"Our Grey-eyed Savior" (or, Flee to New Dixie, Friend)

July 14, 1858
Walker's City, Republic of Central America

"What do you mean I'll have an opponent?" Walker glared at Schlessinger as only Walker could glare. "Why would Henningson do such a thing?"

"I think, sir, he believes a breath of fresh air would be good for everyone, and..."

"Do you support him, Schlessinger?" The General took that without blinking an eye.

"Why, sir?"

"How about you kill him?"

"No sir."

"Why not, Schlessinger?"

"This is a democracy, sir."

"But I MADE this nation. I AM CENTRAL AMERICA, SCHLESSINGER!" Walker then looked sadly out his window.

"If I lose... terrible things will happen here... this country may be destroyed... you can leave, General." Schlessinger left quietly. If Walker continued like this, it might be all the more easier to put Henningson in charge. He smiled. The Republic would rise once again.

South Carolina-North Carolina Border
July 23, 1858

"Brothers and sisters, now be the time to start de revoulotion!" Ezekial pumped his Lee-Einfield musket in the air. The assembled slaves, numbering about fifty, waved their firearms as well. They varried from old gaffers to young children, as well as the six women. They looked ready for business.

"Our runners have alerted de other plantations to begin. Victory is assured, my brothers and sisters!" Ezekial let the cheering come to a high point, before pointing at the big house.

"Let's go!" With a massive shout, the slaves ran towards the Master's Mansion.

It had begun.
 
The White House
July 24, 1858

"How bad is it, Chivers?" Mr. B's much abused aide cleared his throat.

"Well, sir... we estimate some 500 slaves have risen up in all..."

"500!"

"Yes sir, and growing. But, the local militias have been raised, as well as several Federal regiments, so it will be put down soon. People are applauding us for our quick action."

"What do they want?"

"Emancipation, sir."

"Well, they won't get it that way. So there."

"Alright sir."

"What about John Brown?"

"We have been trying to monitor his movements, sir, but he has disappeared."

"I want him found!"

"Yes sir." Chivers went to find John Brown. He did not know that John Brown would make himself known within two days.
 
It has begun. The only questions are where will Brown strike, and how many hammers will fall before this business is concluded.
 
Harpers Ferry, Virgina
July 26, 1858

As dawn broke, John Brown finished off his scanty morning meal- a piece of corn bread, washed down with water. He nodded to his second in command, "Minister of War" Kagi.

"How goes it?" Kagi grinned.

"We have taken much of the arsenal, and have begun to load it onto the carts. We are keepng the hostages in the Fire House, as per your orders."

"Any sign of attack?"

"No sir. Our scouts have reported, however, that the local militia is being called out. That was about... twenty minutes ago."

"Then I think it is time for us to leave. Zedikiah and his men are where now?"

"Well, sir, Mr. Zedikiah is currently occupying Bolivar, along with at least 200 men."

"I expected only 50."

"They gathered some on the way."

"I see. Any federal troops?"

"No, sir. But I think there will be, soon."

"Well, we better hurry. Let's move."

The abolitionists quickly vacated Harpers Ferry, carts full of weapons, hostages left bound and gagged in the Fire House, found later by the advancing militia.

Bolivar, Virginia
Juy 26, 1858

Zedikiah embraced Brown in a bear hug.

"You be true to us, Brown!" Brown smiled. The other blacks made a rush for the carts, taking whatever weapons caught their fancy.

"Brown, we be victors now?"

"Yes, Zedikiah. But we have to keep moving; the militia is advancing quickly."

"It be to late for that, brother." The two men turned to see an old black man, leaning on a long-barreled flintlock musket. He looked as if he had gone a great distance.

"Militia be surroundin' the city. I think dey gonna wait for de Marines." Brown's mind sighed. He knew the battle was already lost. ut he could not let these people know.

"Prepare the town for a defence. We shall give them a fight to remember." Zedikiah seemed to know what Brown was thinking. He frowned, then moved to follow his bidding.

Throughout that day, trees branches, stones were piled, and ditches were dug. By the time the Federals arrived late that night, the town was a veritable fort. The Federal commander, a certain young colonel, was also dismayed to discover that the militia's cordon was not as effective as he hoped; some 23 men had entered the city to help Brown defend it.

The following day would see one of the most famous battles of all time; The Battle of Bolivar.
 
Harper's Ferry was a success!

Now it will be a true battle in the aptly named city of Bolivar. Are there additional uprisings still ongoing? Because i could see Bolivar inspiring continued action.

Now, who could that young colonel be?
 
Bolivar, Virginia
July 27, 1858

From the Military Annals of the United States of America, ca. 1928, Department of Defence Press

"The Battle of Bolivar (First Day)"

"At six o'clock that morning, Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston, just recently returned from Utah territory, ordered twenty soldiers of the Virginia militia, supported by five Federal regulars, to take the Old Stone Church, located about 75 yards from the outskirts of Bolivar's fortifications. The abolitionists had concentrated their defensive efforts elsewhere, and were expecting an assault on their right flank, where they had not yet completed their wooden fence. Thus, only about seven blacks were stationed in the Old Stone Church at the time of the attack. Screaming bloody vengeance, the soldiers rushed to the Old Stone Church. The blacks, four of whom were asleep with another two cooking breakfast, were taken by surprise. The guard on watch was able to get off one shot, which went wide, before the Federals eliminated the garrison. From here, they engaged in a long range fire-fight with the blacks in the town proper, which lasted for almost an hour. One militia man was struck by a ball in the stomach and had to be carried off, and one of the Federal soldiers was grazed on the temple. The blacks, on the other hand, lost two men and recieved six wounded, this reflecting on their horrible inexperiance in combat. After this firefight, the battle quieted down as Johnston rearranged his troops, recieving more reinforcements as the day progressed, including, at ten o'clock, a detachment of two twelve-pounder cannons. These he stationed on a low ridge overlooking Bolivar. As the day reached noon, he ordered them to open fire. The inexperianced blacks were frightened by the sound of the cannon and the explosions. When it was one thirty in the afternoon, Johnston ordered an all out-assault on the eastern part of the town, with thiry miltia men and ten Federal soldiers. He underestimated the size of the abolitionist force, however- the assault was beaten back with six milita men dying, along with two Federals. In response, Johnston ordered another assault, this time with some fifty militiamen and thirty Federals. This one, despite also being bloody, actually made some progress ("progress" is defined here by a few soldiers getting over the fence) before being beaten back, with eleven casulties. Johnston's men becoming tired of seeing their friends die, asked Johnston to call for a cease-fire. Johnston agreed, but while his aide-de-camp advanced under a flag of truce, he rode off towards the main road south where an entire division of Federal troops were advancing towards southern Virgina (see "Battle of Breckenbourg"). By the time his aide returned with a refusal, Johnston was long gone. The troops, without their leader, simply hunkered down and watched as the blacks improved their defenses. Johnston returned at eight o'clock, with four-hundred regular soldiers and five more artillery pieces. The next day would go in his favor..."
 
Where is Brown in this? He at least has combat experience of a sorts from Bleeding Kansas.

"Battle of Breckenbourg", seems others are joining the party.

So it is AS Johnston, my guess was incorrect. No matter, I like surprises.
 
*Resurrection!*

Bolivar, Virginia
July 29, 1858

"Colonel, sir! We found Brown!" A.S. Johnston walked to where two soldiers in blue were trying to pry a large piece of rubble from on top of a crazed looking man, who swore at them, blood and spittle collected on his beard. The town had not survived the bombardment of the previous day, and the massive assault that night had left almost no survivors. A.S. Johnston leaned down and stared at the mans face.

"Damn you, you Judas!" Brown said. Johnston stepped on his face. Hard.

Than he walked away. The two soldiers stopped what they were doing, and went looking for some tobacco, leaving John Brown's body on the ground, as his life slowly ebbed out...

Washington D.C.
July 31, 1858

"So, Chivers, what do the people think?"

"Well, Mr.B, the Republicans are in an uproar, and most people think gradual emancipation is a good idea, but your popularity is up..."

"Why would they think that, Chivers? WHY?"

"Because almost six-thousand people died in this insurrection sir. People are realizing that the slaves will continue to rebel... and they are afeared of a second Haiti scenario." Mr.B shivered.

"Alright, Chivers. Bring me a rough draft, I'll edit it, than I'll present it. Do it."

Chivers went to do it. He did not tell Mr.B that emigration towards Central America was going up again...
 
Nice stuff

This yarn is flowing nicely; I'll be looking forwards to more.

With the rich southerners emmigrating, plantations should be geting cheap--prime candidates for Northern money to snap them up. I could see them buying the places without the slaves, then hiring anyone who will work dirt cheap--and selling their coton as "Harvested by free men," even if this isn't true.

Keep it coming!
 
Washington, D.C.
September 5, 1858

"...and so, my fellow polticians and legislators, I propose a bill for gradual emancipation of slaves in this nation. They shall remain as full slaves until Janurary 1, 1860, when they shall recieve partial manumission- they shall be able to travel from place to place, cannot be bought or sold, and have some rights as persons. By Janurary 1, 1870, the Freedman's Bureau, which is provisioned in the bill, shall be expected to have prepared the manumissioned slaves for full citizenship. All slaves will be expected to take a test on that date to prove whether or not they shall be allowed to enter our Union as citizens. From then on, if they pass, they shall be treated as full citizens..."

-From President Buchanan's Emancipation Proposal Speech

Walker's City, Central America
October 12, 1858

"What do you mean, I lost!" President Walker stared hard at General Schlessinger. His eyes, while hard, showed signs of depression and a type of melancholy Schlessinger had never seen before.

"Well, sir, 17% of the population is Dixie, and they voted overwhelmingly for you. That gives you 1,250,000 votes. However, 27% of the population is Agnlicized Hispano, and they voted overwhelmingly for Henningson. That gave him 2,250,000 votes. Aside from some deviations on both sides, Henningson defeated you rather handily, sir."

"What if I don't step down?"

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Yes, yes, Schlessinger, I order you to arrest Henningson and throw out this election!"

"No, sir, I cannot..."

"I order you, Schlessinger!"

"Sir... no." And Schlessinger walked out of the office. Walker screamed at the top of his lungs, than collapsed on his chair. His eyes wildly moved around the room, finally settling on his desk. He opened it, and found what he was looking for. He pulled it out, poured himself several shots of whiskey, than...

They found Walker at his desk, brains blown out by his own personal revolver, a note scrawled next to him.

"I shall never be defeated."
 
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