Ch. 7: The Leak
The telegraph room in Gettysburg smelled of smoke and sweat. Callie worked the key, her fingers flying over brass contacts, sending messages to Union commanders across Pennsylvania. Ethan stood over a map, pins glinting in the lamplight, tracking Lee's army as it moved north.
"Lee's men are in Chambersburg," Callie said, reading a incoming message. "They're resting. They'll be in Gettysburg in three days."
Ethan nodded. "Good. We have three days to prepare. Tell all commanders to fortify their positions. Tell them to be ready for an attack."
Callie sent the message. The room filled with the sound of clicks, a staccato rhythm that felt like the beating of a heart.
Ethan studied the map. He thought about Lee's plan. He thought about the traps he had set. He thought about the rail line that would allow Union troops to move quickly.
He felt confident. He felt ready.
But then, a knock at the door. A young soldier stepped in, saluting. "Mr. Voss, General Hooker is here. He says it's urgent."
Ethan nodded. "Send him in."
A moment later, Joseph Hooker appeared at the door. He was a tall man, with a handsome face and a commanding presence. He wore a blue uniform, with gold epaulets.
"Mr. Voss," Hooker said. "We have a problem."
Ethan leaned forward. "What kind of problem?"
"Lee knows our plan." Hooker's voice was serious. "He's changing his route. He's not going to Gettysburg. He's going to Lancaster."
Ethan's heart sank. He couldn't believe it. How could Lee know his plan?
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Hooker nodded. "We captured a Confederate scout. He told us. Lee knows about the rail line. He knows about the traps. He knows everything."
Ethan closed his eyes. He thought about the people who knew his plan. He thought about the commanders. He thought about the soldiers. He thought about Callie.
Who could have leaked the plan?
He opened his eyes. "We need to change our plan. We need to move our troops to Lancaster. We need to be ready for Lee."
Hooker nodded. "But it's too late. Lee's army is already on the move. They'll be in Lancaster before we can get there."
Ethan thought for a moment. He made a decision. "We'll sacrifice the rail line. We'll abandon the traps. We'll focus on saving our troops."
Hooker looked at him. "That's risky. If we abandon the rail line, we'll lose our ability to move troops quickly. If we abandon the traps, Lee will be able to attack us at will."
"I know." Ethan's voice was steady. "But it's the only way to save our troops. We can't let Lee destroy them."
Callie looked at him. "Ethan, are you sure? This is a big decision."
Ethan nodded. "I'm sure. Tell all commanders to abandon their positions. Tell them to move their troops to Harrisburg. We'll regroup there."
Callie sent the message. The room filled with the sound of clicks.
Hooker nodded. "I'll have my men ready. We'll move to Harrisburg immediately."
He turned to leave. "Thank you, Mr. Voss. You made the right decision."
Ethan watched as Hooker walked out of the room. He turned to Callie. "We need to find the leak. We need to find out who told Lee our plan."
Callie nodded. "I'll help you. But how?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "We'll start with the commanders. We'll question them. We'll find out who knew our plan."
They left the telegraph room. The streets of Gettysburg were quiet. The soldiers were packing their equipment, getting ready to move.
Ethan walked to the headquarters of General McClellan. He knocked on the door.
"Come in," McClellan said.
Ethan entered the room. McClellan was sitting at a desk, a stack of dispatches in front of him.
"Mr. Voss," McClellan said. "What can I do for you?"
"We have a problem," Ethan said. "Lee knows our plan. He's changing his route. He's going to Lancaster."
McClellan's face paled. "How could he know our plan?"
"We don't know. That's why we're here. We need to find the leak."
McClellan nodded. "I'll help you. I'll question my officers. I'll find out who knew our plan."
Ethan nodded. "Thank you. We need to find the leak as soon as possible. We can't let this happen again."
He turned to leave. "I'll check with the other commanders. We'll meet back here in an hour."
McClellan nodded. "I'll be here."
Ethan left the room. He walked to the headquarters of General Burnside. He knocked on the door.
"Come in," Burnside said.
Ethan entered the room. Burnside was sitting at a desk, a map in front of him.
"Mr. Voss," Burnside said. "What's wrong?"
"We have a leak," Ethan said. "Lee knows our plan. He's going to Lancaster."
Burnside's face paled. "That's terrible. How could this happen?"
"We don't know. We need to find out who told Lee our plan."
Burnside nodded. "I'll help you. I'll question my officers. I'll find out who knew our plan."
Ethan nodded. "Thank you. We need to find the leak as soon as possible."
He turned to leave. "I'll check with the other commanders. We'll meet back at McClellan's headquarters in an hour."
Burnside nodded. "I'll be there."
Ethan walked out of the room. He walked to the headquarters of General Hooker. He knocked on the door.
"Come in," Hooker said.
Ethan entered the room. Hooker was sitting at a desk, a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Mr. Voss," Hooker said. "What's going on?"
"We have a leak," Ethan said. "Lee knows our plan. He's going to Lancaster."
Hooker's face paled. "I know. I told you."
"We need to find the leak," Ethan said. "We need to find out who told Lee our plan."
Hooker nodded. "I'll help you. I'll question my officers. I'll find out who knew our plan."
Ethan nodded. "Thank you. We need to find the leak as soon as possible."
He turned to leave. "We'll meet back at McClellan's headquarters in an hour."
Hooker nodded. "I'll be there."
Ethan walked out of the room. He walked back to the telegraph room. Callie was waiting for him.
"Well?" she said.
"The commanders are going to question their officers. We'll meet back at McClellan's headquarters in an hour."
Callie nodded. "I hope we find the leak soon. We can't afford another mistake."
Ethan nodded. He knew that she was right. He knew that they couldn't afford another mistake.
He sat down at the desk. He spread out a map of Pennsylvania. He took a pen and began to draw. He drew lines of retreat. He drew lines of defense. He drew lines of attack.
He knew that they were in trouble. He knew that Lee was gaining the upper hand.
But he also knew that he wasn't going to give up. He knew that he was going to find the leak. He knew that he was going to stop Lee.
He continued to work. The minutes ticked by. The hour passed.
It was time to meet with the commanders.
It was time to find the leak.
It was time to fight back.