Posts Tagged ‘White House’

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

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