Harrison, książki, po angielsku, h
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Stars and Stripes Triumphant
Harry Harrison
PROLOGUE
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The threat of war, and war itself, has plagued my presidency of these United States of
America ever since my inauguration. Instead of a peaceful handing over of presidential
power, a continuation of the rule of law with which this country is blessed, it has proved
to have been an administration of strife. The dissension began even before my tenancy of
the White House, when the Southern states attempted to break their bond with the Federal
Union and organize a confederacy. Once this new alliance had fired on the Federal troops
in Fort Sumter the die was cast. War was inevitable. There was no way to return to the
path of peace. Thus began the Civil War in America that pitted brother against brother in
deadly battle. I hesitate to think what the outcome would have been had these hostilities
been allowed to run their course; surely it would have meant a nation sundered and brave
men dead by the thousands. That is what would have happened in the very least. At worst
it would surely have meant a national catastrophe, the destruction of this country as we
know it.
But fate intervened. What began as a small incident, the capture of the British mail packet
Trent
by the American warship the USS
San Jacinto,
was inflated, blown up out of all
proportion by the British government. As president, I would have been happy to release
the two Confederate ministers who were taken from the
Trent
had the British
government, Lord Palmerston and Queen Victoria in particular, shown any understanding
of our position. Despite all of our efforts at peacemaking, they persisted in their
intransigence. My government could not, would not, give in to threats and imprecations
at the highest level issued by a foreign power. While we in America worked for a
peaceful solution to our national differences, they appeared to want nothing less than a
headlong confrontation. While my government was locked in battle with the Southern
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secessionists, we still had to deal with this militant foreign power.
Alas, international peace was not to be. Defying all logic, the forces of the mighty British
Empire invaded this sovereign land.
The world knows what happened next. With our nation threatened from the outside, the
Civil War, the battle between our government and the seceding states, was ended. The
result was that a reunited United States fought back against these invaders, the common
enemy. It was not an easy war—none are—but in the end the strength of our common
cause was such that the invaders were repulsed and hurled back from our shores.
Disheartened by our victories, the enemy was sent packing as well from Canada, when
that nation declared its liberty from colonial rule.
Throughout this war I learned to depend on General William Tecumseh Sherman to fight
and to win. He was respected and admired by our Northern troops, and it became a matter
of the greatest importance that the officers of the Southern army regarded him highly as
well. They appreciated his knowledge and attitude toward the South, as well as his
warrior skills—respected the man so well that they were willing to serve under him in the
battle against our common enemy.
Finally that invasion and war was ended and we were at peace. Or were we? Unhappily
this was not to be the end of our struggle. The Lion of the British Empire had lost battles
before—but had never lost a war. Try as hard as they could, it appeared that the British
simply could not swallow this defeat. Despite all attempts at sweet reason upon our part,
they persisted in their bellicosity to the extent that they attempted another invasion of our
country, this time through the war-torn land of Mexico.
My generals, now more experienced and wise in the ways of war, devised a counterplan
to contain this threat. Instead of our armies being bogged down in a war of attrition on
our borders, it was decided to take the war closer to the enemy shores. Thus the American
invasion of Ireland began. The proposed enemy invasion from Mexico was quickly
terminated as the British realized that their forces were needed closer to home.
I am proud to say that not only did our forces prevail against the enemy in Ireland, but in
fact succeeded in liberating that much-stricken nation.
I pray that this national rivalry between our two great countries will now end. These last
months my mind has been occupied with domestic matters, not international concerns.
During the past August of the year 1864, the Democratic National Congress nominated
Judah P. Benjamin as their presidential candidate: a worthy man, without whose
unstinting aid peace and reconciliation in the South would not have been attained. It was
my pleasure to be nominated by the Republican Party for a second term, with Andrew
Johnston of Tennessee standing for vice-president at my side.
It was a hard-fought election. I regret to say that my name is still anathema in parts of the
South and the voters there voted
against
me rather than for the Democratic candidate for
president. However, the soldiers—both those recently discharged and those still in the
service—looked upon me as their commander in chief, and their votes carried the day.
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But that is in the past. I began my second term in March of this year, 1865. Now it is May
and Washington City was never more beautiful, with green leaves and blossoms
everywhere. America wishes only peace in the world, but has perhaps become too used to
war during the past four years. To provide weapons for our armies and iron ships for our
fleets, a growing and successful manufacturing economy has evolved, one that we never
knew before in peacetime.
I would be the happiest man in the world if I could preside peacefully over this
prosperous land, to oversee that our cannons of war were beaten into the plowshares of
peace. Where our native manufacturing genius has succeeded in wartime, it could surely
succeed as well in a time of peace.
But will peace prevail? Our British cousins remain bellicose. They still take affront at
being expelled from Ireland, after all their centuries of rule. They will not face the fact
that they are gone from that green island, and gone for good. Their politicians still make
warlike speeches and rattle their sabers in their scabbards. To counter this British exercise
in ill will, our politicians are now busy on the European continent seeking trade
agreements and attempting to strengthen our peaceful ties.
Will peace and sanity prevail? Can another disastrous war be averted?
I can only pray with all my strength that it will.
BOOK ONE
A JOURNEY ABROAD
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, JUNE 1865
The floor-to-ceiling windows were open to the warm sunshine, admitting the background
hum of the busy Belgian capital. They also admitted the effluvia of horse manure, a smell
unnoticed by anyone who had dwelled for any time in a large city. President Abraham
Lincoln was seated on an ornate Louis XV couch, reading the document that Ambassador
Pierce had just given him. He looked up when there was a tap on the hall door.
"I'll see who it is, Mr. President," Pierce said. He strutted a bit when he walked; this was
his first political appointment and he was immensely proud of it. He had been a Wall
Street banker, an old business associate of Lincoln's from the same law firm, until the
President had nominated him for this position. Secretly he knew that he had been selected
more for his knowledge of French, and his intimacy with international commerce, than
for any political skills. Nevertheless it was still quite an honor. He held the door wide so
that the two general officers could come in. Lincoln looked over the tops of his reading
glasses and acknowledged their salutes.
"Sashes, swords, and ribbons, gentlemen, as well as festoons of gold braid. We are quite
elegant today."
"Seemed appropriate for this morning's presentation at court," General Sherman said.
"We were just informed about it."
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"As was I," Lincoln said. "I was also told that it was most important, and was told as well
that they particularly requested that you and General Grant be present."
"Did they say why, sir?" Grant asked.
"Not directly. But Pierce here, who has made many important contacts since his
appointment, took a senior Belgian civil servant aside and managed to elicit from him the
fact that the presentation of some honors would be involved."
"They will surely be a fine sight," Pierce said. "It seems that the smaller the country, the
bigger the medals are. And I was assured by the same official that the past war between
our country and the British would not be involved in this presentation. It seems that
Queen Victoria is very touchy on that subject, and King Leopold, who, after all, is her
favorite uncle and constant correspondent, has no desire to offend her on that score. The
awards will be for heroic actions that you gentlemen engaged in during our recent civil
war."
Grant smiled as he peered down at the plain blue cloth of his infantryman's uniform. "It
could do with a bit of smartening up."
They all looked up as Gustavus Fox, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, let himself in
through a connecting door. He was a man who kept a very low public profile; only at the
very highest levels of government was it known that he headed America's secret service.
He nodded at them and held up a sheaf of papers.
"I hope that I am not interrupting, but is there time for a briefing, Mr. President?" he
asked. "Some new and urgent information has just been made known to me."
Ambassador Pierce grunted slightly as he pulled his fob watch from the pocket in his
well-rounded waistcoat. "More than enough time, I do believe. The carriages are not due
to arrive here until noon."
"I hope that with a bit of luck you are bringing me some good news, Gus," the President
said hopefully. "There never seems to be much of that."
"Well, I am forced to admit that it is somewhat of a mixed bag, sir. Firstly, just two
nights ago the British raided the harbor at the port of Kingstown in Ireland. This is the
ferry port that is quite close to Dublin. They landed troops, and the attackers burned the
city hall, as well as some of the harbor installations, then finished it all off by seizing and
setting fire to some ships that were tied up there. The Irish believe that it was a terror
raid, pure and simple, since it accomplished nothing but wanton destruction. It apparently
was a clear reminder to the Irish that the British are still out there. As they left they
exchanged shots with an Irish revenue cutter, but retreated back to sea before the troops
from Dublin could arrive."
Lincoln shook his head with great unhappiness. "I feel that the timing of this action is
deliberate, that there is no coincidence here since this intrusion occurred just as our
delegation was arriving in Belgium."
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"I concur, Mr. President. It is obviously a simple message to us," Sherman said, his face
cold, his pale eyes deadly. "They are telling us that they can strike at Ireland, whenever
and wherever they please. And they will let no international conference stand in their
way. It appears that their losses and defeats in America and Ireland have taught them
nothing."
"I am afraid that yours is the most valid interpretation," Lincoln said with a great
weariness. "But you said it was a mixed bag, Gus. Is there no good news in there? Can
you pull nothing from your bundle that will bring cheer to a weary old man?"
Gus smiled and shuffled through the papers, drew out one sheet, and passed it over to the
President.
"This came in on the navy packet that tied up in Ostend this morning. It is a personal
report made to your cabinet by Mr. John Stuart Mill. They have forwarded this copy to
you. If you will look there, you will see that the Secretary of the Treasury has penned a
personal note to you on the first page."
Lincoln nodded and read the opening aloud. "Yes, indeed, this will surely be of interest to
all of you here. 'Mr. President. You will of course wish to acquaint yourself personally
with the contents of this most valuable economic report. But permit me to sum it up in its
entirety. I do believe that Mr. Mill's conclusions are not only very accurate, but
inescapable as well. The American economy is booming, as it never has in the past. Our
factories are working flat out, both in the industrialized North and in the new works that
have been constructed in the South. It is evident now that everyone who wants a job is
hard at work. The reconstruction and modernization of the railroads is almost complete. It
is obvious what has happened. Due to the exigencies of war this country has been
involuntarily changed from being a basically agrarian economy to one that is rich with
industry. Exports are rising, the railroads are being modernized and extended, while
shipbuilding is at an all-time record high. All in all, Mr. Mill is most enthusiastic about
this country's economic future. As am I. Yours faithfully, Salmon P. Chase.' "
Lincoln skipped through the report. "Most interesting, gentlemen. Mr. Mill appears to
have been comparing production figures right around the world. Great Britain, the
powerhouse of industry ever since the industrial revolution, had always led all of the
other countries in strength and output. But no more! He believes that when the final
figures are compared at the end of the year, America will outstrip Britain on all fronts."
There were murmured agreements, and when they died away Fox spoke again.
"With this inspiring news, Mr. President, do you think you can spare a few moments to
meet with a delegation?"
"Delegation? I made no appointments."
"They arrived at dawn this morning. I had the pleasure of their company at breakfast. It is
President Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa of Ireland. With him is his vice-president, Isaac
Butt—accompanying them is General Thomas Meagher. They say it is a matter of some
urgency, and they hope that you will grant them a few moments of your time. They
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