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This Mighty Scourge of War: A Reconstruction-Era Quest

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John Wilkes Booth's infamous assassination of Abraham Lincoln was only one of several planned killings in a conspiracy meant to destroy the Union's leadership in a single stroke. In our timeline, it was the only successful murder committed on that fateful night.

In this timeline, there were more—and the quest puts us in the shoes of those who are left to pick up the pieces…
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Chapter 1: No Time To Mourn
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    • Kirook

    Kirook

    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Washington, D.C.

    April 14, 1865

    10:45 PM

    As Senator Lafayette S. Foster prepared to go to bed, his heart was lifted with a jubilation that was soon to be shattered.

    General Lee had finally lain down his arms not a week past, and it seemed the brutal spectre of war would soon release the nation from its crimson embrace. And to add to the triumph, with the help of his efforts as president pro tempore of the Senate, the Thirteenth Amendment was marching inexorably towards ratification. The day was not far off when America would be washed clean of the stain of slavery for good. Foster allowed himself a smile—a rare sight on any face during those dark days of civil war, but appearing more and more often as rays of sunlight began to shine through the clouds.

    Then there came a terrible clangor from outside his front door.

    The Senator's brow furrowed, and he made his way out to his porch, rubbing the beginnings of sleep out of his eyes. Rushing down the street was a band of men who—from their distinctive capes, torches, and the symbol of the eye they bore on their clothes—could only be President Lincoln's loyal Wide Awakes. At a glance it was clear that they had been roused into a fury, and all of them were armed, brandishing pistols, rifles, and daggers with nothing less than murderous intent.

    And what they were shouting…

    His heart dropped into his stomach. No, it couldn't possibly be true. They must be mistaken. Or if not, surely this was some horrible dream…

    Foster was roused from his stupor by the clatter of hooves, as a Union Army officer galloped up the street on horseback. He reined in his steed as he reached Foster's house, and dismounted in one smooth motion.

    From the look on his face, it was clear that the nightmare was becoming more real by the second.

    "Senator Foster," he said without preamble, "I have grave news."

    "The President," Foster murmured, forcing his voice to steady itself. "Does Vice President Johnson know…"

    There was a deathly silence, and then: "The Vice President is dead. As are the Secretary of State and General Grant. A Confederate conspiracy was underfoot under our very noses, and we didn't realize until it was too late."

    Another man might have fainted dead away then, or stood dumbstruck by the horror he had just been informed of. But for Lafayette S. Foster, the effect was a sudden, terrible clarity. A last, desperate stroke from the dying slave power, to decapitate the Union before it could strike its own killing blow. And it had taken the lives of Lincoln and Johnson both, which meant…

    "There's no time to lose," said the officer. "The nation is awaiting your command…President Foster."

    THE STATE OF THE NATION:

    National stability is critical.
    The government's legitimacy is unknown.
    The capital is engulfed in rioting.
    The mood of the War Democrats is angry.
    The mood of the Liberal Republicans is infuriated.
    The mood of the Radical Republicans is murderous.
    There are four major Confederate armies remaining in the field.
    The progress of Reconstruction is undetermined.
    The intensity of conflict in the Western frontier is     high.
    Of the assassins of Lincoln and his trusted subordinates, all are still at large.

    Washington is in an uproar over the Confederate conspiracy, and riots have broken out as angry citizens of the capital take it upon themselves to hunt for the murderers of Lincoln, Grant, Johnson, and Seward. Before the President can take command of the country, he must restore his command of its center of government.

    What is to be done?

    Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators.Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.There is no choice but to recall the Army of the Potomac from Virginia to restore order in the city.
    Taking immediate and decisive action will help the the President's reputation and the government's legitimacy, but riding out into the city at such a chaotic time—even with Federal troops at one's back—is a significant personal risk.Foster is a skilled orator and a known ally of the lamented President Lincoln, so this will help in calming tensions in Washington. However, without a concerted effort to find them, the conspirators may escape and regroup in the South.This will bring an immediate end to the rioting and will likely result in the capture of at least one of the conspirators. On the other hand, governmental legitimacy will suffer, and the army's presence in the capital may have other unpredictable effects.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • I'll be starting off with a voting period of 48 hours, to be adjusted as necessary depending on how much engagement the quest gets.
     
    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.

    Assuming we can wrangle some legitimacy and build up a good RadRep base, it doesn't matter that Bookes and his ilk may escape. The CSA is all but dead, and we can roll up the traitors later.
     
    I fear this is not a "Fuck It, We Ball" moment.

    The Balling has already begun, and we must do all we can to prevent it from Balling any further.

    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators

    Just has to ride out the wave of popular discontent and say we did shit
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators

    If our legitimacy gets too low. I'm pretty sure we will have another civil war on our hands.
     
    [X] Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators.
     
    [X] There is no choice but to recall the Army of the Potomac from Virginia to restore order in the city.

    Willing to gamble with our legitimacy at this stage - with the Army of Northern Virginia (and Virginia itself) wrapped up, the AoP's job is largely done.

    I love it when there are other unpredictable effects
     
    Okay, yeah, on second thought, changing vote to:

    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators

    we ball
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators

    The balling shall not stop until the confederates call for a mercy rule, and even then it shall continue.
     
    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    While it would be unfortunate for the conspirators to escape, the preservation of public order is of higher priority. Recalling the Army of the Potomac seems like overkill and would distract from the war effort. We also shouldn't take the risk of Soon-to-be-President Foster being killed or wounded, so therefore I will vote:

    [X] Speak directly to the people. Try to calm the situation and convince them not to resort to violence in Lincoln's name.
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators
     
    [X]Take direct command of Federal forces in the District of Columbia to search for the conspirators
     
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