Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill.
In the closed-door meeting room of the Senate Military Committee, a sense of oppression lingered.
The war had entered its second year, and with the Southern problem still unresolved, President Lincoln was growing increasingly uneasy.
News from the front lines was a mix of good and bad, but the only certainty was that the war's brutality and cost had far exceeded even the most pessimistic pre-war estimates.
"Gentlemen."
Secretary Stanton of the Department of the Army personally attended the meeting, his face etched with fatigue and anxiety.
"President Lincoln has signed the new conscription act. Before next spring, we need to arm another army of 500,000 men."
He placed a thick budget report on the conference table. "And this means our logistical system will face unprecedented pressure."
"For soldier rations alone, we need an emergency budget of at least ten million dollars."
Ten million dollars.
This figure made all the senators present gasp.
