“Why weren’t Albert Johnston and Joe Johnston able to capture Philadelphia when the Rebels pulled their men out of there to fight Lee?” asked Breckinridge.
“They did attempt to relieve the pressure on our men at Gettysburg by converting their feints into real attacks.” McClellan explained. “But the fortunes of war went against them. Albert Johnston’s attack from Wilmington broke down when he was mortally wounded. Joe Johnston’s attack through the enemy’s lines around New York achieved some initial successes. He exploited openings made by his artillery bombardment to advance as far as the outskirts of Trenton. But his attack also faltered when he was severely wounded. He had to be left behind on the field. Even if we should get him back in a prisoner exchange, his wounds will not permit his return to command during this campaigning season.”
“Will we be able to resume the offensive in the East this year?” asked Speaker of the House William English of Indiana. “Our defeat has encouraged defections of our Congressmen from Ohio and Pennsylvania. They’re afraid that we’ll make a negotiated peace that will allow Ohio and Pennsylvania to go out of the Confederate Union. They don’t want to be on the losing side.”
McClellan started to answer that question but Davis cut in first.
“Tell them not to worry” Davis answered stonily. “We will prosecute the war against the Free State Rebels until we have reestablished the National Authority over every inch of our territory, East and West, North and South.”
4
Executive Mansion, Harrisburg Pennsylvania August 9, 1861
“A toast to our heroes,” exclaimed Mrs. Jesse Benton Fremont, raising her wineglass. “To my husband who won the victory at Gettysburg, and to our President who has come here to inspire the nation with it!”
The others around Pennsylvania Governor Curtin’s table raised their glasses too. Even Mrs. Lincoln, who thought of Jessie Fremont as a loud-mouthed hussy, raised her glass cheerfully.
Mr. Lincoln, who rarely consumed alcohol, politely touched his glass to his lips, tasting a drop of the wine. “Thank you, Mrs. Fremont, you are most gracious. I fretted that the circumstances of my replacing John as President might come between us.”
“ Oh, no, Mr. President!” exclaimed Mr. Fremont. “You had nothing at all to do with that. And I tell you truthfully, I no longer wanted that job. My destiny is to lead men in battle, and I believe that events have borne me out on that!”
Polite laughter acknowledged Fremont’s graciousness and his heroism.
“Let us not forget to toast the true heroes of our victory,” Fremont continued. “Forty-four who came with me have departed this world. Another hundred have been discharged with crippling wounds too severe to allow them to continue in service. And a hundred others are laid up with lesser wounds. Even victories cannot be had without cost.”
They raised their glasses to toast the fallen men. “That cost includes you, John,” Mr. Lincoln reminded Fremont. “Please take care not to be too far out in front in the future. We’ve already lost Ellsworth and Lyon. We can’t win this fight if we lose our most capable leaders at the outset.”
“We won’t win unless our commanders are out there in front leading our men to victory,” Fremont answered. “A commander must show his men that he is not afraid.”
“Fear has no part of your character,” Lincoln acknowledged. “But your life is indispensable to our cause. Please take care with it.”
Fremont raised his glass again. “And let’s not forget to toast Governor Curtin. He called up the loyal Free State men to fill the ranks of our militias. He appointed Meade, Reynolds, Sumner, Warren, and me to command the men. He kept the railroads open into Philadelphia when the companies wanted to transfer their rolling stock away from the front. He said he’d confiscate their trains and run the railroads himself if they tried to abandon their operations without his permission!”
“Well, Governor,” Lincoln said playfully, “I never knew you were a railroad man!”
“The railroad companies needed a little persuasion to buck up their courage to stay here, that’s all,” Curtin explained.
“Your ‘persuading’ them, by whatever means, has kept them here,” Lincoln assured him. “If they had been allowed to pull up stakes and leave, Meade and Reynolds couldn’t have gotten their men to Gettysburg in time. You won this battle as much as anyone and deserve your full share of credit.”
“I was only doing my duty, Mr. President,” replied the modest Curtin.
Mrs. Lincoln winked at the Governor then said to her husband, “Father, when you speak at Gettysburg you must let the nation know what a wonderful hero we have here in Governor Curtin. He has set the standard for all our other Free State governors to follow!”
“The nation is gratified by what you two have accomplished together here,” Mr. Lincoln said to Curtin and Fremont. “Your cooperation should be an example to all.” He shook his head. “We have too many military men and politicians whose concern does not venture beyond their own self-interest. It troubles me to no end to see our leaders squabbling among themselves when freedom itself is at stake.”
When dinner finished the ladies retired to the parlor and the men to the Governor’s study. After the men had selected their after-dinner drinks, and Fremont had selected his cigar, Curtin dismissed the servant and closed the door.
“How are things in Pennsylvania now?” Lincoln asked Curtin. “Are the Douglas men in the coal mining counties still giving you trouble?”
“The defeat of their Confederate friends at Gettysburg has quieted them down,” replied Curtin. “They are back working the mines and not making any trouble for us at the moment.”
Lincoln turned to Fremont. “John, when do you think you’ll be able to get back in the field?”
“The doctor says the bone will set in two weeks. But I can take the field now so long as I ride in a wagon where I can stretch my arm out.”
“Then get your wagon ready. Tomorrow at Gettysburg I will announce your appointment as General Commanding the Eastern Department. You will command our forces in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and New England. Congress will have to confirm the appointment, of course, but I’ve been assured there will be no difficulty with that.”
“Thank you, Sir!” exclaimed Fremont. “You may be sure that I will prove worthy of your confidence.”
“There could be no other choice. Your victory saved our country. After losing St. Louis I don’t believe we could have withstood the loss of Philadelphia.”
Lincoln paused a moment to drink a sip of tea. “John, I am being advised —- and my own poor mite of military sense leads me to concur — that we should capitalize on our victory at Gettysburg to strengthen our hold on New Jersey, with a view towards gaining control of New York City. I am hoping that the Confederates will now come to their senses and make peace with us, recognizing an international boundary that puts all of New York and New Jersey within our limits.”
Mr. Lincoln waved his arm expressively towards Fremont. “To obtain possession of New York and New Jersey by negotiation, we must convince the Confederates that they will not be able to hold them by force. So let’s start on the ‘convincing’ now. Upon assuming command of the East tomorrow we’d like you to organize an expedition to the New Jersey coast to keep the Confederates from making a landing there. We want you to tighten our grip over New Jersey so that the Confederates are confined within the perimeter they have constructed around New York.
“If the Confederates do not make peace with us, on the basis of recognizing our independence, then I will issue a proclamation prohibiting trade with them. That will include all the territory they control, including New York City. We will stop selling the New Yorkers food and coal. We will divert our foreign trade to the Canadian port of Montreal. Perhaps they will take a more sober view of where their true interests lie if they see the prospect of a cold and hungry — and profitless — winter staring them in the face.”