"Eric Flint - TOG 02 - 1824, The Arkansas War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

Adams heaved himself out of his chair and went to another window than the one Monroe had been
looking out earlier. The same window, in fact, that had been the focus of ScottтАЩs examination. That
window allowed a view to the west.

Once there, Adams stabbed a finger at the land beyond. тАЬAttacking the Confederacy from the south
means marching through Texas. That means a war with Mexico, and probably Spain. An unprovoked
war with MexicoтАФand no one except southern slave-owners would accept the premises for such a war
as a provocation suitable for a casus belliтАФruns the risk of embroiling the European powers. The last
thing we need. Not even Jackson would support that, as much as he hates the Dons.тАЭ

He shifted his finger slightly to the north and jabbed it again. тАЬThe only other alternative is coming at the
Confederacy from the north. That would bediplomatically feasible, but as a military propositionтАжтАЭ

He shifted his gaze back into the room, to land on Scott. тАЬYouтАЩre the expert, Winfield. WhatтАЩs your
opinion?тАЭ

The general grimaced. тАЬThe logistics would be a nightmare. YouтАЩd have to move the troops down the
Ohio to the juncture with the Mississippi. ThenтАФтАЭ

тАЬPassing by free states as you went, each and every one of which will be opposed to the expedition,тАЭ
Monroe injected. тАЬThey have no quarrel with the Confederacy. Rather the opposite, since many of them
are happy to be getting rid of their own freedmenтАФand without the Confederacy, they canтАЩt.тАЭ

ScottтАЩs grimace had never quite left his face, and now it returned with a vengeance. тАЬYes, I understand
that, Mr. President. YouтАЩd have to bivouac on the south bank of the Ohio and resupply in Kentucky
ports.тАЭ

The president wasnтАЩt about to let up. тАЬI remind you that Richard Johnson keeps getting reelected by the
citizens of Kentucky, General. WhatтАЩs he likely to say about that?тАЭ

тАЬHeтАЩd pitch a fit,тАЭ Adams agreed. тАЬThereтАЩs not only the matter of his personal attitudes to be
considered, either. Senator from Kentucky or not, living openly with a black woman or not, donтАЩt forget
heтАЩs also the darling of the northeast workingmenтАФand theyтАЩre even happier with the freedmen exclusion
laws than Calhoun is. Except, not being slave-owners, they donтАЩt care a fig about the problem of
runaway slaves. Let the darkies escape to Arkansas, and good riddanceтАФand for sure and certain, donтАЩt
expectthem to support a war to get them back. Much less volunteer to fight in it.тАЭ

тАЬI wasnтАЩtadvocating such an expedition, Mr. President, Secretary of State. Personally, I think itтАЩd be
sheer folly. But you asked my military opinion, and IтАЩm simply trying to give it to you.тАЭ

тАЬOf course, General.тАЭ MonroeтАЩs courtesy was back in full force. тАЬNeither I nor the secretary meant any
of ourтАФah, perhaps impatient view of the matterтАФto be inflicted upon you.тАЭ

тАЬYes,тАЭ Adams grunted. тАЬMy apologies, Winfield. I didnтАЩt mean to suggest you were a party to
CalhounтАЩs madness. Please continue.тАЭ

Scott nodded. тАЬIt would help a great deal, Mr. President, if I had a map to work from. Is there one at
hand?тАЭ
 тАЬI can have one brought, certainly.тАЭ The president began to rise, but Adams waved him down. тАЬPlease!
The proprieties must be maintained. The best maps are in my office, anyway. IтАЩll get one for us. Just the