The Grey
- Thread starter herricks
- Start date
Well I'd slightly ahead. Both sides have most of their army with breechloaded cartridge rifles, both sides have their own form of gatling type machine guns in service, and their at least beginning to introduce breechloading cannon
Wars Return
Though officially neutral Russia had been friendly towards the Coalition nations. Just because they weren't fighting didn't mean the Russians weren't suffering though. Following the Tenth Coalition Austria and Prussia were forced to trade solely with France and its allies and Britain and Sweden continuing the war kept trade in the Baltic was dangerous and the Black Sea routes were cut off by the Ottomans at the straits. This was putting a severe strain on Russia's economy and they were tired of it. Throughout much of the fall and winter Russia had been steadily calling up men and working to secure an alliance of its own. Aside from the obvious of Britain and Sweden Russia had succeeded in acquiring Greece, Romania, and Serbia as allies against the Ottoman Empire. On April 4,1867 Russia's Black Sea Fleet launch a surprise attack on the Turkish Fleet at Sinop utterly destroying it. Within a few hours 700,000 allied troops, nearly half of whom were Russian, invaded the Ottoman Balkans and 70,000 Russian troops invaded the Caucasus.
Romanian and Serbian forces were quick to assault Ottoman strongholds at Silistra and Vidin taking them within a few hours of the initial assault. Greek forces invaded as well capturing Katerini on April 8 however were defeated at the Battle of Veriaa week later forcing them to withdraw. A second invasion would occur in May where the Greeks captured Iaonnina on May 19 and by June crossed into Albania.
Russia moved fast on two fronts. Its main front of the Balkans Russian forces occupied all of Dobruja in two weeks and moved into Bulgaria. On May 6 and 16 they were victorious at Varna and Yambol. However on May 25 they were defeated in the Battle of Adrianople which quite possible saved Constantinople and the Ottomans from total defeat. The Caucasus Theater was a secondary front for Russia. Here most of their focus was on capturing the Ottoman stronghold of Kars. For three weeks the Russians moved forward defeating the Ottomans attempts to halt them before laying siege to Kars on May 5.
Despite the Russian troop movements towards it their invasion of the Ottoman Empire had caught Napoleon II off guard. On April 11 France, Denmark, Spain, and the nations of the Second Confederation of the Rhine declared war on Russia and its allies. Italy didn't yet follow France into the war. Though they were now tied to France neither Prussia nor Austria entered the war either though they were forced to allow French and French allied troops passage through their territory. On May 5 35,000 French and 10,000 Confederation troops under Francois Certain Canrobert crossed into Bosnia to support the Ottomans. Two weeks later Canrobert led France into the first engagement of this new War of the Eleventh Coalition where he defeated the Serbian Army at the Battle of Sarajevo and forcing them out of Bosnia.
On May 21 Napoleon opened a front against Russia itself when he and 275,000 French and Confederation troops invaded Poland. Napoleon didn't want to follow in his fathers footsteps and destroy himself trying to march through Russia. Instead he vowed to keep the war limited to Poland and other near areas. The first engagement between France and Russia since the Crimean War and the largest since the First Napoleonic Wars began on June 6 with the Battle of Lodz. For thirteen hours the battle would rage as over 400,000 men slammed into one another before the Russians were forced to withdraw. Napoleon was hot on their tails intending to decisively destroy the Russian Army and end this war as he knew his uneasy “allies” of Prussia and Austria were looking for any chance to jump ship. Moving quickly Napoleon would move to try and encircle the Russian army at Warsaw however was only able to besiege 40,000 of them in the Siege of Warsaw that would go on for 38 days. War had returned to the European continent and now with the Russian Bear involved there was no telling when it would end or how many bodies it would take to get it there.
Though officially neutral Russia had been friendly towards the Coalition nations. Just because they weren't fighting didn't mean the Russians weren't suffering though. Following the Tenth Coalition Austria and Prussia were forced to trade solely with France and its allies and Britain and Sweden continuing the war kept trade in the Baltic was dangerous and the Black Sea routes were cut off by the Ottomans at the straits. This was putting a severe strain on Russia's economy and they were tired of it. Throughout much of the fall and winter Russia had been steadily calling up men and working to secure an alliance of its own. Aside from the obvious of Britain and Sweden Russia had succeeded in acquiring Greece, Romania, and Serbia as allies against the Ottoman Empire. On April 4,1867 Russia's Black Sea Fleet launch a surprise attack on the Turkish Fleet at Sinop utterly destroying it. Within a few hours 700,000 allied troops, nearly half of whom were Russian, invaded the Ottoman Balkans and 70,000 Russian troops invaded the Caucasus.
Romanian and Serbian forces were quick to assault Ottoman strongholds at Silistra and Vidin taking them within a few hours of the initial assault. Greek forces invaded as well capturing Katerini on April 8 however were defeated at the Battle of Veriaa week later forcing them to withdraw. A second invasion would occur in May where the Greeks captured Iaonnina on May 19 and by June crossed into Albania.
Russia moved fast on two fronts. Its main front of the Balkans Russian forces occupied all of Dobruja in two weeks and moved into Bulgaria. On May 6 and 16 they were victorious at Varna and Yambol. However on May 25 they were defeated in the Battle of Adrianople which quite possible saved Constantinople and the Ottomans from total defeat. The Caucasus Theater was a secondary front for Russia. Here most of their focus was on capturing the Ottoman stronghold of Kars. For three weeks the Russians moved forward defeating the Ottomans attempts to halt them before laying siege to Kars on May 5.
Despite the Russian troop movements towards it their invasion of the Ottoman Empire had caught Napoleon II off guard. On April 11 France, Denmark, Spain, and the nations of the Second Confederation of the Rhine declared war on Russia and its allies. Italy didn't yet follow France into the war. Though they were now tied to France neither Prussia nor Austria entered the war either though they were forced to allow French and French allied troops passage through their territory. On May 5 35,000 French and 10,000 Confederation troops under Francois Certain Canrobert crossed into Bosnia to support the Ottomans. Two weeks later Canrobert led France into the first engagement of this new War of the Eleventh Coalition where he defeated the Serbian Army at the Battle of Sarajevo and forcing them out of Bosnia.
On May 21 Napoleon opened a front against Russia itself when he and 275,000 French and Confederation troops invaded Poland. Napoleon didn't want to follow in his fathers footsteps and destroy himself trying to march through Russia. Instead he vowed to keep the war limited to Poland and other near areas. The first engagement between France and Russia since the Crimean War and the largest since the First Napoleonic Wars began on June 6 with the Battle of Lodz. For thirteen hours the battle would rage as over 400,000 men slammed into one another before the Russians were forced to withdraw. Napoleon was hot on their tails intending to decisively destroy the Russian Army and end this war as he knew his uneasy “allies” of Prussia and Austria were looking for any chance to jump ship. Moving quickly Napoleon would move to try and encircle the Russian army at Warsaw however was only able to besiege 40,000 of them in the Siege of Warsaw that would go on for 38 days. War had returned to the European continent and now with the Russian Bear involved there was no telling when it would end or how many bodies it would take to get it there.
Whoever wins the war, now that Russia is in my bets on them, the post war Europe will be very interesting to see.
War without end
War was upon the European continent again and was quickly growing to become the largest yet. In the Balkans General Canrobert's army had grown to 55,000 French 25,000 Confederation and 30,000 Ottoman troops invaded Serbia on June 14 moving quickly towards the capital. Though the Serbian Army had received desperately needed reinforcements from Romania and Russia the army defending the Serbian capital numbered barely more than half of France's. The Battle of Belgrade would last from June 25-28 where the Serbs would fight valiantly and fiercely but in the end were unable to save their capital from occupation and were forced to withdraw. After a brief rest following the engagement Canrobert began moving towards the Danube. He sought to relieve and save the Ottoman Empire by threatening Romania and forcing them to withdraw to protect their own land. A little more than a month after he began his campaign by invading Serbia French led troops assaulted Romania by attempting to cross near Calafat. For two days the Battle of Calafat raged as coalition tried to stop the crossing of the Danube. Though the Russian led forces had good defensive positions they couldn't stop the assault and on July 22 the engagement ended with Calafat in French led hands. Over the next eight weeks Canrobert moved across southern Romania defeating coalition forces at every turn. On September 30 however Canrobert's campaign came to an end when he was defeated in the Battle of Racari by 145,000 Russian and Romanian troops under General Fyodor Radetzky. Following his defeat Canrobert would withdraw from Romania and move his force to Sofia to recuperate.
While Canrobert fought through Serbia and Romania the Greeks were still trying to push forward. On June 16 they defeated an Ottoman force at the Battle of Tepelena and drove deeper into Albania. Two weeks later on June 30 however they were defeated at Peqin and withdrew back to southern Albania. Greece would turn their attention again after Peqin looking back towards Thessaloniki. On August 4 Greece launched a new campaign to capture Thessaloniki. Almost immediately they were challenged at the Battle of Eginio but emerged victorious over the smaller Ottoman force and were soon on the move again. A week later on August 14 the First Battle of Thessaloniki began as 90,000 Greeks attacked the city. For three days the battle would rage as as the Greeks tried to take the city for themselves. Though they outnumbered the Ottomans however the Greeks would not be able to succeed and on August 18 began withdrawing in defeat.
With France fighting them in Poland Russia wasn't sending many troops into the Balkan Theater and Canroberts campaign through Serbia and Romania was taking up many that were being sent. That being said they were still trying their best to move forward against the Ottomans. On July 20 they would defeat the Ottomans in the Second Battle of Adrianople and two weeks later were victorious again at Corfu. With few men to spare for this thrust Russia had only about 60,000 troops in this army moving on the Ottoman capital which was guarded by 110,000 troops. On September 4 the Russians would be defeated by this larger force at Saray and withdrew.
Following the conclusion of the Siege of Warsaw Napoleon prepared to push deeper into Russia in search of a decisive victory to make Russia want peace. On July 14 Napoleon moved to cross out of Poland and into Russia itself at Brest. Russia wasn't willing to let this go unanswered though and so the Battle of Brest was fought. For more than a day the battle would rage around the city. Though they were fighting better than they had in Poland Napoleon still proved to be far superior to Russia and forced them to retreat. While this was yet another victory over the Russians it still wasn't enough to bring about peace and so Napoleon continued on. For the next three weeks he pushed in to Russia engaging in a number of small engagements before finally being confronted on August 9 by 210,000 Russians near Minsk. The Battle of Minsk was the second largest engagement of the war after Lodz but was more fierce. Wave after wave of men from both sides marched forward only to be cut down in bloody heaps. After two days of almost continuous fighting the battle finally came to an end as both sides were exhausted. Though the Battle of Minsk as technically a French victory as Russia was the one to withdraw from the field Napoleon's army was battered. Minsk would only be occupied for four days before Napoleon withdrew back to Brest unwilling to drive deeper and allow his army to rest and rebuild. Though a number of minor engagements would occur no more large scale battle would occur this year. With no end in sight for this new war and Prussia and Austria to get even more ansy Napoleon needed to end this war soon. Throughout the winter Napoleon brought more and more men from France and the satellites into his army preparing for a massive offensive as soon as the weather permitted.
War was upon the European continent again and was quickly growing to become the largest yet. In the Balkans General Canrobert's army had grown to 55,000 French 25,000 Confederation and 30,000 Ottoman troops invaded Serbia on June 14 moving quickly towards the capital. Though the Serbian Army had received desperately needed reinforcements from Romania and Russia the army defending the Serbian capital numbered barely more than half of France's. The Battle of Belgrade would last from June 25-28 where the Serbs would fight valiantly and fiercely but in the end were unable to save their capital from occupation and were forced to withdraw. After a brief rest following the engagement Canrobert began moving towards the Danube. He sought to relieve and save the Ottoman Empire by threatening Romania and forcing them to withdraw to protect their own land. A little more than a month after he began his campaign by invading Serbia French led troops assaulted Romania by attempting to cross near Calafat. For two days the Battle of Calafat raged as coalition tried to stop the crossing of the Danube. Though the Russian led forces had good defensive positions they couldn't stop the assault and on July 22 the engagement ended with Calafat in French led hands. Over the next eight weeks Canrobert moved across southern Romania defeating coalition forces at every turn. On September 30 however Canrobert's campaign came to an end when he was defeated in the Battle of Racari by 145,000 Russian and Romanian troops under General Fyodor Radetzky. Following his defeat Canrobert would withdraw from Romania and move his force to Sofia to recuperate.
While Canrobert fought through Serbia and Romania the Greeks were still trying to push forward. On June 16 they defeated an Ottoman force at the Battle of Tepelena and drove deeper into Albania. Two weeks later on June 30 however they were defeated at Peqin and withdrew back to southern Albania. Greece would turn their attention again after Peqin looking back towards Thessaloniki. On August 4 Greece launched a new campaign to capture Thessaloniki. Almost immediately they were challenged at the Battle of Eginio but emerged victorious over the smaller Ottoman force and were soon on the move again. A week later on August 14 the First Battle of Thessaloniki began as 90,000 Greeks attacked the city. For three days the battle would rage as as the Greeks tried to take the city for themselves. Though they outnumbered the Ottomans however the Greeks would not be able to succeed and on August 18 began withdrawing in defeat.
With France fighting them in Poland Russia wasn't sending many troops into the Balkan Theater and Canroberts campaign through Serbia and Romania was taking up many that were being sent. That being said they were still trying their best to move forward against the Ottomans. On July 20 they would defeat the Ottomans in the Second Battle of Adrianople and two weeks later were victorious again at Corfu. With few men to spare for this thrust Russia had only about 60,000 troops in this army moving on the Ottoman capital which was guarded by 110,000 troops. On September 4 the Russians would be defeated by this larger force at Saray and withdrew.
Following the conclusion of the Siege of Warsaw Napoleon prepared to push deeper into Russia in search of a decisive victory to make Russia want peace. On July 14 Napoleon moved to cross out of Poland and into Russia itself at Brest. Russia wasn't willing to let this go unanswered though and so the Battle of Brest was fought. For more than a day the battle would rage around the city. Though they were fighting better than they had in Poland Napoleon still proved to be far superior to Russia and forced them to retreat. While this was yet another victory over the Russians it still wasn't enough to bring about peace and so Napoleon continued on. For the next three weeks he pushed in to Russia engaging in a number of small engagements before finally being confronted on August 9 by 210,000 Russians near Minsk. The Battle of Minsk was the second largest engagement of the war after Lodz but was more fierce. Wave after wave of men from both sides marched forward only to be cut down in bloody heaps. After two days of almost continuous fighting the battle finally came to an end as both sides were exhausted. Though the Battle of Minsk as technically a French victory as Russia was the one to withdraw from the field Napoleon's army was battered. Minsk would only be occupied for four days before Napoleon withdrew back to Brest unwilling to drive deeper and allow his army to rest and rebuild. Though a number of minor engagements would occur no more large scale battle would occur this year. With no end in sight for this new war and Prussia and Austria to get even more ansy Napoleon needed to end this war soon. Throughout the winter Napoleon brought more and more men from France and the satellites into his army preparing for a massive offensive as soon as the weather permitted.
I'm very, very confused as to why the Ottomans control Dalmatia. I honestly don't think they'd even want it post-1800 considering how the 1800s in the Balkans had been nothing but endless rebellions, and would have instead looked for other venues of leverage such as guaranteeing French support for the reannexation of Greece and reintegration of Serbia, ending the capitulations, and seeking large-scale French assistance in army modernization.
Endless War
Upon the sacking of Rosecrans General Dodge was given command of the Army of Maryland. He was planning on returning on the offensive and driving the Confederates back out of Virginia. Longstreet however wold beat him to the punch when on June 13 he launched his own. Instead of aiming directly at Richmond where the Americans were at their strongest Longstreet moved further west seeking to draw out Dodge. Dodge was quick to move not wanting Longstreet loose behind him. Just five days after Longstreet began his campaign the two met one another in the Battle of Lynchburg. For twelve hours Dodge moved to overcome Longstreet's army but despite some valiant attempts to stop them he wouldn't be able to and was forced to eventually retreat.
From Lynchburg Longstreet started moving further north into parts of Virginia that had been under occupation for months. As he moved north Dodge was preparing to strike again and that would finally occur near the same place the two sides fought on more than a year before. The Second Battle of Charlottesville began on July 19 as 60,000 American soldiers attacked the 40,000 strong Confederate Army. For two days the two clashed over and over. Though Dodge had the manpower Longstreet had a strong defensive ground and used it greatly which would ultimately lead to the Americans withdrawing in defeat. Charlottesville caused many casualties on both sides and therefore caused a stall in the campaign for more than a month. During this month both sides rebuilt there numbers and the Army of Maryland would see yet another command change and this time Major General William Tecumseh Sherman was given command.
Longstreet began moving again on August 27 moving now east in hopes to cut off supplies to Americans besieging Richmond. For nearly two weeks he moved east with little opposition. That all would change on September 10 when Sherman would attack in what would be the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. For six days the two sides clashed over and over in bloody fighting that destroyed everything in its path. Some of the most feirce fighting would be focused around Harris Farm where over a third of all the engagements casualties were made. Finally the battle would come to an end late in the day on September 16 shortly after a cannon shell severely wounded Longstreet taking him out of action for months. The Confederate Army had had enough and were forced to withdraw moving back to Charlottesville. Both armies were badly mauled and despite his victory Sherman was unable to pursue. It was over a month before any even semi significant move was made and it was just a corps sized engagement at the Battle of Orange that ended indecisively. For the remainder of the year the war on the Eastern Front pretty much stagnated.
The bloody Battle of Frankfort came to an end on June 17 with American forces withdrawing from the city. The liberation of Frankfort would also liberate Lexington a week later as occupying forces feared being overran. Jackson's sights were set on Louisville. The Battle of Frankfort however had taken a lot out of the Army of the Cumberland and unfortunately Jackson could not move on such a stronghold as Louisville. Jackson had only around 35,000 men right now whereas the American army occupying the city was now at over 100,000 and it had been heavily fortified. Jackson would have to wait until he had sufficient reinforcements and enough siege equipment.
The Trans-Mississipi Theater had been by far the Confederacy's most successful theater against the US. With the war against Mexico ended many of the troops that had been fighting here moving to new fronts General Lee's army was now at over 50,000. Lee set his sights on a new daring campaign to further damage the American war effort. On June 27 began moving northeast from southern Missouri. Lee's plan was to quickly cross the Mississippi and invade Illinois. With his cavalry division under Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest riding ahead and captured bridges across the river before they could be blown. On July 3 General Lee would begin the invasion of Illinois. The Illinois Campaign's main focus was the capture of the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and the key American stronghold of Cairo and Fort Defiance. The Battles of Cairo and Fort Defiance began on July 5 as Lee and the Confederate Mississippi Squadron attacked. For two days this small stretch of land was witness to bitter bloody fighting as the town and forts 25,000 defenders desperately tried to hold back the flood of Confederates. While their fighting was valiant though they could not turn Lee. On July 7 Cairo finally fell with Fort Defiance soon following the next morning. Soon Confederate warships began moving further north up the Mississippi and were able to reinforce naval forces in the Ohio. With Cairo captured Lee began moving his army through southern Illinois towards the Indiana border on July 13. Over the next week as he crossed southern Illinois his army, or portions of it, would be engaged two more times at the Battle of Marion and the Battle of Wabash both of which ended in American defeat.
With Lee entering Indiana there was now an opportunity to liberate Louisville and possibly deliver a decisive blow to the US Army. On July 25 both Lee and Jackson began moving on Louisville looking to cut off the entire American army there in a pincer movement. Jackson now had over 40,000 men and had acquired a dozen mortars began moving from Frankfort towards Louisville. With 40,000 of his own men and staying supplied by river, now that their riverine forces could move up the Ohio, Lee moved through southern Indiana towards the American side of Louisville. On July 30 the Battle of Louisville began. The Americans in Louisville knew that Lee was moving to attack them from behind. With over 100,000 men in Louisville Thomas attempted to keep Lee from surrounding the city by sending 60,000 men under Major General Hancock into Indiana to force back Lee's assault. Such would begin the Ten Days Battles. For ten days the two army's battled one another in the First, Second, and Third Battle of New Albany; Battle of Sellersburg; Battle of Jeffersonville; and the First and Second Battle of Clarkville not necessarily in that order. Fighting was fierce and bloody and most of the engagements Hancock emerged victorious. On the seventh day however Hancock was seriously wounded during the Third Battle of New Albany and evaced from the field to spend the next eight months recovering. That was the turning point in the Ten Days Battles and following a final defeat at Sellersburg the remaining 40,000 Americans retreated from the area and Lee began to shell and assault the city from across the river. Throughout the Ten Days Battles General Jackson was assaulting Louisville itself. Day in and day out fierce fighting took place as the Confederates tried to slowly push in to the city. The going was slow but once Lee was free to attack the battle began moving more quickly. Finally on August 23, nearly a month after the Battle of Louisville began it ended with an injured Thomas finally surrendered to Lee and Jackson thereby removing one of the main American armies in the Western Theater. The massive costly campaign had drained the Confederates here not only of men but of supplies too. Though a foothold would be kept in southern Indiana and southern Illinois the Confederacy would soon withdraw from much of their occupied lands to more manageable areas. For the liberation of Louisville and capture of an American Army both Jackson and Lee were promoted to full General.
Though most Confederates that had been used in fighting Mexico were being sent to reinforce the main armies fighting the US, and Johnston returned to head General Staff in Columbia, around 25,000 stayed with now Lieutenant General Stuart to occupy the Confederacy's newly acquired territories and combat the Americans who were now moving in. Stuart would leave around 5,000 men behind to keep the peace while himself and the rest of his troops began moving into Arizona to combat the rapidly growing American force under Freemont near Tuscon. On July 20 General Stuart began his campaign to liberate Arizona by crossing out of Sonora. Barely a day after crossing the border Stuart was confronted by a division of American infantry in the Battle of Apache Pass that would go on for thirteen hours before forcing them to withdraw. A week later a cavalry battle was fought in the Battle of San Pedro which again saw the Americans defeated. From there Tuscon was in sight and the 35,000 US troops occupying it. On August 4 the Second Battle of Tuscon began as Stuart moved to dislodge Freemont. For two days the two sides battled one another for control of the territorial capital. Though the US had the numbers the Confederates had far more experience and finally late in the day on August 6 Freemont ordered the withdrawal. Over the next month the front slowly moved west as Stuart won the Battles of Picacho Pass and Stanwix Station Freemont would keep the war out of California by defeating him in the Battle of Yuma.
In southern Canada Grant began moving again on July 19. The resumed offensive wouldn't go unnoticed and within twenty-four hours Wolsely had his army moving to challenge Grant. Just three days after the new campaign began the Battle of Woodstock occurred as the two armies met one another in a vicious nine hour engagement that forced Wolsely to Berlin. Grant was determined to make it to Toronto and with over 100,000 men moved on Wolsely's 65,000 force again just two weeks after Woodstock in the Battle of Waterloo County. The Battle of Waterloo County, or more commonly called the Battle of Waterloo, was a series of engagements of many shapes and sizes across a large area of land around Berlin. For sixteen days the battle raged as Grant tried to destroy Wolsely's army as an effective fighting force. Over 32,000 casualties were caused during the battle wearing both red and blue. Finally Grant disengaged his forces from battle however, he did not retreat. Instead his offensive continued. Just three days after the Battle of Waterloo County ended Grant attacked Wolsely's force once more in the Battle of Elmira. Such a quick attack right on the heels of the previous didn't allow Wolsely's army time to rest or be reinforced and in just over a day they were forced to retreat. For the next two weeks Grant moved closer Toronto while Wolsely tried to prepare for the coming onslaught. Grants momentum seemed unstoppable however, problems soon occurred further south. On August 23 Anglo-Canadian warships from Lake Huron, Erie, and Ontario converged on the St. Clair River, quickly wiping out American warships and entering the river. Throughout the night Detroit was relentlessly bombarded. The next morning over 1000 Royal Marines and sailors landed and moved through the city destroying everything of military and economical value. The Battle of Detroit destroyed several hundred tons of supplies destined for Grants army and though the landing parties left the ships remained intent on keeping as much supplies from getting to Grant as possible. Just a day after the Battle of Detroit the Battle of Oak Ridges began with Grant not yet knowing that what he was fighting with was all that he had. Though the engagement was yet again another victory for the Americans Grants men had exhausted their supplies making him unable to continue his pursuit and actually withdrew a few miles. Though minor engagements and skirmishes would continue the war in southern Ontario was stagnated.
The campaigns to take Ottawa had all been complete failures costing the lives of thousands. General Banks felt that continued attacks wold only lead to more of the same and decided on a change of tactics. Aside from a rear guard Banks began withdrawing the Army of Vermont back into New York in June for another plan of attack. On July 30 Banks began the Montreal Campaign moving out of northern New York and into Quebec. van Straubenzee new that Banks was planning a new attack and was moving troops to counter a new assault. Just two days after crossing the border the two armies would engage one another at the Battle of Napierville but van Straubenzee hadn't moved enough troops to stop Banks overwhelming force and after a day was forced to retreat. Banks and his 105,000 men were moving hard and fast on Montreal and on August 6 reached the city. Banks, knowing he would have to cross the Saint Lawrence, had brought dozens of boats and pontoon bridging equipment with him on the campaign allowing him to attack almost immediately. The Battle of Montreal began on August 7 as American soldiers began entering Montreal. The crossing didn't go unchallenged as van Straubenzee had been moving men into the city as fast as they could and so at the start of the engagement 20,000 Anglo-Canadians were firing on the advancing Americans. That didn't stop them however and the Americans were soon in the city. van Straubenzee wasn't just going to give up Montreal and vowed to fight street to street and house to house and for the next six weeks that's just what they did. Montreal would be devastated by the fierce constant fighting. Including civilians the Battle of Montreal would cause more than 75,000 casualties most of which wore Union blue. On September 26 Banks and his men had had enough and began withdrawing from the city with the final shots of the Battle of Montreal being fired a week later. Though a major Canadian city had been ravaged the engagement had been a colossal failure for the US and the Army of Vermont wouldn't move again or the remainder of the year.
Though the war hadn't turned fully against the US it was no longer going their way. While they still occupied a significant portion of Virginia, the Confederacy's western territories, and parts of Canada, they were invaded in the midwest and public opinion as starting to turn. In December 1867 President Foster pushed to turn national and international opinion to Americas favor. On December 16 President Foster issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that all slaves in territories of the Confederacy occupied by the US were to be freed immediately. While most soldiers had been doing that since the wars start the Emancipation Proclamation made it official and the US freed tens of thousands of Confederate slaves. While many of these newly freed slaves quickly fled to the US between 50,000-60,000 would join the US Army and begin fighting the Confederacy. Though most of the world now saw slavery as a moral evil Foster's Proclamation would only give them favor with those that were already allied to them while it strengthened the Confederacy's resolve to defeat them.
Upon the sacking of Rosecrans General Dodge was given command of the Army of Maryland. He was planning on returning on the offensive and driving the Confederates back out of Virginia. Longstreet however wold beat him to the punch when on June 13 he launched his own. Instead of aiming directly at Richmond where the Americans were at their strongest Longstreet moved further west seeking to draw out Dodge. Dodge was quick to move not wanting Longstreet loose behind him. Just five days after Longstreet began his campaign the two met one another in the Battle of Lynchburg. For twelve hours Dodge moved to overcome Longstreet's army but despite some valiant attempts to stop them he wouldn't be able to and was forced to eventually retreat.
From Lynchburg Longstreet started moving further north into parts of Virginia that had been under occupation for months. As he moved north Dodge was preparing to strike again and that would finally occur near the same place the two sides fought on more than a year before. The Second Battle of Charlottesville began on July 19 as 60,000 American soldiers attacked the 40,000 strong Confederate Army. For two days the two clashed over and over. Though Dodge had the manpower Longstreet had a strong defensive ground and used it greatly which would ultimately lead to the Americans withdrawing in defeat. Charlottesville caused many casualties on both sides and therefore caused a stall in the campaign for more than a month. During this month both sides rebuilt there numbers and the Army of Maryland would see yet another command change and this time Major General William Tecumseh Sherman was given command.
Longstreet began moving again on August 27 moving now east in hopes to cut off supplies to Americans besieging Richmond. For nearly two weeks he moved east with little opposition. That all would change on September 10 when Sherman would attack in what would be the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. For six days the two sides clashed over and over in bloody fighting that destroyed everything in its path. Some of the most feirce fighting would be focused around Harris Farm where over a third of all the engagements casualties were made. Finally the battle would come to an end late in the day on September 16 shortly after a cannon shell severely wounded Longstreet taking him out of action for months. The Confederate Army had had enough and were forced to withdraw moving back to Charlottesville. Both armies were badly mauled and despite his victory Sherman was unable to pursue. It was over a month before any even semi significant move was made and it was just a corps sized engagement at the Battle of Orange that ended indecisively. For the remainder of the year the war on the Eastern Front pretty much stagnated.
The bloody Battle of Frankfort came to an end on June 17 with American forces withdrawing from the city. The liberation of Frankfort would also liberate Lexington a week later as occupying forces feared being overran. Jackson's sights were set on Louisville. The Battle of Frankfort however had taken a lot out of the Army of the Cumberland and unfortunately Jackson could not move on such a stronghold as Louisville. Jackson had only around 35,000 men right now whereas the American army occupying the city was now at over 100,000 and it had been heavily fortified. Jackson would have to wait until he had sufficient reinforcements and enough siege equipment.
The Trans-Mississipi Theater had been by far the Confederacy's most successful theater against the US. With the war against Mexico ended many of the troops that had been fighting here moving to new fronts General Lee's army was now at over 50,000. Lee set his sights on a new daring campaign to further damage the American war effort. On June 27 began moving northeast from southern Missouri. Lee's plan was to quickly cross the Mississippi and invade Illinois. With his cavalry division under Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest riding ahead and captured bridges across the river before they could be blown. On July 3 General Lee would begin the invasion of Illinois. The Illinois Campaign's main focus was the capture of the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and the key American stronghold of Cairo and Fort Defiance. The Battles of Cairo and Fort Defiance began on July 5 as Lee and the Confederate Mississippi Squadron attacked. For two days this small stretch of land was witness to bitter bloody fighting as the town and forts 25,000 defenders desperately tried to hold back the flood of Confederates. While their fighting was valiant though they could not turn Lee. On July 7 Cairo finally fell with Fort Defiance soon following the next morning. Soon Confederate warships began moving further north up the Mississippi and were able to reinforce naval forces in the Ohio. With Cairo captured Lee began moving his army through southern Illinois towards the Indiana border on July 13. Over the next week as he crossed southern Illinois his army, or portions of it, would be engaged two more times at the Battle of Marion and the Battle of Wabash both of which ended in American defeat.
With Lee entering Indiana there was now an opportunity to liberate Louisville and possibly deliver a decisive blow to the US Army. On July 25 both Lee and Jackson began moving on Louisville looking to cut off the entire American army there in a pincer movement. Jackson now had over 40,000 men and had acquired a dozen mortars began moving from Frankfort towards Louisville. With 40,000 of his own men and staying supplied by river, now that their riverine forces could move up the Ohio, Lee moved through southern Indiana towards the American side of Louisville. On July 30 the Battle of Louisville began. The Americans in Louisville knew that Lee was moving to attack them from behind. With over 100,000 men in Louisville Thomas attempted to keep Lee from surrounding the city by sending 60,000 men under Major General Hancock into Indiana to force back Lee's assault. Such would begin the Ten Days Battles. For ten days the two army's battled one another in the First, Second, and Third Battle of New Albany; Battle of Sellersburg; Battle of Jeffersonville; and the First and Second Battle of Clarkville not necessarily in that order. Fighting was fierce and bloody and most of the engagements Hancock emerged victorious. On the seventh day however Hancock was seriously wounded during the Third Battle of New Albany and evaced from the field to spend the next eight months recovering. That was the turning point in the Ten Days Battles and following a final defeat at Sellersburg the remaining 40,000 Americans retreated from the area and Lee began to shell and assault the city from across the river. Throughout the Ten Days Battles General Jackson was assaulting Louisville itself. Day in and day out fierce fighting took place as the Confederates tried to slowly push in to the city. The going was slow but once Lee was free to attack the battle began moving more quickly. Finally on August 23, nearly a month after the Battle of Louisville began it ended with an injured Thomas finally surrendered to Lee and Jackson thereby removing one of the main American armies in the Western Theater. The massive costly campaign had drained the Confederates here not only of men but of supplies too. Though a foothold would be kept in southern Indiana and southern Illinois the Confederacy would soon withdraw from much of their occupied lands to more manageable areas. For the liberation of Louisville and capture of an American Army both Jackson and Lee were promoted to full General.
Though most Confederates that had been used in fighting Mexico were being sent to reinforce the main armies fighting the US, and Johnston returned to head General Staff in Columbia, around 25,000 stayed with now Lieutenant General Stuart to occupy the Confederacy's newly acquired territories and combat the Americans who were now moving in. Stuart would leave around 5,000 men behind to keep the peace while himself and the rest of his troops began moving into Arizona to combat the rapidly growing American force under Freemont near Tuscon. On July 20 General Stuart began his campaign to liberate Arizona by crossing out of Sonora. Barely a day after crossing the border Stuart was confronted by a division of American infantry in the Battle of Apache Pass that would go on for thirteen hours before forcing them to withdraw. A week later a cavalry battle was fought in the Battle of San Pedro which again saw the Americans defeated. From there Tuscon was in sight and the 35,000 US troops occupying it. On August 4 the Second Battle of Tuscon began as Stuart moved to dislodge Freemont. For two days the two sides battled one another for control of the territorial capital. Though the US had the numbers the Confederates had far more experience and finally late in the day on August 6 Freemont ordered the withdrawal. Over the next month the front slowly moved west as Stuart won the Battles of Picacho Pass and Stanwix Station Freemont would keep the war out of California by defeating him in the Battle of Yuma.
In southern Canada Grant began moving again on July 19. The resumed offensive wouldn't go unnoticed and within twenty-four hours Wolsely had his army moving to challenge Grant. Just three days after the new campaign began the Battle of Woodstock occurred as the two armies met one another in a vicious nine hour engagement that forced Wolsely to Berlin. Grant was determined to make it to Toronto and with over 100,000 men moved on Wolsely's 65,000 force again just two weeks after Woodstock in the Battle of Waterloo County. The Battle of Waterloo County, or more commonly called the Battle of Waterloo, was a series of engagements of many shapes and sizes across a large area of land around Berlin. For sixteen days the battle raged as Grant tried to destroy Wolsely's army as an effective fighting force. Over 32,000 casualties were caused during the battle wearing both red and blue. Finally Grant disengaged his forces from battle however, he did not retreat. Instead his offensive continued. Just three days after the Battle of Waterloo County ended Grant attacked Wolsely's force once more in the Battle of Elmira. Such a quick attack right on the heels of the previous didn't allow Wolsely's army time to rest or be reinforced and in just over a day they were forced to retreat. For the next two weeks Grant moved closer Toronto while Wolsely tried to prepare for the coming onslaught. Grants momentum seemed unstoppable however, problems soon occurred further south. On August 23 Anglo-Canadian warships from Lake Huron, Erie, and Ontario converged on the St. Clair River, quickly wiping out American warships and entering the river. Throughout the night Detroit was relentlessly bombarded. The next morning over 1000 Royal Marines and sailors landed and moved through the city destroying everything of military and economical value. The Battle of Detroit destroyed several hundred tons of supplies destined for Grants army and though the landing parties left the ships remained intent on keeping as much supplies from getting to Grant as possible. Just a day after the Battle of Detroit the Battle of Oak Ridges began with Grant not yet knowing that what he was fighting with was all that he had. Though the engagement was yet again another victory for the Americans Grants men had exhausted their supplies making him unable to continue his pursuit and actually withdrew a few miles. Though minor engagements and skirmishes would continue the war in southern Ontario was stagnated.
The campaigns to take Ottawa had all been complete failures costing the lives of thousands. General Banks felt that continued attacks wold only lead to more of the same and decided on a change of tactics. Aside from a rear guard Banks began withdrawing the Army of Vermont back into New York in June for another plan of attack. On July 30 Banks began the Montreal Campaign moving out of northern New York and into Quebec. van Straubenzee new that Banks was planning a new attack and was moving troops to counter a new assault. Just two days after crossing the border the two armies would engage one another at the Battle of Napierville but van Straubenzee hadn't moved enough troops to stop Banks overwhelming force and after a day was forced to retreat. Banks and his 105,000 men were moving hard and fast on Montreal and on August 6 reached the city. Banks, knowing he would have to cross the Saint Lawrence, had brought dozens of boats and pontoon bridging equipment with him on the campaign allowing him to attack almost immediately. The Battle of Montreal began on August 7 as American soldiers began entering Montreal. The crossing didn't go unchallenged as van Straubenzee had been moving men into the city as fast as they could and so at the start of the engagement 20,000 Anglo-Canadians were firing on the advancing Americans. That didn't stop them however and the Americans were soon in the city. van Straubenzee wasn't just going to give up Montreal and vowed to fight street to street and house to house and for the next six weeks that's just what they did. Montreal would be devastated by the fierce constant fighting. Including civilians the Battle of Montreal would cause more than 75,000 casualties most of which wore Union blue. On September 26 Banks and his men had had enough and began withdrawing from the city with the final shots of the Battle of Montreal being fired a week later. Though a major Canadian city had been ravaged the engagement had been a colossal failure for the US and the Army of Vermont wouldn't move again or the remainder of the year.
Though the war hadn't turned fully against the US it was no longer going their way. While they still occupied a significant portion of Virginia, the Confederacy's western territories, and parts of Canada, they were invaded in the midwest and public opinion as starting to turn. In December 1867 President Foster pushed to turn national and international opinion to Americas favor. On December 16 President Foster issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that all slaves in territories of the Confederacy occupied by the US were to be freed immediately. While most soldiers had been doing that since the wars start the Emancipation Proclamation made it official and the US freed tens of thousands of Confederate slaves. While many of these newly freed slaves quickly fled to the US between 50,000-60,000 would join the US Army and begin fighting the Confederacy. Though most of the world now saw slavery as a moral evil Foster's Proclamation would only give them favor with those that were already allied to them while it strengthened the Confederacy's resolve to defeat them.
Interesting to see how the Emancipation Proclamation would affect the Confederacy post war, should they win, especially since Forrest is a cavalry general in the war.
I figured that that would be something the U.S. would do in a war with the confederacy. Plus thought it'd also make it a much mote bitter battle
Again I've got to praise your description of the Canadian front, it's incredibly refreshing to not have my country depicted as a pushover that gets flattened the first time the US sneezes in our direction. At the same time your realistically showing the advantages the US would have and their ability to out number and out supply the Canadians.
The US is definitely struggling with their two front war, especially considering the naval superiority of the British. It'll be interesting to see the effects of the emancipation proclamation will have in the southern front the Confederacy will redouble their efforts in the war but the US will gain a massive and eager pool of motivated recruits which will improve their already considerable numerical advantages.
The US is definitely struggling with their two front war, especially considering the naval superiority of the British. It'll be interesting to see the effects of the emancipation proclamation will have in the southern front the Confederacy will redouble their efforts in the war but the US will gain a massive and eager pool of motivated recruits which will improve their already considerable numerical advantages.
What he said lol, thank you for taking what was suggested to heart. This realistically shows what a war would be like in a late 1800's Canada, taking into account population levels, British desire to keep Canada and locals love of their country and love of the British empire which they love just as much as Canada.
Eastern Campaign's
As Napoleon readied for the coming campaign his forces in the Balkans continued to fight. On February 9, 1868 General Canrobert moved out of Sofia to once again attempt to drive Russian led forces from the Ottoman Empire. One week after beginning his campaign Canrobert came into contact with the Romanian Army in the Battle of Lovech which would go on for six hours before forcing them to withdraw. From there the French led army moved east trying to disrupt Russia's drive on Constantinople. Ten days after Lovech Canrobert engaged and defeated the Russians at the Battle of Elena forcing Russia to divert troops to stop his advance. On March 13 however Canrobert was again defeated in the Battle of Razgrad by a Russian force more than twice his size.
Though Canrobert was again forced to withdraw to Sofia the rerouting of Russian troops to combat him gave the Turks an opportunity and on March 19 they defeated the Russians in the Battle of Elhovo forcing Russia back and allowing Constantinople to survive another day. The Turkish and French led offensives against Russia weakened their positions on other fronts and Greece sought to take advantage of that. On March 21 the Second Battle of Thessaloniki began as Greek forces attacked. For five days the battle would rage but finally Ottoman forces were forced to withdraw finally giving control of Thessaloniki to Greece.
Throughout the winter Napoleon II had been gathering as many men as he could from France, the Confederation, Spain, and Polish nationalists to overwhelm and destroy the Russian Army. On April 21 two French led offensives were launched out of Poland. Field Marshal Patrice de MacMahon invaded the Ukraine with 230,000 men with the aim of reaching the Dnieper and ultimately the Black Sea. While MacMahon moved east and south Napoleon headed north towards Saint Petersburg with the 420,000 men in one of the largest single armies to march. MacMahon was the first to be confronted when when 185,000 Russians attacked him on May 4 in the Battle of Lutsk. Though the Russians fought valiantly they were unable to defeat MacMahon and after twelve hours of fighting were forced to withdraw. Two weeks later he would emerge victorious again in the Battle of Korets and on May 30 captured 35,000 Russian troops following the Battle of Zhytomyr. More and more troops were moving into Ukraine however and on June 29 one of the largest engagements yet would occur with over 500,000 men participating in the Battle of Kiev.
With over 400,000 men Russia had no single army large enough to stop Napoleon's advance. So until enough men could be brought together the focus was to strike at smaller sections of Napoleon's army to widdle it down and disengaging when the full force was brought in. from May 7-June 15 Napoleon's army fought in thirteen engagements most notably the Battles of Bialystock, Lida, Vilnius, Polatsk, and Pytalovo as he marched through the Baltic's winning all but not securing a decisive victory. Finally the entire army would fight as one when 320,000 Russians attacked at the Battle of Pskov on June 19. Though Russia would lose here as well they delivered almost 50,000 casualties to Napoleon and forced him to slow his march until a reinforcing division of Spanish and a division of Confederation troops would arrive on July 1.
As Napoleon readied for the coming campaign his forces in the Balkans continued to fight. On February 9, 1868 General Canrobert moved out of Sofia to once again attempt to drive Russian led forces from the Ottoman Empire. One week after beginning his campaign Canrobert came into contact with the Romanian Army in the Battle of Lovech which would go on for six hours before forcing them to withdraw. From there the French led army moved east trying to disrupt Russia's drive on Constantinople. Ten days after Lovech Canrobert engaged and defeated the Russians at the Battle of Elena forcing Russia to divert troops to stop his advance. On March 13 however Canrobert was again defeated in the Battle of Razgrad by a Russian force more than twice his size.
Though Canrobert was again forced to withdraw to Sofia the rerouting of Russian troops to combat him gave the Turks an opportunity and on March 19 they defeated the Russians in the Battle of Elhovo forcing Russia back and allowing Constantinople to survive another day. The Turkish and French led offensives against Russia weakened their positions on other fronts and Greece sought to take advantage of that. On March 21 the Second Battle of Thessaloniki began as Greek forces attacked. For five days the battle would rage but finally Ottoman forces were forced to withdraw finally giving control of Thessaloniki to Greece.
Throughout the winter Napoleon II had been gathering as many men as he could from France, the Confederation, Spain, and Polish nationalists to overwhelm and destroy the Russian Army. On April 21 two French led offensives were launched out of Poland. Field Marshal Patrice de MacMahon invaded the Ukraine with 230,000 men with the aim of reaching the Dnieper and ultimately the Black Sea. While MacMahon moved east and south Napoleon headed north towards Saint Petersburg with the 420,000 men in one of the largest single armies to march. MacMahon was the first to be confronted when when 185,000 Russians attacked him on May 4 in the Battle of Lutsk. Though the Russians fought valiantly they were unable to defeat MacMahon and after twelve hours of fighting were forced to withdraw. Two weeks later he would emerge victorious again in the Battle of Korets and on May 30 captured 35,000 Russian troops following the Battle of Zhytomyr. More and more troops were moving into Ukraine however and on June 29 one of the largest engagements yet would occur with over 500,000 men participating in the Battle of Kiev.
With over 400,000 men Russia had no single army large enough to stop Napoleon's advance. So until enough men could be brought together the focus was to strike at smaller sections of Napoleon's army to widdle it down and disengaging when the full force was brought in. from May 7-June 15 Napoleon's army fought in thirteen engagements most notably the Battles of Bialystock, Lida, Vilnius, Polatsk, and Pytalovo as he marched through the Baltic's winning all but not securing a decisive victory. Finally the entire army would fight as one when 320,000 Russians attacked at the Battle of Pskov on June 19. Though Russia would lose here as well they delivered almost 50,000 casualties to Napoleon and forced him to slow his march until a reinforcing division of Spanish and a division of Confederation troops would arrive on July 1.
Nice update. Russia's losing ground but if history has taught us one thing that's not the same as losing the war. Napoleon still has to advance deep into Russia before he has any hope of winning decisively. The Balkan front is holding steady in Russia's favour though, if the Ottomans are forced out of the war it would free up a lot of soldiers to attack the French invasion from the south. On the other hand the French look like they're in a position to threaten the Russian supply lines on the Balkan front.
I am curious as to what Sweden is thinking during all this. They only lost Finland fifty years ago so if France does well they might be inclined to jump in and try to retake Finland. That's just speculation on my part I'm not well read on Sweden's ambitions during this period.
I am curious as to what Sweden is thinking during all this. They only lost Finland fifty years ago so if France does well they might be inclined to jump in and try to retake Finland. That's just speculation on my part I'm not well read on Sweden's ambitions during this period.
Sweden as part of the coalition. It is the only nation besides Britain that does not ever bowed out of the war against France. They just aren't doing a whole lot right now passed blockade