The PHOENIX GAMBIT: An Alternative History of the Confederacy by McDonough Douglas

Author:McDonough, Douglas [McDonough, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

Galveston, Texas Zone of Reconstruction

Staff Lieutenant Arthur Strong stood for a moment on the veranda outside Admiral Farragut’s top floor office. He paused, enjoying the gentle breeze that brought a slight taste of salt from the dark blue, tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico. From his position, he could admire the view of the Gulf Squadron’s ships that either lay at anchor in the harbor or were secured to the docks. Sighing, he set his cap square and knocked once before entering with the newest OSS intelligence briefs. He approached the desk, placed the pages in the required box on Farragut’s desk, and then quickly turned to leave.

“I think not, Artie,” said the Admiral with a smile, as he reached for the just arrived paperwork. “You know I always value your summaries.”

“This one is bad, sir, very, very bad,” said Strong. “Apparently, culture clash is having a negative impact on our renegade rebels. It seems that the Spanish military has a custom that if the enemy is in the act of armed rebellion then they are guilty of treason. That is a crime punishable by death. Their term for it is “Flying the Red Flag” and if they fly it and you don’t surrender right….”

“Good Lord!” exclaimed Farragut, horror clear on his features. “Do you mean to say…?”

“Exactly right, sir,” interjected Strong, anger evident in his tone. “They did it to one out of every ten prisoners they took, wounded or not. Some three hundred men were hung along the road from Leon to Mexico City.”

“One fine day they might just find themselves on the wrong side of that nasty little military custom,” said Farragut, anger clear in his tone, as he stood and walked out onto the veranda, “It would serve them right, though, wouldn’t it.”

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