Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove

Author:Harry Turtledove [Turtledove, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: War stories, Alternative Histories (Fiction), United States - History - Civil War, SteamPunk, General, United States, Science Fiction, 1861-1865 - Fiction, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780345376756
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 1992-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

"Nonsense," Lee declared. "There will be plenty. In any case, I may keep you too busy to eat, as I intend to talk your ears off."

Forrest's smile enlivened his brooding features remarkably. "I am at your service, then, General Lee, and I will make sure I keep my hands on my ears at all times."

"My house is only a few blocks away," Lee said. "Do come along. I've wanted to meet you for some time, to discuss with you your extraordinary campaigns in the west, but circumstances have kept you in Page 233

the field even while the rest of us enjoyed the fruits of peace."

"Blame the Yankees, for trifling with our niggers," Forrest said.

"I am sick to death of blame, General Forrest, and of endless recriminations on both sides, let me say," Lee added hastily. "The United States are here, as are we; our two nations have a common border which stretches for two thousand miles, more or less. Either we learn not to be distracted by our differences or we fight a war every generation, as the nations of Europe are in the habit of doing. I would not care to see such folly come to our shores."

"Spoken like the true Christian you are, sir," Forrest said. "Still and all, knowing I can lick the Yankees whenever I need to will make me sleep better of nights. As for the nigger soldiers they left behind, we'll be years gettin"em all to remember who their masters are. And for that, I wish God would send all the Yankees straight to hell."

"Do you think it can be done, even given years?" Lee asked.

"Kill enough of 'em, General Lee, sir, and the rest of 'em will get the notion," Forrest said with brutal pragmatism.

The cavalry general and Negro fighter seemed very sure of himself, but Lee still wondered if simple savagery could produce even a Tacitean peace. The promise of force had always had its place in maintaining slavery and keeping revolts from breaking out, yet that promise rarely had to be kept in the days before the war. He wondered how-and whether-the Confederacy could withstand a constantly simmering rebellion.

Hoping to change the subject, he asked Forrest, "What brings you to Richmond at last?"

"I think I wrecked the last nigger robber band that halfway deserved to be called a regiment, so I had the leisure to present my report in person," Forrest answered. "I gave it to a clerk this afternoon, so I daresay you'll see it tomorrow. I thought I'd look at the slave markets, too; plenty of prime niggers here, since this is the capital."

"I see." Lee could not keep a certain chill from his voice. He knew Forrest had made his fortune trading slaves, but he had not expected him to refer to it so openly. No Virginia gentleman would have done so, that was certain.

Forrest might have picked the thought from his mind. "I hope IVe not offended you, sir. My father was a blacksmith who neither read nor wrote.

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