Free Britannia's Fist: From Civil War to World War: An Alternate History by Peter G. Tsouras Page A

but without the guns, ammunition, and fittings. Then as with the
Alabama
, they sneaked it out of Liverpool Harbor and sailed it off to the Azores, where it married up with another ship carrying guns, ammunition, fittings, and military stores, as well as a mostly British, former Royal Navy crew. The military cargo was transferred and fitted to the commerce raider in short order.”
    Seward added, “We have evidence that British officials from the harbor master in Liverpool to the Foreign Ministry itself connived to alert the Confederate agents in the port to take the ship out when our diplomatic pressure became too great.” He nodded to Fox to continue.
    “Yes, that is just my point. We can expect the British to try this again. If we intercept the rams just outside of British waters in the Irish Sea, we can seize or sink them easily since they will be unarmed and with minimal crew.”
    Seward thumped the table with a bang. “Excellent. Just what I have been recommending to you, Gideon!”
    Welles glowered. “And I have told you, Bill, we simply do not have the warships to pull off blockade duty. Even one purpose-built warship is too much.”
    Fox had an answer. “Mr. Secretary, we do not need to use such ship. The rams will be unarmed and with only a small transfer crew on its sea trials voyage. What we need is something fast with a bold captain to strike suddenly like a shark.”
    Lincoln said, “I like what I’m hearing. Go on, Gus. And what will you use if not a purpose-built warship? And who will be our bold captain?”
    “I have him downstairs, Mr. President. It is Lt. Roswell Lamson of the
Nanesmond
. I took the liberty of ordering him to the Navy Yard.”
    “I’ve heard of this young man. Didn’t he bring in quite prize just a few days ago?”
    “Yes, sir, the fastest ship on record, the British mail packet the
Margaret and Jesse
. And here is my second point. Such a stroke requires the greatest speed and agility, and that is just what the
Margaret and Jesse
has—sixteen knots to the ten and a half knots for the rams.”
    “But this ship isn’t armed, is it?”
    “No, sir, but that can be remedied in ten days at the Navy Yard if I have priority. The guns, fittings, and skilled workmen are there. They’ve worked wonders before.”
    “Well, Gus, you’ve brightened my day considerable. Let’s meet this young man.”
    All this time Sharpe and Lamson had been in the middle of an animated conversation. Lamson found himself pouring out everything he knew about blockade-running prompted by one deft question after another from Sharpe. Lamson was in the middle of his account of running down the
Margaret and Jesse
when a secretary announced that the President would see him. He straightened his uniform; slicked back his straight, dark hair; and followed the secretary as Sharpe sent after him an encouraging, “Good luck, Lieutenant.”
    When they were alone, Dana leaned over to speak in confidence. “Colonel, your report of the contraband, George, caused quite a stir here coming on the heels of Morgan’s raid.”
    Sharpe had hoped that it would. He asked, “How so?”
    “How much do you know about the Copperheads?”
    Sharpe knew a great deal. His intelligence duties included, on his initiative, counterintelligence as well. He was aware of the attempts by the Copperheads to attack the morale of the Union soldier through the mails and by visiting agitators. He also knew how they preyed on furloughed soldiers and did everything to discourage recruitment. He went over these issues one by one with Dana, who was impressed with Sharpe’s grasp of an issue not directly tied to his duties.
    “I must tell you, Sharpe, that the President and Secretary Stanton want to discuss your report with you. It bears on the Copperhead conspiracy centered in the Midwest to launch another rebellion; take Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois out of the Union; and join the Confederacy. They are not just talking, either, or attempting to