Come Hell or High Water

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

The American Civil War: Book Three

MARK RAYMOND

CORRIGAN

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SMASHWORDS EDITION

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

The American Civil War – Book Three

Copyright© 2017 Mark R Corrigan

Cover Design & Interior Layout: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

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Dedicated to all the brave men and women in both the North and the South who fought in the American Civil War to make this great nation what it is today.

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Come Hell or High Water

Confederate Colonel Michael Patrick O’Neil, as Union Colonel James Stockton and as a Spy in President Lincoln’s White House, continues to send the Union Army’s Battle Plans to General Lee. This secret information helps General Lee’s Army win battles for the Confederacy.

Come Hell or High Water is book three 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:

Review ADVANCING THE CAUSE

Colonel Michael Patrick O’Neil found himself doing all he could as the Confederate Agent in his role of Colonel James Stockton in President Lincoln’s White House to help the South win its freedom from the Union.

Michael O’Neil believed in the cause of States Rights and the Southern States had the right to Secede from the Union when the Federal Government exceeded its specific authority granted to it in the Constitution. All the powers not specifically granted to the Federal Government in the Constitution remained with the individual States.

There would not have been a United States of America if the first Ten Amendments’ called the Bill of Rights had not been added to the Constitution to protect the rights of the people from the abuse of power by the Federal Government.

Unfortunately, for the Federal Government, President Lincoln had declared war on part of the American People and he was using the Army to force the South to remain in the Union of the United States. Fortunately for the South Lincoln’s War had gone badly, as President Lincoln had not been able to find a Union General who could effectively Command a winning Army.

O’Neil played a key role in winning the first major battle of the Civil War when he smuggled in 20 million Musket Caps through the Union lines to the Southern Army. The South desperately needed these Musket Caps to stop the Union Army’s advance and win the Battle of First Manassas. Without these Musket Caps, the South would have lost this Battle and the War might have ended there.

O’Neil in his role as Colonel Stockton in Lincoln’s White House had given him a unique understanding of how the battles were fought during General McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. Using the information O’Neil had supplied, General Lee had learned from the mistakes his Army had made to improve the smaller Southern Army’s capabilities to fight and win major battles against the superior numbers of men in the Union Army.

Although the South had technically won these battles, it was running out of men and supplies to continue this fight and it would lose the war if the Union allowed Lincoln to remain as the President. President Lincoln knew his efforts to preserve the Union had been extremely costly and his failure to find a successful Commander who could win this war was losing the support of the people to continue fighting in these devastating battles.

In desperation to preserve the Union, President Lincoln had claimed a Victory at Antietam to keep England and France from recognizing the Confederacy. President Lincoln had created an international moral issue to Free the Slaves by issuing his Presidential Emancipation Proclamation.

This unenforceable edict applied only to those slaves in the States still in rebellion and now it appeared to be a shallow promise after the crushing defeat of General Hooker’s Army at Chancellorsville. Whether the effect of the Southern Victory would have any impact on the importance England and France had placed on the Emancipation Proclamation was too early to tell and it may have cost President Lincoln the election next year.

After the Battle of Chancellorsville O’Neil had provided the leadership of the South with his best assessment of the Union Army’s capabilities if the Army remained under the Command of General Hooker before O’Neil headed home to his wife and family.

O’Neil was not sure General Lee had any choice but to take this war north and threatened the Union’s heartland with his Army. However, O’Neil lacked a complete assessment of the true economic conditions of the Confederacy and its ability to support another northern campaign of General Lee’s Army to win this War.

O’Neil was dead tired and he did not want to think about the odds of General Lee’s success. He had to believe President Davis knew more about the South’s economic conditions and the number of fighting men the south still had, as O’Neil had never been in any of the other Confederate States.

O’Neil knew what the percentage of the South’s population were men of fighting age in 1860 but the number of Southern men who had already been lost in the war reflected a higher percentage of the population than the North had lost. He did not want to think that this next Campaign was indeed the last chance the South had to decide the fate of its citizens and the future of the Confederacy.

Chapter Two:

RETURNING HOME

O’Neil turned into the long driveway leading into the Plantation and he left all his thoughts about the war at the Gate. After all, he was home and he was about to see his son Michael John-Patrick. As he rode up the long driveway, he could not help but notice the well-trimmed lawns, bushes and trees throughout the plantation. It looked as it did years ago when Colonel Taylor made his Plantation a show place in the community.

All the fields of the Plantation looked as if they had been planted early. All the rows in the fields of knee-high corn and shoulder high tobacco were neatly hoed clean. Off in the distance Mike could see a long line of Slaves hoeing cotton and they were singing as they did after his father had taken over managing the Plantation for Colonel Taylor.

Mike was not sure he recognized the redheaded person on horseback who was supervising the Slaves. If he were not mistaken, it looked like one of the twins. He confirmed it had to be, when he looked across the other cotton field where the other redheaded twin was supervising another line of working Slaves.

He found Martha and Sally working in the vegetable gardens with a group of black women and children who were picking strawberries. Under a shade tree next to the garden, Tammy was rocking the baby in the baby carriage and Bruno was lying with his head up watching anything and everything that moved.

Bruno was the first to notice Mike and he quickly jumped up and ran towards Mike without barking as if he knew he would wake the baby if he barked. Bruno’s sudden movement caught Tammy’s attention and she was on her feet. Daddy! Daddy! Daddy’s home! Tammy yelled as she ran after Bruno towards her father and Martha and Sally stood up to see him themselves.

Mike dismounted and swooped up his daughter into his arms and she hugged him around his neck. Oh. what a big girl you are. He managed to say as Sally was running towards them.

Mike, Mike it is so good to see you. Sally exclaimed as Mike opened one of his arms to embrace her. The three of them hugged and kissed each other while Bruno just watched them as if he were smiling.

Martha and all the black women and children who were working in the garden gathered around to welcome Mike home. The twins rode up and joined the welcoming committee.

It looks as if we have a good reason to hold a party. Martha stated with great enthusiasm and joy.

It sure is. Sally agreed wholeheartedly and she turned to the Twins. You might as well call in the men as they have done a good days work already today.

Come and see your son Michael John-Patrick. Sally said smiling as she pulled Mike towards the baby carriage where Bruno had returned to stand guard. Sally reached in and lifted out the smiling baby who had one large black curl standing up on the top of his head. Sally brought the baby to Mike and carefully put him in Mike’s arms.

He sure is a handsome devil. Mike found himself saying as he gazed fondly at his son.

If he is, he takes after his old man. Sally stated and she stepped back so she could capture the image in her heart for all time and remember this joyful moment when Mike first held their son in his arms.

What big blue eyes you have Michael John-Patrick. Mike commented. Is it true all baby’s eyes are blue when they are born?

So, they say. Martha commented. I know the Twins eyes were blue and now they are green.

We have taken to call Michael John-Patrick, Michael JP as his name is quite a handle to say most of the time. Sally told her husband. You don’t mind, do you? She asked not sure what he thought about the idea of having him called by a nickname.

Michael JP, it is then. Mike responded and the little one wiggled as if he were excited about hearing his father using his nickname.

You two have a lot to talk about, while I have a party to get ready. Martha said as she went ahead of the group to the main house to tell the cooks they would be busy frying the chicken for the party.

Mike looked concerned about killing all that chicken for a party. That’s going to be a lot of chicken if we are going to feed everyone. He expressed his concerns as he remembered what the farms and the people looked like when he traveled to Richmond. Those people would not have enough chicken to feed themselves if they had any left.

Don’t worry Mike. We had a bumper crop of chickens this year and we will only be killing the roosters. Sally told him. The Twins have been put in charge of raising the chickens for market and we are raising more than 500 chickens at a time. We have built three new large chicken houses as the demand for chicken in Richmond keeps growing. Between selling the eggs and roosters we have been able to pay for all their feed and we have our own eggs and chickens we are eating for nothing. Sally informed her husband and Mike could not help but admire her enterprising efforts.

Bruno took care of the Fox that was raiding the chicken coops and we haven’t lost another chicken since. Tammy piped up.

Well Bruno, it looks like you are earning more than your keep. Mike said as he reached down and petted Bruno on his head.

Tammy if you will go into my saddlebags you will find a ham bone I brought for Bruno. Mike told his daughter and she and Bruno raced to his horse.

Mike, Sally, Michael JP, Tammy and Bruno carrying his ham bone walked over to the Rose Garden and took a seat in the Gazebo while everyone else pitched in to get the work done for the party.

One of the Twins supervised some of the men select the chickens she wanted killed for the party, while the other Twin had other men fill a large iron kettle with water and put the pot on the fire. As soon as the water in the kettle was boiling, they would kill the chickens and clean them. They would dip the dead chickens into the hot water, to make removing their feathers easy.

Mike could see a fury of activity around the Main House as Martha had everyone doing something to get the food ready for the party. Mike realized the women of the Plantation had taken over the management of the place while the men were gone and they were doing a better job of it. That explains why the whole place looked so good. Mike thought to himself and he was pleased.

Daddy, do you want to visit my first mommy’s grave? Tammy asked as they usually went there when her daddy first came home.

Yes Mike. I am sure Tammy wants to show you what we have done there. Sally spoke up knowing how much Mike had loved his first wife.

As they walked hand in hand towards the Family’s Graveyard Mike could see they had built a small white picket fence around Sandy’s grave. The gravesite was spotless and fresh flowers had been place in the vase in front of Sandy’s tombstone.

Oh this looks nice. Mike told them. I am sure Sandy would like what you have done. I know she is smiling down from heaven on all of us. Mike added as he tightened his arm around Sally’s waist to let her know he was pleased to be standing here with her. Sally smiled back at him, as she knew he loved his first wife and he still had enough space in his heart for her.

Mike leaned over and kissed Sally and they were both at peace with the past. Sally knew she did not need to worry about competing with Sandy. Sally was here with Mike not as Sandy’s replacement but as someone who would refill his life with love.

Mike said a silent prayer thanking his first wife for looking after all of them. When Mike turned around he saw Bruno had laid down in the path leading to Sandy’s grave with his hambone resting on his two front feet as if this was as far as he knew he should go without intruding on this private moment.

All right, we better go back to the House and see what we can do to help get everything ready. Mike stated and he and Sally walked hand in hand away from the past.

As they walked up to the Main House, Mike noticed Colonel Taylor was sleeping in one of the rocking chairs on the front porch with a shawl wrapped around his shoulders even though it was quite warm.

That has become the Colonel’s favorite place. I don’t know if you knew but his son has been confirmed as being dead. They say he died in the hospital from the wounds he suffered at the Battle of Perryville. Sally told him.

No, I didn’t. I am sorry to hear that as I hoped he might still be alive for the Colonel’s sake. Mike stated softly.

I tried to find out if he had been captured, but none of the Union’s War records had listed him as being in any of their Prisoner of War Camps. How is the Colonel taking it? Mike asked.

Surprisingly well, I must say. I think he already knew he was dead when he turned over the Plantation to you at Christmas. Sally informed him.

You may be right. Mike could only say as he remembered how sure the Colonel was about giving him the Plantation.

Maybe we should go into the house through the kitchen door as Martha usually lets him sleep until dinner time. Sally suggested.

I think I better look after my horse. Mike stated.

Nat has already put her in the barn and your bags should be up in our room. Sally told him as they entered the kitchen door.

What can I do to help? Mike asked Martha.

Nothing as everything is being done. Maybe you would like to clean up and then wake up the Colonel for a drink. Martha suggested.

Mike and Sally took Michael JP up to their room and he found fresh water in the pitcher and clean clothes laid out for him to wear. Once Sally had placed Michael JP in his crib, she came into his arms and kissed him softly on the cheek. One kiss lead to another and they made love slowly and deliberately at first. Then their passions took over them and they renewed the flames that had first brought them together.

By the time, they came back down to the kitchen, Sally was glowing with a radiance of pleasure and Mike was smiling knowing he was glad he had come home. Mike fixed the drinks for himself and the Colonel and took the tray out to the front porch where the Colonel was still sleeping.

Good afternoon Colonel. Mike had to say several times before the Colonel was awake.

I must have dozed off. It is good to see you Mike. He said and Mike put the tray down on the table next to him.

Martha and the girls are preparing a welcome home celebration and I thought we could have a drink before dinner. Mike told him as he handed him his drink.

That was sure some battle General Lee fought at Chancellorsville, wasn’t it. The Colonel replied as he took the drink Mike had prepared.

Yes, it was, Colonel. I have just come from a meeting with President Davis and General Lee. It looks as if General Lee wants to make another attempt to scare the living daylights out of President Lincoln and those Yankees. Mike told him.

And he should. The Colonel commented.

Here’s to the success of that Campaign and to the end of this War. Mike made a toast with his drink.

Tell me how bad did he whip them Yankees this time? The Colonel asked after taking a drink.

Mike went over the events that took place at Chancellorsville and the small battle that took place just west of Fredericksburg at Salem Church as if he were reading from the reports he had given to President Davis and General Lee. He did not go into the details of how many men the south had lost to win this battle or what he had seen of the conditions of the Virginia farms when he traveled to Richmond.

From what I have been told and what I have been reading in the Newspapers, General Lee fought a perfect battle. It is too bad that we lost General Jackson as he will be a hard man to replace. The Colonel commented as if he just wanted to end their discussion of the War.

They talked about the weather and how nice all the crops were growing in the fields. Normally the Colonel would have talked about the prices of Cotton and tobacco on the London Market but that might bring them back to talking about the War that had make the price of cotton and tobacco so high. When they talked about things of the past the Colonel was remembering things were better than they were.

When Martha came to get them, everything was ready for the party. All the people on the Plantation had gathered around the tables filled with food and the Colonel was asked to lead them in a prayer of thanksgiving. The party was a huge success and musical instruments came out to play for the dancing that followed. It was as if time had stood still and this was just like the parties they had before this war began.

As Mike watched the Slaves enjoying themselves he started counting to see if he still remembered all of their names. What surprised him even more was that everyone was still here.

According to Abolitionist Newspapers after Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of starving Slaves had thrown off the oppressive yoke of their masters. So many Slaves had deserted the Southern Plantations that no one was left to work them. However, what the Newspapers failed to report was where all these freed Slaves went in this promised land of milk and honey.

The truth would not sell their Newspapers but the Abolitionists drumbeat of Free the Slaves since the publishing of Uncle Tom’s Cabin had played to the emotions of rich white New England churchgoers who were fed a strong diet of the hardships the poor Slaves were forced to endure.

Mike had often wondered if all these good christen churchgoers were so concerned about the condition of the Slaves, why had they not bought their freedom or send food and clothing to them. Mike had concluded it was easier for them to beat the Free the Slaves drum and expect someone else to pay the bill for their song.

If there were any physical hardships here, Mike could not see it. No one was beaten at the whim of their owners as the Abolitionist had claimed. Yes, they worked just as everyone did to earn his keep and all the people here looked healthy and well fed.

They were taught to believe in God and they did not work on Sundays. No one forced them to go to church. Yet here stable slave families were established by marriage and there had been a number of new births at the Plantation this year besides his son. However, were they happy to have everything provided to them from the cradle to the grave?

According to the Abolitionists, they could not be happy unless they were free. What they forgot to tell the Slaves was freedom had a price and people who did not know how to make a living as a freeman would be reduced to living off the streets.

Mike was old enough when they moved to this Plantation to have seen how the northern poor people had barely lived in the inner city, slums. Although they were free were they happy? Maybe they were not happy, but they had a choice to change their condition if they worked hard and being free meant no man could tell them what to do.

Now that he had lived here and managed a plantation, he could see the cost of maintaining a Slave was not very profitable. If there had been a labor force here in the south and they paid the same wages as the northern workers were paid, the Plantations would have made more money. Mike believed this profit motive would have freed the Slave and changed the south without having to fight this war to free the Slaves as the Abolitionist now claimed.

Mike knew he would not have fought in this War to keep the Slaves. Slavery was not the real issue that caused this war. It was States Rights to protect themselves from the abuse of Federal Power. The Slavery issue was not made on any high moral grounds but it was a political move by Lincoln to keep England and France from opening recognizing the Confederacy.

Mike wondered what made this place different from all the other Plantations the Abolitionists claimed the Slaves had run away for the freedom President Lincoln had gave them in his Emancipation Proclamation. Mike had to give his father the credit as he had treated the Colonel’s Slaves as if they were trusted employees and not like the Slaves, they were. However, it was only natural no matter how good his father had treated them, there still would be some of the Slaves, who would run off to the promised land the Abolitionists claimed to exist up north.

Mike concluded something else must have happened to keep the Slaves from running off. He would have to talk with Martha and find out what happened, as any man would want his freedom if he had the chance to take it.

The music stopped just after midnight and all the remaining food was distributed to the Slaves before they went home, as tomorrow would be another workday and there is always work to be done on the Plantation.

Mike could not sleep thinking about all this and Martha found him in the Library looking over the Plantation’s books. Do you mind if I join you? She asked as she closed the Library’s doors behind her.

Please do. I have just been going over the Books and I can see you women have been doing an outstanding job running this place. Mike stated as he closed the Plantation’s Ledgers.

"Why thank you Mike but it has not been easy and Sally has been a great help. Martha told him and she could see something was troubling him and she asked him if everything was all right between Sally and him.

No there is nothing wrong between Sally and me as I could not be happier. Mike stated. But I do have a question you may be able to answer for me. I could not help but notice how well off, the Slaves are. They are healthy and happy and I am surprised none of them has run off. What the Abolitionists are claiming is all the Slaves who have not run off are at the point of an uprising throughout the south. Yet here I see none of that. What is going on? Mike asked very pointedly.

"I take it you have not asked Sally. We did have some trouble a while ago. Some Abolitionists claiming that they were Preachers had come here to help our Slaves run away.