James West

**James T. "Jim" West** (born 10 November 1834) was a Civil War hero and the first American secret serviceman, acting as a pseudo-intelligence officer while the role was still in its earliest foundations. West was recommended to fulfill the position due to his competence as a cavalry officer and scout during the war, something which was witnessed by his rival war compatriot and later president Ulysses S. Grant. While West did not engage in the same protection services which now define secret service agents, his assigned missions were often discreet and of national importance.

West was born to Protestant slave-owners in South Carolina, and being raised with conservative attitudes was fiercely loyal to the Confederate States. West did not fight in the Mexican-American War. When the Civil War started in 1861 after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, West decided to volunteer to join the Confederate forces after a short period of deliberation.

While West was loyal to the South throughout his life, this did little to adversely affect his job as a secret serviceman. President Grant was reported as respecting West's unapologetic attitude, despite their differences, and West in turn respected Grant's enduring hope for a restored Union. In missions, West accepted any assignment that defended the Union at no cost to the sovereignty and health of the South. In his memoir, West wrote that he hoped for a future and enduring Union that could "release themselves from the shackles of capital and entrust themselves again to the hearth of kin and kith".

West's exploits were published in his autobiographical memoir "Starry and Striped Night", which he had written and published before secret service agents were restricted to oaths of secrecy. West was deliberately vague when describing his past missions, and often did give exact names for individuals or places. However, historians have since managed to compile many of his descriptions and identify the context of the majority of the memoir's recollections. The book managed to make a lasting impression on the American consciousness and its popular perception of intelligence officers. Some of the events told in the memoir have been assumed to be hyperbolic in nature.

West gained a reputation for accomplishing objectives regardless of any challenge, contest, or obstacle. His determinate attitude resulted in a high success rate, but also resulted in West being imprisoned several times with an additional handful of near-death experiences. While respected for his stoic attitude and courage, West suffered from a poor vice of whoremongering and often engaged in affairs while out on duty. His partner, Artemus Gordon, was recorded as saying that West could rarely be seen in a town without some woman at his shoulder. Never being able to conquer his weakness, West died without having ever married or borne offspring.

James West later became the inspiration for several fictional characters, such as James Bond. The character took much inspiration from West's stoic persona, and as well as his poor vice of whoremongering.

He is considered one of the most competent military statesmen of the 19th century.

## Early Life

West was the second son of Walterboro mayor Nathaniel West. James had one younger sister. In his youth he participated in athletic activities, holding local records in discus. Having a stubborn personality, West encountered difficulties with his demanding father from a young age. He also became disenfranchised with the local church, leaving his mother heartbroken when he had left it at a young age. West would return to Christianity later in his life after having reconciled his beliefs through more legitimate study.

During his early years, West worked as an assist on a farm before he volunteered to join the army.

## Military Career

West did not participate in the Mexican-American War.

Disgusted and disgruntled with the direction Lincoln was taking the country, West had lost all respect for the Union Army. He had found himself leading an army against his Confederate brothers, and in a brash and infamous move decided to leave his command before the first shot was fired. In a further show of boldness, West had left the encampment crippled and at a disadvantage to the Southern army so that they faced a humiliating defeat. Union General Simon Pierce called West a "yellow-bellied coward" after his infamous flight. After deserting the Union Army, West returned to his home state of South Carolina and quickly joined the Confederate forces stationed there. While West was promoted to the rank of captain among the Confederate army, his act desertion and renegade behavior resulted in West losing his Federal credentials. West was one of the most famous renegades of the war, but would later be acquitted under the Grant administration.

West was a trained cavalry officer with ten years of "top experience", those years being the cumulative of his time in the military but not strictly under wartime.

## Secret Service History

In the aftermath of the Civil War and in the midst of the Reconstruction Era, the formerly Confederate states were subject to various parties vying for control amidst the tumultuous political and territorial fragmentation. With contests for reclamations of land from domestic agents, as well as Mexican and French outliers, the United States under President Grant decided to expand the Secret Service. While the service was initially created by Lincoln to monitor counterfeit activity amidst economic woes, the organization would now discreetly handle potential crisis situations without inciting the emotions of a public who still had fresh wounds and stalwart convictions. If the United States were to be open on just how fragile it had become in the aftermath of the war, the Union was at risk of endangering once again its legitimacy in the eyes of a disenfranchised South. Therefore, the Secret Service was formed to address situations of concern with utmost secrecy.

In a surprising move, in 1869 President Grant had recommended James West for the position despite being a former Union general who was once at war against the Confederacy, whom West was knowingly loyal to in the past. Grant, who had an exceptional handling for horses had gained a lasting positive impression with West's comparable skill and attitude, which he had seen firsthand during the Battle of Artoixeres. West, after being summoned to Washington, accepted the offer on the condition that his friend and fellow Confederate soldier Artemus Grant could serve alongside him.

### Early Missions and New Orleans

Being an infant branch of the United States that was originally created to monitor counterfeit activity amidst economic woe, West was given relatively minor assignments for the first few months in the service. Most of these involved civil disputes, money laundering, and suspicions of smuggling or piracy. None of these assignments allowed West to show the skills which he had acquired while on the battlefield, until an assignment in New Orleans resulted in West retrieving 22 thousand in stolen goods from Lydia Monteran. The success vindicated Grant's selection of West, and gave him the leverage to convince the military to assign West the responsibility of resolving territorial disputes in the former Mexican territories. This was viewed as a significant risk, as failure could result in local tragedy and even national war; although an open mobilization of troops could equally risk unrest.

### Missions in and near Mexico

> *"Well, we brought you back to Washington disguised as a deserter headed for the gallows."* - Colonel Shears
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West was requested to meet with Grant at an undisclosed location in Difficult Run, Virginia so that they could prevent any speculation from a recently turbulent press. The location was chosen due to its near distance to Washington D.C. To further ensure privacy and expediency, West was sent by train during a cold night in the winter as a renegade under the charge of desertion and bound for execution by hanging. The Army was present at the train station ahead of time with a carriage, and the officers present there under Lieutenant Oldfield were reportedly anxious to see "justice" against the famous Confederate sympathizer. Artemus also joined West to Washington, disguised as a train operator, who feigned ignorance and asked the Lieutenant questions while waiting at the station. He had also taken the liberty to get drunk, and gave some of his drink to the requesting Lieutenant who wanted to warm himself.

When the train carrying West arrived, the army officials readied their pistols in case anything happened. At least four men were required to contain West, who was feigning incompliance, and he was kicked to the ground in an attempt to wrestle himself free. Artemus showing his vile side found the entire ordeal humorous, and mocked his friend. West was brought in an escorted carriage to Washington D.C., through a puddled street and under a bridge. The guise was successful and West was brought to Grant discreetly. While being minimally roughened up by the biased Yankee officers who had not known any better, West confessed that it was an effective cover.

Dismissing the officers, Colonel Kelly Shear brought West to President Grant who was reading at his office desk in the adjoining room. It is fortunate that no one was around to hear the ensuing conversation, for even the fact that the Colonel referred to James as "Jim" inferred a more friendly connection. Grant acknowledged West as the "best intelligence officer" they have and was frank with him concerning the situation, saying:

> *"This nation's in a pot of trouble. Inflation eating the South alive, Washington crawling with carpetbaggers, jackals just gathering for the kill. And now...new trouble."*
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Colonel Shear then debriefed West with a map presentation, also informing him that the alibi achieved another objective, and that information would be released to the press that James T. West had been hanged for his act of desertion during the Civil War. From this point on, according to all public records, James would be dead. This would allow West a cloak of cover for the rest of his career, and he would go on to keep his status a secret even with his own family. So that West could travel with expediency and discretion, he would be given a "loan" of a personal train, under the pseudonym of a wealthy traveler from east of the Mississippi.

This would allow West to quickly and quietly reach his first destination: that being Quemada, an estimated 2,500 miles from Virginia. For six months, a group of methodical and ruthless guerillas had been terrorizing the region, burning down villages and displacing settlers. The guerillas were led by a vicious, sadistic, and very clever predatory beast named Juan Manolo, and the hub from which their raids travelled was Quemado. It was their ambition to reclaim the New Mexico Territory for Mexico, and while sending in an army could precipitate a war, the hope was that West could silently resolve the conflict. During this time, the New Mexico Territory was ambiguously organized and loosely governed.

#### Quemado

Artemus was sent to New Mexico on a separate freight along with his "Gordon's Travelling Emporium" wagon and West's horse, and was told that West would debrief him on arrival. West spent the journey to New Mexico reading and playing billiards. Still joking about the cover in Washington as he walked in, Artemus confessed that he might have gone too far.

> "Juan Manolo, ever hear of him?" - James
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> "Yeah, the name gets bandied about at funerals and such." - Artemus
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> "And what about Quemado?"
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> "That's where they have the funerals."
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West debriefed Artemus concerning everything he knew. Manolo had sent word for the settlers to leave within a week, and when they failed to do so he burned their village in a hit and run. The settlers got the message, and were in the process of leaving as they arrived. Manolo's haste was because of his transportation of arms and supplies over the next day in preparation of an immediate revolution. The arms in Quemado were reportedly significant enough to start a war and lose the Western Territories. Artemus would find the supplies. West's objective was to capture Manolo within the next day and bring him back to Washington, or to kill him if all else failed. Artemus almost jokingly backed out, but West reminded him that they were under orders. They would arrive in the town separately, and West showed the impressed Artemus his sabre-cue stick and smoke bomb ball gadgets. Artemus gave a warning concerning the danger of Quemado before leaving, which James acknowledged. He equipped himself with several weapons for the mission, a wrist-pistol, knife, and shotgun.

The destruction of Quemado was grievingly clear when James arrived, with only the Cold Bell Saloon and an apparently "Chinese" merchandise shop surviving amidst the wreckage of burned homes. Many settlers were leaving the town in wagons and caravans, with a small boy and his dog apparently staying behind with his grandparents. On the porch of the "Wing Fat" merchandise shop, an overweight and soft-spoken "Chinese" man spoke concerning West's "aura". Wing assumed that he was an ordinary traveler seeking merchandise, but West corrected that he's seeking to purchase information. Visibly interested, Wing invited West into his office.

West immediately noticed that Wing was oversized for an oriental, but Wing replied that they are "versatile". The lumbering Wing made his vices quite clear as he entered the shop, treating himself to a candy and pipe "a comfort in disaster", the latter of which West declined to share. West explained that Wing would receive a percentage of an offer being made to Manolo if Wing could bring him to him. Wing instead recommended a supposed friend of Manolo: the owner of the local palais de chance, Casa Estrella. After explaining that Lydia Monteran was the owner, Wing could tell that West knew her to which he admitted. It was indeed "fortunate" that both the shop and palace were spared in the recent raid. Wing gave West a card to give to Manolo in case the meeting is successfully arranged, defending the strange instruction as a sign of his cowardice and tendency for philosophy rather than confrontation.

Leaving the shop and entering Wing's carriage, Artemus was disguised as a Mexican usher to help keep an eye on the situation, and Wing asked West to tip him. Paul, the butler of the palais immediately recognized Wing at the door and while admitting that the establishment was closed, added that the salon was always open to him. There was no doubt that Wing was a consistent customer, and confessed that he enjoyed partaking in all kinds of gambling. While waiting to be introduced to the lady of the house, Wing commented that he "heard" that every stone in the palace was brought from the plaza of Mexico City, the knowledge being a hint to his true identity. West said little while waiting, and petted a caged cockatoo.

Paul and one other unidentified butler then brought the two upstairs to Monteran. Wing introduced West, and then left to play the little game which Paul had prepared for him. Monteran excused her other butler Bedford, and then became candid with West. She confessed that she had missed him since they last seen each other, and had waited on a city bench in New Orleans for hours until the police arrived that West had sent to retrieve the money she had stolen. She had since then clearly escaped from custody. West concluded that this was another business call for Monteran, a means to engage in fraud. When West questioned her concerning Manolo, she got defensive and took a pistol from her drawer. West doubted that she would shoot at him, but she did and West was forced to flee.

That night, West was approached by Colonel Shears who passed a message that the administration had gained wind that the situation is ten times worse than they had anticipated, and Grant is offering West an opportunity to abandon the mission. However, considering that this was West's first major assignment, he considered it a shameful idea to abandon it. He assured Shears that he would stay, which visibly worried Shears and who again informed him that the odds were against him. The colonel then left with a reminder that they "never talked". West relayed the news and justified concerned attitude to Artemus who was next to him. Artemus updated West on the fact that he had checked every burned down barn and warehouse to no effect. When Artemus mentioned freight wagons going into the main road and out into the cemetery, this aroused West's suspicions and they headed there with two horses in case a speedy getaway would be required. While at the well, they were spied on by Andreas Cassinello.

Arriving at the cemetery, Artemus became nervous from the surroundings. West noticed that the tracks were deeper before they left the cemetery, suggesting an unloading somewhere. Coming to a supposed tomb door with suspiciously oiled hinges, they forced it open and found a corridor with snakes to prevent intruders. West lifted himself on an arch over the snakes, and then dropped a plank for Artemus to bridge over, though he was almost frightened by a passing bat. Bringing the lamp, the two found rooms filled with gunpowder, grenades, and whiskey. He reminded the alcoholic Artemus that the whiskey would be for later. Hearing a bird, they discovered that the tunnel also leads to a secret bookshelf entrance into the palais. West informed Artemus he would continue alone, who then left to the horses to wait behind.

West smoked on the balcony while waiting for Monteran to return home. She was surprised to see him, and disappointed West admitted that he knew she was greedy but thought she would draw the line at murder. She defended that her cellars are filled only with wine, and denied that Manolo was her partner. Resistant, West was forced to drag and carry her to the cellar so that she could not deny the situation. However, Manolo surprised them in the cellar and said that she didn't know of the munitions, just when Monteran had no means to deny their presence. Manolo and his thugs then seized James and took away Monteran.

Restraining West to a chair, they then proceeded to beat him in an attempt to extract information.