Azariah Martin Book Two: Finding Black Bird

By John Martin

1864 looks promising for Azariah Martin. He has a new title, a new office, and the company of his fiancée, the beautiful and headstrong Mary Foster.

But he leaves it all behind when he’s sent on a top-secret operation to the uncharted West to track down a gang of British spies, codenamed Black Birds, who are working with the Sioux and Cheyenne to sabotage construction of the transcontinental railroad.

Azariah quickly learns that hunting spies in the wild West is a dangerous game, one he’d better learn to play fast if he’s going to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Martin
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215144404

John Martin

John C. Martin was born in a hallway at the Carbon County Memorial Hospital in Rawlins, Wyoming on July 22, 1944. His father was a Union Pacific Railroad engineer, but his uncles were cattlemen, and he spent many summers at their ranches on the Powder River near Kaycee, Wyoming.John earned bachelor’s degrees in business and political science at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and a master’s in communication at Brigham Young University in Utah. He spent four years on active duty in the US Army and served in Vietnam in 1970. He rose to the rank of major and remained in the Army Reserve another thirteen years.He lives and writes in Norman, Oklahoma.

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Azariah Martin Book II

Finding Black Bird

John Martin

Smashwords edition copyright ©2022 John Martin

Published by John Martin at Smashwords. All rights reserved.

Cover Design - Dustin Oswald, PlanetDorshak.com

Cover Art - Dan Carpenter, DanCarpenter.com

Editing and Internal Design - BrickMortarPress.com

This is a work of fiction. All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

AZARIAH MARTIN

Book II: Finding Black Bird

by John C. Martin

Table of Contents

Chapter One: The Canadian

Chapter Two: Annabelle

Chapter Three: Hunting Black Bird

Chapter Four: Strawberry Moon

Chapter Five: Red Wall

Chapter Six: Canada and the North American British Possessions

Chapter Seven: Wind River Rendezvous

Chapter Eight: Harvest Corn Moon

Chapter Nine: The Moon of the Popping Trees

Chapter Ten: The Blanket

About The Author

Links to maps of Azariah’s journey are provided throughout the book. Click here to browse all the maps at once. Maps provided by the Wyoming State Archives.

Chapter 1

THE CANADIAN

06 January 1864, The Castle, Omaha, Nebraska Territory

Azariah sat at his brand-new desk on a brand-new chair with rollers on the legs. The sun was shining through the window on his left, and he could feel some warmth as the rays struck the side of his face. The room was cold, but he didn’t mind. It reminded him of mornings up in the Bighorn Mountains.

He began to daydream about taking Mary to that spot high up on the east face of the mountain that overlooked the Powder River. There was an amazing panoramic view as far as the eyes could see of the high plains to the south, east, and north. It was one of the most beautiful views he had ever seen. He wanted to share it with his love.

Without warning, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Benton entered Azariah’s brand-new smelling, devoid of construction dust and construction paraphernalia, fancy office. His entrance shook Azariah out of his dream.

What’s the matter, Farmer? Charles said. You missing the wild out yonder?

I was thinking I sure would like to take Mary out there someday.

A tall civilian followed Charles into the office. He was immaculately dressed, with an air of self-importance.

Azariah, I want to introduce Mr. Jean St. Jacque from Quebec, Canada. Jean, this is Captain Azariah Martin. He’s my second in command. Lieutenant Jackson Miller will join us shortly. Jean and Jackson have already met.

Azariah stood and moved around his desk. Glad to meet you, he said, and extended his hand to Jean. Welcome aboard.

Jean accepted the offered handshake but did not say anything.

This one is a cold fish, Azariah thought. He glanced at Charles with a What the Hell kind of look.

Before Charles could continue, Lieutenant Jackson Miller walked into the office, closed the door, and took a chair.

Charles waited until Jackson was settled. Jean is a French Canadian. He hates the British. He has been working as an agent for General Dodge for some time now. His most recent position was as a commercial attaché in the Canadian Embassy in Mexico. His primary job was to liaison with the Confederacy in the areas of commerce and industry. In other words, he worked on the transfer of cotton from the Confederacy to England and for the transfer of military supplies from England to the Confederacy.

So what is he doing here? Azariah asked, fighting an urge to dislike Mr. St. Jacque. We aren’t Canadian, and we are a long way from Mexico.

"Jean was General Dodge’s primary intelligence source in Mexico. He put us on to Black Bird. It was his reports that caused General Dodge to consider the possibility there may be a plot in England and Canada to split the Union. He is now our expert on Black Bird.

Jean is here because General Dodge became concerned that his cover may have been blown when his American contact was murdered in Mexico City a couple months back. So he had Jean removed from Mexico. A fake murder was staged. It may have worked; it may not have worked. We don’t know.

Feeling a little sheepish for jumping to a conclusion about Jean, Azariah realized that there was more to this story that he needed to know. He also felt a little sheepish for questioning Charles. He had been miffed that Charles had invaded what he considered to be his territory. Suddenly he felt like his initial reaction had been childish—and embarrassing.

He glanced around the room, wondering if anyone noticed his discomfort. Finding nothing to indicate they did, he said to Jean, Mr. St. Jacque, I would like to apologize if I have been rude.

No need, Captain. These times can work hard on our world sometimes. I do appreciate your concern.

Charles liked what he was hearing. These two hotheads might be able to work together after all, he thought. He continued, "Jean is here to work with you and Jackson to develop plans to deal with Black Bird. By the end of the week, I want to see the beginning of a good operational plan to deal with Black Bird. We’ve given Jean a new name for his personal safety. His real name is not important. Our concern is to keep him safe.

We have an additional concern. Jean has a wife, son, and daughter in Quebec. His wife, Juliette, has been looking after their business since Jean answered his call to duty for Canada. We suspect, but don’t know for sure, that they are being watched. It is General Dodge’s intent to move his family here someday. Until that happens, he is monitoring Jean’s family in Montreal using other resources. He has instructed me that the safety of Jean’s family is paramount. That’s the least he can do for Jean given what he has done for us. Any questions?

Yes, sir, Azariah said. Does Jean have a code name? And is Juliette his wife’s real name?

While Jean is with ISD, he is Foreigner with a capital F in communications that require sensitive handling. Juliette is his wife’s real name. Same for Jean. Their last name is fake.

Charles moved his attention to Jean. If you use Foreigner with a small f, we will suspect compromise or danger. The same goes for Farmer, Captain Martin or GY, Lieutenant Miller, and Searcher, me. Code names will be used in confidential communications.

Welcome aboard, Azariah said. Jackson and I have been hoping that someone with some idea about what is going on would show up and get us headed in the right direction. The good L-T-C has not been a lot of help along these lines.

Azariah’s attempt at humor got no reaction from Jean. Oh Boy, he thought. What do we have here? Our new friend appears to have a lot of starch in his pants. He shot a quick glance at Jackson and suspected he was thinking the same thing.

Jean began to speak. I am sure that you are wondering how I got here, he said. He looked directly at Charles, Azariah noticed. General Dodge has instructed me to help you identify and determine the mission of a British spy network that goes by the code name Black Bird.

He spoke as if Charles was the only other person in the room. Azariah wondered if Jean was intentionally ignoring him and Jackson. Azariah glanced at Jackson and saw what appeared to be boredom.

His initial excitement that finally they had someone who could actually help began to wane, but he listened closely as Jean continued talking to Charles. He described his business dealings in Montreal and identified a business competitor, a British citizen named Sir Frederick Haultain. Sir Haultain had a son named Jefferson. They made doing business difficult for Jean.

Azariah was wondering what this had to do with the price of rice in China when Jean made it clear.

"When I was in Mexico, I attended a meeting about British short- and long-term goals for development of their possessions in North America. After the meeting, I was invited to a private conference where British and Canadian diplomatic personnel discussed a plan to increase the British Empire in North America. This is when I first heard of Black Bird, and it was where Sir Fredrick Haultain was first identified as the leader of that organization.

Later I would learn that Jefferson Haultain was in charge of a spy network that had been operating in the western territories of the United States since the beginning of the Civil War. It was never made clear to me why the Black Birds were operating in the U.S. territories. My opinion was then, and is now, that Britain is looking for an opportunity to seize some land in the western U.S. while everyone is distracted by the Civil War.

Azariah suddenly felt overwhelmed. For the first time, he realized that this was not a game. The cost of failure could be catastrophic to him personally and to his country.

General Dodge is concerned about this, Jean continued. He has assigned me to ISD for this reason.

As Jean talked, Azariah forgot about the mannerisms that caused him to resent the man. The information in and of itself was worth hearing. Jean explained that he believed Jefferson Haultain was leading a group of Black Birds who were running with the Sioux and Cheyenne, and that they had been participating in the attacks along the Oregon Trail in the Nebraska and Colorado Territories for several years.

I believe they have a goal to complete their mission by 1870, Jean went on. Although I must state here that this is my opinion. I have not seen or heard it so stated.

Jean also explained the conflict between the French Canadians and the British. It was deep rooted. Azariah could tell Jean had strong feelings for his French ancestry and felt no loyalty to the British. He went so far as to declare he would support the cessation of French Quebec from Canada. He had considered moving his business to the United States and immigrating just to be rid of the British for several years.

This information was a revelation to Azariah. He had no idea there were still such strong feelings of independence from England in North America.

In addition to my deep-seated dislike of England, there is a more personal reason, too, Jean said. Both Sir Frederick and Jefferson are arrogant and pompous men who act like they are indestructible. These are personality traits I believe we can exploit. We—the Haultains and me—have a long and contentious history that goes back to 1855, when Sir Fredrick first showed up in Montreal.

Jean explained that Sir Frederick had business dealings in Quebec that were in direct competition with his. He used his British government position in a not-so-subtle attempt to regulate, tax, intimidate, and destroy Jean’s business. By 1860, things got downright hostile.

Jean continued, "Some friends, French Canadian members of Parliament in Montreal, suggested that I accept a temporary position in the Mexican Consulate for the development of commerce between Mexico and Canada. They suggested that I learn as much as I could about the Confederacy. Specifically, I was to study the concept of cessation and develop an opinion about its value to French Quebec.

"I had not been in Mexico long when I received a letter from Juliette stating Jefferson was harassing her. He was trying to make her believe our marriage was not legal. The way he talked to her made her mad and scared. She told me she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him, and that the way he acts put her in fear for her and the children’s safety. Jean stopped talking, looked down at his hands and cleared his throat. When he looked up he continued, there was an edge in his voice.

"I have it on good authority that Jefferson is a vicious individual. My personal dealings with him support what I have heard about him. His every action exudes selfishness, deceit and, I fear, a mortal threat. I truly feel that he means harm to me and will use my family if he can.

So, here I am. It will be a good day for me when I get the bastard under my thumb. This is personal to me. Jefferson is one of the more important reasons why I am here. Sir Frederick is British in all the disgusting sense of the term. Jefferson is dangerous, and he is disgustingly British.

Then, for the first time, Jean turned his attention directly to Azariah. You are my best chance of stopping the Haultains, stopping the Black Birds, and protecting my family. I am here to work with you to that end. I will do my part.

Azariah wasn’t sure how to respond. Jean had made it clear that they didn’t necessarily share the same motive. He had made it clear that he was not thinking of the future of the United States. His was a more fundamental motivation, much more brutal, much more real.

A tinge of guilt passed through Azariah’s mind about having been so critical of Jean. Who was he to criticize? The man had valid reasons for being there.

Jean continued. From what I have been able to determine, Black Bird will make a concerted effort to rally several Indian tribes and nations against the U.S. during 1864. They are putting a major emphasis on their efforts to cause a split in the U.S. north and south along the Rocky Mountains before the Civil War comes to a conclusion. They have been actively promoting unrest in the frontier and have participated in attacks against U.S. military and citizens. I have been in meetings where the partitioning of the United States along the Rocky Mountains was the subject of the conversation.

Azariah interrupted. Might I ask why you have turned against Canada?

I’m French Canadian, Jean said. I’m not British Canadian. The British treat the French Canadians like unwanted beggar children. The Canadian government stands by and does little to nothing on our behalf. It just might be that my real motivation is to do to them what they want to do to you.

Jackson asked, Can you guess where this base of operations might be, say within a fifty-mile radius?

Get me a decent map of the British Possessions in the Northwest Territories of Canada, and I think I can do better than that. While I was in Mexico I saw a map of Canada that located the base. I was not able to study it, but I have a general idea where the base might be.

Okay, I have other fish to fry, Charles said. "I want your initial thoughts on how we will identify Black Bird by Friday. You need to think about what we will do to find that base. I want to know what we need to do to identify the operatives in the United States. I want to discuss the assets we will need to complete the first phase of our mission.

I want us to start developing assets inside the Sioux and Cheyenne Nations and in Canada, if possible. Jackson, I want you to begin developing a small but lethal team of operatives. I suggest you start with your contacts among the Shoshone.

Jim Bridger might be someone we can use to get started on a search plan, Azariah said.

Charles nodded. "Azariah, you and Jean focus on where we start our search for Black Bird. Your first priority is to capture hard information on persons who President Lincoln can use for leverage when confronting the British.

"Azariah and Jackson may be working together or independently. I need a complete and effective command and control apparatus. Jean, you will focus on the details to make this so. I don’t want anything to interfere with Azariah’s and Jackson’s field operations.

Phase one of our mission is to identify what the President needs to confront the British. In phases two and three, we will proceed to eliminate Black Bird, whatever that might require. We will go wherever we have to go.

Jean asked, Does that include Canada?

That includes London, if necessary.

Jackson had been sitting, listening and was not overly concerned about anything that had been said. His mind was on Spring. She had a way of looking at him as if she was feeling his heart. He had never experienced a woman who seemed to look beyond his physical self into the him that was reserved for only—until Spring opened the door—him. He missed her touch, he missed her smile, and he missed her eyes looking at and consuming him. But at the mention of London, his mind snapped back into gear.

I got a question, he said. Just how do you propose I slip my Shoshone into London without someone noticing?

Charles smiled. Well, Jackson, that’s why I’m paying you the outrageous salary of a second lieutenant. I expect you will figure it out.

14 January 1864, the Castle, Omaha, Nebraska Territory

As Jean turned to leave Azariah’s office for the fourth time, Azariah commented, I’ll talk to the contractor and have them move your office furniture to the office across from your present one. It has a better view. As he watched Jean exit his office, Azariah couldn’t help it. What did I do to deserve this? That guy is a nightmare.

Working with Jean was frustrating to Azariah. It seemed to him that he had accomplished nothing but moving from one argument with Jean to the next all week long. He recognized that Jean was preoccupied with his family, though, so he tried to cut him some slack.

But by Thursday, his patience had worn thin. What was really getting under his skin was Jean’s continual criticism of his lack of experience.

Azariah was able to ignore Jean’s rude behavior until Thursday, when he and Jean were discussing Jefferson. They were in Jean’s office working on Azariah’s plan to search for Black Bird during the coming summer. Azariah had made a dismissive comment about how it would be a simple task to find and observe Jefferson. His intent had been to make a joke. He’d forgotten that Jean had no sense of humor.

Captain, Jean had said, you have no idea what you are talking about.

That cuts it, Jean. I’ve had enough of your holier-than-thou attitude, Azariah said. He stood up and started walking out of Jean’s office. I’m beginning to think you don’t know what you’re talking about, either. He immediately regretted the comment. He knew better.

The next day, this was on his mind when Charles welcomed him, Jean, and Jackson into his office for coffee and donuts and to discuss the status of their plan to find Black Bird. Jackson and Jean took the two seats and Azariah stood with his back to the window. He leaned against the wall for comfort and placed a cup of coffee and a plate with two donuts on the windowsill. As he watched Charles, Jean, and Jackson exchange small talk, he wondered how he was going to fix his relationship with Jean.

Jackson began the discussion by recommending that he begin his field work by April. It was his intention to travel to the Wind River Basin and talk to Antelope and Chief Washakie about retaining two teams of scouts for the season. One team would go to Canada to try to find Black Bird’s headquarters, and the other would search for Black Birds south of the 49th.

If you need to report on Jim Bridger, use his nickname, Old Gabe, said Charles. Sorry, I digress. Please continue.

Jackson went on. Spring calls Bridger Tall Tale. Everyone knows Old Gabe is Jim Bridger. I suggest his code name should be Tall Tale.

Charles looked thoughtful. Makes sense, he said. Tall Tale it is.

Azariah listened to Jackson talk to Charles as if they were having a casual conversation. He was impressed that Jackson did not seem to be intimidated with rank or position. And Charles seemed to be