The plot

The demobilized officers of the 53ème New York remained for the majority in Washington, in the search of a commission. Vifquain and two of his/her friends of the regiment, the captain Alfred Cipriani and lieutenant Armand Dufflo, took a room with the National Hotel. They became acquainted there in particular with the General Banks and of the Yates governor of Illinois and asked them to get commissions in the federal army to them. They are also reflected in connection with the embassy of France. The ambassador Draper, on opinion of the Burnett General, presented them at Maurice de Beaumont, recently arrived of France in search of adventures. Burnett had remained in France in the father of Maurice de Beaumont, a few years earlier, and it had become acquainted with Victor Vifquain the previous year, whereas he was a general land-surveyor for the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska.

The young French gained their friendship quickly and also took a room with the National Hotel. Time passed and, engagements being made wait, the four friends decided to carry out their own war. An insane idea had germinated in the head of Vifquain. Why, under cover of their French nationality, could not they go to Richmond and do in Jefferson Davis what the three musketeers of Dumas had done to the Monk General: to kidnap and bring back it to Washington?

April 1, putting their project at execution, Vifquain and his/her companions gained Alexandria. There, they visited "Marshall House", where colonel Elmer Ellsworth had been killed the previous year, by tearing off the confederated flag which floated on the building. They were recorded there under the nicknames which had been allotted to them by their former comrades of the 53ème New York, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, under which they had decided to travel. The following day, they took a train for Manassas where, during the afternoon, Porthos drew a ball in the hand while wanting to clean its revolver. They were then tempted to return to Washington, but Porthos dissuaded some, promising to them to join them in Richmond at once that its hand would be cured. They thus carried on their way, while Porthos went back to New York.

The evening, they took the way of the South, avoiding the guardrooms enemy and sleeping in nature, after having traversed a few miles behind the confederated lines. The following day, they set out again with foot, their cover on the shoulder, always carrying their uniforms removed from the badges of their rank. They were nourished as they could it, paying their meals, and did not meet enemy soldiers. The evening, they had progressed well in the county of Prince William. They had found the region almost deserted and had tried without success to get horses.

They stopped for the night in an abandoned house. Only remained a slave who prepared to them with supper and the breakfast was useful to them the next morning. The slave indicated a place to them, distant of two miles, where they could get horses. They there went and obtained the horses which they needed, in spite of the resistance of the owner.

Saturdays April 5, in the afternoon, they arrived in the small town of Occaquan where, because of the color of their uniforms, they had the greatest evil to persuade the population of their peaceful intentions. They last their safety only with the fact that they can prove their French origin by entonnant the Marseillaise.

The French Consul in Washington had provided to Beaumont letters of introduction for the French consul generals of Richmond and New-Orleans, establishing that he was the cousin of the General of Polignac and the embassy secretary from France in Washington. These letters would make it possible to the four friends to travel in the country and would also be used to them as letters of credit, if they needed money in the States of the South De Beaumont had told with the consul that its intention was to go to New-Orleans, while passing by Richmond, to join his/her Polignac cousin. De Beaumont not having taken part in the war on the side of North, the consul did not have any reason to be wary and was unaware of thus all the intentions of the four friends and the use which they intended to make of his letters.

Sunday April 6, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, they reached Aquia Creek, close to Stafford Court House. While crossing the river with ford, they fell on a patrol from cavalry Southerner, which killed one their horses, while them making captive. They were brought in front of colonel Fitzhugh Lee, ordering the 9th regiment of cavalry of Virginia. After having presented itself and to have explained the "official" goal of their voyage, they accepted a reception much more cordial of the colonel who, the previous year, had returned from France in company of the future General of Polignac. Lee, which could not embarrass prisoners, sent them, as of the next morning, in Fredericksburg, where they were to be presented at the major-General G Smith.

They set out again with foot, the horses that it remained to them, having disappeared. After having traversed twenty miles, they arrived for the city and were intercepted by the outposts. One lent horses to them and they crossed Rapahannock, escorted by a patrol, to be then led to the headquarters of Smith, where they were locked up for the night, the General who can receive them only the next morning.

The following day, they were brought in front of Smith who, meanwhile, had received a report/ratio saying that a farmer of the county of Prince William had had three horses stolen by French carrying the uniform nordist. The three adventurers protested in vain of their good faith, and to swear their large gods whom they had paid the horses, Smith locked up them for the day. The following day, making them accompany by an officer and two men, it sent them by the train in Richmond where they were given between the hands of the Winder General.

Richmond

Winder locked up them with the prison of Libby but, as civil, one assigned a room with six to them or seven beds, located on the left entry principal and separated from the military prison. The Winder General, general Provost, put them in connection with the captain Alexander (the captain George Washington Alexander had resigned of the federal marine in 1861 to become forcer of blockade. Captured in July 1861, shown treason and of piracy, it was imprisoned at the height Mc Henry, close to Baltimore. Its wife l?aida with s?échapper, in September 1861, and Winder named it provost, in June 1862. In October of the same year, it became superintendant of Castle Thunder, another famous prison of Richmond, installed in a warehouse of tobacco of 3 stages, which accomodated all kinds of political prisoners: unfair citizens, suspected people d?espionnage, captured Blacks, soldiers confederated on standby of a judgement and all condemned to dead), Provost of Richmond, an officer of French extraction escaped recently of Strong McHenry, close to Baltimore.

The Alexander captain saw them the shortly after their incarcération. The three friends explained their desire to him to go to the General of Polignac, while defending themselves to be robbers of horses. The Alexander captain allowed them to telegraph in Polignac and took along them to the prison of Castle Thunder, where a room was allotted to them. Sunday April 13, they accepted a telegram of Polignac, announcing that it had contacted with the Winder General and the identity of Beaumont had confirmed to him. As of the next morning, they appeared in front of the Winder General. It gave them in freedom with prohibition to leave Richmond before to have been able to be confronted with the man who showed them flight of his horses. It added that they should be presented each day at the Alexander captain. The musketeers took a room with theSaint-Charles hotel then.

The constant presence officers Southerners with the hotel did not leave them the freedom of movement necessary to conclude their project. Three young people, obviously of civil, in these times when everyone carried the uniform, woke up the attention and curiosity. They thus asked the Alexander captain to find rooms at a private individual to them. The same evening, the captain installed them at one of his friends of the office of ordinance, major Denson, who lived in Capitol Square with his wife and his two daughters, old of 11 and 18 years. They occupied the second stage, where their meals were served to them.

Monday April 21, the Winder General made them invite to announce to them that it had not been able to find the man who showed them flight of horses and whom, as Nordistes now occupied Fredericksburg, it had few chances never to arrive there. Moreover, information received from the consulate from France in Richmond, concerning their statute and that of their family, had convinced it to slacken them, to return their weapons to them and to enable them to continue their voyage to New-Orleans.

As for their project to remove Jefferson Davis, the friends had not wasted their time. They had noted by reading Richmond Dispatch , that the President went to Norfolk, two or three times per week, to inspect there defenses and the repair work of the "Merrimac". It was enough to be introduced on the boat, whose crew very reduced and was composed in majority of Blacks, to seize some and continue to descend the river to the lines nordists.

The three friends met also the ambassador from France in Washington, come to Richmond with the authorization from Seward, the Secretary of State de Lincoln, with an official aim to settle a commercial question relating to deliveries of tobacco for the French government, but to actually start a possible negotiation between States of North and the South (In fact, the Mercier ambassador was present in Richmond between the 16 and on April 19, 1862, whereas Vifquain locates this meeting about May 5). They thus had the occasion to be presented at the confederated Secretary of State, Judah P. Benjamin, by accompanying Mercier at this last. They could thus plead their cause, not to be judged as spies and robbers of horses. The three friends took leave after the Mercier ambassador invited them to lunch the following day, at 11 hours, and that they received an invitation of Benjamin to come supper at his place one evening.

Vifquain avait aussi fait la connaissance du machiniste du remorqueur qui emmenait Davis à Norfolk. Celui-ci était un créole de la Nouvelle-Orléans, ce qui facilita les contacts. Le lendemain de la rencontre avec Mercier, il alla le trouver et l'invita à souper pour le lendemain soir, dans l'espoir de faire plus ample connaissance avec lui. Il revint juste à temps pour se rendre chez l'ambassadeur avec ses deux amis. Après avoir déjeuné, Mercier prit congé et reprit le bateau pour Washington, vers une heure de l'après-midi.

Le lendemain, comme prévu, le machiniste vint souper, et les trois mousquetaires purent compléter les renseignements qu'ils avaient récoltés sur les heures des voyages, le nombre de personnes à bord et les conditions de navigation jusqu'à Norfolk. Le même jour, le 6 mai, leur parvint une invitation de Judah Benjamin pour le 9 mai. Ils apprirent ainsi que le Président Davis serait parmi les invités. Le 8 mai, ils reçurent par le consulat de France des nouvelles de Porthos qui, sa main guérie, leur faisait demander, par l'intermédiaire du secrétaire de l'ambassade de Washington, s'il devait les rejoindre à Richmond.

Les amis avaient décidé d'agir sans tarder, mais l'avance de McClellan dans la Péninsule et l'abandon de Norfolk et la destruction du "Merrimac", le 9 mai, vinrent ruiner tous leurs projets. Le Président, en effet, n'avait plus aucun motif d'utiliser le bateau dont les mousquetaires comptaient s'emparer. Son prochain voyage vers Fort Monroe, écrit Vifquain, n'aurait pas lieu avant trois ans.

La fuite

Devant la rapide évolution de la situation, les trois amis décidèrent de rejoindre au plus vite les lignes nordistes. Rester plus longtemps à Richmond ne pouvait que faire naître des soupçons. L'apparition de l'armée de McClellan aux portes de la ville permettait d'espérer sa chute prochaine et leur présence était devenue tout à fait inutile. Ils firent leurs adieux à la famille Denson et allèrent prendre congé de Mr Benjamin.

Ils décidèrent de partir vers l'Ouest, via Gordonsville, comme s'ils se rendaient en Louisiane, et là, d'obliquer vers le Nord pour rejoindre l'armée nordiste par la Shenandoah. Les adieux furent difficiles pour de Beaumont, une idylle s'étant nouée entre lui et la fille de leur hôte, Miss Alice Denson. Alice leur recommanda de passer par la propriété de vieux amis de la famille Denson, les Stannard, à dix miles au nord de Gordonsville. Leur propriété était située à un mile vers l'ouest d'Orange Court House, non loin des passes menant dans la vallée de la Shenandoah.

Au soir du deuxième jour après avoir quitté Richmond, les trois amis arrivèrent à la plantation des Stannard. Ils furent durant deux jours les hôtes de Mr Stannard et de sa fille. Mr Stannard devait justement se rendre le lendemain à Gordonsville et n'aimait pas laisser sa fille seule, alors que des bandes de déserteurs et de maraudeurs, dont un certain Red Tom, écumaient la région. Mr Stannard, parti demander que des gardes soient assignés à la protection de sa propriété, revint le soir en déclarant avoir rencontré le général Ewell à Gordonsville, en route vers la Shenandoah, pour y attaquer les forces du général Banks. Vifquain et ses amis apprirent aussi que la cavalerie fédérale était signalée aux environs de Columbia Bridge. Le surlendemain, à la nuit tombée, guidés par un esclave des Stannard, ils franchirent la passe donnant dans la vallée de la Shenandoah, qui les mena près de Columbia Furnace.

Après avoir traversé la rivière à la nage, ils remontèrent vers le Nord et furent interceptés par une patrouille de cavalerie nordiste de l'Indiana, qui les amena chez son commandant, le colonel Chapman. Ils demandèrent à être envoyés chez le général Banks, qu'ils connaissaient bien, de même que le capitaine Crosby de son état-major.

Ils furent escortés jusqu'à New Market, où Banks avait passé la nuit. Ils arrivèrent vers 8 heures du matin et trouvèrent le général prêt à se mettre en campagne. Vifquain lui raconta leurs aventures, et le prévint de l'arrivée imminente des forces rebelles du général Jackson. Banks transmit cette information au colonel Wyndham, chef de la cavalerie nordiste, pour qu'il retarde Jackson le plus possible afin que le reste de l'armée puisse se replier sur Strasburg. Les trois amis proposèrent de rester avec Banks ce jour-là et, une fois à Strasburg, de rentrer à Washington (10).

Banks annonça à Vifquain que, suite à leur rencontre au National Hotel et quelques jours après leur départ de Washington, il lui avait trouvé une place de capitaine dans l'état-major du général Grover, qui devait se rendre à la Nouvelle-Orléans pour y prendre un commandement et avait besoin d'un officier parlant français. A Vifquain de s'informer pour savoir si la place était toujours libre. Les trois amis prirent leur petit déjeuner et accompagnèrent ensuite Banks, son état-major et son escorte, vers Columbia Furnace. Arrivés le long de la Shenandoah, ils observèrent le colonel Wyndham et son régiment qui tentaient de barrer la route à la cavalerie rebelle. Les troupes sudistes arrivant en force, ils durent se replier vers New Market, après que les canons de Wyndham aient été réduits au silence. Athos et Aramis furent légèrement blessés pendant les combats. Vers deux heures de l'après-midi, les trois hommes quittèrent le lieu de la bataille en compagnie du général Banks.

Vers six heures du soir, Banks atteignit Woodstock, où Vifquain et ses compagnons lui demandèrent l'autorisation de rejoindre Washington, par Front Royal et le Manassas Railroad. Il la leur accorda et leur demanda de rendre compte des événements de la journée au général Shields. Ils partirent vers Front Royal, chevauchant une partie de la nuit, et se présentèrent le lendemain au capitaine Kelly, de l'état-major du général Shields, une de leurs connaissances, et firent leur rapport. Shields leur confia quelques messages à délivrer à Washington. Ensuite, ils se rendirent avec Kelly chez l'intendant auquel ils vendirent leurs chevaux. Ils prirent le train vers une heure de l'après-midi et le soir, après avoir délivré leurs messages au général Wadsworth, Grand Prévôt du District de Columbia, et s'être rendu chez l'ambassadeur Mercier, ils rentrèrent enfin au National Hotel, sur Pennsylvania Avenue, six semaines après leur départ.

Après leur folle équipée, les amis se séparèrent : Maurice de Beaumont dut rentrer en France, appelé au chevet de sa mère malade. Cipriani fut engagé dans l'état-major du général Hancock, Vifquain partit pour l'Illinois, et Dufflo rejoignit un régiment de cavalerie comme assistant-chirurgien. Début juin, Alice Denson fut prévenue, par l'intermédiaire de l'ambassade de France, de l'arrivée de Maurice de Beaumont, sain et sauf, à Washington. En 1865, Maurice de Beaumont revint à Richmond et épousa Miss Alice Denson à l'ambassade de France à Washington. Rentré en France, il fut tué à la bataille de Sedan, en 1871. Alfred Cipriani fut tué à la bataille de Gettysburg, le 2 juillet 1863. Quant à Armand Dufflo, il quitta l'armée en 1866 et s'installa à New York comme médecin.