Lincoln and Wells glanced at each other. Yes, thought Lincoln, this was a serious violation of government protocol. Diplomatic contacts are authorized only by senior command. But, Lincoln recalled, he had actually considered appointing Ashley Deputy Secretary of State. So, although her meeting with the Confederate President may have been unauthorized, he was sure that Ashley conducted herself with competence.
“Captain,” said Lincoln, “yes, it was unauthorized, but we can discuss that later. Please tell us about the meeting.”
“Mr. President, I, along with my fellow officers Commander Sampson and Lieutenant Thurber, tried to convince Davis and Lee of the disgraceful and dishonorable future that would unfold if they left the future of the South in the hands of marauding bands of guerilla fighters. Whether our meeting had a positive impact, I don’t know, but I believe I may have the answer here.” She reached into her pocket and took out the letter from Jefferson Davis to Lincoln.
“Jefferson Davis had this letter delivered to me yesterday morning, the day after our meeting. As you can see, Sir, it is addressed to you.” She handed Lincoln the letter.
Lincoln walked over to the window. Before he began to read the letter, he looked out over the White House lawn. A weather front moved in from the Southeast, and he heard the distant rumble of thunder. It sounds like cannon fire, he thought.
Wells suggested to Ashley that they get some fresh coffee. Ashley got the point. Wells wanted to give Lincoln the privacy of reading the letter by himself. Wells and Ashley mumbled small talk by the coffee service while Lincoln read. When Lincoln asked them to take their seats, they returned to his desk.
Lincoln looked at them and smiled. He covered his face with his hands and then removed them, still smiling.
“I shall read the words of President Davis.”
My Dear President Lincoln:
The calamitous events of the past several months have caused me a surfeit of anguish for the suffering inflicted on both sides of our conflict. We have recently detained three officers of your naval forces, and discussed with them matters of recent import. Although they held no diplomatic pouch, they comported themselves ably and well. One of them, especially, with admirable eloquence, prevailed upon us to dwell on our recent announcement to reorganize our armed forces. The words of that officer weighed upon us. After the meeting we released the three without harm.”
Lincoln looked at Ashley, and they both smiled. Jefferson Davis was covering her ass.
Lincoln continued reading.
“Sir, as President of the Confederate States of America, I wish to present for your consideration the following steps that may lead toward peace:
There shall be no arrests of any Confederate citizens for treason.
The soldiers of the Confederacy shall be allowed to keep their weapons.
The United States Government shall render financial assistance to the states of what shall formerly have been the Confederate States of America.
Slavery shall be abolished in all of the Confederate States of America.
Lincoln looked at Ashley after this last point. Ashley lost it with dignity. She didn’t break down and sob, or jump up and fist pump. She just closed her eyes and let her tears wash down her face onto her uniform.
Lincoln continued to read Davis’ letter:
The United States Government shall make interest-free loans, for a period of time to be determined, to enable farmers and plantation owners to make a transition to employment based enterprises.
I shall welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters personally.
I am, very respectfully,
Jefferson Davis
Ashley, concluding that composure was overrated, broke down and sobbed. Gideon Wells, his great white beard looking like a slushy ski slope, also wept. Lincoln joined in, although with a handkerchief over his face.
“It’s over,” Ashley choked, “it’s over.”
Lincoln knew, of course, that it wasn’t over. Feathers would need to be smoothed, factions to be satisfied, appointments to be bargained for, and deals to be cut, both North and South. There would be fiery oratory, calls for recriminations, and demands for arrests. But all that is the stuff of politics, something Lincoln knew he could handle. He would have his work cut out for him, and so would Jefferson Davis. But the alternative is young men in blue and gray uniforms slaughtering each other for years.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all…”
Those words just popped into Lincoln’s head. He’d have to work them into a speech some day, he thought.
Chapter 89
Friends never say farewell. They say, see you later, until next time, catch you around the campus. They say, ciao, aloha, later babe, fuggeddaboutit, don’t be such a stranger, don’t forget to write, or let’s do lunch. They don’t say farewell. It’s too final. It’s too painful.
But sometimes it’s time to say farewell.
Abraham Lincoln and his entire cabinet stood on the dock to see Ashley off. Both Lincoln and
Wells decided to try something from Ashley’s time. They both hugged this amazing Captain from the twenty-first century. Lincoln held it together. Wells cried, as did Ashley.
Petty Officer Donizzio had grown accustomed to his role as boat captain for the famous and powerful. As he assisted Captain Patterson aboard, he switched on the boat’s powerful Bose stereo system.
“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” sounded off both banks of the river as the launch motored down the Potomac.
Chapter 90
Ashley radioed ahead to speak to Father Rick. As prearranged, she gave him a simple message.
“It’s a go, Father.”
The boatswain’s pipe screeched throughout the ship, followed by the boatswain’s mate of the watch saying, “Attention all hands, attention all hands. Attention to Chaplain Richard Sampson.”
Father Rick leaned into the microphone and said, “I have just spoken to Captain Patterson who is on her way to the ship. My friends, we’re going home.”
The launch was about two miles from the California. Ashley and Donizzio would later swear that they could hear the cheering from the ship. Donizzio looked at the Captain and shrugged his shoulders. “That means we’re going home, Mike,” Ashley said. “We’re going home.”
“California, arriving.”
For those who still had a voice after Father Rick’s announcement, they let out a cheering scream that could probably be heard at the White House. Executive Officer Ivan Campbell grabbed the microphone and led the crew in a few stanzas of “For she’s a jolly good fellow.”
Ashley stepped onto the bridge and saluted as the Officer of the Deck yelled, “Attention on deck.”
She walked over to the Navigator, Lt. Wayne Bellamy and said, “Wayne, let’s go wormhole hunting.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” said Bellamy. He then gave the course setting to the OOD.
Ashley then looked to the OOD, and gave him a jerking thumbs up motion to raise the anchor.
As the California’s anchor cleared the bottom, the Navy theme “Anchors Aweigh” blared throughout the ship.
Ashley couldn’t wait to gather her diplomatic brain trust together to tell them about her meeting with Lincoln and Wells. She called Father Rick and Jack to come to her office.
“The White House photocopy machine was on the blink,” Ashley joked, “but Lincoln let me transcribe Davis’ letter.” She read the letter out loud.
Father Rick and Jack were especially impressed that Davis had intimated in the letter that the three of them had been arrested, to cover their butts in case they faced punishment for unauthorized diplomatic activity.