Lincoln actually sighed and then chuckled softly.

Ely, outraged, struggled to contain a retort. Elihu looked over at him, and with a shake of his head communicated for him to stay out of it.

Stanton saw the gesture and cast a withering glance at Ely.

"Mr. President, I think we should discuss this in private." Now his gaze swept over to Elihu as well.

"No, sir, we will discuss this now. If you wish, you can sit down and listen to all that Major Parker has told me about what happened."

"I think, sir, there are better uses of our time than the report of a major obviously biased in favor of a general who has placed our cause in jeopardy."

Lincoln sighed again and raised his head.

There was a cold light in his eyes. All that Ely had heard of Lincoln never mentioned this. It was always "Old Abe," or just "Abe," but there was something different at this moment, a terrible anger that seemed ready to explode.

"Mr. Stanton, I expect your resignation before you leave this building," Lincoln said softly.

"What?" Stanton reddened.

"Just that, sir. Sickles moved on your authorization. I made it distinctly clear to all that when Grant took command in the field, all orders of troop movements were to be routed through him for his approval as well. You did not do so. Nor, for that matter, did you inform me of these orders you sent to Sickles."

He held the memo up, clenching it in a balled fist, shaking it at Stanton.

Stanton started to speak but Lincoln cut him off.

"We lost maybe thirty thousand or more at Gunpowder River. A fine army destroyed. What in Heaven's name am I to say to the nation about that, sir? You, sir, have placed the plans of the last month in grave jeopardy; in fact, we might very well lose this war thanks to what you did."

"What I did?" Stanton fired back. "What I did? Mr. President, if you had but listened to me all along, we would not be in this fix. You have placed a drunkard in command of our armies."

"That is a lie, sir," Ely snapped, no longer able to contain himself and instantly regretting his words as all three turned to gaze at him.

"Damn you!" Stanton shouted. "You are relieved of your rank, Major. How dare you call me a liar."

Ely did not know what to say. Stanton turned to advance on him, but Lincoln stepped between the two.

"Mr. Stanton, you no longer have the authority to relieve anyone as of this moment. Now, sir, do I have your resignation, or do I fire you and release that information to the press waiting outside?"

Stanton looked back at Lincoln, breathing hard.

"I will not resign, sir."

"Then I shall relieve you of your posting, effective as of this moment."

Stanton now paled. For a second Ely thought he would collapse, as the man began, to wheeze, doubling over to cough.

"Which shall it be?" Lincoln pressed, even as Stanton continued to cough.

Stanton looked up at him.

"Which shall it be?" Lincoln pressed.

"Go ahead and fire me," Stanton replied coldly. "I'll take this before Congress and the Committee on the Conduct of the War. Then we shall see."

"See what? Are you threatening me?" Lincoln snapped angrily. "Congress is not in session, nor shall I call it back into session until this crisis is finished. You can go to the newspapers and I shall counter with a copy of this memo, a direct violation of my own orders."

"It will ruin you, sir," Washburne interjected. "If you resign, you can claim reasons of health, your asthma. It's that or a fight you don't want and cannot win."

Lincoln sighed again.

"Or one the nation needs at this moment."

His tone softened and Lincoln drew closer.

"Edwin, you did fine to a point, but you overstepped yourself. Not just here but in the orders you sent to Meade during Union Mills. I am asking, as someone who once worked alongside you, please resign."

Edwin continued to cough, wheezing hard, then finally straightened back up.

"I'll resign," he whispered. – "Fine, then." Lincoln led him over to his desk, took out a sheet of White House stationery, and offered him a pen.

The stationery already was filled out with a statement of resignation. Stanton read it over once, then quickly signed it, straightening back up.

"And I assume my replacement is your friend there," Stanton asked, nodding toward Elihu.

"Yes."

"I figured as much."

Stanton looked over at Ely.

"Major Parker you said your name is?"

Ely felt a cold chill with the way Stanton looked at him.

"Yes, sir."

Stanton said nothing. "Good day, Mr. President." He turned and walked out.

Lincoln's shoulders hunched over, and wearily he walked over to his desk and sat down on the edge of it.

Again there was a long silence. Lincoln finally reached into a pigeonhole of his desk and drew out a sealed envelope.

"Elihu, this is your authorization to assume control as acting secretary of war until such time as the Senate reconvenes to confirm your appointment. I expect you to go over to the War Office right now. Take an escort with you. Edwin's office is to be sealed. He is not allowed back in till such time as you review all records contained in there. Personal items will be returned to him once your review is complete."

"Yes, Mr. President."

Lincoln looked back over at Ely, who stood rooted in place.

"Don't let that little threat bother you," Lincoln said. "Threat, sir?"

"His asking your name like that. Rather ungentlemanly of him."

Ely did not reply. After all he had seen the last few days, the threat of a former secretary of war seemed almost inconsequential.

Lincoln fell silent again for a few minutes, Elihu standing by the desk as if waiting.

"You know what to do," Lincoln said.

"What we talked about, sir," Elihu replied.

For the first time Ely realized the drama he had just witnessed had been planned out long before his arrival. His messages were simply the confirmation the president had been waiting for.

"Elihu, I'll drop by your new office a bit later this morning. I want all the arrangements made for my little adventure."

"Sir, I still caution against it. Stanton is on his way to the newspapers even now. It will cause an explosion in this town once the word hits. Plus the risk involved."

"Don't worry, Elihu, I'll have a good escort with me. I think Major Parker will serve as an excellent guide and traveling companion."

"Sir?" Parker asked, now thoroughly confused.

"I think it's time I paid a little visit to your general," Lincoln said.

Lincoln looked at the two, his features serious.

"Gentlemen, I think that the crisis is truly upon us now. Lee has outmaneuvered us again. Major, it is obvious that the word you bring to me is that General Grant has launched his attack prematurely, forced to do so because of Sickles's disastrous actions."

"Yes, sir, that is obviously the case."

"So the risks are far higher now. I must confer with Grant upon them before giving my own approval. The choice is ultimately mine."

He lowered his head as if speaking to himself.

"I am now convinced we shall either win or lose this war in the next two weeks."