conspiracy thrillers

OK – I fall on my sword!  Was that me who wrote that Gettysburg never got snow like I grew up with in New York?

Robbie - The Snow Dog. At two feet he wasn't so happy to frolic ... it was over his inquisitive little head.

The Weather Gods proved me wrong – go figure. At my house we had over twenty inches the first go-round, and expect 8-10 more.  My plow guy didn’t get to us on his huge and demanding list until Sunday night, so I’ve been snowed in … imagine that.  You’d think that would give me lots of time to blog and Facebook, but it didn’t.

I chose to use the time to tackle a long-overdue a project.  I prepared a talk (PowerPoint) for Civil War Round Tables, and anyone else who will listen, on Lincoln’s personal security – or lack thereof. I became obsessed, and when that happens and I’m creating, I go into a bubble of intense focus until I’m satisfied with what I’m writing, photographing, or otherwise creating.

Work all night, sleep until noon, then back at it again … until it’s finished.  I made it, but it took a few days until I was pleased with the end result.  It timed beautifully with the snow.

When I research, or I should say, re-research an area of history, it is always fun, because each tid bit is like a new revelation.  Even if I knew it already somewhere in the historical archives in my mind – that quiet place I call my “history cave” – it’s still like picking up a bright new penny.  During this project, it was a piece of history that to me smacks of the stuff modern thrillers are made of … a real “24″ chair-grabber in the 1860s.

Abraham Lincoln

It has been called “The Baltimore Plot,” but should have been called “The Red Ballot.”  It is the story behind the assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln in February 1861, on his journey through Baltimore to his first inauguration in Washington.  This story has spies doing exceptional and dangerous undercover work, calamitous political intrigue, heros who save the day – indeed perhaps the country – in the nick of time, a romantic angle, and the strong ring of truth that resonates into our own time.

Are you intrigued yet ?  Well you’ll have to wait.  At least until tomorrow.  Then I’ll spin the “Tale of the Red Ballot.”

I won’t bore you with the details leading up to the engagement at Hunterstown (referred to often as the Battle of North Cavalry Field) on 2 July 1863, during the Gettysburg campaign.  There are those who have done a much better job of it, such as Eric Wittenberg and J. David Petruzzi, in their recently published, Plenty of Blame to Go Around; Rummel’s Cavalry on the Roads to Gettysburg; and Longacre’s The Cavalry at Gettysburg. It even played a significant role in my most recent novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.

Suffice to say, in the vicinity of Gettysburg, two Federal cavalry brigades were in search of the anchor of the Confederate left flank.  Between Hunterstown and Gettysburg, these brigades found their prey.  They engaged the former Cobb’s Legion, led at Gettysburg by Confederate Brigadier General Wade Hampton, supported by other elements of Stuart’s rear guard.

Custer wearing Maj Gen straps, but in approximately the same uniform as at Hunterstown. Note the one star on his collar.

What struck me about all this, and why I find research so fascinating, was that a certain well-known Union general led a tiny part of one of these brigades in a very strange and rather foolhardy charge against the Confederate rear guard.  It was the unknown first stab at glory of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer – before real fame took a hand.

The first amazing fact is that Custer, a junior staff officer (Lieutenant, then Captain), was promoted all the way to Brigadier General of Volunteers only days before this engagement (29 June 1863), by Major General Alfred Pleasanton, as part of his shake up of the cavalry corps when he took command.  He was given command of  2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Federal Cavalry Corps – The Michigan Brigade. He wore an improvised uniform, and I’m certain had to be somewhat overwhelmed by his sudden rise – his ego notwithstanding.

As his brigade left Hunterstown swinging south toward Gettysburg, they saw a significant Confederate force taking positions about a mile ahead.  It was, indeed, the Confederate rear guard.  Custer was first to arrive.  He dismounted his cavalry troops, deployed them on both sides of the road, then instructed his artillery onto a ridge.

This is about when things went a bit offish.  Custer ordered Captain Henry Thompson, commanding Company A, 6^th Michigan Cavalry, with his approximately 50 cavalrymen to charge down the road into the Confederates.  His stated reason was to give time for his artillery to properly deploy. Thompson and his men were seasoned troopers, they must have seen the artillery already taking position, and the prospect of this mad charge wasn’t greeted with great joy.

The crossroads known as Hunterstown, 1863

Battle of Huntertown, along the Hunterstown - Gettysburg Road

British observers on McClellan's staff. Charles Fletcher is seated on the far right, and Edward Neville is also seated, third in from the right.

Almost everyone you talk to about British military observers in the American Civil War can think of only one – Lieutenant Colonel Arthur James Lyon Freemantle, Coldstream Guards. Freemantle is considered by most as a British military observer who chose to remain with, and ‘observe’ the southern side. Because perhaps of the fame of Freemantle through his book, Three Months in the Southern States, or possibly as a result of how he was portrayed in the recent movie, Gettysburg, even historians are unaware of two important historical facts:

1.  Although Freemantle was an officer of the Coldstream Guards, he was on leave of absence while in the States, likely didn’t have a uniform with him, wore tweeds most of the time, and was – in point of fact – more a “tourist” than anything else.  (David Horn, the then curator of the Guards Museum, London, and a renowned historian, tried to tell the Gettysburg movie folks these facts, but they insisted on putting Freenantle in a scarlet uniform as an official British observer at Gettysburg, regardless – Go figure.)

Lt Col Arthur Freemantle (In later years)

2.  On the other hand, there were a dozen or so authorized British military observers with General McClellan and the Federal Army of the Potomac for several months in 1862.  These officers, mostly from Guards regiments and the Royal Artillery, came south from Canada to join Little Mac’s staff.

You see, a brigade of Guards and other regiments, with accompanying artillery, had been sent to Canada by Her Majesty Queen Victoria in response to the “Trent” affair on the high seas.  During this incident, two Confederate politicians were taken from a British ship, HMS Trent, causing great outrage in Britain.  By the time these elite British troops arrived in Canada, things were smoothed over between President Lincoln and the Queen, and a nasty potential war on our northern border was averted.  This left these officers sitting in Canada with practically nothing to do.  Why not observe this “Yank” war first hand?

It is one of these British observers, Ian Carlyle, in the Scots Fusilier Guards, who is the hero of my recently released novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.  I modeled my character, Ian, after two of the actual observers on McClellan’s staff, Charles Edward Fletcher and Edward Neville.  They can be seen in the photographic image at the beginning of this blog.  These were both fine officers.

By the way, I survived the dentist.  My cunning plan worked like a charm.

Photographic image of British and other foreign observers with the Federal Army

When I began to write for myself instead of ‘Uncle Sam,’ I was trying to make up my mind whether to write fiction or non-fiction – a major decision.  I was helped in this difficult time by a group of established writers, who, without pressing me in any particular direction, steadfastly guided me toward making a choice that I would not regret later.  Although I am a photographer and have a published non-fiction history book, my passion remains what I chose as a result of the influence of those wonderful writers.  I write fiction, and more specifically, historical fiction. I write this blog in the hope that my journey might help give better focus to folks out there who are trying to find their niche in the writing arena.

I’ve always thought that good historical fiction is a great way to get people interested in history, and can even be a learning tool. My interest in history, and in the Civil War in particular, began when I was a youngster with Stephen Crane’s  “Red Badge of Courage.”  It has been nurtured since then by such greats as C.S.Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Bernard Cornwell, Michael Shaara, and, of course, his son, Jeff Shaara.

From the first time I put pen to paper, or I should say finger to keyboard, to try writing fiction, I was hooked.  I loved developing the story, in harmony with a set of characters of my own creation.  I embraced the interaction of the characters, almost flowing along without me, except in my roll of quiet, backstage puppet master.  It was a narcotic, and I was quickly a hopeless addict.  So far at least my problem hasn’t been writers’ block … it’s having too much in my head to write about.  I must have at least a half dozen books swirling around in there, half written, trying to escape.

As I may have said before, I believe that fiction is meant to entertain, where non-fiction’s primary purpose is to enlighten or inform.  Historical fiction is rather unique in the fiction world.  In fact, if well-written and well-researched, historical fiction can provide the best of both worlds.  I guess that would be my ultimate goal – that my stories are entertaining, provocative, and historically informative.

I want to entice.  I want to inspire others to look more into the Crimean War, the American Civil War, or perhaps Lincoln’s exposure and vulnerability to being assassinated.

The Gettysburg Conspiracy by Will Hutchison

Today was an interesting day.  I heard Abraham Lincoln speaking my words in a scene from The Gettysburg Conspiracy, the latest release in my Ian Carlyle Series.

The book – A British officer in the Scots Fusilier Guards is an observer on General McClellan’s staff in the American Civil War. Assigned to the British Legation in Washington, he soon – against his will – becomes involved in a plot by rogue British industrialists to assassinate Abraham Lincoln .  The plot culminates in an attempt on Lincoln’s life while he is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to give his famous address.  Ian must protect his country’s integrity, his family name, and, indeed, the President of the United States.

I reside in Gettysburg now and have been visiting it regularly for over twenty years.

When I think of Abraham Lincoln, in appearance and voice, I think of James

James Getty as Abraham Lincoln riding a white horse as he did to and from the cemetery where he gave the Gettysburg Address

Getty.  Jim has been giving spectacular historical impressions of Lincoln to Gettysburg tourists for thirty years, and indeed is recognized internationally as a Lincoln authority.

Not long ago I was asked to do an interview and reading from The Gettysburg Conspiracy for ACTV, the local television station.  Jim and I had actually done a similar reading earlier at a Book Launch in Gettysburg (http://willhutchison.com/blog/2009/12/06/cocktails-conversation-and-conspiracy-at-the-majestic-theater-gettysburg/).  Thus, I asked him if he would join me at this reading as well.  He, as usual, was very gracious and accepted my invitation.

Today we went to the studio for the interview.  ”Mister Lincoln” and I did a reading on camera of an excerpt from Chapter 21 of The Gettysburg Conspiracy.  The scene involved both Ian and President Lincoln in the garden at a White House reception.  I meant the scene to be a poignant confrontation, observed by Ian.  I read Ian’s thoughts and actions, while Jim read the words I wrote for Mister Lincoln to speak.

I can not tell you what an emotional experience it was for me to hear the words I wrote spoken by Abraham Lincoln.

The interview will be shown locally, and may be picked up by other area stations.  I also hope to get a copy to put on YouTube, and elsewhere as a video.  I will make it available through this blog and Facebook soon.

James Getty's Website: www.jimgetty.com

I suspect we are all reflecting on the past year.  World events alone were enough to cause us pause – mostly involving that unmentionable word ‘Terrorism,’  which is likely being called something politically correct like ‘man-generated acts of random violence perpetrated in the name of a group or cause’  -  or in government-ease MAGARVIPNGC (I sometimes fear the inmates are finally running the asylum.) We also lost a few really good folks in 2009, like Andrew Wyeth, artist, J.G. Ballard, novelist, and Jack Cardiff, cinematographer and director.

I suspect many of us are reflecting on what it is we, personally, accomplished this past year.  Mine was unusually fruitful, if not overly ambitious.  In January/February my wife and I (and our dog, Robbie) traveled to Taos, New Mexico, to a wonderful rented hacienda, where I found the quiet and inspiration to write my latest novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy.  I then spent the next months rewriting it until I’d hammered it into something I wanted to publish – writing is rewriting!

For the last half of 2009, I actually succeeded in publishing this novel, and bringing another five-year project to a close by successfully publishing a photographic compilation of surviving Crimean War artifacts – Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War.  They are both on the street now, and I will spend much of 2010 promoting them.

What did I learn this past year?  I learned that writing one, and publishing two books in the same year, although rewarding, is not something I will likely do again.  I am beginning to meet myself coming and going.  I am supposed to be retired from two careers – the military and Federal law enforcement.  I think I can say with full confidence that I have officially flunked ‘retirement.’

The other thing I learned this past year is how much I love and need my family (That would be Rosemary, Robbie, our dog, and Lummy and Sunny, our horses).  My family have a lot to put up with in me.  I am eternally thankful for their forbearance and support.

I know that the coming year will be awesome, and would like to wish anyone reading this … and I hope someone is … the happiest of new years, filled with the richness of love, friendships, and peace.

Taos hacienda - New Mexico

My family - minus the equine branch

I can’t speak for others who write historical fiction, but I have developed a philosophy in plot and characters.  I personally do not want to distort history, even in a novel.  As a historian, I believe that to be a disservice to history and to the reader.

Flying under the radar means to me that you try diligently not to change any major part of history by remaining below the flow of recorded events and characters.  This is especially difficult when some of your characters are real historical figures, and you are giving them life and dialogue.  It is, however, possible if you remain steadfast to that historic flow.

I try to create a group of fictional characters who carry the story as heros, villlians, or participants in the action, then I weave them in with real people of the time.  The story takes place at a level beneath the actual historical line, the radar if you will.  Ian Carlyle, for instance, isn’t a general or a major politician.  He’s a company commander or staff officer (First book in Ian Carlyle Series, Follow Me to Glory), a British observer on McClellan’s staff, or a military liaison officer at the British legation (Second book in the series, The Gettysburg Conspiracy)  - all minor positions in the big historical picture.

Latest Release by Will Hutchison

The Gettysburg Conspiracy is a perfect example of my point.  It is a story about a fictitious assassination attempt on Abraham Lincoln.  We know there were such threats and attempts.  The story is thus plausible.  We know he had terrible security in Washington and when he traveled.  We know he went to Gettysburg for the address.  We know his bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon, was concerned for his safety in Gettysburg.  Thus, the story is even more plausible.

Could it have happened?  We know it fails, but how does it fail?  How does the hero foil the plot?  Who are the bad guys?  What will happen to them?

Someone much better at this than me once said something like -”fiction is drama, and drama is conflict.”  Even if you know the end, you can create drama within the tale.  After all, in most crime dramas, the bad guy inevitably gets caught.  We all know that.  The questions are who is he, how does he get caught, who catches him, and am I, the reader, invested in the characters – both good guys and bad guys.  In historical fiction you can add more questions:  Is the story historically believable?  Could it have happened?  Is the background and setting authentic and plausible?  Is the dialogue real for the historic period?

Some time as Lincoln rode back to DC from Gettysburg by train, Ward Hill Lamon might have quietly whispered to him, “Say, Abe, there was an attempt to assassinate you back there in Gettysburg.  Not to worry, we took care of it.”  Lincoln might nod his head and resume looking out the train window as it rolled east toward Washington.  Thus, below the radar of history … a minor footnote at best, yet a good story when you’re hip deep in the middle of it.

Map of Site of Gettysburg Address as drawn by the conspirators - Map by Curt Musselman

Ian Carlyle, surrounded by scenes from The Gettysburg Conspiracy - Sketch by Peter Culos

Yesterday I received a note which read, “I enjoy reading your books, but wonder what you read for entertainment.”  As already mentioned in an earlier blog, I don’t read as much historical fiction as I would like from concern that some of it might “creep” into my own writing.

For pure enjoyment, I tend toward police, espionage, and general thrillers, but they must be well researched, have good characters, good dialogue, and a great story. Daniel Silva, James Patterson, Caleb Carr (although his books like “The Alienist,” which take place around the turn of the century, are, I suppose, historical fiction), and Nelson DeMille are all on my personal bookshelves.  One of my very favorite characters is Silva’s Gabriel Allon.  The contrast of a world-renowned art-restorer who is an Israeli assassin is both stunning and compelling – and Silva knows his stuff.

I am looking forward to reading a few of the relatively new releases “I, Alex Cross,” and “The Defector.”  I have also not yet read “Angel of Darkness.”  Yes … So much good reading, so little time.  I must squeeze writing in somewhere.

My latest historical fiction release tells of a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln while he was giving his famous Gettysburg address.  There was no such plot to my knowledge, but his personal security and colleagues were certainly concerned over his safety while in Gettysburg – thus it wasn’t much of a historical stretch.

My research for the book left me in awe, and led me to wonder at the lack of security for Lincoln even in Washington. With the many threats against him, and considering the mood of the country during his presidency, I am astonished there were not more attempts on his life.

Today we see the President surrounded by highly trained Secret Service agents, diligently watching the crowd through sunglasses, ready to instantly spring into action.  In Lincoln’s day, you might have seen him strolling totally alone to and from the telegraph office in Washington, where he monitored news from the seat of war, or riding a horse unaccompanied back and forth to his summer residence at the Soldier’s Home – miles away from the White House.

Lincoln’s protection, at least until 1864, would have at best been his close friend, confidant, and unofficial bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon, an entourage of other friends and politicians tagging along (unarmed and ill prepared), regular Army soldiers around his office and DC residence, and perhaps a cavalry detachment along when he was traveling.

In Gettysburg, for instance, there was no advance security party to make certain any local threats were neutralized, or crazies rounded up.  No one ensured in advance that the routes President Lincoln took to see the battlefield, to the cemetery for the dedication, or the speaker’s platform itself, were safe from snipers.  Yes, there were lots of soldiers in town, in the parade to the cemetery, and surrounding the platform.  Additionally, Lamon – armed to the teeth himself – ensured that Lincoln was surrounded by thirty or so unofficial “marshals.” However, a determined sniper or crazy in the crowd lining the way would have had far more ready access to kill Lincoln in 1863, than today.

Also, like so many of our presidents, Lincoln didn’t wish to be seen as hiding from the American people behind security personnel. On the contrary, he wanted to appear accessible to the citizens.  He thus frequently thwarted protection efforts.

After researching the serious lack of depth in Lincoln’s personal security, my story line became even more plausible.

Ian Carlyle and scenes from "The Gettysburg Conspiracy" - Sketch by Peter Culos

A bit more about the entire “book launch” weekend, which in Gettysburg was the “Remembrance Day” weekend.  There was so much in those few short days.  For instance, I met Richard Dreyfuss, who now has a copy of my new release, The Gettysburg Conspiracy. I told Richard one of my absolute favorite movies is What about Bob, and, of course, The Goodbye Girl.  He was very gracious and witty, which was not unexpected.

I had numerous book signings during the various Remembrance Day festivities.  I even had a book signing with Jeff Shaara, who also has a new book out about World War Two, entitled No Less Than Victory.  I’ve known Jeff since we had lunch a few years ago, and he gave me sage advice about writing historical fiction with characters who have foreign accents.  He is most generous with his celebrity and his advice has stood the test of time.

Today I am beginning the long-term promotional process for the new release, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, and am looking forward to it.

In case Ian’s fans are concerned, I’ve started researching and writing the third in the Ian Carlyle Series.  The outline and a few chapters are completed.  I can only tell you this one puts Ian on the trail of some very bad people in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, in the 1870’s and 80’s.  The working title is The Ear Collector: A Western about the North-West Territories.

The process of writing fiction, especially historical fiction, is amazing, and I love it.  When I thought about the goals of this journal, one of the primary objectives was to discuss and create a dialogue about ‘the historical fiction writing experience.’  I’d be interested in your views.

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