An Actor, a President, and a Really Bad Pistol

Okay, so! This is something new for the non-ASB readers while I vacation from American King. This is by no means final, but it's good enough for the moment till I work on it tomorrow.

Prelude

"I am aware, Mr. Trenchard, you are not used to manners of good society, and that, alone, will excuse the impertinence of which you have been guilty," said the uppety Mrs. Mountchessington.​

Asa was indignant, saying, "Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal -- you sockdologizing old man trap!"​

The crowd at Ford's Theatre erupted into laughter, almost busting their guts. Booth moved, leveling his Philadelphia Deringer at the back of Lincoln's skull.​

Click.

"What?!" Booth screamed inwardly. Thanks to the rain, his pistol had been soaked. Lincoln turned around to see what had made the noise. Seeing the President distracted at so hilarious a line, Major Henry Rathbone, one of the four people in the box with Lincoln, turned to see what the American leader was doing. He saw the gun and immediately moved into action, drawing his sabre and slashing at Booth as the assassin readied to bring a large dagger down on Lincoln's chest as a last resort. The dagger flew from his hands and out onto the stage below. Narrowly evading several sword thrusts, Booth climbed up onto the railing and jumped, only to be impaled by Rathbone halfway in the air. The sword slipped from the major's hands and it and the would-be assassin fell clanging to the floor, dead. The audience in the theatre screamed, shrieked, and shouted at the bloody spectacle, but President Lincoln was safe.​

The theatre, needless to say, promptly was shut down and a manhunt ensued for people mentioned in Booth's pocket diary.​

Early the next morning, April 15th, 1865...​

Andrew Johnson was pacing around in his den at his house; it was 3 A.M., and the Vice President frantically wondering if it had succeeded or not. Then, a loud knocking shook the door. Standing in the pouring rain was a veteran named Samuel Tomkins, a messenger from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. In two sentences, Johnson's world came crashing down: "Sorry, sir, but Secretary Stanton says to tell you Booth's gun malfunctioned; Major Rathbone killed him. The bugger had his dad-blamed diary with him."​

Johnson's face turned white as a sheet, "No! Damn Booth to Hell itself, may he rot forever, and that's exactly where he's going, and tell him to take his diary with him!" he screamed in rage. "They'll read that diary, and they'll see how I and Stanton wanted Lincoln out of the way so we could pulverize those Rebels, and how Booth wanted to get revenge on the Lincolns for the President's boy stepping out with his fiance! Lincoln's going to let those Rebels get away with their garbage! Get out of here! I'm leaving immediately!" Johnson prepared to slam the door in his face, but instead ordered the burly fellow to help him pack a few things. Within ten minutes, the Vice President of the United States had abandoned his family, was in disguise, driving in an insane fashion and fleeing for his life. Stanton, half a city away, was doing the same, taking some of his followers with him.​

Andrew wiped the rain and sweat from his face. He took one last look at the city that had both made and ruined him. "Farewell, my sweet." He whipped the horses and was on his way again.​

Later, Johnson was going to the South, where, he hoped, he could conive his way to Mexico, to vanish forever. He went to Navy Yard Bridge, crossing into Maryland, and from there to Surratsville. In Surratsville, he decided to pay a visit to Dr. Samuel Mudd, a few miles away, to get supplies. At Mudd's he loaded two saddlebags and crashed his wagon into a nearby creek to throw his pursuers off his trail. Now on horseback, Johnson fled once again early the next morning. Unfortunately, the US government read that Mudd was possibly involved, and the Union army rolled south. Over the next hours, Johnson became trapped in Zekiah Swamp, surrounded on all sides by Yankee soldiers. At last, he made a run for it. Late that night, he reached Rappahannock Ferry. While he tried to swim to the other side of the Potomac, US sailors saw him and opened fire.​

Word quickly spread how Vice President Johnson had been shot ten times in the back and head at Rappahannock Ferry by patroling sailors. Stanton was spotted supposedly heading south, also, and the army turned their attention to him. On May 5th, 1865, Stanton was seized at a Virginia farmhouse by Confederate cavalry. After meeting under friendly terms, the Southerners, scorning the Secretary of War as vile and unchivalrous, turned over Stanton to the Union government. He was promptly questioned, tried, and hanged. The Radical Republicans' plans for a vicious punishment for the Confederates disintegrated, and the more lenient Lincoln was very much alive and kicking.​
 
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Wait a minute... are you seriously perpetuation that Johnson and Stanton were behind Lincoln's assassination plot, or is this in the wrong forum?
 
Wait a minute... are you seriously perpetuation that Johnson and Stanton were behind Lincoln's assassination plot, or is this in the wrong forum?

No, this is a made-up scenario. I don't actually believe it. :p That's the alternate part of this TL; Radical Republicans are behind the attempt on Lincoln's life, which does not succeed. Basically just a more "exciting" version of Booth-does-not-succeed. Really, I haven't seen any Booth TL's. I'll have to search.
 
No, this is a made-up scenario. I don't actually believe it. :p That's the alternate part of this TL; Radical Republicans are behind the attempt on Lincoln's life, which does not succeed.

Oh. :p Well nicely written in any case... but why would a moderate like Johnson join forces with someone like Stanton, who in particular respected Lincoln, in order to kill him?
 
Danke! I try. :D

This inspired me:

"...that, that miserable inebriate Johnson, had cognizance of my husband's death - Why, was that card of Booth's, found in his box, some acquaintance certainly existed - I have been deeply impressed, with the harrowing thought, that he, had an understanding with the conspirators & they knew their man... As sure, as you & I live, Johnson, had some hand, in all this..." Mary Todd Lincoln to her friend, Sally Orne, in a letter dated March 15, 1866


http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln74.html

Wow, Mary Lincoln sure loved commas. :p

So, I figured, why not throw them all together? Make a giant potluck of all the Lincoln conspiracies besides stale old CSA/KGC ones. :)
 
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Interesting...

Although Johnson being involved in the plot is far fetched, this sounds interesting--please continue :)
 
Although Johnson being involved in the plot is far fetched, this sounds interesting--please continue :)

Danke; I will. :)

Awesome idea, but does this make this kinda ASB?

Yeah. It's fun, but doesn't really belong here. You could throw in some other cliches as well if you move it to ASB.

Cheers,
Ganesha

Thanks, guys!

Don't worry, it'll become much less ASB here in the next update. Mary Lincoln was convinced Johnson was involved, so that was the inspiration. They'll be no cliches in what follows; I think you'll be shocked at what I have planned. :D And just to be clear, this is NOT a Confederate victory TL. This might be unlike anything you've read in CW AH. *crafty grin* There won't be any magic, steampunk, or aliens in this. :p

Cheers! *clanks tankard*
 
How would assasinating Lincoln teach the South a Lesson? Also, what viscious punishment on the South planned by the Radical Republicans? Lincoln and the Radical Republicans were growing closer together on Reconstruction policy and the Radicals only wanted to protect the rights of the freed slaves and to break the power of the planter class who started the war in order to protect slavery.
 
How would assasinating Lincoln teach the South a Lesson? Also, what viscious punishment on the South planned by the Radical Republicans? Lincoln and the Radical Republicans were growing closer together on Reconstruction policy and the Radicals only wanted to protect the rights of the freed slaves and to break the power of the planter class who started the war in order to protect slavery.

I always read that Lincoln and the Radicals didn't agree on much of anything. I was under the impression Lincoln wouldn't have, say, prevented former CSA elites from running for political office. Oh well, though, I'll make it a bit more clear where Lincoln stands; just a sec and I'll edit it.

Any ideas on who should be the new VP and Sec. of War, guys?
 
"I have never, on the field of battle, sent you where I was unwilling to go myself; nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers, now you can be, like our grandfathers, great patriots. I am willing to continue fighting; preserve your honor, and never give up hope. We'll scatter like patridges, but we'll fight like eagles! We will combat the Yankee Invader with everything we have, down to the last woman and child! The South shall never be defeated! Now let's move, boys!"

- Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest to his cavalry at Gainesville, Alabama, May 15th, 1865


Upon his decision to continue fighting, Forrest was set up as an idol for all Southerners. General Lee's attempted surrender at Appomattox had made conditions right for a new Hero of the Confederacy. Forrest was persistent, he was charismatic, and he had begun the War as a private, making him easy to relate to. Above all, he loved violence, and no matter how many others surrendered, Forrest would fight on. Thus, Forrest's Riders were born.​

Upon their formation, Forrest's Riders went town-to-town, spreading the call to arms. Then, they sunk into the shadows of the South's forests and woods, living off the land. They covered the escape of President Davis at a Georgian port, where he escaped to France.​

5 years later, October 1st, 1870...​

The horse reared back, pawing the air with its front hooves. Fifty others trotted through the blackness of night, each carrying a soldier, however tattered their uniforms. Lightning flashed overhead, glinting off the drawn sabres. Forrest's Riders were on the move.​

Below, in the valley, was a US armored transport wagon, loaded with gold going from Richmond, five miles away, to Washington. As far as Forrest was concerned, it belonged to the Confederacy. The Riders pounded out of the brush, cheering the Rebel Yell, and slammed into caravan.​

Norbert Sutherland, a Union sergeant, ran for cover, repeater in hand. He fired off a round, hitting a guerilla square in the chest. Similar shots echoed across the valley. Norbert rolled under a wagon and loaded some more rounds into his gun. Cowering, he heard and saw men fall all around him, mostly Northerner. Within five minutes, it was over. Norbert realized he was the only one left.​

"General Forrest, we have the gold. All of the Yankees're dead as dead can be," reported a voice near the wagon. The fellow's boots were just inches from Norbert's face.​

"Excellent!" responded a new pair of boots. "Very well, now, we're going to take this gold to Georgia, and let them Navy fellers take it to France. Soon, President Davis'll have enough gold to pave the streets of Richmond, and when that happens, the South shall rise again."​

Norbert's eyes bulged. Davis and the government-in-exile was saving up for a renewed war effort. This made the Confederacy's guerilla efforts seem paltry in comparison. Norbert had to get the word to the Union. Suddenly, he felt rumbling above; someone was climbing into the driver's seat to move the wagon. The wheel rolled over Norbert's hand.​

"What in hades's inferno?!" bellowed Forrest as Sutherland screamed in agony. The Confederate general picked him up and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Forrest drew his Colt revolver and aimed it at the groveling Union sergeant. "Sorry 'bout this, son, but we don't take no prisoners in this man's army.​

Bang.

"Now I'd like to say I hated doing that," said Forrest, "but I done killed so many prisoners I'm now known as the gosh-derned Grim Reaper. Move along."​
 
How did the failure of Booth to Assasinate Lincoln lead to Forrest deciding to go on fighting? I think that most Southernors were tired of war by that point and wouldn't have supported Forrest.
 
How did the failure of Booth to Assasinate Lincoln lead to Forrest deciding to go on fighting? I think that most Southernors were tired of war by that point and wouldn't have supported Forrest.

I'm still working the kinks out of everything; I'm gonna try to rewrite the first two sections tomorrow. Lincoln living isn't precisely tied to the guerilla movement, but, like most of my TL's, is one of numerous POD's. But you could say Lincoln's "let's get along now, mah bros" attitude isn't exactly a deterant compared to what the Radicals might want. And basically, Forrest did keep fighting, under the guise of Grand Wizard of the KKK. Forrest's Riders are heavily based on the KKK, just not soley focused on persecuting blacks. Think Spanish Guerillas after Napoleon conquored Iberia.

Basically, I want an Ameriscrew. :p A Civil War where it leads to decades of turmoil, possibly resulting in Confederate suicide bombers, etc. If you or anyone else have any suggestions, I'm more than happy to try them. :D
 
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