Don't You Know That Cotton's King!: Redux TL

[Admiral Halsey]

Then they have the royal navy to deal with though. Also with Austria not knocked out of the dominant German power status before hand how could the war with France unify Germany under Prussia?

The RN doesn't matter in this case. They have to choose between blockading the US coastline or the European coastline. They can't do both. Also Prussia would grab A-L from France(and maybe more) and then when the war ends swing at Austria before they can regroup.

 

[herricks]

The RN doesn't matter in this case. They have to choose between blockading the US coastline or the European coastline. They can't do both. Also Prussia would grab A-L from France(and maybe more) and then when the war ends swing at Austria before they can regroup.

this is the RN we're talking about. you say they can't do both?

I'll think about it

 

[EnglishCanuck]

this is the RN we're talking about. you say they can't do both?

I'll think about it

Yes. The resources needed to blockade even the Union coast line are vast and a very large and expensive commitment, which would require not insignificant redeployment from both the Channel and Mediterranean fleets, while still keeping up minimum levels on stations from the coast of Africa to the Pacific.

Add in the need to blockade a large part of Europe in this period and there's simply no way Britain can build enough ships to keep up with the strain nor turn out enough effective sailors to man them.

 

[Admiral Halsey]

this is the RN we're talking about. you say they can't do both?

I'll think about it

Even the RN has its limitations especially during this era. A few years later and yeah they could do both. Here they have to choose between one or the other.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

The RN doesn't matter in this case. They have to choose between blockading the US coastline or the European coastline. They can't do both. Also Prussia would grab A-L from France(and maybe more) and then when the war ends swing at Austria before they can regroup.

The question is would Bismarck, Roon, and Moltke think this was a good idea though? The preparations which made the wars against Denmark and France feasible were not yet complete, and Bismarck will only be tenuously in power during this period.

France had only deployed some 6,000 men to North America, there were still nearly 100,000 sitting on the border (IIRC) as an army of observation in Europe in this period. Austria is still a respectable power, and Russia is currently embroiled in its own internal troubles which would make them think twice about stepping into the boxing ring against anyone even approaching a great power for two decades.

I'm not really convinced there is any situation for the Prussians to take advantage of here, in terms of realpolitik it would seem wiser to let Britain and France exhaust themselves in the New World for a few years, then step in when each is too weak to really challenge their ambitions.

 

[Admiral Halsey]

The question is would Bismarck, Roon, and Moltke think this was a good idea though? The preparations which made the wars against Denmark and France feasible were not yet complete, and Bismarck will only be tenuously in power during this period.

France had only deployed some 6,000 men to North America, there were still nearly 100,000 sitting on the border (IIRC) as an army of observation in Europe in this period. Austria is still a respectable power, and Russia is currently embroiled in its own internal troubles which would make them think twice about stepping into the boxing ring against anyone even approaching a great power for two decades.

I'm not really convinced there is any situation for the Prussians to take advantage of here, in terms of realpolitik it would seem wiser to let Britain and France exhaust themselves in the New World for a few years, then step in when each is too weak to really challenge their ambitions.

They'd have both the Austrians and Russians fighting along side them that's why they'd go for it.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

They'd have both the Austrians and Russians fighting along side them that's why they'd go for it.

The Russians are vastly unlikely to do so. They've got internal problems out the wazoo and an army in the throes of serious re-organization (not to mention no real navy to speak of). The Emperor is against foreign wars and his main advisor on the matter is most certainly opposed to any costly foreign adventure in Europe.

Austria doesn't quite trust Prussia, and where do they benefit from it? Another war in Italy?

 

[Not Henry G.]

67th Tigers was a combination of McClellan booster, Lincoln hater, and Southern Apologist. It made for strange TLs.

Holy crap, that sounds like a The Room-like fun TL. I need to read it

 

[Richter von Manthofen]

The Russians are vastly unlikely to do so. They've got internal problems out the wazoo and an army in the throes of serious re-organization (not to mention no real navy to speak of). The Emperor is against foreign wars and his main advisor on the matter is most certainly opposed to any costly foreign adventure in Europe.

Austria doesn't quite trust Prussia, and where do they benefit from it? Another war in Italy?

Ist already established that Russia is IN the war siding with the US. They were the ones who brought Austria in.

 

[herricks]

Northern Wars

In late March the war in the Northern Theater heated up again. On March 27 General Burgoyne crossed the Niagara River with an army of 20,000 British and 40,000 Canadians. To assist with the invasion Britain had remodeled eight merchant ships on Lake Erie to serve as warships. These vessels would begin bombarding Buffalo in the early morning hours in attempt to keep the American heads down during the crossing. General Rosecrans' Army of the North had now risen to 65,000 as well however after several hours of battle the Anglo's made the crossing beginning the Western New York Campaign.

For the ten days the Anglo-Canadian army marched eastward. On April 5 Britain defeated the Americans yet again at the Battle of Batavia forcing Rosecrans to Rochester. Four days after Batavia Burgoyne assaulted Rochester. The Battle of Rochester would go on for two days of bloody fighting. On April 11 four warships from Toronto brought their guns into the fray. This would finally break the Americans who would soon begin to withdraw and by the late evening the battle was over. The Battle of Rochester had caused more than 20,000 casualties which would force both armies to take a breather. The loss of Rochester prove to be the final straw for Rosecrans and on April 20 he would be replaced by Major General John Schofield.

The war in New England proved to be the only front going the Unions way. On March 23 General Sherman and the Army of New England renewed their offensive. The Battle of Bangor on March 27 saw the Americans force the British back once more and on April 1 the same occurred at the Battle of Amherst. General Paget had been calling for more reinforcements either from Canada or from back at Britain. However most of the Canadians were heading to Burgoyne's army and with war now in Europe as well additional reinforcements from Britain wouldn't be as often as before. Finally on April 7 7500 freshly trained Canadian soldiers marched out of New Brunswick to strengthen the British. This strengthened the Paget's force to 15,000 and now only 5,000 less than Sherman. This would finally give the Anglo's enough to put a halt to Sherman on April 14 at the Battle of Alexander.

 

[herricks]

South of the Border

Britain, France, and Spain had sent fleets to Veracruz between December 8 and 17 1861 intending to pressure the Mexicans into settling their debts. The Spanish fleet seized San Juan de Ulúa and subsequently the capital Veracruz on December 17. The European forces advanced to Orizaba, Cordoba and Tehuacán, as they had agreed in the Convention of Soledad. The city of Campeche surrendered to the French fleet on February 27 1862, and a French army, commanded by General Lorencez, arrived on March 5. After the crisis over the Trent and when they relized that Frances ambition was to conquer Mexico, the Spanish and British withdrew their forces on April 9, their troops leaving on April 24. In May, the French man-of-war Bayonnaise blockaded Mazatlán for a few days.

Mexican forces commanded by General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5 1862. The pursuing Mexican army was contained by the French at Orizaba, Veracruz, on June 14. More French troops arrived on September 21, and General Bazaine arrived with French reinforcements on October 16. The French occupied the port of Tampico on October 23, and unopposed by Mexican forces took control of Xalapa, Veracruz on December 12.

Although France was now at war with both the US and Russia, the Royal Navy was doing most of the heavy lifting in the naval theater & so Mexico was still the main area of operation for the French Navy. The French bombarded Veracruz on January 15 1863. Two months later, on March 16, General Forey and the French Army began the siege of Puebla.

On April 10, the French Foreign Legion became famous in the Battle of Camarón, when an infantry patrol unit of 62 soldiers and three officers, led by the one-handed Captain Jean Danjou, was attacked and besieged by Mexican infantry and cavalry units numbering three battalions, about 3000 men. They were forced to make a defense in Hacienda Camarón. Danjou was mortally wounded at the hacienda, and his men mounted a glorious bayonet attack, fighting to nearly the last man; only three French Legionnaires survived.

The French army of General François Achille Bazaine defeated the Mexican army led by General Comonfort in its campaign to relieve the siege of Puebla, at San Lorenzo, to the south of Puebla. Puebla surrendered to the French shortly afterward, on April 22. On May 1, President Juárez fled the city with his cabinet, retreating northward to Paso del Norte and later to Chihuahua. Having taken the treasure of the state with them, the government-in-exile remained in Chihuahua.

From Chihuahua City, President Juarez sent envoys to Washington to seek assistance in its war with France. The Union however was up to it neck in enemies and was unable to send more than token support to the republicans.

 

[Not Henry G.]

Oh boy, I wonder what's going to happen to Mexico.

 

[herricks]

Third times the Charm

In late April the war in the eastern theater would heat up again. On April 22 General Meade began his first invasion of Virginia as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Though the war Britain was lessening the amount of troops and supplies the forces confronting the Confederacy acquired, Meade's army numbered nearly 95,000. General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, fielding only 71,000 troops, have been encamped at Culpeper and quickly marched north to confront Meade. Nine days later the armies would meet on the hollowed grounds of Manassas for a third time.

The Third Battle of Manassas drenched the fields in blood for over twenty hours as Union forces tried to force the Confederates to retreat. The third time would finally be the charm for the Americans and on May 2 Lee was forced to withdraw after suffering 17,000 casualties. This was the first ray of hope for the Union in months and despite suffering 13,000 casualties of their own, the Army of the Potomac continued south three days later.

The next two weeks northern Virginia saw several more engagements between the two main armies in North America. The Battle of Culpeper would be the next major battle of the campaign on May 16. The Army of Northern Virginia had only 35,000 troops for this battle as General Jackson and his corps was sent into the Shenandoah Valley to defeat a Union force under Major General John C. Fremont. While the Shenandoah Valley Campaign would prove another success for Jackson the Battle of Culpeper would not for Lee who the next day withdrew across the Rappanahock. During the Battle of Culpeper however the Army of the Potomac had suffered nearly 20,000 casualties and General Meade would halt the offensive to rest.

Return Advance

Austria's defeat at the Battle of Worth had stopped major military actions in France for nearly a month. However on April 1 a Russian Army of 120,000 under General Ivan Krasnov joined with the 100,000 mostly Austrian forces under General Ludwig von Benedek at Strasbourg and moved to capture Metz. Marshal Patrice de MacMahon commanded the newly titled French Army of the Rhine now numbering nearly 210,000 was held up at Metz and moved to challenge the Austro-Russian Army on April 9 at Gravelotte.

The massive Battle of Gravelotte saw the blood of over 71,000 spilled for their respective countries. After 18 hours of battle the French were driven off the field and withdrew towards Metz. Ten days later the Austro-Russian Army converged on Metz and laying siege to that city and the French Army on April 20. As the Siege of Metz continued a new French Army was beginning to be created to relieve Metz at Sedan. On April 30 the British Expeditionary force numbering nearly 80,000 troops under General William John Codrington arrived at Sedan and were joined with 45,000 French troops to assault the Austro-Russian Army and relieve Metz. Four days later the Battle of Metz commenced as the allies tried to break the siege. After nearly two days of intense battle Russian and Austrian forces, suffering over 75,000 casualties on their own, were broken and withdrew to Strasbourg with the British and soon French armies in pursuit.

First Actions

Hostilities between Italy and Austria would begin on April 15. The Italian forces were divided into two armies: the first, under La Marmora himself, was deployed in Lombardy, west of the Mincio River, aiming toward the powerful Quadrilatero fortress of the Austrians; the second, under Enrico Cialdini, in Romagna, south of the Po River, aiming toward Mantua and Rovigo. La Marmora moved first through Mantua and Peschiera del Garda, but was defeated at the Battle of Custoza on April 19 and retreated disorderly back across the Mincio river. Cialdini, on the other hand, did not act offensively for the first part of the war, conducting only several shows of force and failed to besiege the Austrian fortress of Borgoforte, south of the Po. Following the defeat at Custoza, the Italians reorganized in preparation for a presumed Austrian counter-offensive. The Austrians took this opportunity to raid Valtellina and Val Camonica at the Battle of Vezza d'Oglio.

Thanks to their allies decisive victory at Metz Italy gained a break. The Austrians were compelled to redeploy one of their three army corps from Italy. The remaining Austrian forces in the theater concentrated their defenses around Venice, Trentino, and Isonzo.

 

[herricks]

Assaults

Having captured Lexington and Frankfort in April General Johnston was now setting his sights on capturing Louisville and driving the Army of the Ohio fully from Kentucky. It was the hope of both Johnston and the government in Richmond that in taking Louisville that Kentucky would finally fully come over to the Confederate cause or even better force Washington to the negotiating table.

In early May General Johnston had assembled almost 60,000 troops at Frankfort to assault Louisville. On May 10 the Second Louisville Campaign began as the Army of Tennessee set out from Frankfort. Thanks to the entrance of Britain into the war the difference in strength between the two armies was relatively small with the Army of the Ohio fielding only 68,000 at the time. Since the war became fully entrenched in Kentucky, Union forces had been significantly strengthening Louisville's defenses.

Six days after leaving Frankfort the first engagement of the new campaign occurred at the Battle of Shelbyville. Here Major General Patrick Cleburne's corps attacked and drove away the Union forces of Major General Lew Wallace after three hours of combat. Two days later the Battle of Jeffersontown was another Confederate victory forcing the Federals back towards Louisville. Over the next ten days four more battles were fought around Louisville at (St. Matthews May 21), (Second Pleasure Ridge May 23), (Second Jeffersontown May 24), and (St. Helens May 27) which now forced the Union into Louisville. The Confederacy had suffered almost 25,000 casualties during the campaign and while reinforcements were arriving they hadn't made up for the losses.

General Thomas was reinforcing the Army of the Ohio as well. For two weeks the two armies had a stare down with each other. While small skirmishes occurred as both sides tested the others defenses but no major engagements occurred. On June 12 the hour would finally arrive however as nearly 100 Confederate artillery pieces opened up on Louisville. The Army of Tennessee had risen to its highest number of the war with 72,000 men in it to try and take the city. The Battle of Louisville had began, for the first day and a half each sides artillery pounded on one another before Confederate forces began to move into the city.

The fighting inside Louisville was bitter street by street fighting. For twelve days the Battle of Louisville raged as the two sides virtually destroyed the city. As June neared an end the battle entered a stalemate with the city split roughly in half. The Union still refused to give up the city despite the casualty rate was nearly at over 40% fro their pre-battle numbers. Fighting would halt on June 30 as an uneasy ceasefire came across the ruined town. Neither side was attacking but neither also withdrew and the city remained split. For now both sides licked their wounds and prepared for the next go around to begin.

 

[herricks]

Counteroffensive

General Burgoyne's offensive in New York resumed on May 17 as his Anglo-Canadian Army marched out of Rochester moving further east. Since assuming command, General Schofield had worked quick to reorganize the Army of the North. His first engagement as commander however ended in defeat when on May 20 at the Battle of Victor the British forced their retreat. Five days later Schofield saw defeat again at the Battle of Auburn.

Fresh Union reinforcements however, a mixture of fresh recruits and forces stripped from garrison duty in the coastal ports, were finally on their way. Two days later the Army of the North was reinforced near Syracuse and a day later Burgoyne would attack. For the next two days the Battle of Syracuse would rage as Burgoyne tried to continue his victory streak. Union forces would suffer over 15,000 casualties during the battle but on May 31 Burgoyne ordered the withdrawal of his army back towards Rochester. The Anglo-Canadian's had suffered more than 20,000 casualties during the battle and their own reinforcements were much fewer in numbers than the Union.

On June 9 Burgoyne and his force returned to Rochester. Schofield and the Army of the North were now on the offensive and only eight days behind Burgoyne. On June 19 Schofield moved quickly and cut off retreat for Burgoyne. The next day, the Siege of Rochester began. The Siege of Rochester was in reality only a semi siege as Lake Ontario was still open to Anglo-Canadian naval forces which ferried foodstuffs in at night under Union fire. While there was talk of an evacuation by sea for the moment the risk of Union artillery was too great and by July Schofield was launching small armed gunboats onto the lake to stem the flow of supplies. After a month it was clear to Burgoyne that he would not be able to break loose from Rochester and risked evacuation by sea.

For the next five days Lake Ontario was filled with vessels from both sides as the British would try and evacuate their army. On July 27 the Siege of Rochester came to an end. Either in capturing the city or the evacuation vessels, almost 10,000 Anglo-Canadian troops were sent into prison camps. Though this wasn't the majority of Burgoyne's army that had been in Rochester the capture of these troops would severely hamper Britain's offensive capabilities for the time being.

The Battle of Alexander had halted Sherman's advance only temporarily. For the next two weeks the Army of New England reinforced itself and recuperated. Thought General Paget received some reinforcements they were unable to match the Union's numbers. On May 2 General Sherman launched an invasion of New Brunswick. The British force was quickly defeated the following day at the Battle of Moores Mills and Sherman began moving towards the New Brunswick capital of Fredericton. For the next week the two armies skirmished each other off and on as Union forces pushed north. On May 12 the Battle of Fredericton was fought and after several hours of heavy fighting Paget ordered his troops to retreat. The rest of May saw the front slowly move east as the British Army withdrew towards Nova Scotia. By June all of southern New Brunswick west of Moncton was in Union control.

 

[Not Henry G.]

Dude you're on fire. I haven't finished the update for mine yet and you've already done a bunch. Great job.

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

Almost everytimey ou say Burgoyne, i am convinced you have somehow invented a time machine and gone back to the American Revolution.

 

[herricks]

Almost everytimey ou say Burgoyne, i am convinced you have somehow invented a time machine and gone back to the American Revolution.

Wrong burgoyne

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

Wrong burgoyne

I know that. Its a tongue in cheek post.

Hence me saying

Almost everytimey ou say Burgoyne, i am convinced you have somehow invented a time machine and gone back to the American Revolution.

and having smilies there.

 

[herricks]

Underbrush

Since the Battle of Culpeper both Union and Confederate forces in Virginia had taken a breather to recuperate from the bloody campaign. General Meade was planning to move out again and was preparing his army for just that. The Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappanhock on July 1 in the renewed offensive to capture Richmond. General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia however had also been rebuilding and would move quickly to confront them.

Just a day into their offensive south of the Rappanhock the Army of the Potomac was confronted by Lee in a heavily wooded area of Spotsylvania County beginning the Battle of the Wilderness. The Battle of the Wilderness saw 87,000 Confederate soldiers move to stop 103,000 Union troops. The dense underbrush of the Wilderness would make maneuvering during the battle extremely difficult with units unable to see one another. Friendly fire would be a problem for both sides during the battle. For three days the Wilderness was fought ferociously as the blood of thousands of soldiers. Having suffered nearly 25,000 casualties, General Meade would begin withdrawing and by the end of the day the Battle of the Wilderness had ended. The Army of Northern Virginia had suffered 17,000 casualties during the battle and was forced to hold off on pursuing Meade. Within three days the Virginia Theater of the war was back into northern Virginia. The Battle of the Wilderness would be the last major battle between Union & Confederate forces for the remainder of the year. With both side too exhausted they needed a significant break and the rest of 1863 saw only smaller mostly insignificant battles and cavalry raids.

Crowned

French troops under Bazaine entered Mexico City on June 8. The main army entered the city three days later led by General Forey. General Almonte was appointed the provisional President of Mexico on June 16, by the Superior Junta (which had been appointed by Forey). The Superior Junta with its 35 members met on June 21, and proclaimed a Catholic Empire on July 10. There had been talk of offering the throne of Mexico to the Austrian Maximilian, but with France now at war with Austria that was out of the question. Napoleon III the offered the crown to his close adviser and first cousin Prince Joseph Charles or Jerome Bonaparte. On September 29 Bonaparte would accept the crown at the hands of the Comisión Mexicana, sent by the Superior Junta.

Politics

With the war taking a break it was time for politics to have a go. From October 27-November 5 Confederate, Union, British, and French officials met in Arlington,Virginia to discuss bringing peace to the continent. Though the sides were civil none could reach an agreement, and the talks would end. By now, Britain and France had been at war with the US for almost two years and still no formal arrangement with Richmond had been made. On December 18,1863 Britain, France, and Italy would formally recognize the Confederate States as an independent nation and an alliance was entered. Though mostly ceremonial, Richmond would in a show of good faith declare war on Russia and Austria on December 23. In a separate agreement, President Davis made an arrangement with Napoleon through French Ambassador Henri Mercier to send military assistance into Mexico following the conclusion of hostilities with the Union.

On the other side of the war, President Lincoln would bring the US into a formal alliance with Russia and Austria to unify their efforts in winning the war no matter what.