Reading the Room - an Alternate War of 1812 and beyond

[piratedude]

I assume this war scare would significantly affect border towns like Buffalo New York, given that they're literally staring down a British fort just on the opposite bank of the Niagara River. Admittedly that fort was still in disrepair even by 1812, but still, might be a good idea to start building another fort in the area.

Also surely some one is bound to think, "hey, maybe we should have more than one ship on the great lakes, just in case" cause checking Wikipedia the government only had the Brig USS Adams (captured IOTL, renamed HMS Detroit, then subsequently re-captured and burned when she ran aground).

 

[Seawolf]

immediate crisis to show reactions particularly France, Canada, and the other great powers.

Well, France is like Great Britain prior to the Chesapeake-Scourge-Wasp-Leopard Affair ITTL, they really don't give a shit.

Canada also isn't a Great Power as it's still a major British Colony divided into Rupert's Land, Upper Canada, and Lower Canada at least from what I can remember. About the only other Great Powers that are around besides the British and the French would be the Ottoman Empire and Imperial Russia - along with maybe the Qing. But well, the Ottomans and Russians were too far away from the United States that really, they couldn't care less about what was going on the Americas and the Qing were in the same boat.

Admittedly that fort was still in disrepair even by 1812, but still, might be a good idea to start building another fort in the area.

Probably a good idea now that I think about it.

"hey, maybe we should have more than one ship on the great lakes, just in case"

Probably as IIRC, the Provincial Marine had close to ten ships of varying sizes on the Great Lakes, this does mean that ships like the USS General Pike and USS Madison probably come about still.

 

[Seawolf]

September 18, 1807

Shovels broke ground on a ridge near the city of Buffalo, New York as the British fort nearby, Fort Erie, while in disrepair was still causing the city considerable alarm given the Chesapeake-Scourge-Wasp-Leopard Affair. The fortress that was planned was a stone and earth-work type construction with ramparts and cannons of all sizes. Furthermore, it wasn’t the only fort that was going to be built, another similar fort was going to be built near Sacket’s Harbor.

Furthermore, at Sacket’s Harbor, the United States Navy had realized that if things went sour enough, they would have, arguably, a three-theater war on their hands. A war in the deep oceans, a war in the coastal zone, and a war on the Great Lakes. Thus, Oliver Hazzard Perry was dispatched to Lake Erie, and Isaac Chauncey was dispatched to Lake Ontario to fix that with orders to oversee the construction of various ships to help counter the British Provincial Marine in case war actually broke out between the United States of America and the British Empire. With winter fast approaching, it was hoped that they could get ships under construction before any official declaration of war reached the United States so that way they could swiftly crush the Provincial Marine and gain a foothold in Lower Canada when the fighting season came about.

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AN: Oliver Hazzard Perry and Isaac Chauncy historically did command the United States Navy on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario respectively during the War of 1812, here, given the War Scare of 1807, they are thusly dispatched to start expanding the US Navy presence on the Great Lakes in case the worst-case scenario plays out and war breaks out.

 

[Seawolf]

October 27, 1807

In the French Commune of Fontainebleau, the Spanish King Charles IV and the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte signed a treaty. This treaty stated that the House of Braganza would be driven from the Kingdom of Portugal and that the Kingdom would be divided into three parts. It was a secret plan to finish the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and to bring it completely under the Franco-Spanish Dominion.

Napoleon viewed signing this treaty as a win, but what he didn’t know was that it would actually be his downfall.

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AN: As OTL, the Treaty of Fontainebleau has been signed - this arguably marks the start of the Peninsular War even though the attempted French takeover of Spain won't occur until May of next year.

 

[Seawolf]

November 10, 1807

HMS Columbine pulled into Chesapeake Bay, and as she did so, the American Sloop of War USS Wasp passed her, heading out to sea, the United States Navy was desperate for ships of the line and thus Wasp was heading out to head to France with an offer to buy the French Ships of the Line Éole and Patriote from the Imperial French Navy as it was highly unlikely that the British would allow Patriote which could still sail as the British now had three full ships of the line in blockade position just in case Patriote tried to do anything silly which meant that the two ships were functionally useless to the Imperial French as the captain of Patriote wasn’t willing to risk breaking out. Furthermore - given the expansion of naval infrastructure and everything that supported said infrastructure, the United States Navy was reasonably confident that they could repair Éole within a year and support Patriote.

Meanwhile, Columbine proceeded up the Potamonic River to Washington D.C carrying urgent messages for Thomas Jefferson and David Erskine as well as reparations for damages to USS Chesapeake - along with news of the Royal Decree from King George III that banned the Royal Navy from impressing Americans. These messages onboard would end the War Scare of 1807, but by this point, the damage had been done - a massive infrastructure expansion program regarding naval infrastructure and its supporting infrastructure expansion was getting underway, the timber for the 1st Class Frigates and the 2nd Class Frigates was now seasoning with everything else either on order or being built and the frigates themselves planned to have construction start in late January 1808, furthermore USS Wasp couldn’t be recalled as she was one of the fastest ships in the United States Navy and by the time Columbine would dock in Washington Naval Yard, Wasp would be long gone, heading to France. Thus, any attempt to cancel the 1807 Emergency Appropriations Act could send the country spiraling into an economic depression, like it or not, the United States was going to be stuck with a considerable expansion of its military.

Nevertheless, politically speaking, the arrival of HMS Columbine and her messages, reparations, and announcement of the expansion of the British blockade of Europe along with the reasoning for said blockade being expanded and the brief grace period in which American ships would only be subject to search and being ordered to be redirected to other ports rather than seizure meant that tensions began to die down. However, publicly speaking, apart from a quiet announcement about the reparations and a larger announcement regarding the British Blockade and its reasoning, it wouldn’t be for several more months until the newspapers stopped their doom-mongering and the War Scare faded away from public perception.

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AN: The United States is desperate to get experience operating Ships of the Line in this situation, thus this is the main reason why the United States are sending an offer to Napoleon to buy the two Ships of the Line in Baltimore. The whole Chesapeake-Scourge-Wasp-Leopard Affair actually succeeded in reminding the British that the ships were there hence why the British now have ships of the line watching like hawks.

 

[Seawolf]

November 11, 1807

The expansion of the British blockade against France and her allies went live. What also went live was the 6-month grace period regarding American merchant ships.

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AN: This is mostly as OTL actually - only major difference is that the United States of America gets a grace period because the British want to avoid antagonizing them.

 

[Seawolf]

November 13, 1807

HMS Endyimon passed through the Straits of Gibraltar having been officially transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet just in case the United States failed to bite on the British Government’s attempts to prevent a war from breaking out specifically to counter USS President and USS Constitution two months prior, but it had taken a month for her to arrive due to the weather being its normal self.

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AN: HMS Endyimon is famous for her capture of the USS President during the War of 1812 - she has a crack crew with her guns having some of the best sighting equipment available for the era. The British Admiralty due to the different outcome of the Chesapeake-Scourge-Wasp-Leopard Affair is thus taking a nuanced approach to the American Frigates and want to have some of their best ships in position to counter them should worst come to worse.

 

[Seawolf]

November 18-19, 1807

A group of slaves and their Master gazed up at the immense live oak, the tree was an immense old-growth tree. More importantly, it was extremely straight and the men thus looked at each other and smiled. They figured that they had a tree that was perfect for the immense 1st Rate USS America that had been authorized by the 1807 Emergency Appropriations Act. Thus for over a day the axes of the group thwacked against wood, cutting out chunks of it, the tree shook and shuddered as the axes hewed away at it until wood splintered and cracked, the tree began to topple and the call of “TIMBER!” echoed through the forest as with a roar of sound, the ancient tree crashed to the ground.

 

[naraht]

November 18, 1807

A group of loggers gazed up at the immense live oak, the tree was an immense old-growth tree. More importantly, it was extremely straight and the men thus looked at each other and smiled. They figured that they had a tree that was perfect for the immense 1st Rate USS America that had been authorized by the 1807 Emergency Appropriations Act. Thus axes thwacked against wood, cutting out chunks of it, the tree shook and shuddered as the axes hewed away at it until wood splintered and cracked, the tree began to topple and the call of “TIMBER!” echoed through the forest as with a roar of sound, the ancient tree crashed to the ground.

Two comments.
1) Almost certainly slaves. Live Oaks don't grow at all north of Maryland, and they don't grow large enough for Harvesting north of North Carolina and almost all of the wood came from South Carolina and Georgia. See https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/202...s-freedom-trail-sites-is-beginning-to-be-told for information on the Harvesting and https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/2022/11/30/the-entwined-history-of-slavery-and-the-u-s-navy/
2) With the tools of the day, would have taken far more than a day for a tree of that size and hardness.

 

[Seawolf]

Two comments.
1) Almost certainly slaves. Live Oaks don't grow at all north of Maryland, and they don't grow large enough for Harvesting north of North Carolina and almost all of the wood came from South Carolina and Georgia. See https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/202...s-freedom-trail-sites-is-beginning-to-be-told for information on the Harvesting and https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/2022/11/30/the-entwined-history-of-slavery-and-the-u-s-navy/
2) With the tools of the day, would have taken far more than a day for a tree of that size and hardness.

That I actually didn't know (guess I am too used to the modern era) - still, I take it that a tree of this size is perfect for the Keel of a 1st Rate Ship of the Line?

I will edit it to make mention of this actually as I had no idea that cutting down trees could take that long and make mention of slaves.

 

[King of the Uzbeks]

On a side note, the current American National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner has been butterflied away, a moment of silence, please.

Best timeline

The United States here actually faces a very serious problem in regards to their infrastructure

Same with crewing the ships. Annapolis is still decades away IOTL. Wonder if there's a push for an Academy early.

Chesapeake-Scourge-Wasp-Leopard Affair

A bit wordy, wonder if it would focus on just the British ship.

 

[Seawolf]

Same with crewing the ships. Annapolis is still decades away IOTL. Wonder if there's a push for an Academy early.

That's very much plausible - as the oldest military college in the United States, Norwich University doesn't get founded until 1819.

A bit wordy, wonder if it would focus on just the British ship.

That's admittedly plausible, another alternative name is the Chesapeake Bay Affair or The Battle of June 22, 1807

 

[naraht]

That I actually didn't know (guess I am too used to the modern era) - still, I take it that a tree of this size is perfect for the Keel of a 1st Rate Ship of the Line?

I will edit it to make mention of this actually as I had no idea that cutting down trees could take that long and make mention of slaves.

Absolutely the right size. Seriously, the second link would probably give you what you need. I don't expect too much difference between 1785 and 1807 in this regard. And the US gulf coast (more or less otl Louisiana) does have them, I don't see them at this point using Louisiana wood.

 

[Seawolf]

Absolutely the right size. Seriously, the second link would probably give you what you need. I don't expect too much difference between 1785 and 1807 in this regard. And the US gulf coast (more or less otl Louisiana) does have them, I don't see them at this point using Louisiana wood.

Thank you!

That's actually something that makes me happy knowing that, time gaffe to cut a tree of this size down not withstanding, I got the size right.

Jefferson was very opposed to a large navy. His idea was for swarms of militia-manned galleys to defend the coasts. I love the idea of an larger early navy. I would love to see how Jefferson is reacting to this huge naval expansion and it's attendant expenses.

The navy was always seen as a "Federalist branch". Maybe some political manipulation and patronage of Republican officers in the personnel expansion?

Frankly, more than likely not very well, but the War Scare of 1807 scared the shit out the Congress and the American People as the OTL!Chesapeake-Leopard Affair was bad enough - here its likely regarded as the only reason war between the United States and Great Britain was averted entirely was because the British Empire was busy with Napoleon and didn't want to redirect troops, material, and ships away from that critically important campaign. But yes, Democratic-Republican Officers will start to receive patronage within the United States Navy as well. Considering that its massively expanding, this is no surprise.

How this boosts the New England region economy will be interesting. Will the cities be even larger, or more large settlements across the board.

More than just the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic (primarily around Richmond, Norfolk, and Washington D.C.) will see economic changes as well.

Most likely, you'll get a mix of both larger cities and larger settlements across the board. Some like New York City will probably grow quicker, but towns where the industries that support the Navy exist with their multitude of foundries and other places will also see a shot in the arm for population growth.

 

[piratedude]

fortunately, with a more substantial navy and the US not getting pressed by Britain, they could finally do more to keep the barbary states in line...
...and its unfortunate that the med would be seeing reduced American presence since the British blockade means the only trade option there are the ottomans and the barbary states themselves (oh and maybe the bits of Austrian Illyria? might have the brits think your doing a sneaky trade with napoleons Italian allies, tho)

 

[Seawolf]

November 24, 1807

President Thomas Jefferson signed a new law into effect - the law proposed by Nathaniel Macon reversed the Non-Importation Act of 1806. The act had been proposed by Mister Macon precisely because of the Royal Decree issued by King George III that banned the impressment of Americans into the Royal Navy. The Macon Act therefore was going to give the American economy a tremendous shot in the arm as now trade was going to be fully reopened to the largest economy in the world.

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AN: This version of the Macon Act is pretty different from Macon's Bill Number 2 which was passed in 1810 as it completely reverses the Non-Importation Act of 1806.

 

[Seawolf]

December 17, 1807

At Our Royal Palace at Milan, December 17, 1807.

Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine;

In view of the measures adopted by the British government on the 11th of November last by which vessels belonging to powers which are neutral or are friendly and even allied with England are rendered liable to be searched by British cruisers, detained at certain stations in England, and subject to an arbitrary tax of a certain per cent upon their cargo to be regulated by English legislation;

Considering that by these acts the English government has denationalized the vessels of all the nations of Europe and that no government may compromise in any degree its independence or its rights—all the rulers of Europe being jointly responsible for the sovereignty and independence of their flags—and that, if through unpardonable weakness which would be regarded by posterity as an indelible stain, such tyranny should be admitted and become consecrated by custom, the English would take steps to give it the force of law, as they have already taken advantage of the toleration of the governments to establish the infamous principle that the flag does not cover the goods and to give the right of blockade an arbitrary extension which threatens the sovereignty of every state;

We have decreed and do decree as follows:

Article 1. Every vessel of whatever nationality, which shall submit to be searched by an English vessel or shall consent to a voyage to England or shall pay any tax whatever to the English government, is ipso facto declared denationalized, loses the protection afforded by its flag, and becomes English property.

Article 2. Should such vessels which are thus denationalized through the arbitrary measures of the English government enter our ports or those of our allies or fall into the hands of our ships of war or of our privateers, they shall be regarded as good and lawful prizes.

Article 3. The British Isles are proclaimed to be in a state of blockade both by land and by sea. Every vessel of whatever nation or whatever may be its cargo that sails from the ports of England or from those of the English colonies or of countries occupied by English troops or is bound for England or for any of the English colonies or any country occupied by English troops becomes, by violating the present decree, a lawful prize and may be captured by our ships of war and adjudged to the captor.

Article 4. These measures, which are only a just retaliation against the barbarous system adopted by the English government, which models its legislation upon that of Algiers, shall cease to have any effect in the case of those nations which shall force the English to respect their flags. They shall continue in force so long as that government shall refuse to accept the principles of international law which regulate the relations of civilized states in a state of war. The provisions of the present decree shall be ipso facto abrogated and void so soon as the English government shall abide again by the principles of the law of nations, which are at the same time those of justice and honor.

Article 5. All our ministers are charged with the execution of the present decree, which shall be printed in the Bulletin des lois.

Napoleon

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AN: This is completely as OTL for the Milan Decree which can be found here.

 

[Seawolf]

January 1, 1808

The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves came into effect and with the larger United States Navy that was having its timber seasoned and the entirety of the United States Navy now in active service, the USN which was patrolling the Atlantic Seaboard began to go after the slaving ships approaching the United States.

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AN: This is completely as OTL for when it went live. However - more slave ships will be captured by the USN as the entirety of it, such that it is ITTL in 1808 is completely active and thus the importation of slaves into the United States will dry up faster.

 

[Seawolf]

January 7, 1808

USS Constitution pulled into Boston Harbor for refit with her unexpectedly long deployment to Africa having finally ended thanks to the arrival of the USS President. The crew were uniformly relieved to finally be home in the United States.

 

[Seawolf]

January 12, 1808

The American-flagged merchant ship Minion departed from Wilmington, North Carolina bound for Alexandria, Egypt. She wasn’t particularly large, only 1,200 tons and armed with ten 6-pounder guns. Little did anyone know that Minion in a few months was going to be involved in an incident that would set the Caribbean on fire.