//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Facing Northern Lightning // by The Prancing Red Pony //------------------------------// Grant slept heavily on the train ride to Chicago. He didn't get any sleep for almost 2 weeks at the Capitol taking only short naps. Nobody dared to disturb the General since his temper was far fiercer in the morning then at dusk. The General dreamt many dreams and nightmares ranging from Celestia's attacks to sitting on a porch after the war with his loving wife. He slept almost as soon as the train left the outskirts of D.C.. The train passed many beautiful farms, towns, villages, rivers, forests, caves, and many other extravagant things. Many of the soldiers in the train cars slept, smoked, ate from their haversacks, wrote letters home, or day dreamed about their wives and sweethearts far off else where in the country. It took a few days to cross the great expanse of the Union even by train and Grant virtually slept all the way only occasionally to get up to use the bathroom or have a drink of water. "General. General Grant wake up sir." came a voice. The General awoke grumpy and angered. "Who in their right mind is waking me. Well show yourself you son of a bitch. I will have you court-martialed!!" Grant said frustrated and tired with his eyes still closed tightly. One of his subordinate generals, General George Sykes drew the short straw and had to wake up the General. "General Grant sir. We have arrived in Chicago sir" Sykes said slightly flustered but, that was to be expected since Grant bashed anyone who disturbed his sleep or concentration. Grant opened his eyes slowly and saw Sykes before him at attention giving a salute. Grant gave the salute back and then looked out a window. "I take back what I said Sykes. You are one of my better officers and I can't lose you" Grant said with slight anger towards himself. As Grant looked out the window he saw the troops beginning to exit the trains and march away to the outskirts of the city where the General would join them on their long march to the southern end of Illinois to confront Celestia's troops. Chicago was one of the Union's most bustling and booming cities. Many factories littered the landscape making weapons, supplies, and other various goods. Grant grabbed a cigar from his pocket and began to light it before realizing Sykes was still standing at attention before him. "Would you care for one?" Grant offered. "Surely sir but only if you are smoking one sir" Sykes said. Grant laughed slightly and reached into his pocket and pulled out another cigar and gave it to Sykes. He then reached for his other pocket and drew a box of matches. He lit the wick and held it to the end of the cigar and waited for a couple puffs of smoke to appear from his breathing. He then lit Sykes cigar and waited for the little puffs of smoke to come from Sykes mouth. "Finest cigars in almost all of the Union" Grant said with a slight chuckle. Sykes nodded in agreement it made him feel relaxed and calm. Grant grabbed his general's coat and hat. He then exited the train car with Sykes close behind. Two guards saluted Grant on his way out of the train car. The weather had changed to overcast and with a pattering of rain. Grant and Sykes walked past Grant's personal Company Guard that soon followed after the Generals walked past. Grant's other subordinate Generals soon followed behind after giving him a quick salute. Grant mostly looked at his surroundings. The little skyscrapers, the great smoke stacks that littered the sky, and the many people going to work and simply shopping. Grant was happy he lived in such a great country. It took quite a bit of walking but eventually Grant, the other generals, and Grant's Company Guard arrived at the camp on the outskirts of Chicago. Grant was rather hungry and staggered on his legs since he had not eaten anything in a long while. "Tell the cook to bring me breakfast" Grant said to one of his subordinate officers. The Officer saluted and headed toward's the mess tent to get the General's breakfast going. Grant then turned to his other generals and went in a tent with a large table. He took out the maps that he had brought with him from Washington D.C., they were maps of Southern Illinois, South West Indiana, Southern Kentucky, and Eastern Iowa all the places Celestia's attacks and raids took place. "Okay Gentleman, as you know attacks were reported in these said cities" Grant pointed to the cities that had been attacked. "I figure that we go to Southern Illinois since it was the first place Celestia attacked and she might come back to get us to come down there but, we will be waiting for her" Grant said with a slight grin before letting out a great smoke cloud from his cigar. His generals agreed with this plan. Grant continued on about battle positions, commander positions, cannon trajectories, cavalry movements, how courier messages would be conducted, if a corps became separated during the battle, and capturing of prisoners. The Officer soon returned with the General's breakfast of powered eggs, two slabs of salty bacon, hard tack, and coffee. Grant practically gulped down his food without chewing he was so hungry after not eating for days on end munching only on cigars and drinking booze. The battle plan discussion carried on for a couple hours before the General's emerged from their tent. "Let's get a move on Gentleman we have a lot of ground to cover and not a whole lot of time to sit idle. Now where is my horse?" Grant asked one of his subordinates. The subordinate gulped slightly as Grant had a rather rare smile on his face that slowly turned to his more traditional frown. "Well?" Grant said crossing his arms. "Umm General. You, your officers, and other generals will not have horses. They had to be commissioned to pull the Artillery and serve as cavalry horses" the subordinate finished. Grant looked as though he was gonna burst with anger he was a general and should be allowed the right to ride a horse while traveling across a state but he simply sighed. "Alright then. I always liked walking it helps my limbs stretch and keeps my mind open" Grant said patting the subordinate on the shoulder before walking away with his officers and generals close behind. It was dusk at this point and Grant was tired still. He saluted many regiments along the way to his tent. Before he entered his tent to sleep he gave his officers and generals these simple words. "We leave at dawn."