“Secrets Unraveled: Can Strategy and Deception Save a Kingdom in The Chess Match?”
Bryan’s objective was to facilitate the “conveyance” of his peaceful society from pre-war to post-war America. He saw no reason why he could not achieve this goal. Union occupiers envisioned a plethora of beneficial propaganda, but Bryan declined to be used by aggressive new politicians who demanded his cooperation to further their agenda.
After the Confederate surrender, Richard Bryan, his family, their hired hands, the people, and a wounded Yankee deserter his young sons had stumbled upon in the woods and brought home with them, found themselves at the mercy of a corrupt Governor, political hacks, petty tyrants, and remorseless convicts in military uniform. Not just rustlers but occupying troops would frequently raid farms. Often, they’d steal entire harvests. If you resisted the men in uniform, they might hang you and burn your place down out of spite.
