Stars & Stripes Forever Read Free Page B

of hair, looked out gloomily at the driving rain. "You must remember that first things come first—and the firstest thing of all is this terrible conflict that we are so deeply engaged in. In order to win this unhappy war I must rely on the generals and soldiers. It is a time for a great deal of patience and an even greater amount of sagacity—particularly with this young McClellan, General-in-Chief who is also Commander of the Army of the Potomac, which stands between this city and the enemy forces."
    "Stands is indeed the correct word. An army which drills and drills and gets more troops—and goes absolutely nowhere at a glacial speed."
    "Perfectly true. This war seems to have ground to a halt. It has been six months since the Rebels captured FortSumter and hostilities began. Since then only the success of the blockading squadrons gives me cheer. This year began with feelings of enmity and apprehension. We are building our army—and the Secessionists are doing the same. Since the battles of Bull Run and Ball's Bluff there have only been minor skirmishes. Yet the tension continues to build. This war will not end easily and I fear the dreadful battles that are sure to come." He looked up as the office door opened.
    "Mr. President, I'm sorry to interrupt you," his other secretary, John Nicolay, said. "But the Secretary of the Navy is here."
    Abraham Lincoln was tired, very tired. The papers on his desk and filling its pigeonholes multiplied daily. For every problem that was resolved two more seemed to spring up in its place. He had rested his hand on his head, and his long fingers were heedlessly rumpling his hair. He was glad of the distraction. "It's no interruption, John. Send him through."
    "And the reports are here that you asked for—as well as these letters for you to sign."
    Lincoln sighed and pointed at the cluttered pigeonholes in the tall desk. "In with the rest, Nico, and I promise that they shall have my attention."
    He stood and stretched wearily, shuffling past the stern portrait of Andrew Jackson and over to the marble fireplace. He had his coattails lifted and was warming himself before the fire when Hay left and Secretary Welles came in; the President pointed at the paper he was carrying.
    "I imagine that is a dispatch of some importance that you are holding in your hand," Lincoln said.
    Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy, hid a shrewd brain behind his abundant chin whiskers and exotic wig. "Some exciting and interesting news has just arrived by military telegraph from Hampton Roads." He started to pass over the sheet of paper but Lincoln held up a halting hand.
    "Please then, tell me about it and save my weary eyes."
    "Simple enough to do, Mr. President. The screw sloop San Jacinto stopped in the port at Hampton Roads to refuel and the captain sent this message. They have Mason and Slidell aboard."
    "Now that is the kind of good news that is pretty rare around here." The battered maplewood armchair creaked as Lincoln settled into it and leaned back, tenting his long fingers together. "I do believe that we will all sleep the better these nights with the knowledge that those two are not conspiring right across Europe, causing fierce kinds of mischief."
    "I'm afraid that the situation is not all that simple. As you know, since they escaped from the South and ran the blockade in the Gordon, they have been one step ahead of us all of the way. First in the Bahamas, then in Cuba. We have had a small fleet of ships tracking them down."
    "And now they have succeeded."
    "Indeed they have. However there is a complication. The rebels were not arrested on land, or taken from a Confederate vessel. That would have been perfectly legal during the present state of war. It appears however that they were taken from a British mail packet, the Trent. Which was stopped at sea."
    Lincoln thought deeply about this, then sighed. Like dragon's teeth his troubles did multiply. "We must send for Seward. The Secretary of State