Grant Comes East - Civil War 02 by Newt Gingrich, William Forstchen Page A

neighborhoods, the city is in anarchy."
    Dan drained his glass and poured a second one.
    Even within the darkened confines of Delmonico's, the air was heavy with the stench of smoke from the dozens of fires raging out of control across the city. An exhausted fire crew, walking behind their hook-and-ladder wagon, limped past the doorway, several of the men bandaged, one nursing a bloody arm in a sling. One could hear a steady rumble echoing, and it quickened Dan's blood; it was the sound of men shouting, so similar to the sound of a battle from a mile or two away. An explosion thundered, loud enough that many of the men in the square stood up, pointing to the north, and Dan could see a glimpse of a fireball soaring into the early-morning sky.
    "I could have won it at Gettysburg and we wouldn't now be dealing with that mess out there," Dan announced. Tweed said nothing, intent on his opening course of smoked oysters, pausing between bites to drain his glass of champagne. The governor, flanked by his two aides who actually had more the look of bodyguards, sat with hands folded across his lap.
    "I'm telling you, I had Lee square in my sights that second morning at Gettysburg," Dan continued. "I knew he was beginning to flank us. Berdan, God rest him, confirmed it just before he died. They were strung out on that road for miles and I'd of cut through them like a whipsaw. Then we could have turned and destroyed each wing of his army.
    "But no, damn him! Meade and all the others just stood there like wooden Indians. Damn West Point bastards. Same thing on the march down to Union Mills. I should have been allowed to move to the right flank as I told Meade, rather than march on Union Mills. But again, no! If I had, Fifth Corps would have been reinforced rather than annihilated. And that last bloody charge, my God, wh at idiocy, it was worse than Burn side at Fredericksburg."
    "That's past and the White House and its patronage are still in the future," Tweed grumbled, looking up from his meal. "I'm worried about now," and he gestured toward the open door.
    "We let this continue, we lose this city, the blame will come down square on Tammany when it's done. You know damn well the Republicans will blame us for it, say they were knifed in the back by these riots. They will seize any excuse to blame the Irish and the Democrats."
    "That's why I'm here," Sickles said. "Somebody's got to restore order and if I do it we get the credit instead of the blame. I will be the man who saved the Union after our defeat at Union Mills."
    "One more day and we'll have that rabble under control," Governor Seymour snapped back angrily.
    Dan leaned back in his chair, raising a brandy snifter, and smiled.
    "If you wish to give the order, Governor, I will withdraw my troops immediately," and he pointed to the square.
    Worried looks were exchanged around the table between Seymour and Tweed, the silence of the moment disturbed by the distant echoes of shots, another fire engine racing past, the cries of those fleeing the anarchy out in the street.
    "Let's not be hasty, Dan," Seymour replied.
    Dan smiled.
    "We have to be hasty, Governor, or we'll lose your damn city and with it the war. For or against it at this point, you don't want to be the one blamed."
    "You actually think this goddamn war can be won?"
    "Think it? I know it," Dan replied coldly.
    "And you're the one to do it?"
    "You're goddamn right I'm the one to do it"
    "Lincoln will never let you take command, didn't you see Greeley's paper today? It's Grant now."
    "A drunkard and yet another West Pointer," Dan announced, loud enough that his staff and the infantry guards at the door could hear.
    "You honestly think he can do anything?"
    "He did take Vicksburg," Tweed offered. "He's got power ful friends, Congressman Washburn e for one."
    Dan snorted derisively.
    "Fighting against rabble out west is one thing. Let him try and tangle with Bobbie Lee. One fight and he'll be like all the others, running with