The Virginian Did Not Wait: a George H. Thomas timeline

I know its not quite the same but it made me think of that scene in Rogue One. Anyhow, keep on keeping on, its a good story you got here!
Thanks. (I haven't actually seen Rogue One BTW.) I have to say, however, that I have nearly finished what I intend to write in this story. If I had more time I would fill this TL out somewhat, including more colour and detail from the POV of ordinary soldiers and civilians (I had a vague idea of introducing an ordinary Southern Unionist soldier character, perhaps an East Tennessean, as a sort of counterpoint to Thomas); however RL won't permit it (I have major RL changes impending) and I very much want to make sure that the story has a proper ending. Maybe one day I might rework it, but I have other writing projects I would want to undertake first. I hope, though, that I have done something - my 2 cents' worth - to redress the injustice that I think was done to Thomas, at the time and since. I believe (and I know just how bold a claim this is) that he was the best general of the war.
 
OOC: This is the last post in the story. It has a certain fanciful element to it, I admit. My goal is to close the story in a satisfying way.




Epilogue



Washington DC, March 4th 1865

Inauguration Day was fine and dry. The return of peace had been an immense blessing to the country, which had welcomed its soldiers home; it was an ambiguous blessing to the imperial city, however, as the horde of contractors, journalists and staff officers who had done well out of the war had moved on to fresh fields and new projects. Several hotels had gone out of business over the winter, and after the victory parades had concluded, the capital had taken on a slightly forlorn air.

Mr. Lincoln was not too troubled by this. His re-election the past November had been virtually a formality; the Democrats were still in tatters, their reputation wrecked for a generation as the party of rebellion and slavery. Now he looked forward to the immense tasks of reconstructing the Union.

Before going to the Inauguration he had a visit to make. Stonewall Jackson had needed many months to recover from his wounds, and even now the doctors disliked the idea of him moving. One arm was gone, and he could only hobble with a stick. But he was determined to return to Virginia. Lincoln had visited him before, and found him a fascinating interlocutor.

‘I am determined, sir, to make my contribution to the work of rebuilding my country,’ he said. ‘This is the path that the Lord has set before my feet. The outcome of the war is a verdict of God.’

‘You should not reproach yourself too hard, general,’ said Lincoln. ‘The odds were too heavily against you.’

Jackson’s fiery blue eyes stared, and for a long moment there was silence. ‘I have prayed long and meditated much,’ he said. ‘Do you not recall, sir, the tale of Gideon and the Midianites?’ Lincoln nodded. ‘If it had been the will of the Lord that few should overthrow many, it would have been so. I perceive, sir, the sign of the times.’

An orderly helped the general downstairs; Lincoln accompanied the general to the street, where a carriage was waiting. ‘Godspeed, general,’ he said, and waved. Jackson returned a silent salute.

Another carriage took the President to the ceremony. As the short ride unfolded, the President reflected on the events of the recent past. The last Confederate armies had given up the struggle not long after Richmond fell: Lee had set a good example by surrendering his army entire to Meade. Jefferson Davis had fled as far as Mississippi before being taken, and was now under house arrest at his home. Lincoln had forbidden any notion of severer punishments. The amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery outright had passed in the winter, and everyone was now trying to work out all the practical implications. Lincoln allowed himself a small smile. A vast future was opening before the American people.

He arrived at the ceremony and was escorted to the wide rostrum. On the stand with him were his colleagues – Stanton, Welles, Johnson, the latter looking a little the worse for wear - and the heroes of the war – Thomas, Grant, Butler, Sherman, Curtis. Chief Justice Chase was about to give the oath, when a wild eyed man from the crowd suddenly shoved his way onto the steps, brought out a revolver and shot the two soldiers on guard. Another soldier tried to draw his sidearm, but fumbled it and fired accidentally into the woodwork. Then John Wilkes Booth (for it was he) was on the stand itself, shouting an oath.

Butler had stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then hastily retreated and attempted to hide behind Andrew Johnson, who turned awkwardly in his befuddled state. The two of them became entangled, and before the eyes of the crowd tumbled to the floor. Butler’s political ambitions fell in the same moment.

Meanwhile Grant lunged at Booth and received a wild slash from a knife to the arm. The movement had distracted Booth for a second, however, and now he was on the receiving end of a blow from Thomas that had his full three hundred pounds behind it. Booth sagged, and his weapons fell onto the wooden floor of the stage with a clatter. Thomas picked them up and pocketed them.

‘I believe you may carry on, gentlemen,’ he said.



THE END
 
Fantastic!

That bit with Stonewall Jackson was very well done. OTL lots of people, north and south, half believed that war was the arbitrament of God. Abraham Lincoln probably more than half believed it. I can see the fatalist Lincoln and the predestinarian Jackson hitting it off in a strange way.
 
President Grant herr we come?
In all likelihood. Lincoln is in until 1868 but Grant will be well placed at that point - since Thomas doesn't want the job (and of course as OTL neither does Sherman).

It nice when alt-ACWs have a surviving Stonewall Jackson!
I wonder what he'd do. Hard to imagine him going back to teaching.

Fantastic!

That bit with Stonewall Jackson was very well done. OTL lots of people, north and south, half believed that war was the arbitrament of God. Abraham Lincoln probably more than half believed it. I can see the fatalist Lincoln and the predestinarian Jackson hitting it off in a strange way.
This part might be interesting to expand. I see it as a set of intensely character-driven scenes, in which Lincoln has first to gradually overcome Jackson's resistance to talking at all. One could read it as a kind of synecdoche for the process of reunion.
 
"I wonder what he'd do. Hard to imagine him going back to teaching. "
Maybe He'd start a very religious home for wounded veterans.
 
"I wonder what he'd do. Hard to imagine him going back to teaching. "
Maybe He'd start a very religious home for wounded veterans.
I think this is an excellent idea story-wise, especially if it turned out later that Lincoln had made an anonymous donation to help it get started.
 
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