lincoln didn't push the matter, merely returning to his work. Politics and life went on, it seemed. Even if America felt like his world was ending.
Historical Notes: Lincoln, while denying the legality secession, admitted that he would not attempt to reclaim the federal property seized by the Confederates in the deep South. Only two strongholds, Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens remained in Union-favoring hands. Many did not want to lose these positions without a fight, but Lincoln was reluctant to use force. When he sent supplies to Fort Sumter in April 1861, the Confederates opened fire on the fort before the ships could arrive, forcing its surrender. In response, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers. Angered, four states—Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee seceded. Mob aggression broke out in Baltimore, not subdued until Union troop intervention.
The Union had more people than the South (9 million to 3.5 million) and controlled most of the nation's factories—including those for weaponry—as well as the Nation's merchant marine and navy. They also had a better railroad system. However, they were unable to handle all the recruits. The initial army with it's 13,000 officers and men had difficulty absorbing the 186,00 who had joined by summer. Slipshod regiments were organized locally by the state, and a good military leader was difficult to find in the first part of the war. Lincoln didn't believe in powerful presidents. He spent a long time deliberating, but once his mind was made up, he stuck to it.
The Confederacy felt the North was too dependent on Southern materials to keep up support for the war, and believed that Britain would free their blocked markets as they produced ¾ of the world's cotton. They also were fighting on the defensive and had better military leaders than the North. But they had to create a new government. To make things easier, they maintained most of the old system, apart from increased sovereignty for the states, a show of the states rights view point for which they had left the Union. However, this led to disharmony, the States often disobeying the government even on military matters. Their military recruitment was just as scattered as that of the North. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, was a humane slave owner. Intelligent and courageous, but impatient with dull-witted people and prone to holding grudges. He wasn't a gifted military leader, and was very opinionated and reluctant to secede. However, luck was on their side, and they quickly found a genius military leader in the form of Robert E. Lee.
At the Battle of Bull Run, General Irvin McDowell attacked a Confederate troop of equal size under Pierre G. T. Beauregard. Victory for the North seemed certain until another Confederate troop under Thomas J. Jackson arrived. The Unions soldiers fled to Washington in a panic, trampling those that had been foolish enough to come and watch the battle. Even though the South didn't follow through with their victory, their morale soared. The North realized the enormity of subduing the Confederacy.
Lincoln created a new master plan: blockade all Southern ports and take control of the Mississippi (part of Scott's "Anaconda Plan" designed to starve the South into submission). A force would meanwhile be gathering in Washington, prepared to invade Virginia. He appointed George B. McClellan as military leader after Scott's retirement in November. McClellan had experience and skill, and was able and passionate. He had the logic to instill discipline and careful planning, but was dramatic and liked self-glorification. His units drove the Confederates out of the pro-Union western counties of Virginia, paving the way for West Virginia's admission as a separate state in 1863.
A lot of notes, I know, but it counteracts the scarcity of them in the past few chapters. The last especially. And I think I got my mind more straightened out on how I'm going to work this…those everything is far from planned.
just another fma fan: Glad it did, and that you're enjoying it ^^ You're quite welcome! Thank you for the review.