Confederate America

Chapter 5

Emancipation Proclamation and Entering WWI

It was 1863 and Montgomery 'Monty', the Southern personified representation of the United States or as the humans knew her, General Jullian Jones, just finished another battle, regrouping back in Richmond, Virginia in her home. It was after the Battle of Chikasaw Bayou. Montgomery was pleased as it was a Confederate win. The battle lasted from December 26-29, 1862.

Now it was January 1, 1863.

Montgomery was sitting behind a large wooden desk, bear claws holding it up. Montgomery rubbed the side of her face with her right hand, her left shoulder stiff from the battle. She was looking through some papers. Presidential reports and reports of troops, their battles and supplies.

Montgomery blinked as a loud knock hit the heavy wooden door. She looked up. "Who is it?"

"Quartermaster Sergeant Graves, General Jones! Messenger from the Union!"

Montgomery frowned. What does Alfred want? "Come in!"

The door creaked open slowly and two people were at the entry. Quartermaster Sergeant Graves was a man in his early 30's with a scruffy brown beard and thinning hair, stocky, but was short. He was a good soldier, one who Monty met in the beginning of 1862. Loyal and truly believed in the South's rights and might. He was usually General Lee's right hand man, so she trusted him enough.

The Union soldier next to him was dressed crisply in the Union uniform, back stiff and a official looking parchment rolled up in his right hand. Montgomery scowled at the rolled up parchment. Whatever it was, it was likely going to anger her. The Union soldier was a boy no older than his mid 20's, with barely a beard with pure blond hair and bright blue eyes, strongly built. His rank showed he was a sergeant.

Graves stepped aside, standing at attention, sending her a salute. Montgomery rose for a moment, sending him a salute back. "At ease, Quartermaster Sergeant." She sat back down, eyeing the boy. Graves did the same, narrowing his eyes at the disrespect to his General. He wasn't aware she was a personification. Montgomery spoke. "You have a name, boy?"

The boy stiffened, his jaw working. "Sergeant Knoll, sir."

Montgomery's mouth twitched to the side. "No respect for a General, Knoll?"

Sergeant Knoll was tense, from his face down to his toes. "I apologize, sir, but you're not my General."

Montgomery eyebrow's darted up in surprise at his words. Alfred's men are rude.

Quartermaster Sergeant Graves sucked in an enraged breath, his chest puffing up. "How dare you-"

Montgomery raised a hand, not looking away from Knoll. "It's alright, Quartmaster Sergeant Graves, I can't imagine the Union having any respect." Knoll's face went angry like she expected and she noticed the smirk on the Graves' face. "So, why are you here, boy?"

Knoll went even more stiff. He said stoically. "President Lincoln has written a proclamation and General Jones ordered it to be delivered to you." His face looked a little confused, most likely since her and Alfred had the same last name and rank. And their looks were very similar. But, Jones was common enough.

Montgomery nodded. "Very well, boy, hand it over." She wary to see what Alfred was up to. Looking like he eaten something bitter, Knoll handed it to her. She unrolled it and looked it over. She read the header, 'Emacipation Proclimation'.

Montgomery read it over, feeling her jaw tightening the further she got. The second read through, her molars were hurting. Her head snapped up, hissing. "What is this?"

Whatever haughtiness Knoll carried seemed to disappear. "President Lincoln-"

She threw the parchment down on the desk in rage, standing ubruptly. Graves frowned. "General Jones?"

She growled at them. "How dare he? Lincoln is a damned fool!" Knoll looked like he would speak, but Montgomery waved a angry hand. "Aw, shut yer mouth! Lincoln and Alfred tryin' to take what don't belong to them! We're not the same damn country! He can't decide these things! I know Alfred had a hand in it, just to get a reaction!"

Knoll was pale and Montgomery couldn't help, but feel satisfied. He better be scared. Graves asked. "General Jones. If I may, what is it?"

Montgomery spat dryly toward Knoll, who either went white in rage or fear at the action. "Lincoln decided to free the South's slaves, like-like he has any right to."

Graves eyes widened in disbelief and anger. "He cannot do that!"

"Damn right he can't. Boy, what is the mean of this? What is the cause?"

Knoll finally spoke. "To follow it."

Graves scowled and Montgomery laughed harshly. "Bah! That's not happening!" Montgomery grabbed the parchment, easily crumbling it up like it was a simple piece of paper. She threw it in his direction. "When the South wins the war, you'll pay for this insult. We're not following a single word. You can tell General Jones and Lincoln, they can shove it!"

Montgomery was panting, her chest heaving in her anger and her hands trembling. Soon enough, Knoll was gone, Graves not far behind him. Montgomery let out a roar, pushing the papers off the desk, slamming a hard fist into the wood (causing it to snap straight down the middle) when that didn't help.

She furious stormed around, cursing the Union, Alfred and Lincoln. She sank into her chair, looking around her office with a heavy sigh. From her destroyed desk, many holes in the walls and even one in the wooden floorboards. She smiled wryly. "I really must watch my temper." She leaned her head back. "Alfred, you will pay for this, I promise you." She knew this Proclamation wouldn't stand and the Confederates wouldn't allow it. The War wasn't over yet.

America was sitting in President Lincoln's office, feeling anxious. He sent the 'Emacipation Proclemation' over a week ago and he was waiting for his messenger to get back. He didn't believe Monty would do anything to him, but he didn't know much about her these days.

He was relieved when Sergeant Knoll came in, stiff around his mouth and jaw. America smiled lightly, no doubt Monty did something to anger him. Explaining the situation to them made America give a rare scowl. He wasn't surprised at Monty's temper and rage, but he hoped she would be reasonable about this. This could only end one way, and the numbers were on the Union's side. It wasn't like the war with England, where the Colonists won despite the number of troops.

After Sergeant Graves left, it was only President Lincoln and America left.

President Lincoln eyed the personification. "That was a plausible reaction, America." He was one of the only humans who knew what he and Monty was.

America let out a sheepish smile, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I know." He was a little annoyed at the rudeness of her soldiers. Monty's men are rude.

America walked out on his own, looking up at the cloudy sky, where rain was about to come in. "Monty I don't want to do this, but you won't like the outcome." He was worried about his little sister, but knew it had to be done.

The South couldn't stay seceded from the Union.

WWI: June 26, 1917

Port of Saint-Nazaire

Montgomery stood with the U.S troops in the port of Saint-Nazaire, overlooking the sea in the United States battleship. Which carried 14,000 strong Americans.

"General Jones!"

She was snapped a salute and she gave one back, nodding at him to go on. "We arrived, General. Prepare to depart?"

Montgomery nodded. "Afirmmative." She was dressed in the dressed blue uniform, General insignia on the collar and sleeves. The cap firmly over her head. Her hair was still short, a little longer length than America's, but still short. She was first to walk down the ramp, the troops in two columns behind her.

Standing on the Port were crowds which made Montgomery frown a bit. Their arrival was supposed to be secretive, wary of German submarines. Montgomery still smiled and sent the crowd a wave. That caused them to cheer louder.

As they reached the bottom, Montgomery noticed France and a high ranking French officer. She walked over, shaking his hand firmly. "General Julian Jones." She wasn't aware if he knew what she was.

She had her Colonel address her troops and the french man said. "General de Brigade Jacque Pearvot."

Montgomery nodded sharply. "Yes, thank you for having us." This was said in French. The man gave her a respectful nod, going to his men.

France sent her a smile, his arms open slightly. "Madame Montgomery. Welcome." His hands were on her shoulders, kissing both of her cheeks. Montgomery felt her face flush red, embarrassed. She wasn't used to the European customs. That got a laugh out of the personification of France. Montgomery huffed. Europeans were weird.

France sent her a look. "I didn't know you knew french."

Montgomery put her hands in her pockets. "Louisana, New Orleans. A lot of French settlers there." She looked ahead, inhaling the sea air. It truly was a beautiful place, she could only imagine what Paris looked like. "So, what's the plan?"

France stood next to her, sending her a smile. "You're men need to be trained. When they are, we'll send them with French soldiers to the trenches."

Montgomery made a face of distaste, not liking the idea of trench warfare, but nodded. "Understandable. North should be joining us soon."

France said. "Oui, along with Angleterre."

A couple more plans were finalized, but that was it for now.

A couple of months were spent training the American troops. In that time, both America and England joined them, though England came back and forth.

And on October 21, 1917, the first trooper were sent to the trenches in Nancy, France with french units.

The Americans were green, even with the couple months of training. The English called them, 'Doughboys'. Though others called the English 'Limey'.

It was a torturous business. They were in the dirt, hollows cut out for sleeping. When it rained, the trench would be flooded up to their knees. The winter was hitting, making it even more cold when it rained or snowed. Montgomery hated it. The constant gunshots hit over head, looking to hit someone from their side. The noise drove you crazy, as it could go on for days. It lead to shellshock on many soldiers. It was almost frightening looking at these men. That didn't even take chemical warfare into account.

Montgomery spent a lot of this time cursing Europeans of all kinds.

She was actually stuck in a trench with England, while France and America were in another one somewhere else in France.

Spending about a month on the trenches with the Brit made Montgomery frustrated. Maybe because America was her brother, England seemed to live just to annoy her, scolding her at times.

Montgomery was ducked inside with the other troops, the Germans shooting toward them. England was crouched next to her, gripping his gun tightly. He spat. "Bloody bastards."

Montgomery lifted her head upward with a groan, her ears ringing. "Jesus. Do they ever stop?"

England's green eyes looked at her. "I wouldn't lift you're head too high." Montgomery eyebrow twitched at his slight scolding tone. This is what she was talking about.

Though England wasn't all bad. He certainly had interesting stories or things to say. And believe it or not, they even played cards and they weren't the only ones. England could be heard cursing her under his breath as she won or her huffing and sulking as he won.

He usually would say something like, "Chin up" or something similar.

Montgomery was in the trenches for months.

As the new year was coming and it was January 1918. They barely moved and many died from both sides, both in No Man's Land and in the opposite trench.

England noticed. He arched an eyebrow at her. "You act like you haven't fought in a war before, poppet." Which was a weird name, but he called her that a lot. Or her name, Montgomery.

Montgomery rolled her eyes (which made him send her a scowl). "Yeah, small wars since the War of the Northern Aggression."

They ducked down, firing back and ducking at the returning fire.

England said slowly. "The War of Northern Agression?"

Montgomery's mouth twisted. She was not calling it The Civil War. "Uh-huh. Yeah."

England sent her an annoyed look. "Speak proper English, young one."

She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She didn't speak like he did and neither did North. She knew especially since her South side had different dialects and ways of speaking.

England huffed again, sending her a glare. He scolded her on her rudeness and Montgomery did her best to ignore him. Montgomery went on her belly, taking her gun and shooting across the field. England and the rest of the soldiers joined her.

Montgomery frowned as she noticed the German line about to cross over to No Man's Land.

And like before, here it started.