| War and History Flash Fiction posted August 28, 2020 |
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a 700-word story about James Monroe
Louisiana Is Ours!
by RodG
Quantum Leap Into Time Contest Winner
COVID/2020 will likely be more remembered than 9/11. But I alone will recall it for another reason: that summer my time machine proved operable, taking me back to July 4, 1776.
Today's journal entry is about the role I played in the purchase of the vast territory of Louisiana in 1803. Actually, I took two trips back through time. In both I assumed the persona of James Monroe.
Trip one took me to the Executive Mansion in Washington City at the bequest of my long-time friend and mentor, President Thomas Jefferson. It was a stormy night in January when I entered his office.
Upon seeing my visage, the President, grinning, rose from his chair and extended his hand across the broad desk.
“James, am I ever pleased to see you.” He remained standing, and seemed taller than I'd pictured him to be. “Please be seated. That chair is new as is almost everything in this room. Our friend Mr. Adams never really got to use it before I . . . uh . . . replaced him.”
“Thank you, Mr. President--”
“No, none of that. I'm Thomas, remember?” I returned the smile, hoping he'd sit, too.
He didn't but walked to the fireplace in the corner and stoked the logs until flames soared.
“This place is always cold, not like Montecello.” He stared at me a moment, the smile fading. “And I pulled you away from your fine home and family. I'm sorry, but . . . it was necessary.
He returned to his chair behind the desk and steepled his long fingers. I did not wait long for him to explain.
“I'm hearing cries from western farmers in Kentucky and all along the Ohio River, well beyond our familiar mountains, James. Spain has closed their markets all along the Mississippi. And now New Orleans.”
I knew the full story, but had to pretend I didn't. "Negotiate with the Spanish, Mr. President. Buy New Orleans.”
He scowled. “I can't. Trustworthy sources tell me Spain has ceded New Orleans and that whole territory west of the Big River back to France. It's thought Napoleon hopes to restore French influence here in North America."
I chose my words carefully. “He's run rampant over Europe, but his forces are overextended. Because he needs money, he'll sell New Orleans.”
The smile returned. “You are so level-headed, James, so clear- sighted.” His eyes were gleaming. “That's why I'm sending you back to Paris as my . . . uh . . . executive minister.”
I felt my cheeks flush. For real! “Thank you, sir, but Robert Livingston is our minister to France and fully capable.”
“But he does not know me, James. Not like you do. How many times have you heard me say this country will someday stretch between the two great oceans? We're a nation of farmers moving west.”
That's why I'd made this trip: to hear him say those words.
“And there's a problem he's unaware of, James.” I saw the furrowed brow, the skin stretched tightly over his sharp cheekbones.
Again I waited.
“The Constitution you and I worked so hard to ratify does not give the President the power to expand territory. We can't wait for Congress or the Supreme Court to decide our future. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“I am sending you, James, as my personal envoy with written authority to purchase New Orleans. Whatever it takes.”
Whatever it takes. I couldn't believe I heard him say those words.
***
My next trip, hours later, took me to Paris. I knew the real James Monroe and Robert Livingston were engaged almost daily in negotiations with the French minister.
I timed this trip to arrive one afternoon in late April. Livingston was pacing before a huge window in an elegant ballroom of the palace Napoleon, First Consul of France, now occupied.
The French minister entered the room and invited Robert and me to sit with him at a long table. The minister handed Livingston a formal document which we both quickly perused.
Livingston gaped. I smiled.
“Napoleon's offering us all of Louisiana for peanuts,” I said.
“Fifteen million dollars is not . . . peanuts,” Livingston whined.
“Don't quibble, Robert. Sign it!”
We both did, and I'm still smiling.
COVID/2020 will likely be more remembered than 9/11. But I alone will recall it for another reason: that summer my time machine proved operable, taking me back to July 4, 1776.
Today's journal entry is about the role I played in the purchase of the vast territory of Louisiana in 1803. Actually, I took two trips back through time. In both I assumed the persona of James Monroe.
Trip one took me to the Executive Mansion in Washington City at the bequest of my long-time friend and mentor, President Thomas Jefferson. It was a stormy night in January when I entered his office.
Upon seeing my visage, the President, grinning, rose from his chair and extended his hand across the broad desk.
“James, am I ever pleased to see you.” He remained standing, and seemed taller than I'd pictured him to be. “Please be seated. That chair is new as is almost everything in this room. Our friend Mr. Adams never really got to use it before I . . . uh . . . replaced him.”
“Thank you, Mr. President--”
“No, none of that. I'm Thomas, remember?” I returned the smile, hoping he'd sit, too.
He didn't but walked to the fireplace in the corner and stoked the logs until flames soared.
“This place is always cold, not like Montecello.” He stared at me a moment, the smile fading. “And I pulled you away from your fine home and family. I'm sorry, but . . . it was necessary.
He returned to his chair behind the desk and steepled his long fingers. I did not wait long for him to explain.
“I'm hearing cries from western farmers in Kentucky and all along the Ohio River, well beyond our familiar mountains, James. Spain has closed their markets all along the Mississippi. And now New Orleans.”
I knew the full story, but had to pretend I didn't. "Negotiate with the Spanish, Mr. President. Buy New Orleans.”
He scowled. “I can't. Trustworthy sources tell me Spain has ceded New Orleans and that whole territory west of the Big River back to France. It's thought Napoleon hopes to restore French influence here in North America."
I chose my words carefully. “He's run rampant over Europe, but his forces are overextended. Because he needs money, he'll sell New Orleans.”
The smile returned. “You are so level-headed, James, so clear- sighted.” His eyes were gleaming. “That's why I'm sending you back to Paris as my . . . uh . . . executive minister.”
I felt my cheeks flush. For real! “Thank you, sir, but Robert Livingston is our minister to France and fully capable.”
“But he does not know me, James. Not like you do. How many times have you heard me say this country will someday stretch between the two great oceans? We're a nation of farmers moving west.”
That's why I'd made this trip: to hear him say those words.
“And there's a problem he's unaware of, James.” I saw the furrowed brow, the skin stretched tightly over his sharp cheekbones.
Again I waited.
“The Constitution you and I worked so hard to ratify does not give the President the power to expand territory. We can't wait for Congress or the Supreme Court to decide our future. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“I am sending you, James, as my personal envoy with written authority to purchase New Orleans. Whatever it takes.”
Whatever it takes. I couldn't believe I heard him say those words.
***
My next trip, hours later, took me to Paris. I knew the real James Monroe and Robert Livingston were engaged almost daily in negotiations with the French minister.
I timed this trip to arrive one afternoon in late April. Livingston was pacing before a huge window in an elegant ballroom of the palace Napoleon, First Consul of France, now occupied.
The French minister entered the room and invited Robert and me to sit with him at a long table. The minister handed Livingston a formal document which we both quickly perused.
Livingston gaped. I smiled.
“Napoleon's offering us all of Louisiana for peanuts,” I said.
“Fifteen million dollars is not . . . peanuts,” Livingston whined.
“Don't quibble, Robert. Sign it!”
We both did, and I'm still smiling.
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Writing Prompt Write about taking a quantum leap into someone else's life. Pick any event in history and a famous person who played a role in it. Describe how you'd change the outcome of the situation. Would you make something positive happen? Would you prevent something negative from occurring? Write about this subject in 100 - 700 words. |
Quantum Leap Into Time Contest Winner |
The artwork is courtesy of Google images.
I have kept to the true timeline of the events. Of course, the dialog is fictionalized, but it is based on TJ s writings and what scholars have written about him.
The Purchase was a fantastic bargain which Jefferson never regretted.
WORD COUNT: 698 Apple Pages
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. I have kept to the true timeline of the events. Of course, the dialog is fictionalized, but it is based on TJ s writings and what scholars have written about him.
The Purchase was a fantastic bargain which Jefferson never regretted.
WORD COUNT: 698 Apple Pages
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