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New Orleans, Louisiana
Richard Cordwell, a Scotland Yard detective on special assignment for the United States Government, arrived in New Orleans to meet with General Sheridan. General Sheridan was Commander of the Military District of the Southwest. He found General Sheridan leaning back in his office armchair, smoking the same Cuban cigar as his mentor, General Grant. His clothes were wrinkled and worn, and his mud-streaked boots were propped up on his desk. Richard saluted the general and introduced himself. Sheridan motioned him toward a chair and continued smoking his cigar. Earlier, General Grant sent a telegram to Sheridan informing him of Richard Cordwell’s pending arrival. “General, I have news from Washington City,” Richard Cordwell began. He was ordered to help General Sheridan gather covert intelligence on the French Army’s occupation of Mexico. When Richard finished his briefing, General Sheridan blew a spiral of smoke up through the air. He stood and walked to a map of Mexico and the United States. He flicked his cigar ash on the floor and pointed to the border of Mexico and Texas.
“I am dispatching 50,000 troops to this point on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. They will practice marching there until I order them to invade. I am counting on you, Mr. Cordwell, to gather enough intelligence about the French Army’s occupation of Mexico before I issue the order.” Sheridan sat back down at his desk and took another puff of his cigar.
“Yes, Sir! You can count on me.” Richard Cordwell stood and saluted the general. “But can you spare any of your men for my mission?”
“No,” General Sheridan replied. “But I am aware of someone who has arrived in New Orleans and may help you.” General Sheridan had informants throughout New Orleans. They watched the train stations and shipping docks for anyone suspicious entering the city. One of his informants reported a former Union soldier arriving on yesterday’s afternoon train. A mysterious French woman accompanied him. Sheridan’s informant observed them checking into the St. Charles Hotel together. “Cordwell, I am ordering you to meet with him. I understand he was in the Union Army under General Butler. What is he doing with this woman? Is she a French spy?” General Sheridan blew a ring of smoke up in the air. He then thrust a piece of paper with the man’s name written on it towards Richard.
Richard saluted and left the general’s office. As he was leaving, he passed a mysterious dark-haired woman. She was waiting to meet with General Sheridan. She looked at the detective as he walked by and gave him a demure smile.
Richard examined the note given to him by the general. He recognized the name, “Johannes”. Johannes had assisted Richard Cordwell to recover Her Majesty’s stolen gold bullion in New York City. Confederate soldiers stole the gold from the United States Treasury office during the draft riots in 1863. Johannes helped him capture the soldiers and he was wounded during the skirmish.
Richard doubled his steps and returned to his hotel room. He wanted to retrieve his pearl-handled revolver before meeting Johannes.
