No sooner had Franklin Pierce finished speaking than Secretary of State William Marcy said, "Since the war began, fourteen of our states have fallen in succession. We have lost more than a hundred thousand troops. There is no way we can win."
Minister of Finance James Guthrie followed suit.
"The British Royal Navy has now blockaded our ports, and Philadelphia has been surrounded by the British Army. Its fall is only a matter of time.
"Having lost the factories in the North, are we supposed to rely on those blacksmiths in the South to forge equipment for the army?"
James Guthrie swept his gaze over the representatives from the Southern states again.
"Your grain, cotton, and coffee can now only rot in the warehouses at the docks. The nation's economy is about to be severed. If we keep fighting, what we lose will not merely be this war, but America and its spirit."
The others also began echoing him.
"That's right! If we fight for that illusory dignity until the very last soldier, what will we leave the world with?
"Nothing but endless pain!"
Franklin Pierce raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"I understand. But please, do not regard this as surrender. It should be seen as necessary damage control. This is wisdom, not cowardice!"
Lincoln, Davis, and the other hawks were utterly bewildered. Just a few days ago, these people had still sworn to fight the British to the bitter end, seeking aid everywhere.
Why were they suddenly throwing open the gates and surrendering?
Thomas Jackson had only recently sent a carrier pigeon from Philadelphia, declaring, "All is well. The British will surely return empty-handed."
Thomas Jonathan Jackson was the future-famous Stonewall Jackson. Earlier, he had led another main force of the US Army to reinforce Philadelphia.
William Roden