The American Order-Rough Draft

1867
Feburary 16th (PoD): American Secretary of State Steward sends an ultimadem to Bonaparte III of France and Maxamillion I of Mexico. It says that French forces must pull out of Mexico, since it is in violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

March 16th: After ignoring the United State's warning, France does not pull out of Mexico. So, American forces invade Mexico. The American army is equiped with Wnchester repeating rifles and Gatling guns, and is bigger than OTL at this time. The American Navy is also better equiped.

April 2nd: Caught by surprise, the French and Mexican Royalist are slaughtered at the Battle of Chihuahua. American Marines land at Vera Cruz, seizing the town in three days on April 5th.

April 23rd: Maxamillion is captured by Mexican rebels at Mexico City. By now, the US has captured northern Mexico.

May 3rd: The Second Mexican War has ended. In a secret agreements before the war, the US is able to keep Baja and parts of Chihuahua and Sonora.
 

Grey Wolf

Gone Fishin'
Donor
This is far far far too quick. Look at 1847 as a guide. And also one defeat will not destroy the French. The imperial forces are sort of 3 fold - Maximilian's own Imperial MEXICAN army, the French force, and a c 8000 strong Austrian-Belgian volunteer force

Also, how is the US army doing all this ? Can it afford it ? Are the Southern states properly pacified ?

Oh and if by your secret arrangement before the war you imply that Juarez has signed this agreement, then he must have flipped completely. If he tries to do this his support will vanish and Mexico will simply plunge into another round of infighting until someone new emerges

Grey Wolf

Mikey said:
1867
Feburary 16th (PoD): American Secretary of State Steward sends an ultimadem to Bonaparte III of France and Maxamillion I of Mexico. It says that French forces must pull out of Mexico, since it is in violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

March 16th: After ignoring the United State's warning, France does not pull out of Mexico. So, American forces invade Mexico. The American army is equiped with Wnchester repeating rifles and Gatling guns, and is bigger than OTL at this time. The American Navy is also better equiped.

April 2nd: Caught by surprise, the French and Mexican Royalist are slaughtered at the Battle of Chihuahua. American Marines land at Vera Cruz, seizing the town in three days on April 5th.

April 23rd: Maxamillion is captured by Mexican rebels at Mexico City. By now, the US has captured northern Mexico.

May 3rd: The Second Mexican War has ended. In a secret agreements before the war, the US is able to keep Baja and parts of Chihuahua and Sonora.
 

Xen

Banned
Maybe you can do this if Britain wants to improve relations with the US, though will they do it at the cost of the French? Or maybe Bismark uses it to justify a war with France. A third possibility is Russia but after the Civil War its a long shot.
 
The first Winchester rifle appeared in 1866. However, the similar Henry rifle was in large scale production by the end of the war, and was used by a few units. You could have the army load up on Henry rifles... heck, even the Spencer is better than what the French were using at the time, IIRC....
 

Grey Wolf

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Mikey, from Osprey's book on the Comanche, here is a quick quote that to me says there are enough problems at home for the Union that they may well not be able to do what you want :-

"In Texas, meanwhile, things had gone from bad to worse. Although the US Army had reoccupied its fort in the north near the Santa Fe Trail, the Texas frontier was still virtually unprotected. The Reconstruction government of Texas, backed by Union forces, had abolished the Texas Rangers and other state troops. Moreover, Union troops in Texas were stationed in the eastern and southern cities to support the newly imposed government. Along the frontier the carnage continued."

Ignoring, for the moment, the Comanche themselves, what this quote says to me is that most of the Union army is being used to hold down the recently reconquered South. How does one get around that problem ?

Grey Wolf
 
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