I didn't know it was such a low percentage though the "Highland" regiments mostly being made up of non-Highlanders is a fairly constant phenomenon. I guess it took a while to build up loyalty to the new system.
If they will not meet us on the open sea (a Trent TL)
- Thread starter Saphroneth
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I didn't know it was such a low percentage though the "Highland" regiments mostly being made up of non-Highlanders is a fairly constant phenomenon. I guess it took a while to build up loyalty to the new system.
Saphroneth
Banned
But the 1883 to 1900 period is the entire Cardwell/Childers system. After that you're effectively into the post-Boer War reforms.
Cerebro's data shows that the Cardwell/Childers system never worked as designed.
10-12 August 1865
Saphroneth
Banned
10 August
A Fenian plot activates, having managed to remain largely secret from intelligence in British North America and in the United States - in part because the rank-and-file of the Fenian force has not been informed of the precise details of the plan. Two companies of Fenians cross the border near Rouses Point, and seize the station at Lacolle as their first course of action.
By the afternoon the news is out, and one of the garrison regiments currently in Canada (the 39th Foot, in and around Montreal) is made ready to move south. Also already gathering are a large number of militia, including some regiments currently embodied for yearly training.
Also on this date, the new US lakes gunboat the Niagara Falls suffers a major engineering casualty, with a catastrophic boiler explosion taking place during routine operations.
11 August
Over the course of the day, nearly 2,500 Fenian infantry cross the Niagara river. The Niagara Falls is unable to intercept due to the severe damage to her boiler, which it will later turn out was the result of deliberate sabotage - Fenian sympathizers among the crew having placed a number of "coal torpedoes" into the bunker the previous morning. (Coal torpedoes being essentially camouflaged iron bombs filled with gunpowder and made to look like common lumps of coal.)
The news of the crossing is hurriedly relayed throughout British North America. Some of the militia undergoing training in the area had been moving towards the Richelieu frontier, and so the reorientation to the Niagara is chaotic and confused - some regiments travel all the way to Montreal before discovering that they have been ordered back to where they started.
Compounding the problem is that the scale of Fenian commitment to the operation is completely unclear. Some rumors have the Fenian brigade in Niagara on the scale of a division or even a small corps, others suggest they have considerable artillery with them, and their weaponry is the subject of wild speculation. (In fact, the Fenians are armed with Springfield rifles, and they have one old 6 pounder with them.)
12 August
The British/Canadian response to the Fenian attack near Niagara has begun to gel. Unsure of the scale of the filibuster operations (at either location) the British are opting for a provision of considerable force in both regions.
While the main force is still forming up (consisting of militia who are being quickly mobilized), the 1/14th is to probe towards Fort Erie (currently under Fenian control) from the still-secured town of Welland, to act as a screen. The experienced men of the Buckinghamshire regiment spread out into the now-classic British advance to contact, spreading three companies out as skirmish elements and another three companies as support elements.
In a classic example of mirror-imaging, the British (expecting to fight a large force) are on the lookout for possible cavalry pickets, while the Fenians against whom they are advancing (expecting a small force this early in the operation) are watching for Canadian militia. In the event, a firefight briefly breaks out around Stevensville, before the 1/14th withdraw a few hundred yards to make use of small local terrain features.
Once the news has percolated through the Fenian command, it causes mixed reactions. Some among the filibusters see this as a major opportunity to score a victory, and advocate for a rapid advance and the encirclement the enemy force; others are having second thoughts about the whole enterprise (especially as it appears the locals are for the most part not especially glad to be liberated), and more than a few quietly slink off (though they are replaced by stragglers filtering across the Niagara).
In the event, the decision is made to close in and attack the 1/14th - though, even as this discussion is going on, the 1/14th is withdrawing by night towards Netherby and two Canadian militia battalions are marching to join them there.
A Fenian plot activates, having managed to remain largely secret from intelligence in British North America and in the United States - in part because the rank-and-file of the Fenian force has not been informed of the precise details of the plan. Two companies of Fenians cross the border near Rouses Point, and seize the station at Lacolle as their first course of action.
By the afternoon the news is out, and one of the garrison regiments currently in Canada (the 39th Foot, in and around Montreal) is made ready to move south. Also already gathering are a large number of militia, including some regiments currently embodied for yearly training.
Also on this date, the new US lakes gunboat the Niagara Falls suffers a major engineering casualty, with a catastrophic boiler explosion taking place during routine operations.
11 August
Over the course of the day, nearly 2,500 Fenian infantry cross the Niagara river. The Niagara Falls is unable to intercept due to the severe damage to her boiler, which it will later turn out was the result of deliberate sabotage - Fenian sympathizers among the crew having placed a number of "coal torpedoes" into the bunker the previous morning. (Coal torpedoes being essentially camouflaged iron bombs filled with gunpowder and made to look like common lumps of coal.)
The news of the crossing is hurriedly relayed throughout British North America. Some of the militia undergoing training in the area had been moving towards the Richelieu frontier, and so the reorientation to the Niagara is chaotic and confused - some regiments travel all the way to Montreal before discovering that they have been ordered back to where they started.
Compounding the problem is that the scale of Fenian commitment to the operation is completely unclear. Some rumors have the Fenian brigade in Niagara on the scale of a division or even a small corps, others suggest they have considerable artillery with them, and their weaponry is the subject of wild speculation. (In fact, the Fenians are armed with Springfield rifles, and they have one old 6 pounder with them.)
12 August
The British/Canadian response to the Fenian attack near Niagara has begun to gel. Unsure of the scale of the filibuster operations (at either location) the British are opting for a provision of considerable force in both regions.
While the main force is still forming up (consisting of militia who are being quickly mobilized), the 1/14th is to probe towards Fort Erie (currently under Fenian control) from the still-secured town of Welland, to act as a screen. The experienced men of the Buckinghamshire regiment spread out into the now-classic British advance to contact, spreading three companies out as skirmish elements and another three companies as support elements.
In a classic example of mirror-imaging, the British (expecting to fight a large force) are on the lookout for possible cavalry pickets, while the Fenians against whom they are advancing (expecting a small force this early in the operation) are watching for Canadian militia. In the event, a firefight briefly breaks out around Stevensville, before the 1/14th withdraw a few hundred yards to make use of small local terrain features.
Once the news has percolated through the Fenian command, it causes mixed reactions. Some among the filibusters see this as a major opportunity to score a victory, and advocate for a rapid advance and the encirclement the enemy force; others are having second thoughts about the whole enterprise (especially as it appears the locals are for the most part not especially glad to be liberated), and more than a few quietly slink off (though they are replaced by stragglers filtering across the Niagara).
In the event, the decision is made to close in and attack the 1/14th - though, even as this discussion is going on, the 1/14th is withdrawing by night towards Netherby and two Canadian militia battalions are marching to join them there.
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Saphroneth
Banned
Remember the Fenian marching song?
"We are the Fenian Brotherhood, skilled in the arts of war,
And we're going to fight for Ireland, the land we adore,
Many battles we have won, along with the boys in blue,
And we'll go and capture Canada, for we've nothing else to do."
Incidentally, hopefully it's not too silly that a militia brigade could be pulled together on a few days' notice. This is essentially the Ridgeway campaign but a year earlier, for reference, and OTL the battle was the day after the crossing with about 850 Canadian miltia - here it's about two-three days after the crossing with about double that (aided by their having been mobilized a lot a few years ago).
Also - yes, the coal torpedo really existed.
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Saphroneth
Banned
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio...<--- Googles --->
Well I'll be jiggered. It does too!
The Confederates used them.
In WWII, the OSS rediscovered the idea and bragged about this wonderful new thing they had dreamed up.
Yes, the strict Cardwell system ended in 1905 when they amalgamated the individual regimental districts into groups and gave the colonel in charge of those districts the ability to transfer recruits from regiment to regiment. In effect, the regional depots we're talking about here.
13 August 1865
Saphroneth
Banned
13 August
Battle of Netherby,
The action commences early in the morning of a beautiful day, when a Fenian attack on the 1/14th at Stevensville discovers that there are no longer any British troops present. This leads to a discussion, which leads in turn to the Fenian brigade splitting into three regimental units (of about eight hundred each) and advancing towards Netherby on a wide front.
At about 11 am, the fighting begins in truth. After a quick exchange of volleys around Netherby itself (with a Fenian formation encountering the skirmish screen of the 1/14th, and having to quickly go to ground in the face of heavy Snider fire - the two-company skirmish screen is putting out an enormous quantity of bullets for such a small formation), the filibuster troops begin to spread out and feel around the flanks of the British-Canadian formation. It quickly transpires that there are Canadian militia battalions forming both flanks of the position, and the Fenian unit which aims to hook around the British right flank is soon bogged down in a loud but inconclusive exchange of fire about half a mile south-west of Netherby crossroads itself.
The Fenian formation moving to the east to hook around the British left flank performs better. It has the great good fortune to not only manage to approach through a wooded defile a mile or two to the northeast of Netherby (thus garnering important cover from enemy fire) but also to run into a militia unit recently re-armed with American-purchased repeaters by a perhaps overzealous colonel.
The result is that the first Fenian platoon to emerge from the defile takes a sudden barrage of fire, wounding many of them, but not disabling as many as would be expected due to the small calibre of the repeater bullets. With their repeaters empty, the Canadian militia now have to pause to reload - and, due to poor drill, this takes place for the entire militia detachment at once (and with a considerable length of time required).
Initially shocked, the Fenian regiment quickly presses their unexpected advantage and breaks the Canadian militia line with a bayonet charge - taking some casualties at close range from those who manage to reload their repeaters in time, but getting in among the Canadian line and causing a pell-mell retreat.
Unfortunately for the Fenians, however, the time taken to march to this defile has also allowed the 1/14th to win their firefight with the Fenian formation in front of them, suppressing them, and also to disable their artillery. With his front not under undue threat, the 1/14th's commander moves his reserve into skirmish line to refuse his left flank, and the chance to roll up the British line is lost.
For much of the day, the firing is sparse - the British infantry have a new appreciation for how hungry the Snider is of ammunition compared to the Enfields they used to fight with, and the Fenians are mostly staying under cover - with the British formation bent around in a V-shape but not under undue stress. Things pick up again around four PM, when the Port Colborne battery arrives accompanied by a battalion of Canadian militia. In a somewhat hair-raising piece of improvisation, one of the light field howitzers is directed by a militiaman sitting on top of a pile of hay bales, and this fire (while inaccurate) causes the left flank of the Fenian position to recoil.
Militia cavalry arrives shortly thereafter, and the filibusters unravel - to an extent which makes a precise estimate as to the number engaged quite difficult, as it is estimated that more than a third of the Fenians present simply cast away their weapons and accoutrements and make their own way home. (Efforts to count the rifles on the field are stymied by how many are collected as mementos by the soldiers and militia, and how many Fenians keep their weapons on the retreat.)
In analysis after the battle, it is noted that the Canadian militia - while certainly quite capable as militia - are not necessarily as conversant with how to use ground as the regulars are. They were covering a wide front, it is true, but men with a proper appreciation of their weapons and the terrain could have kept the defile stopped up without an undue commitment of troops.
With this mistake once made, the 1/14th were unable to properly commit to an advance against an enemy of uncertain quantity and numbers (being under threat on two fronts, and with the risk of losing their line of retreat).
Battle of Netherby,
The action commences early in the morning of a beautiful day, when a Fenian attack on the 1/14th at Stevensville discovers that there are no longer any British troops present. This leads to a discussion, which leads in turn to the Fenian brigade splitting into three regimental units (of about eight hundred each) and advancing towards Netherby on a wide front.
At about 11 am, the fighting begins in truth. After a quick exchange of volleys around Netherby itself (with a Fenian formation encountering the skirmish screen of the 1/14th, and having to quickly go to ground in the face of heavy Snider fire - the two-company skirmish screen is putting out an enormous quantity of bullets for such a small formation), the filibuster troops begin to spread out and feel around the flanks of the British-Canadian formation. It quickly transpires that there are Canadian militia battalions forming both flanks of the position, and the Fenian unit which aims to hook around the British right flank is soon bogged down in a loud but inconclusive exchange of fire about half a mile south-west of Netherby crossroads itself.
The Fenian formation moving to the east to hook around the British left flank performs better. It has the great good fortune to not only manage to approach through a wooded defile a mile or two to the northeast of Netherby (thus garnering important cover from enemy fire) but also to run into a militia unit recently re-armed with American-purchased repeaters by a perhaps overzealous colonel.
The result is that the first Fenian platoon to emerge from the defile takes a sudden barrage of fire, wounding many of them, but not disabling as many as would be expected due to the small calibre of the repeater bullets. With their repeaters empty, the Canadian militia now have to pause to reload - and, due to poor drill, this takes place for the entire militia detachment at once (and with a considerable length of time required).
Initially shocked, the Fenian regiment quickly presses their unexpected advantage and breaks the Canadian militia line with a bayonet charge - taking some casualties at close range from those who manage to reload their repeaters in time, but getting in among the Canadian line and causing a pell-mell retreat.
Unfortunately for the Fenians, however, the time taken to march to this defile has also allowed the 1/14th to win their firefight with the Fenian formation in front of them, suppressing them, and also to disable their artillery. With his front not under undue threat, the 1/14th's commander moves his reserve into skirmish line to refuse his left flank, and the chance to roll up the British line is lost.
For much of the day, the firing is sparse - the British infantry have a new appreciation for how hungry the Snider is of ammunition compared to the Enfields they used to fight with, and the Fenians are mostly staying under cover - with the British formation bent around in a V-shape but not under undue stress. Things pick up again around four PM, when the Port Colborne battery arrives accompanied by a battalion of Canadian militia. In a somewhat hair-raising piece of improvisation, one of the light field howitzers is directed by a militiaman sitting on top of a pile of hay bales, and this fire (while inaccurate) causes the left flank of the Fenian position to recoil.
Militia cavalry arrives shortly thereafter, and the filibusters unravel - to an extent which makes a precise estimate as to the number engaged quite difficult, as it is estimated that more than a third of the Fenians present simply cast away their weapons and accoutrements and make their own way home. (Efforts to count the rifles on the field are stymied by how many are collected as mementos by the soldiers and militia, and how many Fenians keep their weapons on the retreat.)
In analysis after the battle, it is noted that the Canadian militia - while certainly quite capable as militia - are not necessarily as conversant with how to use ground as the regulars are. They were covering a wide front, it is true, but men with a proper appreciation of their weapons and the terrain could have kept the defile stopped up without an undue commitment of troops.
With this mistake once made, the 1/14th were unable to properly commit to an advance against an enemy of uncertain quantity and numbers (being under threat on two fronts, and with the risk of losing their line of retreat).
Saphroneth
Banned
Incidentally, one of the mistakes made by the commander of the 1/14th (the de facto commander of the engagement) was that he spread the militia out to cover a comparable frontage as his own regulars. This was definitely an error, and he would have done better to anchor his flanks on something solid rather than trust to the militia to hold such a broad front - even considering how well armed they were - but hopefully it's a realistic mistake for the Regular commander to assume everyone on his own side is as good as his own men. (Well, nearly as good. The Prince of Wales' Own consider themselves the best of the lot.)
It probably would also have been a better option to avoid covering the road to Welland - that is, to take a position on the nearby "heights" (such as they are) with his brigade. Welland had more militia defending it, and some fortifications built over the 1861-2 winter as fallbacks (admittedly they're kind of cruddy by now, but better than nothing).
But, hey. Any battle you walk away from?
It probably would also have been a better option to avoid covering the road to Welland - that is, to take a position on the nearby "heights" (such as they are) with his brigade. Welland had more militia defending it, and some fortifications built over the 1861-2 winter as fallbacks (admittedly they're kind of cruddy by now, but better than nothing).
But, hey. Any battle you walk away from?
Some, but it's being stalled by everyone's favorite Duke, because we can't change shit that's "worked" since Wellington.
Saphroneth
Banned
Actually, that's not a very accurate characterization of Cambridge - the man was responsible for plenty of improvement, he just didn't want to screw anything up for the sake of changing it.
In fact, to quote a blog:
So he's already been responsible for a militia reform.
As for militia reforms TTL, the eternal question is how to get something effective. The way I see it shaking out is that you'd have a Canadian army upon confederation (coming soon?) and that that would probably have a few thousand regulars (perhaps 5-6 battalions?) and several times that number of militia with a fair amount of training - the whole to serve as the nucleus for a crisis defence, to (as usual) buy time for the British Army to show up.
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Ah the Fenians. No matter how you write it their mad scheme never makes any more sense than it did in reality! (Invade Canada + ??? = Free Ireland).
Nicely written battle here for TTL's invasion.
On this I would say that is very unlikely for a Canadian Army to be formed upon Confederation. The British ministers OTL who complained about Canada being lax with its own defences when the regulars were around did have a point. Canadians were adverse to a standing army for a while, and always kept the one we had (until the end of WWI at least) very small. John A. was not a military fanboy, and most of his principal deputies weren't military men, and the idea of a standing army was abhorrent to the majority of French Canadians.
The most you might get is say establishing a Dominion Regiment of sorts, with two battalions, one in Canada East and West the other in the Maritimes, which serves as a full time force manning the positions in the province, and serving as a cadre of officers who can fill out the Volunteers in a time of emergency.
Nicely written battle here for TTL's invasion.
On this I would say that is very unlikely for a Canadian Army to be formed upon Confederation. The British ministers OTL who complained about Canada being lax with its own defences when the regulars were around did have a point. Canadians were adverse to a standing army for a while, and always kept the one we had (until the end of WWI at least) very small. John A. was not a military fanboy, and most of his principal deputies weren't military men, and the idea of a standing army was abhorrent to the majority of French Canadians.
The most you might get is say establishing a Dominion Regiment of sorts, with two battalions, one in Canada East and West the other in the Maritimes, which serves as a full time force manning the positions in the province, and serving as a cadre of officers who can fill out the Volunteers in a time of emergency.
Saphroneth
Banned
I imagine that they'll be a little more fine with standing military force than OTL, since they've been invaded in quite a serious way by a Great Power (albeit the British managed to defend them) and since McClellan's making the US militia and standing army a bit more numerous than they were OTL. This doesn't mean they'd be anything like an armed camp, of course. But...
A few battalions for a nation of about three million people is almost comically unmilitarized - the British standing army of the period was considered small, remember, and that was very roughly 150 battalions for about ten times the population. As it currently stands there's about three battalions which are definitely Canadian in type (the RCR, which is essentially the size of a double-battalion regiment, and the 100th regiment of the British Army which is actually a BNA-recruited regiment in concept and which would be transferred to Canada) and I'd imagine it not going much higher than that - perhaps another battalion or two. (To drop down to a single two-battalion regiment of infantry is a reduction in the amount of actual Canadian-sourced infantry battalions!)
To compare that level of standing military force to the 1860 British garrison, there were about five battalions in Canada before the summer reinforcement echelon (the 1/17th, the RCR (double), the 1/16th and the 63rd). With the movement of artillery into a Job For Canada, the actual level of standing force doesn't really change - what I'm doing is as much saying that they'd be unwilling to reduce the level of troops around when the memory of invasion is recent.
It would definitely, however, be a case of "regulars are there to provide a nucleus for the militia and volunteers".
Probably a little less grudging than OTL, but that's because society would practically demand it after a major war and invasion, but still not very big.
Well the RCR is a British regiment (paid for by London, disbanded 1870 historically) and the 100th was Canadian, but only raised in Canada and much of its later formation came from British recruits until it was amalgamated into the Prince of Wales Leinster in 1881. So they're not quite Canadian per say, but might be able to be maintained.
If after the war though, the garrison remains close to pre-war levels for a decade, this would most likely continue to spur militia movements, for about a decade or so, but enthusiasim might peter out as peace wore on. But if the British piqued local interest by drawing the garrison down then you might see the Canadians willing to put more money towards their own defence if they saw the British as putting a smaller force in place as more of a trip wire.
Canada was rather stingy in its defence planning for quite a while alas.
Saphroneth
Banned
The reason for mentioning the 100th is that it's quite likely they'll be made Canadian as part of the oncoming Army reforms. There might be some kind of Imperial contribution to maintaining the Canadian Regulars (possibly they'd provide the equipment?) but too many regiments from British Establishment in a given colony reduces the reaction force by perhaps an undesired amount.
Nova Scotia had an active regiment from 1793-1802. It was quite a popular local regiment. Their largest combat role was as Marines.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Nova_Scotia_Regiment
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Nova_Scotia_Regiment
14-25 August 1865
Saphroneth
Banned
14 August
A few more minor actions take place on the Niagara frontier, but the Fenian morale has been badly harmed by the recent battle. The size of the brigade reduces to that of a regiment more or less overnight, as those less sure about the whole thing to begin with peel off individually or in small groups to return home.
HM Gunboat Britomart enters the Niagara river system, intending to prevent further crossing - she is the only British gunboat currently on Lake Erie, though there are a few suspiciously well built mail steamers around on both sides of the border. Her job is to prevent any Fenian reinforcement that might arrive, though by this time the direction of Fenian movement is decidedly eastwards.
15 August
While the filibustering attempts in Canada are going badly, in Japan an altogether more serious event takes place. Following a coordinated plan, the daimyo of Choshu, Tosa and Hizen rise in rebellion against the Shogunate - declaring their support for the restoration of the Emperor and the true destiny of Japan - and call in their various samurai retainers. The daimyo of Tosa takes the additional step of calling out several thousand of what are described as "Ashigaru" and which are functionally levied infantry who will be given pikes or muskets/rifles as available.
16 August
The 39th Foot disembark from a collection of small canal boats at Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, about two and a half miles to the east of Lacolle station. This news reaches the Fenians there in the early afternoon, and is greeted with panic - there are roughly five times as many British regulars marching towards them as there are filibusters in the town - and the entire decoy force packs itself into a train which leaves for the border within the hour.
Upon crossing back into the United States, they are promptly arrested en masse by the 17th United States infantry.
18 August
The latest Fenian raid is considered to be largely over, to a sigh of relief on both sides of the Atlantic (including in the Union, where it was seen as a potential border flashpoint). Punch produces a cartoon in which two "Fenian Men" explain to one another their plan to liberate Ireland.
Fenian #1: Well, you see, it's very simple. We invade Canada, win the battles, and take it over.
Fenian #2: Yes, I get that much. But how does that help with Ireland?
Fenian #1: Why, 'tis simple - there's just no time to explain. Now, off we go.
22 August
The Captain's design is finalized, at least in the broad terms. She is to be a ship of about 7,000 tons with Coles' new "mast enclosing turret" concept, and to reduce the possible disruption to the rigging the ropes are to be attached to a hurricane deck above the level of the turret ports.
Privately within the Admiralty many feel grateful for Reed's designs (which seem to be rather more founded in good sense) - the point is also made that a ship with the capability to steam need only be able to get home from a battle, as she can sail to a battle and only then blow all the rigging off the ship.
This is what passes for Admiralty humour.
25 August
The Japanese Shogun and his top men begin planning out their military response to the rising. It is important to quickly bring at least one daimyo to heel, to demonstrate the might of the Shogunate; of the choices, it is considered best to send roughly 2,000 of the bakfu army to the seat of Hizen domain (that is, to Nagasaki) with the support of the Ushidoshi and the various armed ships at the disposal of the shogunate.
The rest of the military force available to the shogun is to secure important positions, in concert with the forces of those daimyo who are more certain in their loyalty to the shogunate.
A few more minor actions take place on the Niagara frontier, but the Fenian morale has been badly harmed by the recent battle. The size of the brigade reduces to that of a regiment more or less overnight, as those less sure about the whole thing to begin with peel off individually or in small groups to return home.
HM Gunboat Britomart enters the Niagara river system, intending to prevent further crossing - she is the only British gunboat currently on Lake Erie, though there are a few suspiciously well built mail steamers around on both sides of the border. Her job is to prevent any Fenian reinforcement that might arrive, though by this time the direction of Fenian movement is decidedly eastwards.
15 August
While the filibustering attempts in Canada are going badly, in Japan an altogether more serious event takes place. Following a coordinated plan, the daimyo of Choshu, Tosa and Hizen rise in rebellion against the Shogunate - declaring their support for the restoration of the Emperor and the true destiny of Japan - and call in their various samurai retainers. The daimyo of Tosa takes the additional step of calling out several thousand of what are described as "Ashigaru" and which are functionally levied infantry who will be given pikes or muskets/rifles as available.
16 August
The 39th Foot disembark from a collection of small canal boats at Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, about two and a half miles to the east of Lacolle station. This news reaches the Fenians there in the early afternoon, and is greeted with panic - there are roughly five times as many British regulars marching towards them as there are filibusters in the town - and the entire decoy force packs itself into a train which leaves for the border within the hour.
Upon crossing back into the United States, they are promptly arrested en masse by the 17th United States infantry.
18 August
The latest Fenian raid is considered to be largely over, to a sigh of relief on both sides of the Atlantic (including in the Union, where it was seen as a potential border flashpoint). Punch produces a cartoon in which two "Fenian Men" explain to one another their plan to liberate Ireland.
Fenian #1: Well, you see, it's very simple. We invade Canada, win the battles, and take it over.
Fenian #2: Yes, I get that much. But how does that help with Ireland?
Fenian #1: Why, 'tis simple - there's just no time to explain. Now, off we go.
22 August
The Captain's design is finalized, at least in the broad terms. She is to be a ship of about 7,000 tons with Coles' new "mast enclosing turret" concept, and to reduce the possible disruption to the rigging the ropes are to be attached to a hurricane deck above the level of the turret ports.
Privately within the Admiralty many feel grateful for Reed's designs (which seem to be rather more founded in good sense) - the point is also made that a ship with the capability to steam need only be able to get home from a battle, as she can sail to a battle and only then blow all the rigging off the ship.
This is what passes for Admiralty humour.
25 August
The Japanese Shogun and his top men begin planning out their military response to the rising. It is important to quickly bring at least one daimyo to heel, to demonstrate the might of the Shogunate; of the choices, it is considered best to send roughly 2,000 of the bakfu army to the seat of Hizen domain (that is, to Nagasaki) with the support of the Ushidoshi and the various armed ships at the disposal of the shogunate.
The rest of the military force available to the shogun is to secure important positions, in concert with the forces of those daimyo who are more certain in their loyalty to the shogunate.