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It is late afternoon in early December of 1864, and we take you now live to a military briefing in the War Department, where Col. Virgil Pangloss stands before a small gathering of reporters.
Sir, I understand that Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
has deployed a new American military development called
Total War,
and that he is marching through Georgia with
an innovative Stealth Army
that does not need a supply
train. Could you tell us more about that?
I'm sorry, but I'm not free to comment on that. To
reveal the location of an army, even to mention that there
is a force under a given general's command, might
compromise the safety of our troops. You over
there?
However, the first reporter is both persistent and loud,
and gets in another question. But Colonel Pangloss,
Peter Arnett has reported on Confederate News Network, out
of Atlanta, that Sherman's army ravaged Atlanta this fall,
causing widespread civilian suffering, then ripped up
railroad tracks and torched granaries, and is now marching
toward Savannah, leaving in his wake a 60-mile wide swath
of utter destruction. If the Confederates know where Gen.
Sherman's army is and what his troops are doing, why can't
the Union people know?
Again, I can't tell you about that. And as I am sure
you are aware, our noble and patriotic Senator Simpson has
proclaimed that Arnett is a Confederate sympathizer, and
that you should not put credence in any of his reports.
Arnett is nothing but a mouthpiece for Jefferson Davis, and
the American people should not be subjected to this
malicious and misleading propaganda. Now, be a sport and
let somebody else ask a question.
In the rear of the room, a correspondent rises.
Colonel, when the war started, you said the insurrection
would be put down in 90 days. That was about four years
ago. Is the war still going according to plan?
Yankee troops yesterday fired 314,592 rounds in their
rifles. In aerial bombardment, we fired 28,182 mortar
shells last week, and we launched 19 balloon sorties to
gather intelligence behind enemy lines. On the naval front,
the blockade has interdicted 97 percent of all munitions
and other war materiel bound for Southern ports, and that
collateral damage has been kept to an absolute minimum.
General Grant assures me that the war is proceeding
according to plan.
Could you tell us which plan, Colonel? Would that be
the Anaconda Plan that Gen. Winfield Scott proposed at the
outbreak of hostilities?
I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to discuss that.
However, be assured that we are on a steady course toward
the goal we set when the war began.
Which goal, sir? To preserve the Union? To liberate
the slaves? To occupy the South?
I will not dignify that impudent question with an
answer. How about you over there?
Sir, there are some reports that out in Colorado
Territory, toward the end of last month, soldiers attacked
a civilian village at a place called Sand Creek, and killed
many women and children. Is there anything to that?
Our intelligence from Colonel Chivington, the field
commander, indicated that the encampment was actually a
command and control center, and we'll stand by that. Thank
you gentlemen for coming, and that will be all for
today.
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