King Abraham

"But what If he decides to stay a day or two longer, John Wilkes?" "If he does we'll stay right here until he shows up, Davey." "We could be waiting a long time," Herold grumbled. "It doesn't matter, Davey, boy. You heard John Wilkes." As usual Payne's voice was low and threatening. "Lewis' right, Davey. We’ll ll do what we have to do. We hold fate of the Confederacy in our hands." "But I'm hot, John Wilkes and we have no food...." "Are you deaf, Davey?" Lewis Payne continued to smile, as he slowly drew his knife out of its sheath. "John Wilkes said we're staying, so were staying." Herold, still muttering under his breath, shuffled over to the horses. “That sun’s going to fry us like we was eggs.” It was a beautiful day, cloudless, without a hint of a breeze to stir the air. Booth was in high spirits. Booth told Davey to hold the horses in a small, thicket of trees, live oak, elm and cottonwood and bramble that shielded the crook in the road. "What do you think, Lewis?" he asked, "Did I choose the perfect spot for an ambush? We can see a quarter of a mile in either direction. I figure that gives us three minutes out of sight of the troops in front and in back of the devil if they keep their usual distance." "And if they don't?" "Then, Davey will distract them and make them chase him while I capture or kill King Abraham. But don't worry, they'll follow their routine as always. We will not be denied our victory. They’re creatures of habit." He took a deep pull on his flask and passed it to Payne. "Victory for the Confederacy," Payne took a huge swallow, smacked his lips and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "I'd drink to that too, if you'd pass me the brandy," Herold shouted from the trees. "Don't think you're old enough, Davey boy," Payne answered with his usual grin. "What do you think John Wilkes?" Booth perched on a tree stump and began running through the checklist in his mind. He had sent Azerodt south to secure the boat they would use to take their captive across the Potomac into Confederate Virginia. He had sent O'Laughlin to the Anocostia Bridge with instructions to stand by with a carriage and be ready to create a diversion if they were pursued. He had planned to have Arnold or Surratt with him at the ambush site. He felt a fourth rider would have made everything easier, but Booth refused to dwell on what he could have done if he had more men. He took another pull on his flask, shook it and cursed as he threw it away empty. He was as ready he could be. With nothing left to do Payne watched Booth for a few minutes then lay down under a tree with his hat shielding his eyes and promptly fell asleep. Herold remained in the saddle holding the reins of the other two horses. As he paced his tight circle Booth hummed the familiar refrain from "John Brown's Body. Finally, a little after one in the afternoon, they heard the sounds of horsemen approaching from the direction of the Old Soldier's Home. With Payne at his heels Booth ran into the trees and vaulted into his saddle. "Remember men, we must have him and his buggy out of here before the guards reach us. We'll wait and as soon as the forward guard is out of sight and the buggy rounds the curve I'll signal and we charge. Davey you grab the reins. Lewis you subdue Satan. I'll back you." They hid in the thick stand of trees and held their breath as half a dozen mounted guards passed their hiding place and disappeared around the bend in the road. When the buggy was almost to them, Booth galloped out to confront his victim who sat hidden in the shadow of the canopy. With a rebel yell Booth spurred his horse and quickly came alongside. Payne and Herold, following close behind went to the other side. They drew abreast just as close-cropped, clean-shaven Major Eckert leaned forward out of the shadows, the cocked pistol in his right hand hidden in his lap. "Can I help you, gentlemen?" he asked as he slowed his horse. Booth's eyes bulged. He gaped at the stranger as if he were seeing a ghost. Eckert smiled and flicked his reins preparing to send his horse into a trot. Hearing the approaching rear guard Booth came to his senses with a rush. He dug his spurs into the side of his mount and was almost dumped from the saddle as the horse reared. "No. . . .No . . ." Booth stammered as he fought to regain control of his mount. "We were expecting someone else . . . We . . ." "A friend I hope," the Major said his expression never changing as Booth, with Payne and Herold hard at his heels, galloped away in a mad scramble. "But what If he decides to stay a day or two longer, John Wilkes?" "If he does we'll stay right here until he shows up, Davey." "We could be waiting a long time," Herold grumbled. "It doesn't matter, Davey, boy. You heard John Wilkes." As usual Payne's voice was low and threatening. "Lewis' right, Davey. We’ll ll do what we have to do. We hold fate of the Confederacy in our hands." "But I'm hot, John Wilkes and we have no food...." "Are you deaf, Davey?" Lewis Payne continued to smile, as he slowly drew his knife out of its sheath. "John Wilkes said we're staying, so were staying." Herold, still muttering under his breath, shuffled over to the horses. “That sun’s going to fry us like we was eggs.” It was hot, it was a beautiful day, cloudless, without a hint of a breeze to stir the air. Booth was in high spirits. Booth told Davey to hold the horses in a small, thicket of trees, live oak, elm and cottonwood and bramble that shielded the crook in the road. "What do you think, Lewis?" he asked, "Did I choose the perfect spot for an ambush? We can see a quarter of a mile in either direction. I figure that gives us three minutes out of sight of the troops in front and in back of the devil if they keep their usual distance." "And if they don't?" "Then, Davey will distract them and make them chase him while I capture or kill King Abraham. But don't worry, they'll follow their routine as always. We will not be denied our victory. They’re creatures of habit." He took a deep pull on his flask and passed it to Payne. "Victory for the Confederacy," Payne took a huge swallow, smacked his lips and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "I'd drink to that too, if you'd pass me the brandy," Herold shouted from the trees. "Don't think you're old enough, Davey boy," Payne answered with his usual grin. "What do you think John Wilkes?" Booth perched on a tree stump and began running through the checklist in his mind. He had sent Azerodt south to secure the boat they would use to take their captive across the Potomac into Confederate Virginia. He had sent O'Laughlin to the Anocostia Bridge with instructions to stand by with a carriage and be ready to create a diversion if they were pursued. He had planned to have Arnold or Surratt with him at the ambush site. He felt a fourth rider would have made everything easier, but Booth refused to dwell on what he could have done if he had more men. He took another pull on his flask, shook it and cursed as he threw it away empty. He was as ready he could be. With nothing left to do Payne watched Booth for a few minutes then lay down under a tree with his hat shielding his eyes and promptly fell asleep. Herold remained in the saddle holding the reins of the other two horses. As he paced his tight circle Booth hummed the familiar refrain from "John Brown's Body. Finally, a little after one in the afternoon, they heard the sounds of horsemen approaching from the direction of the Old Soldier's Home. With Payne at his heels Booth ran into the trees and vaulted into his saddle. "Remember men, we must have him and his buggy out of here before the guards reach us. We'll wait and as soon as the forward guard is out of sight and the buggy rounds the curve I'll signal and we charge. Davey you grab