The President's Hitman

Chapter 1

Washington D.C.

As Frank Morgan was rolling over on his bunk he was quietly awaken by the night prison guard. Frank had been a prisoner, or guest as he tells himself, since March 1865. He was captured just prior to General Robert E. Lee signed surrender papers at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Frank was finally captured by Federal Cavalrymen near the Tennessee and South Carolina border. He never officially signed any papers for the Confederate States of America but that was the side he chose to support but yet he never was assigned to a certain regiment or unit within the CSA. Some people called him a mercenary or maybe even an assassin but Madsen preferred being called a highly skilled individual.

Frank had never woken up at 2am before at least not in prison so he was not sure what was going on. He was serving a life sentence for various crimes against the United States Military. He had gotten friendly with most of the guards in the prison except the night ones and that is because he usually slept. If it was not for what he was did in the War of Rebellion, as the Southern States called it, the guards would wonder why he was serving a life sentence. He was like a model prisoner if there was such a thing.

While Frank was paying for the crimes he was found guilty of he had seen some famous prisoners come and go at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. Some of these prisoners included the Lincoln Conspirators, the spy Belle Boyd, John Mosby and Frank witnessed the Commander of Andersonville Prison Henry Wirz hanged in the prison yard. Frank himself should have been hanged but for some reason he escaped the hangman’s noose, at least for now.

As Frank was rubbing his eyes and trying to figure out what was going on all he could think about was the night shift guard. Madsen had heard nasty rumors of the beatings and sudden disappearances of prisoners as a result of the night guards. He assumed his luck had finally run out and a few days from now nobody would even remember him let alone see him again. All Frank was thinking of where his parents in South Carolina, not knowing if his brothers survived the war and finally the girl he was so fond of before the war. Her name was Abigail.

Madsen was being escorted down the hall past countless prison cells, many filled with a mixture of Billy Yanks and Johnny Rebs. He was told very quietly yet firmly that if he made the slightest noise and woke up other prisoners he would not see the sunrise in a few hours. Even though he assumed he was going to be beaten or worse made to disappear he listened to the guard. For Frank, that was a good decision he made.

As the guard was escorting Frank, he thought it strange the guard took him outside through the front entrance of the Old Capital Prison. As he was being led outside Frank noticed two very expensive black carriages. These were the fancy kinds that all the southern gentlemen rode in before the war but since the war few people could afford such a luxury. All of a sudden the carriage door opened, out stepped a gentleman in a suit and motioned with his arms and hands to enter. Frank looked at the guard with a puzzled look and the guard just looked at him and said Move nudging him at the same time. As Frank was climbing into the coach he noticed a shadow inside with the persons back to Frank. Frank sat down, the carriage door closed and all of a sudden he swears he was dreaming. He was looking into the face of the President of the United States of America.

Chapter 2

Somewhere in Kansas

Everybody sit down, keep your mouths shut, no fast movements and give us all your valuables, and nobody will be hurt stated the tall man with a flour sack over his head. Two other guards at the other end of the train car looked at each other and couldn’t believe this was happening. This was their first holdup since joining the famous outlaw gang known as The Back Country Boys or BCB’s.

This gang has been terrorizing almost everything in their path since the end of the American Civil War. All of the members were former soldiers from both the North and the South and all were criminals before joining or forming the Back Country Boys. Most of the members were deserters or former prisoners of their respective sides for fighting, stealing and even alleged murder amongst fellow soldiers during the war. Nearly all were carpetbaggers, people who moved into the south and basically stole anything they wanted from the southern people and many times killed whomever after the war ended.

As some of the gang were holding the train engineer, conductor and fireman hostage, others were robbing the passengers and the gang’s leaders were working on blowing open the doors of the mail car.

Someone get a stick of dynamite on that door and blow it off its hinges said the gang’s leader John Stackhouse. What about the guards inside the mail car, what if they get hurt or killed said another new gang member. Allen Tyler, another founder of the Back Country Boys stared at the new member and said who cares if something happens, as long as the payroll and gold is not ruined. Just as Allen was finishing the sentence a long time member only known as Robert lite the dynamite fuse and yelled fire in the hole" as the gang members ran for cover. As the members reached the safety of a group of boulders the mail car door exploded into a cloud of smoke and debris.

While the smoke was clearing out stumbled a guard inside the mail car where he fell onto the ground and died. Just then the two gang founders climbed into the mail car and could not believe what they found. Inside were crates repeating rifles and cases of ammunition as well. Not just any kind of repeating rifle but the new Winchester 1866 known by some as the Yellowboy. John and Allen knew that these rifles would be great for the gang and also a way to make easy money by selling in Mexico or trading them to Indians.

Not only was there the rifles and ammunition but also the government payroll which included thousands of dollars all in $20 gold pieces or also known as double eagles. John was glad that he decided to bring the freight wagons and extra mules when the gang left their hideout. The downfall was the wagons would slow them down but at least they had the manpower to defend them. With a gang that number around 30 members and grew as new members were added occasionally John treated the gang like a military unit with certain members having a rank over other members.

With this holdup John did not allow all the members to attend this robbery as some needed to protect the hideout as well. There were 12 members on the actually holdup and a few holding and guarding the wagon teams and mules. I am going back to the wagons and have Jacob to start bringing up his teams John told Allen. Allen just nodded his head.

Come on guys, let’s get these crates out of the ground and stacked so we can load them onto the wagons. We need to have this done yesterday Allen yelled at the members of the gang. Allen what do you want us to do with all the passengers and train workers Little Billy hollered.

Little Billy was respected member of the gang and highly loyal as well. He served with General Stonewall Jackson’s regiment and was also responsible for robbing his own southern countrymen after the war. Just leave them in the car and get to work pulling up some of the tracks both in front of the train and behind the train Allen yelled back. One of the members of the gang served with Union General William T. Sherman so he had experience with destroying railway tracks as Sherman’s men created many Sherman’s neckties by heating the tracks up and twisting them around tree trunks. With a section of the track in front of the train and behind the train destroyed it would take a while for the passengers or crew reached a town.

With us being about 30 miles from the nearest town, it will be days before anyone reaches help Little Billy told another member that was already ripping up rail tracks.

John rode his horse back to Jacob which was a few hundred yards from the tracks. The wagons were hidden behind a sloping grassy hill which allowed the animals to rest and eat. As John reached the freight wagons and mules he started looking for Jacob. Jacob, where are you John called. Just then John heard a click and he slowly turned around. As he turned around he stared right into the barrel of Jacobs gun. What you think you are doing Jacob John said with no fear in his voice.

Back at the train all was quiet and then everyone heard a single gunshot and everyone stared at each other wondering what happened.

Chapter 3

Washington D.C.

Mr. President… Frank started. President Grant raised his hand in a motion to remain silent and he started. You probably are wondering why I have brought you to see me, am I right Mr. Madsen The president asked. Madsen looked about as confused as a cat in a doghouse. Well yes I would like to know stated Frank. You have me a bit confused as well

President Grant began I brought you to see me as I have a job offer for you

Mr. President Frank again looked even more confused than he already was and thinking all along I must be dreaming.

I am not sure how informed you are about what is happening outside of the prison Grant said.

Well we don’t get much outside gossip unless a family member visits but then again I don’t get to many visitors either Frank told the president.

For a year or so now there seems to be a gang known as the Back Country Boys and they are responsible for the death of people and the theft of several government payrolls. They also just stole a mail car filled with crates of Winchester 1866 Yellowboys the president said.

Ok said Frank still not believing what is going on. How often does a prisoner who has been found guilty of crimes that Frank committed be having a private meeting with the President of the United States.

The government had placed a spy inside the gang but recently we have not heard anything and we fear he is dead by now Grant stated.

So how do I fit into this, Mr. President Frank asked.

I will be straight to the point, I want you to track the gang down and eliminate them however you seem fit to do so the president said.

Frank said nothing and let his mouth do the talking. If his mouth opened anymore he would be catching flies.

"How am I supposed to do that when I am in prison, it is not like I can tell my guards that