The Pennsylvania countryside stretched out before Ethan, green and rolling. He stood on a hill, a map in his hand, watching as Union soldiers laid tracks for a new rail line. The sound of hammering and shouting filled the air, a rhythm of progress and preparation.
Callie stood beside him, her eyes scanning the horizon. "The rail line is on schedule," she said. "We'll have it finished in two weeks. Then we can move troops from Harrisburg to Gettysburg in less than a day."
Ethan nodded. "Good. Lee's army is moving north. They'll be in Pennsylvania in three weeks. We need to be ready."
He pointed to a spot on the map. "This is Gettysburg. It's a small town, but it's strategically important. It's at the intersection of three major roads. If we can hold Gettysburg, we can control the surrounding area."
Callie raised an eyebrow. "You want to fight Lee at Gettysburg?"
"I want to trap him there." Ethan smiled. "Lee's army is fast, but they're dependent on roads. If we block the roads and cut his supply lines, he'll be stuck. He'll have to fight us on our terms."
A young soldier ran up to them, saluting. "Mr. Voss, General Grant is here. He wants to see you."
Ethan nodded. "Send him up."
A moment later, Ulysses S. Grant appeared at the top of the hill. He was a short man, with a weathered face and a cigar in his hand. He wore a simple blue uniform, with no insignia of rank.
"Mr. Voss," Grant said. "Good to see you."
"General Grant." Ethan shook his hand. "Thank you for coming."
Grant looked at the map. "You're planning to fight Lee at Gettysburg?"
"I am."
Grant smiled. "Bold. Very bold. Lee's army is stronger than ours. He has better generals, better soldiers."
"He has weaknesses," Ethan said. "His supply lines are stretched thin. He's counting on speed and surprise. We can take that away from him."
Grant nodded. "I agree. But we need to be careful. Lee is a brilliant general. He'll find a way to outmaneuver us if we're not careful."
"I've planned for that." Ethan pointed to another spot on the map. "This is the Susquehanna River. We'll station troops on the east bank. If Lee tries to cross, we'll hit him with artillery. He won't be able to get across."
Grant studied the map. He nodded. "That's a good plan. But what about the weather? If it rains, the river will rise. Our artillery won't be as effective."
Ethan smiled. "I've checked the weather forecasts. There's no rain expected for the next two weeks. We'll have plenty of time to prepare."
Grant looked at Ethan. He studied him for a long moment. "You're a strange man, Mr. Voss. You speak with certainty. You act like you know the future."
Ethan hesitated. He couldn't tell Grant the truth. He couldn't tell him that he was from the 21st century. He couldn't tell him that he knew how the war would end.
"I've studied this war, General," he said. "I know Lee's plans. I know his weaknesses. I know what we need to do to win."
Grant nodded. He smiled. "I trust you, Mr. Voss. I've seen what you can do. You stopped Lee at Antietam. You can stop him again."
Ethan felt a sense of relief. He knew that he had Grant's trust. He knew that he could count on him.
"Thank you, General," he said.
Grant nodded. He turned to leave. "I'll have my men ready. We'll follow your plan."
Ethan watched as Grant walked down the hill. He turned to Callie. "We need to get to work. We need to finish the rail line. We need to set up the traps. We need to be ready for Lee."
Callie nodded. "I'm with you."
They walked down the hill, toward the rail line. The sound of hammering and shouting filled the air. The soldiers were working hard, their faces covered in sweat.
Ethan walked over to a group of soldiers. He shook their hands. "Good work, men. Keep it up. We're going to win this war."
The soldiers cheered. They raised their hammers in the air. "We're with you, Mr. Voss!"
Ethan smiled. He knew that he had the support of the soldiers. He knew that he had the support of the nation.
He turned to Callie. "Let's go. We have a lot of work to do."
They walked away from the rail line, toward the town of Gettysburg. The sun was shining, and the sky was blue. It was a beautiful day.
But Ethan knew that it wouldn't last. He knew that soon, the fields of Pennsylvania would be covered in blood. He knew that soon, the sound of gunfire would fill the air.
But he also knew that this was necessary. He knew that this was the only way to win the war. He knew that this was the only way to save America.
He continued to walk. He continued to plan. He continued to prepare.
The chessboard was set. The pieces were in place.
And the game was about to begin.