James M. Ridgway, Jr.
2 min readMay 22, 2021

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There are few if any political saints including Lincoln. The big problem, however, was that there was no trust between Lincoln and McClellan with good political reasons on both sides, Lincoln was a basic, up by his boot traps guy and Little Mac was a sophisticated, upperclass Easterner.

The war should have been won in no more than 2.5 years had politics not gotten in the way. The thing was that the Radical Republicans did not want the war seen as won by a conservative Democrat general, and so they did all they could to delay final victory until a general favorable to Republicans was in-charge of the Federal miliraty--Grant as it turns out. Lincoln tried to walk a fine line between the Radical Republicans of his party and McClellan, finally siding with his party, but Mac didn't make it easy for old Abe.

I wrote what could easily be coverted to a five person play. It would be a perfect role for Morgan Freeman. In fact I wrote Mogan's part with his vocal phrasing in mind.

Basically the Freeman character comes to McClellan in the general's dreams on successive evenings, teling him that he has no chance to win the war unless he brings Lincoln into his complete confidence, including accepting some of Lincoln ideas.

The bottom line is that the war is concluded by July of 1863 as McClellan reluctantly takes the old black spirits advice. Yes, its a bit Dicksonian--cute but a serious message, because in such a scenario Reconstruction and what followed would likely have turned out much better for the country had Mac and Abe found a way to work as a solid team.

But like you trying to find an agent, I have no leverage in the creative arts. Good luck on finding an agent and if you come across a playwright looking for some material please tell him of me.

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James M. Ridgway, Jr.
James M. Ridgway, Jr.

Written by James M. Ridgway, Jr.

Jim Ridgway, Jr. military writer — author of the American Civil War classic, “Apprentice Killers: The War of Lincoln and Davis.” Christmas gift, yes!

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