Advancing the Cause

By Mark Corrigan

We Americans have always believed in the value and worth of every mam and the right soldier in right place at right right time can make a difference in turning the tide of Battle. The outcome of such a battle could ultimately determine the results of a war and change the course of history. This American Civil War is based on a Twist-of- fate where Confederate Captain O'Neil kills Union Colonel Stockton who could have been his identical twin brother. O'Neil assumes the dead man's place to become the "Trojan Face" in President Lincoln's White House. Just as the original "Trojan Horse' was used to get in the City of Troy to win that War, putting a Confederate Spy in the White House could help win the War for the South. Advancing the Cause is book two in the four book series on the American Civil War. In this book General Lee is taking the War, North and by using Colonel O'Neil detailed information on the Union Army's plans could help the South Win their freedom from the Union. O'Neil is in a dangerous game with Lincoln's Intelligence Officer, Allen Pinkerton who wants to catch him as a Confederate Spy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Corrigan
• Release date: Sep 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370783953

Mark Corrigan

I was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin and raised in the Town of Granville which no longer exists. I graduated from Granville High School and the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. I took a Regular Army Commission after graduating as a Distinguished Military Student in ROTC. I served in South Korea in a HAWK Air Defense Missile Battery before called upon to teach Advanced Marksmanship in 8th Army. I developed the concept of using Sniper Teams to control the same area as a US Army Battalion on line and helped to design the XM-21 Sniper Rifle used in Vietnam. I commanded a Hercules Missile Air Defense Unit in Union Lake Michigan, when I went to Vietnam on my "official" tour I Commanded Headquarters Company of First Field Force Vietnam. I was the Public Affairs Officer in 20th NORAD Region until I resigned my Commission on April 29, 1975 which is the day Siagon fell to the North Vietnamese. I formed Harpers Ferry Arms Company that made Civil War and Revolutionary Reproduction firearms, uniforms and equipment. Using my international contacts that made these reproductions I expanded into making other products for clients and imported them through James River Imports and Development Corporation. During President Carter's years I could not import things cheap enough to keep these companies alive. Year's later my relationships with overseas Companies brought me into the Tobacco business and eventually into trying to help Cambodia become a modern country with major projects in Electrical Power, Oil and Gas Production, Fertilizer and Concrete Plants and the reclaiming of the land as part of the Cambodian Veterans Rehabilitation Program. As Virginia American Management Corporation's Executive Vice President I was within days of signing these agreements with the Cambodian Government when President Clinton who was bribed my the Communist Vietnamese Government, illegally used the North Carolina Federal Court to stop me. For the detailed true life story about all these things I suggest that you obtain a copy of my Book "What Price Justice" Published on Smashwords.com.

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ADVANCING THE CAUSE

The American Civil War: Book Two

MARK RAYMOND

CORRIGAN

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SMASHWORDS EDITION

ADVANCING THE CAUSE

The American Civil War – Book Two

Copyright© 2017 Mark R Corrigan

Cover Design & Interior Layout: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

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Advancing the Cause

We, Americans have always believed in the value and worth of every man, and the right soldier in the right place at the right time can make a difference in turning the tide of a battle. The outcome of such a battle could ultimately determined the results of a war and change the course of history. The American Civil War series is based on a twist-of-fate where Confederate Captain O’Neil kills Union Colonel Stockton who could have been his identical twin brother. O’Neil assumes the dead man’s place to become the Trojan Face in President Lincoln’s White House. Just as the original Trojan Horse was used to get in the City of Troy to win that War, putting a Confederate Spy in the White House could help win the War for the South.

Advancing the Cause is book two in a four-book series which takes in the thoughts and beliefs of the people, and political events that produce a nation so divided that it made the American Civil War inevitable. The Author has studied the Civil War since he was 10 years old. He attempts to answer the questions of why the South felt they had no choice but to seek their independence just as the original 13 Colonies’ of the United States sought their independence from England.

The Author uses actual historical events to establish the timeline in his story while adding insights to the feelings of the people caught in the greatest test for the survival of the United States of America. The Author’s, Books are one of the few sources to understanding the real conditions in the North and the South and the political forces that tested the metal of soldiers, who fought in the American Civil War. When we attempt to change History for current political reasons, we are denying the truths that made us who we are.

Chapter One:

A REVIEW FROM BOOK ONE

Michael Patrick O’Neil became the South’s most valuable Secret Weapon after his daring efforts to smuggle 20 Million Musket Caps from Philadelphia to the Confederate Army just before the Battle at Manassas Virginia in July 1861. The bravery of the Southern soldier and their willingness to fight for the cause of States Rights was never a question. However, without Musket Caps, to fire on their Muskets the Confederate Army could not have stopped the Union from marching their Army to the Confederate Capital in Richmond and perhaps ending the Civil War even before the South had a chance to fight it.

James O’Neil, Michael’s father had moved his family from New York to Colonel James Taylor’s Plantation on the James River in Charles City County Virginia in 1850. Although James O’Neil had an advanced Business Degree from Harvard he had never worked with Black People or Slaves as a labor force he must depend on to be successful in business.

James O’Neil had served in the US Army with Colonel Taylor during the Mexican War. They had lost contact with each other after James O’Neil lost his foot to a Mexican Cannon Ball during the Battle of Buna Vista. The two men found each other years later in a chance meeting with Colonel Taylor’s son after James O’Neil had fought off three would be robbers in a blind alley.

While James O’Neil had mastered the means of using Slaves successfully, the Country had boxed itself into a corner of Slave verses Free States through a number of Compromises to balance the powers of the Federal Government. All the hard fought Compromises between the North and the South became undone in 1857 with the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott Decision. The Supreme Court created a firestorm by Ruling, Slaves were property and as property, the Slaves were never intended to be citizens of the United States, even if they became free.

If the United States had become a house divided against itself before the Dred Scott Decision, no further Compromise seemed possible short of a Civil War. The South saw the Election of Abraham Lincoln as the end of the United States and on April 12, 1861, the talk of Secession and leaving the Union became a reality as Fort Sumter in harbor of Charleston South Carolina was attacked and forced to surrender. President Lincoln called for 90 day Volunteers of his Army and the South scrabbled to equip its Army to defend their Cause.

If the South was ill equipped to fight this War, the North lacked a Military Commander to win it. The Battle in July 1861 at Manassas or Bull Run as the Union called it was a classic example of two unprepared Giant’s accidently meeting on a dark night when they thought they were going to a Sunday picnic. The South may have won the Battle but they did not know how to capitalize on it. The North was grateful the South had allowed their Army to escape and lick their wounds without losing Washington and the War.

Many Military Commanders still believed capturing the enemy’s Capital like Checkmating the King in a game of Chess, would end the war. General McClellan was given that opportunity during his Peninsula Campaign of 1862. However, Michael O’Neil in his role as Colonel Stockton in Lincoln’s White House may have played a major part in convincing General McClellan he was outnumbered by the time his Army reached the outskirts of Richmond.

The War had been going badly for the North with General Jackson running up and down the Shenandoah Valley defeating Union Army’s Generals before he joined General Lee in the Richmond Defenses. General Jackson had helped General Lee push General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac up against the James River at Berkeley Plantation.

Placing Captain O’Neil as Colonel Stockton in President Lincoln’s White House allowed him to develop his Sand Tables to show President Lincoln what his Army was doing. These Sand Tables became even more valuable to the South as O’Neil use the same information to help the Confederate Army learn from its mistakes. Captain O’Neil realized he was perhaps the only person who had the complete picture of what took place during General McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. He knew if he could show President Davis and General Lee how close the Confederate Army had come to destroying McClellan’s Army, they might learn how to win this war even against the superior number of men the Union Army already had. Captain O’Neil was so successful in his efforts he was given a promotion to the Rank of Colonel by a grateful Nation just before he returned to Washington.

Colonel O’Neil had a lot to prepare for as General Lee’s Army was already on the move to take the War North and threaten the Union’s heartland in Pennsylvania before cutting Washington DC off from the rest of the Union. General Lee would also need to know what General Pope was planning for the Union Army’s next Campaign to take Richmond.

Colonel Stockton returned to Mrs. Maytree’s after receiving a briefing by his White House Staff on the current Union Army’s positions and its preparations to begin General Pope’s Campaign. General Pope was waiting for General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac to come back from Berkeley Plantation and support his major Offensive to take Richmond.

Chapter Two:

MOVING FORWARD

Mike found Sally’s letter waiting in his room. She told him about the trip she and Granny had taken to Colonel Taylor’s Plantation and meeting his family.

Oh Mike Sally wrote. "You have such a wonderful daughter, who is wiser than most little girl’s her age. I was surprised Tammy was expecting me. We spent a lot of time talking about you and Tammy’s mother, who Tammy says is watching over her and you from heaven.

Tammy came right out and asked me if I loved you. I was pleased to tell her I did love you very much. Tammy told me her Grandmother married your father and she was your stepmother and since that worked out so well, Tammy thought it would be nice to have a mother again.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am to be warmly accepted by your daughter and all your family. Your father came home and he was delighted to meet me. He told me the two of you had talked about meeting me under some unusual conditions and laughed about me ‘catching you with your pants down.’ He demanded to know how it happened. He and your mother could not stop laughing about it. Your mother told me It would take a woman with a shotgun to catch you.

Tammy insisted on making breakfast for us. She made pancakes and she told me you loved pancakes. I told her my Grandmother made pancakes for you when you stayed with us, and Tammy was delighted that we did. Your brother John Patrick came home on Leave and he took Tammy and me fishing even though the Yankees are still at Berkeley Plantation and no one knows when they are leaving. Tammy is a real fisherman and she showed me how to bait my own hook. The fish were biting and we caught enough for a nice supper.

Your two sisters Jean and Jane told me about their mission to save James Scott Taylor from a fate worse than death when he was about to marry Sara. I don’t think your mother ever heard that story and the twins may have told on themselves." The rest of Sally’s letter went on about how much she missed him and prayed he would be safe.

Colonel O’Neil tucked her letter in his coat pocket and took out his Railroad watch to check the time and look at the lock of Sally’s hair he kept there. It was already very late and he went to the kitchen to see what Mrs. Pickard might have left in the Ice Box from the evening meal.

Mike made a chicken sandwich and grabbed a handful of cookies before taking a bottle of wine to his room. The house was quiet as he ate his put together meal and the quietness reminded him of how busy he had been to get all that battle information on the last days of General McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign to President Davis and General Lee.

It was a wonder how things had worked out almost as if someone was guiding him and helping him find the right pieces to put this strange puzzle together to show the Confederacy what it must do to win this war. He had done it because he was in the position to do it no matter where the help had come from. His only thoughts had been to be able to show the Southern Army what both they and the Union Army had done so they could learn for the experience and correct the mistakes that were made during each battle. O’Neil never expected to be promoted because of it, but now that he had been made a Colonel in the Confederate Army, he felt an even greater responsibility to do even more to help the South win this war.

O’Neil fell asleep quickly and he dreamed about everything that had happen to him since he took that mission to smuggle in the 20 million Musket Caps so the Confederate Army could fight that Battle at Manassas.

Throughout his dream, he kept asking himself Why me? What makes me become so special to be in the position I am in? O’Neil woke up when he started to dream about the real Colonel Stockton and who Stockton really was.

Now fully awake O’Neil realized he had no real idea how rich Stockton really was or who was managing all that wealth for him. That Attorney Goodwin would know and perhaps it would be easier for him to come to Washington than it was for him to go to New York.

O’Neil drafted a Telegram to Mr. Goodwin asking him to bring all the Account Records in his personal Portfolio to Washington. He apologized for any inconvenience this might cause but he had put this off too long and he was not able to leave his position at the White House.

Colonel Stockton gave the Telegram to Mrs. Maytree’s houseman who said it would be sent before noon. Colonel Stockton and Mrs. Maytree enjoyed a late breakfast in the Gazebo where they discussed what General Pope’s plans were, when General McClellan’s Army landed in Northern Virginia. O’Neil told Mrs. Maytree the photos of the Sand Tables would be done that afternoon but he was concerned about her carrying the pictures to Richmond. He had no idea how to disguise or conceal them, as they had done with his Coded Military Intelligence Reports that looked as if they were ‘personal letters’ she carried.

You are right Colonel. She said and she liked the idea of just calling him a ‘Colonel’ rather than having to remember where they were when they were talking. Making O’Neil a Colonel made things easier and reduced the chances of making a verbal mistake. Their very existence depended upon not making careless mistakes.

I don’t know how we could change them to look like something they are not. Anyone seeing those pictures would not mistake them for anything but Military Intelligence and whoever had them would need a damned good reason to have them. Let me think about this and maybe we both can come up with an idea of safely transporting these pictures. Mrs. Maytree suggested.

By the time, Colonel Stockton had arrived back at the White House the new Unit Situation Reports had come in and the Sand Tables were ready for Mr. Brady to photograph them. O’Neil thought about how a picture could not been seen until it was developed and if the photographic plates were exposed to light before they were developed whatever was on those photographic plates would be destroyed and no one would know what had been on them.

If they sent the undeveloped plates and if someone opened them in the light, there would be no evidence they were of any military value. However, too much could happen by accident, before those unprocessed photographic plates reached Richmond.

If Mrs. Maytree was too important to be caught carrying the photographs than someone else had to do it and he was the only one who had a valid reason to have them. He could take them out of Washington and hand them over to one of his Double Agents who could deliver them to General Lee in the field. However, that would mean he needed extra copies and he had already convinced Mr. Brady that all copies would remain in the White House.

O’Neil had watched Mr. Brady develop the Photographic Plates, which were the negatives he used to print the actual pictures. The printing process was relatively simple and with practice, he could do it. That would solve the need to have multiple pictures made.

He still had the problem of disguising the pictures to look like something else or Mrs. Maytree could not carry them when she went to Richmond. O’Neil hoped she was having better luck coming up with a better solution for solving the problem than he was.

That evening at Mrs. Maytree’s party, General Pope was now the center of attention, while General McClellan was barely being tolerated in the same room. Why McClellan had not been replaced as the Commander of the Army of the Potomac few people could understand. Unless they knew, Lincoln and McClellan were both attorneys for the Railroads before the war and lawyers stuck together as a band of thieves, as that was what they were and they had a license to steal to prove it.

General McClellan had been dragging his feet when it came to moving the Army of the Potomac back to Northern Virginia. General Halleck the Union Army’s General-in-Chief had gone to Harrison’s Landing on the James River and met with General McClellan. He personally ordered McClellan to land his Army of the Potomac at Aquia Creek’s harbor and to join General Pope’s Army.

McClellan had argued his Army should be reinforced on the James River, as keeping his Army this close to Richmond was the best defense of Washington. Somehow, General McClellan still believed General Lee was forced to stay and protect the Confederate Capital as long as his Army was less than 25 miles from Richmond.

Based upon Sally’s letter and the reports from Richmond, McClellan’s Army had not moved from Berkeley and there was no indication they were going to leave any time soon. Colonel O’Neil could not believe the South’s good fortune as only a handful of Confederate Militia from the surrounding area were holding McClellan’s Army In Check while General Lee was moving north on his offensive Campaign to take this War into the Union’s heartland.

The longer General McClellan delayed his Army’s departure the Union Army would not be able to consolidate the strength of its Army into a unified Command and effectively deal with General Lee’s smaller Army.

Colonel approached General McClellan and greeted him warmly. What a mess that Peninsula Campaign turned out to be. I surely thought it was a brilliant idea to put an early end to this war. Colonel Stockton told him as he handed McClellan another drink from the bar.

You know I did my best after Lincoln kept McDowell back here to defend Washington. Not once but twice and when I really needed him to deal with the size of the Confederate Army protecting Richmond. The General stated with his teeth clenched and in a voice just above a whisper.

You are right. Having McDowell’s men could have even the sides. What I cannot understand is how the Confederate Army was able to send so many troops to Richmond in such a short time. They must have come up from the deep South as I heard a number of Georgia Regiments were there and that political General Toombs, thought he was running the war. Colonel Stockton added the Georgia General’s name as he had been recognized as one of the Confederate Commanders during the Seven Days Battles and McClellan would know about him.

You would think those Pinkerton men would have known about all those Confederate Reinforcements and where they had come from, but they did not. That’s all they were telling me was General Lee’s Army was bigger than mine and if I attack General Lee I would lose.

"If it were not for your reports on the size of Lee’s Army I would not have believed them. Once Lee attacked me, he never let up. He was like a pit-bull who got a bit on my throat and never let go. He was bringing his Army in on us no matter which way we turned. He had to have a large number of men in his Command to do that.

The way General Lee continued to attack us day after day convinced me I did not have a chance to take Richmond and the best thing I could do is try to save as many men in my Army as I could." General McClellan confided to Colonel Stockton knowing he was perhaps the only one in Washington who was in the position to know the truth about the true military situation he was facing in the Peninsular Campaign.

Under the circumstances, you made the best decision available. If you had not withdrawn your Army to the James River when you did, there is no telling how many more men you would have lost. Colonel O’Neil told him to reinforce General McClellan’s belief he did the right thing. Colonel O’Neil took the opportunity to plant the seeds of mistrust between General McClellan and the men who had saved his Army after McClellan had personally retreated from Commanding the Army of the Potomac.

I have to admire your decision to direct General Porter to prepare the defensive positions at Malvern Hill as he gave your retreating Army a temporary ‘safe haven. O’Neil told him knowing McClellan gave no such order.

If General Porter had not successfully done that, General Lee would have isolated and destroyed each one of your Corps and there would not be much of an Army to bring back to Washington. Colonel O’Neil pointed out and he could see McClellan bristle at the thought General Porter had done what he should have done as the Commander of his Army.

General McClellan could not admit he had not Ordered General Porter to establish that key defensive position at Malvern Hill as to do so would mean General Porter was a better Commander than he was and if Colonel Stockton thought he had done it so did President Lincoln. General Porter’s success in defending his Army would give McClellan the credit for stopping General Lee’s Army and allowing it to assume the strong defensive position at Berkeley Plantation.

O’Neil knew there was nothing like feeding false confidence to a beaten man’s ego. O’Neil could see General McClellan’s mind working with the thought he was not the failure everyone else thought he was. The fact he was still in Command of the Army of the Potomac would further establish in General McClellan’s mind that President Lincoln still had confidence in his ability to help win this war.

Now that O’Neil had primed his victim with a jolt of unsuspected support, it was time to deal with General McClellan’s opinion of the new King in the Union’s Army, General Pope.

Mrs. Maytree and O’Neil had continued to study all the potential Union Army’s Generals, who might be called upon by President Lincoln to win this war for the Union. They believed General Porter was the greatest threat to becoming the next Union Army’s Commander as he had saved the Army of the Potomac at Malvern Hill. He had demonstrated his ability to effectively Command the Army of the Potomac when General McClellan had abdicated the duties of Command while General Lee was mauling his Army during the Seven Days Battles.

They had not considered General Pope to be in contention for becoming the next Union Army Commander in the East. General Pope had been a Command problem while he was under General Fremont in the Army of the West and he lacked any real Command experience since the Mexican War.

The file on General Pope was limited to the basic facts that he was from Kentucky and the son of Nathaniel Pope who was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and a brother in law to Mary Todd Lincoln’s sister. He graduated from West Point in 1842 and he served in the Mexican War.

Most of General Pope’s military career before the Civil War was as a Topographic Engineer in Florida, New Mexico and Minnesota with his most significant assignment being to survey a possible Southern Route for the proposed first Transcontinental Railroad. General Pope had been President Lincoln’s Military Aide until he was promoted to a Brigadier General in June 1861 and he was assigned to General Fremont. His claim to fame in the Union Army had been capturing New Madrid and Island Number 10 in Missouri as the Union Army Commander of the Department of Mississippi during the spring of 1862.

The capture of the Confederate stronghold of Island Number 10 broke the South’s control of the upper Mississippi and he earned a promotion to Major General before Lincoln brought him to Virginia. President Lincoln saw General Pope as an energetic and aggressive Commander who would become the Commander of a winning Union Army now that General McClellan had become a disappointment in his attempt to capture Richmond.

President Lincoln had consolidated the Mountain, Shenandoah and the Rappahannock Departments into three Corps of the Army of Virginia and gave General Pope the opportunity to Command it. Colonel Stockton had met General Pope before he went to Richmond and he found him to be abrasive, conceited and a loudmouth bastard.

However, if he could fight as well as he could offend people General Pope might be a force to stimulate the Union Army into using all its manpower as a highly capable instrument to win this war for Lincoln. O’Neil was not to let his personal feelings about the man to over shadow his best judgment and he needed to know what the rest of the Union Army’s Generals thought about this New Commander of the Union’s Army. The man most critical of the New Commander would be the man he replaced and General McClellan was that man.

General McClellan took the opportunity to express his opinion without reservations knowing what he said would be held in confidence with the man, who advised President Lincoln.

"General Fremont has called General Pope a treacherous bastard as he tried to undermine his Command and have General Halleck remove Fremont as the Commander of the Department of the West. You would not believe how quickly Pope alienated all his subordinates and denigrated the soldiers in his Command. I heard you visited his Headquarters and offered to help him if he wanted to use your Sand Tables. The man will not use them, as his ego will not let him admit he needs help.

Apparently, after your visit, he addressed his troops and told them things would be different now that he was in Command. He as much as called them cowards and told them he came from the Western Union Army where they were used to seeing the backs of their enemy rather than taking strong positions to hide behind and planning their retreat when the enemy attacks. I took that as a slap to my face and all my men who fought against General Lee’s superior Army who could have crushed us if we had not taken a strong defensive position with our backs to the James River." McClellan told Colonel Stockton.

"I must say I do not know that much about General Pope or what kind of a Commander he is. I can only assume President Lincoln must have confidence in his abilities to have brought him to Virginia and assume Command of the consolidated Army of Virginia.

How do you see General Pope fairing against General Lee or even General Jackson who I have assumed has come back to northern Virginia?" Colonel Stockton asked for General McClellan’s opinion.

He will be lucky to survive his first encounter with either man. McClellan stated quite bluntly.

I see. Colonel Stockton said slowly and O’Neil felt he had gain a good insight of what would happen to General Pope’s Army now that General Lee had reorganized his Army and his Army had the benefit of the lessons learned during the last days of the Peninsula Campaign.

Pope has already lost General Fremont; the Commander of the Mountain Department who refused to serve under the man claiming publicly he out ranked the man. But the real reason is Pope was an incompetent Commander and General Fremont was about to relieve him when General Halleck transferred Pope to Command the Army of Mississippi. If I had a choice I would not serve under Pope either. General McClellan stated and there was a round of laughter from those surrounding General Pope on the other side of the room.

Thank you for your honest appraisal of the New Commander of the Union Army. It looks like we are in for a difficult period of adjustment. Colonel Stockton stated. I understand Mrs. Maytree is offering us a real treat in steamed shrimp. Would you care to joint me as I do love shrimp especially with Mrs. Pickard’s Cajon cocktail sauce. Colonel Stockton suggested as he lead General McClellan to the center table piled high with steamed shrimp on ice.

As the two men filled their plates with shrimp, Colonel O’Neil made the comment. "You know General, if I were you, I would act as if you are delighted to be working with General Pope as the new Union Army Commander and keep the comments you made to me to yourself.

If General Pope is as bad as we think he is, President Lincoln will be looking for a loyal Commander to replace him, if you know what I mean?" Colonel Stockton told him.

General McClellan smiled, as he understood what Colonel Stockton was saying. Are you sure you are not a politician under that Uniform? He asked.

Not that I know of, General McClellan. My only concern is winning this war as quickly as possible. Colonel Stockton said as he smiled back and O’Neil was thinking that replacing General Pope with McClellan would insure the Union Army would remain a passive Army and give General Lee the opportunity he needed to take this War North.

If that is the case, perhaps we should join General Pope and hear what his latest boast about winning this war. McClellan stated and he led Colonel Stockton to the circle of Officers surrounding General Pope.

Colonel Stockton, it is nice to see you again. General Pope announced and he did not even recognize General McClellan as being with him and General McClellan just smiled his best smile for all the other Officers to see.

I hear General Jackson is heading north toward Culpeper. Colonel Stockton addressed General Pope knowing General Lee had given that Order after O’Neil’s Promotion and so far, the Pinkertons had not reported it.

Yes, he has but I have already sent General Banks to intercept him. General Pope responded as if he had the situation under control.

That is good to know, as General Jackson is known to play havoc with the Union Army here in Northern Virginia. O’Neil responded, as he would have several witnesses to establish General Pope was already moving his Army to stop the Confederate advance even though General Pope had not made any reports to the White House.

You can tell the President, that General Jackson is about to fall into my trap. General Pope stated with full confidence and the Officers surrounding him looked surprised by what General Pope said.

The President will be pleased to hear that, General. Colonel Stockton replied and O’Neil grinned at the boldness of General Pope’s statement.

Oh, there you are Colonel Stockton. Miss. Dorothy Becket stated as she approached him. I want you to know I have saved my first dance for you and I will not take ‘no’ for an answer. I have also convinced Mrs. Maytree to seat me as your dinner partner.

Why thank you Dorothy. You do me a great honor. When did you get back to Washington? Colonel Stockton responded and the Officers, around General Pope, welcomed the opportunity to change the subject of war to more pleasant things.

Gentlemen, please excuse me for interrupting but I have not seen Colonel Stockton since my visit over Easter. I have convinced my uncle I could help him on his Appropriations Committee now that his Secretary has gone off to war. Miss Becket informed them.

Under the circumstances Colonel, I believe we can talk later. General Pope dismissed him and as Dorothy, lead Colonel Stockton away, O’Neil heard General Pope say. Now where was I when I was interrupted? Oh yes, the victory at New Madrid was assured when I.... Pope was saying but O’Neil’s attention focused on Dorothy in her revealing dress and the fact she might have some critical inside information on what the Appropriations Committee was doing to finance the War Efforts of the North.

I missed you. Colonel Stockton told her. I am sorry I did not have time to find out you had returned to Washington.

Now James, don’t be silly. Mrs. Maytree has told me how hard you have been working and I know you have been out in the Field trying to help General Pope reorganize the Army. I worry about you and the long hours you are keeping, to help the President understand our Military situation. According to my Uncle, who has seen the work you are doing in the White House, he has told me with your family connections you could have stayed out of the War and made huge profits in your companies. Yet you have taken this thankless behind the scenes job of trying to preserve the Union. I do not know anyone who is more dedicated to seeing an end to this war than you are. Dorothy told him.

We do not always pick the role we find ourselves in. Sometimes fate has a way of intervening just because of who we are and where we come from. O’Neil told her.

I cannot think of a better position I could be in than to provide an accurate picture to the President so he can direct the Military to end this War. Everything I have ever learned throughout my life has been focused on achieving that goal and I will continue that job until someone else can do it better. But you are right I should be directing my Companies to help produce what is needed to help win this war. O’Neil honestly told her.

Perhaps I need to speak to your Uncle and find out what the Army needs the most. I have asked my Attorney to come to Washington and update me on the status of my Companies and what we can do to help our Army fight better. O’Neil concluded.

Yes, that is an excellent idea. I am sure Uncle Benny would be more than helpful. As you know, he is on the Joint Appropriations Committee and he is constantly reviewing the needs of the Army. I know from the short time I have been working with him, the Army needs Cannons, lots of them especially the Rifled 3 Inch Ordinance Guns that have the long-range capabilities. Dorothy told him.

"I can understand that. I have seen what the Union Army did at Malvern Hill. General Porter had 250 Guns lined up and if they had not knocked out the Confederate Artillery General Lee’s Army would have swept