opposition to the declaration of war was championed by Populists and some Liberal new Englanders.Liberty or Death, President John Sherman, March 16th 1893
"My friends! Twelve days ago I informed the public, of a grave injustice brought upon the American soldiers in the African Continent! It is my solemn duty now to address your body with regard to the grave crisis that has arisen in the relations of the United States and United Kingdom by reason of the attacks and threats to our sovereignty and the sovereignty of Liberia, that have been consistently leveled upon us, since the beginning of this year.
The Founders of the republic fought with great fervor, against the tyranny of the British crown. Now it is our duty, to follow in the founders great footsteps!
The present crisis is but the successor of other similar threats which have occurred in the British Empire against the United States! The United States has put to great effort and expense in enforcing its neutrality laws, caused enormous losses to American prestige, caused irritation, annoyance, and disturbance among our citizens, and by the exercise of cruel, barbarous, and uncivilized practices of colonization and extortion of their colonies, chief among them Sierra leone, they have shocked the sensibilities and offended the humane sympathies of our people.
Our people have beheld a series of threats that escalated to brutal attacks!
Our trade has suffered; the brave men of the African Expeditions, were ruthlessly surprise attacked, by men they had parlayed with! Our brave boys, were slaughtered by British hands, only a day after Mr. Pattison was horrifically killed. London sought to attack us, in our time of desperation and attack us they did!
The efforts of Britain were increased, both by the dispatch of fresh levies to the Niger River and by the addition to the horrors of the strife of a new and inhuman phase happily unprecedented in the modern history of civilized Christian peoples. . . .
This is not to mention a massive threat is now held against our sacred ally, in Liberia. They have assisted us and for it on March 4th, British naval vessels appeared ready to attack! If it wasn't for our brave boys, they may have done so!
In this state of affairs the previous administration found itself confronted with the grave problem of its duty. Mr. Grant's message this January reviewed the situation and narrated the steps taken with a view to relieving its acuteness and opening the way to some form of honorable settlement. The Prime Minister, Mr. Gladstone, seemed unwilling at the time. The former administration, pledged to reparation without concession, again the British maintained their ultimatum.
Do not be fooled by their recent acceptance of Italian Arbitration! It is only done to confuse our people and bide their time for another attack!
These elements of danger and disorder already pointed out have been strikingly illustrated by a tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the report of the naval court of inquiry on the destruction of the battleship John Quincy Adams just outside of Freetown during the night of the 13th of March. The destruction of that noble vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. Two hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines and two officers of our Navy, reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harbor, have been hurled to death, grief and want brought to their homes, and sorrow to the nation. LIKE IN THE BOSTON MASSACRE OF OLD! THEY WERE SLAUGHTERED BY BRITISH OPPRESSORS! My friends! I cannot let America be trampled on any longer! Those boys ought to be avenged, like our forefathers would have said. GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH!
With this last overture of British treachery mere days ago, the executive is brought to the end of his effort to find peace. . . .
I said in my inaugural message, “It is to be seriously considered whether the Niger situation possesses a belligerent threat from London against our favor.” The only proof I have seen in my short term as President is that there is very much, a belligerent threat!
As to the first it is not to be forgotten that during the last few months the relations of the United States has virtually been one of friendly intervention in many ways, each not of itself conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential influence toward an ultimate pacific result, just and honorable to all interests concerned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in the African continent, untarnished by differences between us and the British Crown, and unstained by the blood of American citizens.
I do not take the prospect of a conflict between us and London lightly. I say now that the odds are large, the war will be hard fought, our resolve will. be. tested. BUT AGAIN! AS OUR FOREFATHERS YELLED GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH! WE HAVE A DUTY TO YELL THE SAME! Their victory against all the odds, with far less unity, proves to me that perhaps the odds are not so stacked against us.
The grounds for such a war may be briefly summarized as follows:
First. In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the threats against the brave citizens of liberia and troops of the African Expedition.
Second. We owe it to the losses on the John Quincy Adams, to redeem their loss with a great fight for Liberity!
Third. The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people, and by the wanton destruction of property and devastation of our rightful Fort at Fort Grant.
Fourth, and which is of the utmost importance. The present condition of affairs in Africa is a constant menace to our peace, liberty and freedom, and entails upon this government an enormous expense. If they can push around and beat us in our land across the sea, what is to stop Victoria and Gladstone from jumping across the pond to push us around some more?
The long trail has proved that the object for which Britain has waged the war cannot be attained. In the name of peace, in the name of liberty, in behalf of endangered American interests which gives us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the aggression from the British must stop!
In view of these facts and of these considerations, I ask the Congress to authorize and empower the president to take measure to secure a full and final measures to beat the British for a third time in conflict! And to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes.
And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of the starving people of the Liberia I recommend that the distribution of food and supplies be continued, and that an appropriation be made out of the public Treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens.
The issue is now with the Congress. It is a solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condition of affairs which is at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon me by the Constitution and the law, I await your action. . . .
I urge you, GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH!"
-President John Sherman in his address to Congress requesting a Deceleration of War against the United Kingdom
THE FINAL VOTE IN THE HOUSE
260-112 The Resolution Passes
THE FINAL VOTE IN THE SENATE
63-31 The Resolution Passes
WAR IS DECLARED
"In the aftermath of the Declaration of War by Congress, Prime Minister Gladstone, who had set his remaining political power on peace, sat stunned. He could not comprehend what President Sherman was thinking. The Empire would clearly win in any sane man's eyes. Seeing no other option in the early morning on the 17th, Gladstone requested Queen Victoria issue a royal proclamation declaring war on the United States.
An hour later, Gladstone went before the Commons and announced that the Queen had agreed to declare war on the United States. He then told them that he was too old to properly carry out the duties of Prime Minister in such a trying time. (Though in reality, he simply knew that a motion of no confidence was already taking shape from the Tories.) Gladstone announced he would be resigning effective immediately. He then told the shocked commoners that he had already advised the Queen who his replacement should be.
Right after the Declaration of War was released from Buckingham Palace, the Queen also announced that, on the advice of Gladstone, he was to be replaced by the Right Honorable, The Earl Spencer. A man experienced in government and well versed in warfare."
-from Gladstone's Last Stand
by Garrett Hart, published 2002
THE RIGHT HONORABLE, EARL JOHN SPENCER, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Triple Calamity: What if the Three Most Important Men in the Executive Branch Died in One Night?
- Thread starter Mr.Q
- Start date
Also Spencer is chosen to succeed Gladstone, because Gladstone holds a deep trust in him. he's about twenty years younger and knows his way around the navy and military affairs. He is also was the Lord President of the Privy Council. His record is impressive. It's also important to note that this is the first major divergence in foreign leadership in Triple Calamity...Liberty or Death, President John Sherman, March 16th 1893
"My friends! Twelve days ago I informed the public, of a grave injustice brought upon the American soldiers in the African Continent! It is my solemn duty now to address your body with regard to the grave crisis that has arisen in the relations of the United States and United Kingdom by reason of the attacks and threats to our sovereignty and the sovereignty of Liberia, that have been consistently leveled upon us, since the beginning of this year.
The Founders of the republic fought with great fervor, against the tyranny of the British crown. Now it is our duty, to follow in the founders great footsteps!
The present crisis is but the successor of other similar threats which have occurred in the British Empire against the United States! The United States has put to great effort and expense in enforcing its neutrality laws, caused enormous losses to American prestige, caused irritation, annoyance, and disturbance among our citizens, and by the exercise of cruel, barbarous, and uncivilized practices of colonization and extortion of their colonies, chief among them Sierra leone, they have shocked the sensibilities and offended the humane sympathies of our people.
Our people have beheld a series of threats that escalated to brutal attacks!
Our trade has suffered; the brave men of the African Expeditions, were ruthlessly surprise attacked, by men they had parlayed with! Our brave boys, were slaughtered by British hands, only a day after Mr. Pattison was horrifically killed. London sought to attack us, in our time of desperation and attack us they did!
The efforts of Britain were increased, both by the dispatch of fresh levies to the Niger River and by the addition to the horrors of the strife of a new and inhuman phase happily unprecedented in the modern history of civilized Christian peoples. . . .
This is not to mention a massive threat is now held against our sacred ally, in Liberia. They have assisted us and for it on March 4th, British naval vessels appeared ready to attack! If it wasn't for our brave boys, they may have done so!
In this state of affairs the previous administration found itself confronted with the grave problem of its duty. Mr. Grant's message this January reviewed the situation and narrated the steps taken with a view to relieving its acuteness and opening the way to some form of honorable settlement. The Prime Minister, Mr. Gladstone, seemed unwilling at the time. The former administration, pledged to reparation without concession, again the British maintained their ultimatum.
Do not be fooled by their recent acceptance of Italian Arbitration! It is only done to confuse our people and bide their time for another attack!
These elements of danger and disorder already pointed out have been strikingly illustrated by a tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the report of the naval court of inquiry on the destruction of the battleship John Quincy Adams just outside of Freetown during the night of the 13th of March. The destruction of that noble vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. Two hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines and two officers of our Navy, reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harbor, have been hurled to death, grief and want brought to their homes, and sorrow to the nation. LIKE IN THE BOSTON MASSACRE OF OLD! THEY WERE SLAUGHTERED BY BRITISH OPPRESSORS! My friends! I cannot let America be trampled on any longer! Those boys ought to be avenged, like our forefathers would have said. GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH!
With this last overture of British treachery mere days ago, the executive is brought to the end of his effort to find peace. . . .
I said in my inaugural message, “It is to be seriously considered whether the Niger situation possesses a belligerent threat from London against our favor.” The only proof I have seen in my short term as President is that there is very much, a belligerent threat!
As to the first it is not to be forgotten that during the last few months the relations of the United States has virtually been one of friendly intervention in many ways, each not of itself conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential influence toward an ultimate pacific result, just and honorable to all interests concerned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in the African continent, untarnished by differences between us and the British Crown, and unstained by the blood of American citizens.
I do not take the prospect of a conflict between us and London lightly. I say now that the odds are large, the war will be hard fought, our resolve will. be. tested. BUT AGAIN! AS OUR FOREFATHERS YELLED GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH! WE HAVE A DUTY TO YELL THE SAME! Their victory against all the odds, with far less unity, proves to me that perhaps the odds are not so stacked against us.
The grounds for such a war may be briefly summarized as follows:
First. In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the threats against the brave citizens of liberia and troops of the African Expedition.
Second. We owe it to the losses on the John Quincy Adams, to redeem their loss with a great fight for Liberity!
Third. The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people, and by the wanton destruction of property and devastation of our rightful Fort at Fort Grant.
Fourth, and which is of the utmost importance. The present condition of affairs in Africa is a constant menace to our peace, liberty and freedom, and entails upon this government an enormous expense. If they can push around and beat us in our land across the sea, what is to stop Victoria and Gladstone from jumping across the pond to push us around some more?
The long trail has proved that the object for which Britain has waged the war cannot be attained. In the name of peace, in the name of liberty, in behalf of endangered American interests which gives us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the aggression from the British must stop!
In view of these facts and of these considerations, I ask the Congress to authorize and empower the president to take measure to secure a full and final measures to beat the British for a third time in conflict! And to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes.
And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of the starving people of the Liberia I recommend that the distribution of food and supplies be continued, and that an appropriation be made out of the public Treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens.
The issue is now with the Congress. It is a solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condition of affairs which is at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon me by the Constitution and the law, I await your action. . . .
I urge you, GIVE US LIBERTY! OR GIVE US DEATH!"
-President John Sherman in his address to Congress requesting a Deceleration of War against the United Kingdom
THE FINAL VOTE IN THE HOUSE
260-112 The Resolution Passes
THE FINAL VOTE IN THE SENATE
63-31 The Resolution Passes
WAR IS DECLARED
"In the aftermath of the Declaration of War by Congress, Prime Minister Gladstone, who had set his remaining political power on peace, sat stunned. He could not comprehend what President Sherman was thinking. The Empire would clearly win in any sane man's eyes. Seeing no other option in the early morning on the 17th, Gladstone requested Queen Victoria issue a royal proclamation declaring war on the United States.
An hour later, Gladstone went before the Commons and announced that the Queen had agreed to declare war on the United States. He then told them that he was too old to properly carry out the duties of Prime Minister in such a trying time. (Though in reality, he simply knew that a motion of no confidence was already taking shape from the Tories.) Gladstone announced he would be resigning effective immediately. He then told the shocked commoners that he had already advised the Queen who his replacement should be.
Right after the Declaration of War was released from Buckingham Palace, the Queen also announced that, on the advice of Gladstone, he was to be replaced by the Right Honorable, The Earl Spencer. A man experienced in government and well versed in warfare."
-from Gladstone's Last Stand
by Garrett Hart, published 2002
THE RIGHT HONORABLE, EARL JOHN SPENCER, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Spencer obviously was never PM in OTL.
Great chapter, may this war be glorious between the US and Great Britain!!! Can't wait for the next chapter 👍👍👍
On that note, what would be interesting would be the impact of this on European alliance systems.
The British economy I expect to have fully recovered within a year of wars start at worst while the US just gets worse.
The question is could the US pull enough attention from Britain that an alt-WWI starts early , or forces the Brits into a more or less white or just slight win peace to avoid a continental Hegemon, which is their biggest worry, especially once that can project enough naval might to threaten them?
the Brits are going to want a quick knockout, and that isn't happening- the US is pretty self-reliant, and can absorb losses the way Russians can, and they can adapt fairly quickly.
The Brits best strategy would be to win big quickly, then ask for a small win, while trying to destabilize the US with its internal divisions to pressure the US into the humiliation without too much pain. If the divisions in the US heal over from this, Britain's in a long slog and they'll eventually have to deal with rebellions with their colonies and trouble in Europe. It's not as much American exceptionalism as it is British overextension that is going to put Britain on the clock.
the Brits are going to want a quick knockout, and that isn't happening- the US is pretty self-reliant, and can absorb losses the way Russians can, and they can adapt fairly quickly.
The Brits best strategy would be to win big quickly, then ask for a small win, while trying to destabilize the US with its internal divisions to pressure the US into the humiliation without too much pain. If the divisions in the US heal over from this, Britain's in a long slog and they'll eventually have to deal with rebellions with their colonies and trouble in Europe. It's not as much American exceptionalism as it is British overextension that is going to put Britain on the clock.
It’s funny because most of Europe is in panic mode. This war shouldn’t have happened, and realistically it wouldn’t have happened if anyone else were president of the United States.
Basically none of the nations in Europe are very happy that this war just started and want to see it end relatively fast.
This is sorta reminding of an Afghan quote by Jack Carr:
The Americans have the all clocks but we have all the time
As I've stated earlier this era is one of the few times the British can essentially ignore everything else in the world and focus on the war. There shouldn't be anything that would set off an early WW1 happening, there's not even any events you could really move up in Europe to set that up during this era. As for the US absorbing the losses I mean yes theoretically they can. But how are things going to feel like to the average citizen two years from now when they've lost every oversea possession, the navy is likely down to just USS Constitution and a few torpedo boats and while they may be advancing in Canada they're taking horrendous losses doing so for only a few meters of ground at a time? As for British overextension? Yeah India isn't going to rebel anytime soon, this is the era of a "loyal" India as well.
This is a mess.
I imagine the United States could take a serious pounding, I just hope that we can keep Ben Tillman away from any sort of executive position. Because the populists might well win in 1896.
Of course, that means William Jennings Bryan so he might be able to steer them away from anything global. Plus his youth won't come into question, a really old man was the one who pulled the trigger so he wouldn't lose his position.
I see William Jennings Bryan winning rather handily in 1896, and maybe actually serving out one term without incident. Of course there's a guy in September of 1901..
I imagine the United States could take a serious pounding, I just hope that we can keep Ben Tillman away from any sort of executive position. Because the populists might well win in 1896.
Of course, that means William Jennings Bryan so he might be able to steer them away from anything global. Plus his youth won't come into question, a really old man was the one who pulled the trigger so he wouldn't lose his position.
I see William Jennings Bryan winning rather handily in 1896, and maybe actually serving out one term without incident. Of course there's a guy in September of 1901..
That leads to the question how much pressure could they put on the Brits to stop it? The French and Germans aren't going to work together, and no other combination would have enough of a navy to do anything, and the whole continental isn't going to threaten an embargo- it's not that important to them.
The US is screwed here, the question is how screwed, and whether the Brits make it too insulting that it makes the US desire revenge the way the French did against Germany. When this war is over, the US military doctrine will become how to beat the Brits at sea, and they do have the capacity to rebuild, innovate, and produce enough to do it eventually, and a US-German anti-British alliance would almost be a certainty. This might also have cultural impacts on America, given how much the influence of German culture was reduced during WWI, the inverse might happen ITTL.
Britain would likely find itself diplomatically isolated afterwards, which could also end up disasterous for the ottomans if the Three Emperor Alliance continues to be a thing, and will be disasterous for France no matter what.
The only countries I could see being British allies afterwards are Japan, maybe some South American countries, and the Ottomans, and the Frnech only if they were suicidal.
I could also see the US developing unrestricted submarine warfare early ITTL.
See why would the pressure be on the British to stop it? Even from a neutral PoV it's more or less the US that wanted the war with the British trying for peace. If anything Europe is going to more on their side then the Americans. If any nation ends up diplomatically isolated Post-War it's more likely the US then the British.
If the US is smart what it would do is try and take Western Canada and just hold it till wars end. If they do that even if they fail to take Eastern Canada the British will have to return something for it. Otherwise Canada isn't going to be able to feed itself anymore.
I just realized this means Rough Riders of the North. TR better tame and ride into battle an actual bull moose at some point!
One last point, USW might work if it was later but the issue the submarine isn't matured enough technology yet to be an actual threat.
Generally the international community vaguely supports the British. Sherman knew that even if the Italians arbitrated the ruling would probably be in London's favor, mostly because technically Fort Grant is in the British claim.
As for the northern rough Riders... uh...
no comment...
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Teaser
THE NEXT CHAPTER, Chapter 34: ANGLO AMERICAN WAR I- WILL CONSIST OF ALL OF THIS STUFF, Should be out tonight or sometime tomorrow
- American Political Shenanigans
- British Political Shenanigans
- Public opinion in Britain, USA and Canada
- American War plan cooking
- British War plan cooking
- News headlines on early engagements
- Closer look at early engagements
So it'll be all the really early stuff in the conflict, March-July 1893, don't expect major battles next chapter, it's mostly bills, training and preliminary actions. The most deadly fight in the next chapter happens at sea.
- American Political Shenanigans
- British Political Shenanigans
- Public opinion in Britain, USA and Canada
- American War plan cooking
- British War plan cooking
- News headlines on early engagements
- Closer look at early engagements
So it'll be all the really early stuff in the conflict, March-July 1893, don't expect major battles next chapter, it's mostly bills, training and preliminary actions. The most deadly fight in the next chapter happens at sea.
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Chapter 34: THE ANGLO-AMERICAN WAR I
"The Senate officially tabled the motion to elect a vice president on March 18th due to the war. Platt and the Liberal leadership assured that the vote would happen just after the war. This was very unpopular among the populists, who at this point had already carved out a position of total opposition to the war. In fact, James Weaver went as far as calling the US the aggressors in the war. Though this certainly didn't make him or his party very popular, it was appealing to many tiring workingmen.
Ben Tillman actually filed a lawsuit against the Senate for the tabling, saying that postponing the vote was unconstitutional. Realistically, he was right, but with war fever taking hold of the nation and the government, the case was shot down in the courts. Tillman would try and get it to the Supreme Court over the course of 1893, but the court consistently ignored him.
Thomas Custer was also pretty angry with the tabling at first, though he was eventually calmed down. Mere hours after the declaration of war was made, President Sherman nominated Thomas Custer to be his vice president. This led to a confusing moment where the Senate tabled the motion to elect a 'Vice President Elect' only to elect Custer as Vice President to John Sherman in the very next vote. Either way, Custer was placated and in total support of Sherman and the war. The Senate also quickly moved to pass Sherman's cabinet and pass a conscription law, all by a broad Republican-Liberal coalition.
The Grand Liberal-Republican Coalition of the late 1870s and early 1880s had returned! Both parties' agreed to pass any requests from the Sherman administration to support the war effort. Though both the LNC and RNC assured it would only be for the duration of the conflict."
-from The Trilogy
by Kieren Hutchison, published 1999
The Sherman Administration
"Prime Minister Spencer quickly moved to craft a coalition upon taking No. 10. The Tories agreed to coalesce around the government for the remainder of the war, under the only condition that a general election be called at its conclusion. Spencer agreed to those terms. With a united Parliament, Spencer mostly dropped most of the Irish National MPs from the cabinet and quickly replaced them with Tory ministers. He then assembled a large number of military advisors, placing the War Office under the command of Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley.
After the reshuffle, Spencer moved to ensure that relationships in Parliament were steady. The Liberals introduced the 'Defense Against the Yankees Act' on March 19th, meant to give the government wide-ranging war powers. It was passed with no trouble and even whipped for by Lord Salisbury in the House of Lords; by March 21st, the Queen had marked the bill with royal accession. Seeing that the Tories were being truthful in their agreement to collation, Spencer then introduced a conscription bill, fearing a lack of volunteers.
The other political reality that is often forgotten is the stage in Canada. Prime Minister John D. Thompson was only a few months into the office, yet the chaos in the south was now testing him. Thompson had been suspicious of American ambitions since he came into office. Over the course of February, the potential for a conflict between London and DC was raised many times in the Commons and the Senate. The general agreement was that war was unlikely, and parliament refused to act on superstition.
Thompson was unconvinced. He began preparations for a possible war with the US behind the scenes. On February 25, the Canadian War Department prepared a quick report for Thompson that spelled out the dire situation Canada was in. In all realistic circumstances, it would take at least a couple months for British forces to arrive in Canada in any large capacity.
In other words, the first attacks would have to be defended by Canada alone. Thompson made the decision to ensure that the Canadian Army prioritized the ports along the St. Lawrence. It was made clear that no men would be lost over grassland; all they had to do was make sure the ports to the Atlantic stayed open so that London could flood in and support the front.
Initially, these early Canadian war plans were slow and small in scale. After the battle in the jungle on the 4th, though, the Canadian army began to take these concerns far more seriously. So too did Parliament. On March 6th, the Canadian Parliament condemned American aggression. By March 16th, as communication from Washington went silent and it became known that Sherman was preparing a speech to a joint session of Congress, the Canadian parliament finally acted.
They passed sweeping new powers meant for the Prime Minister and officially asked the War Office to prepare for the potential of war. The following day after the United States declared war, Victoria ordered the Governor General, Lord Stanley, to approve any and all laws passed by the Canadian parliament relating to any conflict with the United States, greatly expanding Canada’s militaristic autonomy on the eve of war."
-from Lord Spencer
by Gretta Huemer, published 1988
"In the lead-up to the breakout of the war, the people of the US, UK, and Canada were extremely weary of conflict. Pretty much during the entirety of January and February, the people felt detached from the happenings and threats from the Niger River. Most of these threats were ignored. Not even the newspapers paid much attention; there were more interesting things to talk about than a war destined to not happen.
It was only after the fourth that concern began to properly grow. What I think is interesting is the difference between how journalists handled the rising tensions after the battle in the jungle. In the US, yellow journalism began to take hold. Papers in the west and mid-atlantic began to publish stories of horrific British crimes during past wars; they'd play up the damage done on the 4th and they'd exaggerate the tensions between Washington, D.C., and London. One of the main points made was that the Battle in the Jungle came only a day after President Elect Pattison's death. Many newspapers blamed the British for hitting America while they were down. (It's debatable whether any of the British troops along the Niger actually knew the details of the Pattison derailment.) Either way, this story caught on.
In New England and Canada, most newspapers tried to do the exact opposite. Journalists would appeal to pragmatism and the need for peace. This reflected the opinions of both populations as well. Even after the destruction of the JQA, many in New England really only offered tacit support for the conflict, and the vast majority of Canadians wanted to sue for peace. Uninterested in fighting Japanese invasions...
On the 17th, just after Sherman returned from the joint session, he met with Nelson Miles and the entire war department, including George Armstrong Custer, who was a day off from being confirmed as Secretary of War. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the plans for the war. How would the United States pull out a victory? Well, the thing is, basically everyone in that room agreed they stood no chance in any war lasting a long time. They had a populace with an already fizzling interest in the conflict, an economy that would most certainly collapse after a major British blockade, and a lot of fronts they couldn't necessarily handle.
Seems grim. It was. But most of the generals also agreed on a narrow path to victory.
First, Liberia needs to be abandoned. Get Pershing and Dewey home and cancel the deployment of any reinforcements heading there. It was a lost cause, and there was no point fighting over it.
Second is the economy. Get in contact with the major businesses in the US and get them to do their part; supercharge the industry. Also, the navy on the east coast should do whatever is possible to keep New York, Charleston, and Baltimore ports open. Try to convince the French and Russians that they need American trade; thus, they should put pressure on London. It wouldn't stop the economic collapse, but if all went well, it should postpone it.
Third, abandon the Pacific; it's a lost cause. It would be a waste of the navy to have any ships out there that aren't defending the California coast or bombarding Vancouver.
Finally, rush Canada. Secure the Maritimes and the ports on the Quebec coast. Cut them off from the Atlantic and stall any large-scale British deployment. Don't bother with the cities initially; Ottawa and Toronto will be hard to take; just try and surround them. On top of that, use the troops out west to secure as much of Western Canada as possible. If all goes well, they could perhaps start to negotiate with the crown.
Sherman had gotten himself into the war quickly to keep his job. Now he needed to get himself out of the war just as quick to do the same."
-from The Trilogy
by Kieren Hutchison, published 1999
"The plan conducted between Spencer, Wolseley, and the War Department was short and sweet. As far as they were concerned, victory would be easy. It was going like this.
-Strangle the American economy by sea.
-Snatch the American islands in the Pacific and take the Nicaraguan Canal Zone to continue the canal's construction under British leadership.
Get as many men to Canada as fast as possible and beat the American invasions down.
Counterattack the American north, bombard some coastal cities, and force the weakened Americans to the negotiating table.
As far as Spencer could see, the war could be feasibly ended by 1892, with major concessions given to Britain. He and his generals agreed; D.C. stood absolutely no chance in the conflict to come."
-from Lord Spencer
by Gretta Huemer, published 1988
SECOND BATTLE IN THE JUNGLE
A Race to the Sea! Brits chase Pershing as he attempts to flee the Heart of Darkness
-Washington Post, March 20th 1893
BRITISH STOP PURSUIT AT THE LIBERIAN BORDER
Pershing and the remaining African Expedition arrive in Monrovia to escape back home!
-Washington Post, March 22nd 1893
ROYAL NAVY ARRIVES TO BLOCKADE MONROVIA
A whole fleet of British ships have trapped Dewey and Pershing in Africa according to our sources.
-Washington Post, March 23rd 1893
MEN SIGN UP IN DROVES EVERYWHERE BUT NEW ENGLAND
Recruitment is having a felid day in every part of the nation but our home in the North. Read more on page eight.
-Boston Tribune, March 23rd 1893
SPENCER MOBILIZES THE ROYAL NAVY, TRADE IMPACTED
New York harbor is eerily silent today as ships cannot leave for Europe after multiple convoys were stopped and attacked en route to France.
-New York Times, March 31st 1893
SHERMAN PROMISES THE BLOCKADE CAN BE RAN
The Department of War has released information to help would be merchants run the British blockade. "it is at it's beginning, the brits are spread thin."
-New York Times, April 2nd 1893
YANKS ATTACK CANADA
General Wesley Merritt of the United States Armed Forces has invaded into New Brunswick
-The Times, April 10th 1893
BATTLE OF MONROVIA
With British troops en route to Monrovia from Freetown, Dewey rushes to break the Royal Navy's blockade. Only two ships make it. Disaster for the Yanks!
-The Times, April 12th 1893
MONROVIA FALLS
The Vile Major Downing enters Monrovia with little resistance as President Cheeseman surrenders
-The New York Times, April 15th 1893
DEWEY AND PERSHING UNDER PURSUIT TOWARDS DOMINICA
The two surviving ships after the engagement at Monrovia are in dangerous waters.
-The Charleston Herald, April 17th 1893
BERMUDA BOMBARDED
Navy reports major damage done to Bermuda overnight.
-Washington Post, April 17th 1893
DOMINICA PREPARES FOR THE WORST, ADMIRAL SAMPSON SAILS OUT TO SUPPORT DEWEY'S ESCAPE
As Dewey and the survivors of the African expedition arrive to Dominica, the Navy sends reinforcements.
-Washington Post, April 19th 1893
¡BATALLA EN EL MAR! ¡SAMPSON CUBRE EL RETIRO DE DEWEY! ¡BRITÁNICOS ENVIADOS A CORRER!
¡El almirante Dewey llegará sano y salvo a Dominica junto con los 500 supervivientes de la expedición Pershing!
-Dominican Post, April 22nd 1893
SANDWICH ISLANDS SEIZED WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE
The War Office has announced a successful seizure of the Sandwich islands. The Royal Navy says there was a very small American presence that quickly surrendered.
-The Times, April 29th 1893
FREDERICTON IN YANKEE HANDS!
Americans reported on the streets of New Brunswick's capital today after a quick battle outside the city. No comment from the Prime Minister.
-The Ottawa Herald, May 2nd 1893
GENERAL MERRITT BLOCKS ALL ROADS TO NOVA SCOTIA
As the American Occupation of New Brunswick comes to it's beginning, our boys are blocking the roads towards Halifax.
-The Augusta Tribune, May 5th 1893
BATTLE OF WINDSOR, YANKEE FORCES SUCCESSFULLY PUSH OUR BOYS FROM WINDSOR. MEN FALL BACK TO TORONTO.
Windsor falls as the Canadian army plans to create a new line of defense ahead of London to stop any further American advancement.
-The Toronto Times, May 8th 1893
SHERMAN SENDS GENERAL SHAFTER TOWARDS QUEBEC CITY!
A large army, primarily made up of the former occupiers of the Striker States, has been sent north to block off the St. Lawrence headed by General Shafter.
-The St. Louis Tribune, May 12th 1893
SPENCER PROMISES BRITISH TROOPS TO ARRIVE IN CANADA BY LATE JULY!
Rapidly moving ahead of schedule, the Prime Minister hopes to get boys in Canada within two months.
-The Times, May 15th 1893
SKIRMISH OUTSIDE VANCOUVER!
American troops begin their attack of western Canada. Small militias have been organized of primarily untrained western Canadians to beat back the yanks.
-The Ottawa Times, May 17th 1893
INDIAN ATTACKS
Rumors of British interference as Natives attack American troops in Adams along the Canadian border.
-The Sewardton Times, May 20th 1893
GUARD BEAT BACK!
In a huge shock the Washington National Guard has been forced to retreat from British Columbia after losing a skirmish to an under-armed group of Vancouverites.
-The San Francisco Chronicle, May 22nd 1893
SEATTLE BOMBARDED
Earlier this morning the Royal Navy came from the Pacific and bombarded Seattle. The shelling lasted two hours, untold amount of casualties and damage.
-The Los Angeles Times, May 23rd 1893
GRUMBLES FROM PARIS
French officials express a willingness for trade to resume with the United States in the aftermath of the first month post blockade.
-The Times, May 25th 1893
THE GREAT FACE OFF
Shafter forced to stop as large Canadian Army under L. N. F. Crozier stands in their way outside Montreal.
-The New York Times, May 28th 1893
"When asked to describe the early phases of the Anglo-American War, one must first understand that neither Britain nor the United States were ready for war. March and April were mostly uneventful as citizens signed up for service and the preexisting armies of the two nations slowly began to mobilize. That said, the first proper engagement came along the Niger River. After Major Downing was informed of the war's start, he once again attacked Fort Grant. After a quick battle, Pershing and his men fled the jungle and began rushing for the Liberian border, being chased by Downing's men. Skirmishes continued during the pursuit until Downing stopped and turned around. Going back to Freetown and letting Pershing go to Monrovia.
Pershing, upon arriving in Monrovia, realized very quickly that they were stuck. Commodore Dewey, who waited with his small fleet for Dewey, was now trapped in the Monrovian port by a British blockade. They were outnumbered and outgunned. For the next couple weeks, Pershing and Dewey discussed what to do. Eventually, they agreed that staying would be a death sentence. Word arrived that nearly 7,000 men from Freetown were just entering Liberia. The Liberian government seemed eager to surrender, and it was all but assured that more British ships were on the way. So, on April 11th, Dewey said screw it, took 1900 of the 2500 American men aboard his five ships, and sailed head-on into the British blockade. After an hour, only two American ships had passed through the British wall. Three had been sunj, with most of their crews being captured.
Dewey's main ship, the Iowa, which carried Pershing, and the USS Baltimore successfully made it through the blockade despite the chaos. The two ships were now going full speed ahead to the nearest American port in Dominica. Back in Monrovia, the 600 American troops left in the city put up a minor fight against the onslaught of Britons, but they stood no match. Monrovia fell, and with it, so did Liberia.
Dewey and Pershing now sailed straight towards another much larger blockade. Though the British blockade of the US was still generally forming, President Sherman understood that the survival of Pershing and Dewey was paramount to American prestige. He ordered a surprise attack on Bermuda, led by Rear Admiral Sigsbee, to distract part of the British blockade. This was mostly successful, with minimal American losses. Dewey, for his part, was being trailed by eight British ships under the command of Admiral Richard Hamilton. It was a race, and Hamilton was picking up speed.
By the 18th, it seemed inevitable that Dewey would be caught up too before he could make it home. That was until he saw a large fleet of 10 American ships approaching. An American fleet had been sent to reinforce Dewey under Admiral Sampson. They were successful. After a quick fight with Hamilton, two British ships were sunk, and the rest fled. Dewey was saved.
Back on dry land, the Americans began their invasion of Canada. This started with General Fred Merritt being sent north to capture New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from mainland Canada. Merritt had nearly 7,500 federal troops on April 10th. Throughout his month-long campaign, he never faced a proper Canadian army. Instead, he only fought a series of skirmishes on his way to Fredericton. Merritt did actually face a small Canadian force when finally arriving in Fredericton, but it was underequipped and mostly made up of the local defense force. Instead of properly facing them, Merritt shelled them out of the city and then had his cavalry surround the 1,000-man regiment.
By mid-May, Merritt had accomplished his task and severed Halifax from Canada. The War Department then ordered him to stay put. When Merritt told them of the complete lack of proper resistance, D.C. shrugged their shoulders.
After success in the Maritimes and the assembly of more federal troops along the Canadian border, the next attacks began. One movement through Windsor towards Toronto, one up into Vancouver, another towards Winnipeg, and a final (and largest) meant to seize control of the St. Lawrence Delta under General Shafter.
The Battle of Windsor could be considered the first proper battle of the war, as a well-trained Canadian regiment went head-on with an American one, but I hesitate to call it that. Only 55 people were killed, and the Canadians soon withdrew from Windsor to establish a better frontline near London. The Americans that left Michigan were soon stopped in their tracks from the much more well-defended position and got bogged down into a defensive line of their own.
The attack at Winnipeg had to be delayed as some plains Indians rose up and attacked the men stationed to attack, and the Washington National Guard, which was assembled to seize Vancouver, was sent running by a larger force of scantily armed militia men. Soon afterwards, the Royal Navy, which had just secured Hawaii, bombarded Sealte, killing over 300 people and striking panic in every city in America. In other words, things could've been going better.
Finally, there was Shafter's offensive. The big flashy one with nearly 14,000 men and orders to secure St. Lawrence. As Shafter moved north, he was consistently pestered by Canadian cavalry and scouts. Unlike Merritt, Shafter quickly realized there was quite a large Canadian army ahead. He was right. By the end of May, he was faced with it."
-from The Anglo-American War
by Terry Hurst, Published 1977
Ben Tillman actually filed a lawsuit against the Senate for the tabling, saying that postponing the vote was unconstitutional. Realistically, he was right, but with war fever taking hold of the nation and the government, the case was shot down in the courts. Tillman would try and get it to the Supreme Court over the course of 1893, but the court consistently ignored him.
Thomas Custer was also pretty angry with the tabling at first, though he was eventually calmed down. Mere hours after the declaration of war was made, President Sherman nominated Thomas Custer to be his vice president. This led to a confusing moment where the Senate tabled the motion to elect a 'Vice President Elect' only to elect Custer as Vice President to John Sherman in the very next vote. Either way, Custer was placated and in total support of Sherman and the war. The Senate also quickly moved to pass Sherman's cabinet and pass a conscription law, all by a broad Republican-Liberal coalition.
The Grand Liberal-Republican Coalition of the late 1870s and early 1880s had returned! Both parties' agreed to pass any requests from the Sherman administration to support the war effort. Though both the LNC and RNC assured it would only be for the duration of the conflict."
-from The Trilogy
by Kieren Hutchison, published 1999
The Sherman Administration
| Vice President | Thomas Custer |
| Secretary of State | Walter Q. Gresham (Until 1895), William E. Chandler |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Joseph B. Foraker (Republican) |
| Secretary of War | George Armstrong Custer |
| Attorney General | William H. H. Miller (Republican) |
| Postmaster General | William Lyne Wilson |
| Secretary of the Navy | Hilary A. Herbert |
| Secretary of the Interior | William T. Sampson |
| Secretary of Agriculture | Julius Sterling Morton |
"Prime Minister Spencer quickly moved to craft a coalition upon taking No. 10. The Tories agreed to coalesce around the government for the remainder of the war, under the only condition that a general election be called at its conclusion. Spencer agreed to those terms. With a united Parliament, Spencer mostly dropped most of the Irish National MPs from the cabinet and quickly replaced them with Tory ministers. He then assembled a large number of military advisors, placing the War Office under the command of Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley.
After the reshuffle, Spencer moved to ensure that relationships in Parliament were steady. The Liberals introduced the 'Defense Against the Yankees Act' on March 19th, meant to give the government wide-ranging war powers. It was passed with no trouble and even whipped for by Lord Salisbury in the House of Lords; by March 21st, the Queen had marked the bill with royal accession. Seeing that the Tories were being truthful in their agreement to collation, Spencer then introduced a conscription bill, fearing a lack of volunteers.
The other political reality that is often forgotten is the stage in Canada. Prime Minister John D. Thompson was only a few months into the office, yet the chaos in the south was now testing him. Thompson had been suspicious of American ambitions since he came into office. Over the course of February, the potential for a conflict between London and DC was raised many times in the Commons and the Senate. The general agreement was that war was unlikely, and parliament refused to act on superstition.
Thompson was unconvinced. He began preparations for a possible war with the US behind the scenes. On February 25, the Canadian War Department prepared a quick report for Thompson that spelled out the dire situation Canada was in. In all realistic circumstances, it would take at least a couple months for British forces to arrive in Canada in any large capacity.
In other words, the first attacks would have to be defended by Canada alone. Thompson made the decision to ensure that the Canadian Army prioritized the ports along the St. Lawrence. It was made clear that no men would be lost over grassland; all they had to do was make sure the ports to the Atlantic stayed open so that London could flood in and support the front.
Initially, these early Canadian war plans were slow and small in scale. After the battle in the jungle on the 4th, though, the Canadian army began to take these concerns far more seriously. So too did Parliament. On March 6th, the Canadian Parliament condemned American aggression. By March 16th, as communication from Washington went silent and it became known that Sherman was preparing a speech to a joint session of Congress, the Canadian parliament finally acted.
They passed sweeping new powers meant for the Prime Minister and officially asked the War Office to prepare for the potential of war. The following day after the United States declared war, Victoria ordered the Governor General, Lord Stanley, to approve any and all laws passed by the Canadian parliament relating to any conflict with the United States, greatly expanding Canada’s militaristic autonomy on the eve of war."
-from Lord Spencer
by Gretta Huemer, published 1988
"In the lead-up to the breakout of the war, the people of the US, UK, and Canada were extremely weary of conflict. Pretty much during the entirety of January and February, the people felt detached from the happenings and threats from the Niger River. Most of these threats were ignored. Not even the newspapers paid much attention; there were more interesting things to talk about than a war destined to not happen.
It was only after the fourth that concern began to properly grow. What I think is interesting is the difference between how journalists handled the rising tensions after the battle in the jungle. In the US, yellow journalism began to take hold. Papers in the west and mid-atlantic began to publish stories of horrific British crimes during past wars; they'd play up the damage done on the 4th and they'd exaggerate the tensions between Washington, D.C., and London. One of the main points made was that the Battle in the Jungle came only a day after President Elect Pattison's death. Many newspapers blamed the British for hitting America while they were down. (It's debatable whether any of the British troops along the Niger actually knew the details of the Pattison derailment.) Either way, this story caught on.
In New England and Canada, most newspapers tried to do the exact opposite. Journalists would appeal to pragmatism and the need for peace. This reflected the opinions of both populations as well. Even after the destruction of the JQA, many in New England really only offered tacit support for the conflict, and the vast majority of Canadians wanted to sue for peace. Uninterested in fighting Japanese invasions...
On the 17th, just after Sherman returned from the joint session, he met with Nelson Miles and the entire war department, including George Armstrong Custer, who was a day off from being confirmed as Secretary of War. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the plans for the war. How would the United States pull out a victory? Well, the thing is, basically everyone in that room agreed they stood no chance in any war lasting a long time. They had a populace with an already fizzling interest in the conflict, an economy that would most certainly collapse after a major British blockade, and a lot of fronts they couldn't necessarily handle.
Seems grim. It was. But most of the generals also agreed on a narrow path to victory.
First, Liberia needs to be abandoned. Get Pershing and Dewey home and cancel the deployment of any reinforcements heading there. It was a lost cause, and there was no point fighting over it.
Second is the economy. Get in contact with the major businesses in the US and get them to do their part; supercharge the industry. Also, the navy on the east coast should do whatever is possible to keep New York, Charleston, and Baltimore ports open. Try to convince the French and Russians that they need American trade; thus, they should put pressure on London. It wouldn't stop the economic collapse, but if all went well, it should postpone it.
Third, abandon the Pacific; it's a lost cause. It would be a waste of the navy to have any ships out there that aren't defending the California coast or bombarding Vancouver.
Finally, rush Canada. Secure the Maritimes and the ports on the Quebec coast. Cut them off from the Atlantic and stall any large-scale British deployment. Don't bother with the cities initially; Ottawa and Toronto will be hard to take; just try and surround them. On top of that, use the troops out west to secure as much of Western Canada as possible. If all goes well, they could perhaps start to negotiate with the crown.
Sherman had gotten himself into the war quickly to keep his job. Now he needed to get himself out of the war just as quick to do the same."
-from The Trilogy
by Kieren Hutchison, published 1999
"The plan conducted between Spencer, Wolseley, and the War Department was short and sweet. As far as they were concerned, victory would be easy. It was going like this.
-Strangle the American economy by sea.
-Snatch the American islands in the Pacific and take the Nicaraguan Canal Zone to continue the canal's construction under British leadership.
Get as many men to Canada as fast as possible and beat the American invasions down.
Counterattack the American north, bombard some coastal cities, and force the weakened Americans to the negotiating table.
As far as Spencer could see, the war could be feasibly ended by 1892, with major concessions given to Britain. He and his generals agreed; D.C. stood absolutely no chance in the conflict to come."
-from Lord Spencer
by Gretta Huemer, published 1988
SECOND BATTLE IN THE JUNGLE
A Race to the Sea! Brits chase Pershing as he attempts to flee the Heart of Darkness
-Washington Post, March 20th 1893
BRITISH STOP PURSUIT AT THE LIBERIAN BORDER
Pershing and the remaining African Expedition arrive in Monrovia to escape back home!
-Washington Post, March 22nd 1893
ROYAL NAVY ARRIVES TO BLOCKADE MONROVIA
A whole fleet of British ships have trapped Dewey and Pershing in Africa according to our sources.
-Washington Post, March 23rd 1893
MEN SIGN UP IN DROVES EVERYWHERE BUT NEW ENGLAND
Recruitment is having a felid day in every part of the nation but our home in the North. Read more on page eight.
-Boston Tribune, March 23rd 1893
SPENCER MOBILIZES THE ROYAL NAVY, TRADE IMPACTED
New York harbor is eerily silent today as ships cannot leave for Europe after multiple convoys were stopped and attacked en route to France.
-New York Times, March 31st 1893
SHERMAN PROMISES THE BLOCKADE CAN BE RAN
The Department of War has released information to help would be merchants run the British blockade. "it is at it's beginning, the brits are spread thin."
-New York Times, April 2nd 1893
YANKS ATTACK CANADA
General Wesley Merritt of the United States Armed Forces has invaded into New Brunswick
-The Times, April 10th 1893
BATTLE OF MONROVIA
With British troops en route to Monrovia from Freetown, Dewey rushes to break the Royal Navy's blockade. Only two ships make it. Disaster for the Yanks!
-The Times, April 12th 1893
MONROVIA FALLS
The Vile Major Downing enters Monrovia with little resistance as President Cheeseman surrenders
-The New York Times, April 15th 1893
DEWEY AND PERSHING UNDER PURSUIT TOWARDS DOMINICA
The two surviving ships after the engagement at Monrovia are in dangerous waters.
-The Charleston Herald, April 17th 1893
BERMUDA BOMBARDED
Navy reports major damage done to Bermuda overnight.
-Washington Post, April 17th 1893
DOMINICA PREPARES FOR THE WORST, ADMIRAL SAMPSON SAILS OUT TO SUPPORT DEWEY'S ESCAPE
As Dewey and the survivors of the African expedition arrive to Dominica, the Navy sends reinforcements.
-Washington Post, April 19th 1893
¡BATALLA EN EL MAR! ¡SAMPSON CUBRE EL RETIRO DE DEWEY! ¡BRITÁNICOS ENVIADOS A CORRER!
¡El almirante Dewey llegará sano y salvo a Dominica junto con los 500 supervivientes de la expedición Pershing!
-Dominican Post, April 22nd 1893
SANDWICH ISLANDS SEIZED WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE
The War Office has announced a successful seizure of the Sandwich islands. The Royal Navy says there was a very small American presence that quickly surrendered.
-The Times, April 29th 1893
FREDERICTON IN YANKEE HANDS!
Americans reported on the streets of New Brunswick's capital today after a quick battle outside the city. No comment from the Prime Minister.
-The Ottawa Herald, May 2nd 1893
GENERAL MERRITT BLOCKS ALL ROADS TO NOVA SCOTIA
As the American Occupation of New Brunswick comes to it's beginning, our boys are blocking the roads towards Halifax.
-The Augusta Tribune, May 5th 1893
BATTLE OF WINDSOR, YANKEE FORCES SUCCESSFULLY PUSH OUR BOYS FROM WINDSOR. MEN FALL BACK TO TORONTO.
Windsor falls as the Canadian army plans to create a new line of defense ahead of London to stop any further American advancement.
-The Toronto Times, May 8th 1893
SHERMAN SENDS GENERAL SHAFTER TOWARDS QUEBEC CITY!
A large army, primarily made up of the former occupiers of the Striker States, has been sent north to block off the St. Lawrence headed by General Shafter.
-The St. Louis Tribune, May 12th 1893
SPENCER PROMISES BRITISH TROOPS TO ARRIVE IN CANADA BY LATE JULY!
Rapidly moving ahead of schedule, the Prime Minister hopes to get boys in Canada within two months.
-The Times, May 15th 1893
SKIRMISH OUTSIDE VANCOUVER!
American troops begin their attack of western Canada. Small militias have been organized of primarily untrained western Canadians to beat back the yanks.
-The Ottawa Times, May 17th 1893
INDIAN ATTACKS
Rumors of British interference as Natives attack American troops in Adams along the Canadian border.
-The Sewardton Times, May 20th 1893
GUARD BEAT BACK!
In a huge shock the Washington National Guard has been forced to retreat from British Columbia after losing a skirmish to an under-armed group of Vancouverites.
-The San Francisco Chronicle, May 22nd 1893
SEATTLE BOMBARDED
Earlier this morning the Royal Navy came from the Pacific and bombarded Seattle. The shelling lasted two hours, untold amount of casualties and damage.
-The Los Angeles Times, May 23rd 1893
GRUMBLES FROM PARIS
French officials express a willingness for trade to resume with the United States in the aftermath of the first month post blockade.
-The Times, May 25th 1893
THE GREAT FACE OFF
Shafter forced to stop as large Canadian Army under L. N. F. Crozier stands in their way outside Montreal.
-The New York Times, May 28th 1893
Pershing, upon arriving in Monrovia, realized very quickly that they were stuck. Commodore Dewey, who waited with his small fleet for Dewey, was now trapped in the Monrovian port by a British blockade. They were outnumbered and outgunned. For the next couple weeks, Pershing and Dewey discussed what to do. Eventually, they agreed that staying would be a death sentence. Word arrived that nearly 7,000 men from Freetown were just entering Liberia. The Liberian government seemed eager to surrender, and it was all but assured that more British ships were on the way. So, on April 11th, Dewey said screw it, took 1900 of the 2500 American men aboard his five ships, and sailed head-on into the British blockade. After an hour, only two American ships had passed through the British wall. Three had been sunj, with most of their crews being captured.
Dewey's main ship, the Iowa, which carried Pershing, and the USS Baltimore successfully made it through the blockade despite the chaos. The two ships were now going full speed ahead to the nearest American port in Dominica. Back in Monrovia, the 600 American troops left in the city put up a minor fight against the onslaught of Britons, but they stood no match. Monrovia fell, and with it, so did Liberia.
Dewey and Pershing now sailed straight towards another much larger blockade. Though the British blockade of the US was still generally forming, President Sherman understood that the survival of Pershing and Dewey was paramount to American prestige. He ordered a surprise attack on Bermuda, led by Rear Admiral Sigsbee, to distract part of the British blockade. This was mostly successful, with minimal American losses. Dewey, for his part, was being trailed by eight British ships under the command of Admiral Richard Hamilton. It was a race, and Hamilton was picking up speed.
By the 18th, it seemed inevitable that Dewey would be caught up too before he could make it home. That was until he saw a large fleet of 10 American ships approaching. An American fleet had been sent to reinforce Dewey under Admiral Sampson. They were successful. After a quick fight with Hamilton, two British ships were sunk, and the rest fled. Dewey was saved.
Back on dry land, the Americans began their invasion of Canada. This started with General Fred Merritt being sent north to capture New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from mainland Canada. Merritt had nearly 7,500 federal troops on April 10th. Throughout his month-long campaign, he never faced a proper Canadian army. Instead, he only fought a series of skirmishes on his way to Fredericton. Merritt did actually face a small Canadian force when finally arriving in Fredericton, but it was underequipped and mostly made up of the local defense force. Instead of properly facing them, Merritt shelled them out of the city and then had his cavalry surround the 1,000-man regiment.
By mid-May, Merritt had accomplished his task and severed Halifax from Canada. The War Department then ordered him to stay put. When Merritt told them of the complete lack of proper resistance, D.C. shrugged their shoulders.
After success in the Maritimes and the assembly of more federal troops along the Canadian border, the next attacks began. One movement through Windsor towards Toronto, one up into Vancouver, another towards Winnipeg, and a final (and largest) meant to seize control of the St. Lawrence Delta under General Shafter.
The Battle of Windsor could be considered the first proper battle of the war, as a well-trained Canadian regiment went head-on with an American one, but I hesitate to call it that. Only 55 people were killed, and the Canadians soon withdrew from Windsor to establish a better frontline near London. The Americans that left Michigan were soon stopped in their tracks from the much more well-defended position and got bogged down into a defensive line of their own.
The attack at Winnipeg had to be delayed as some plains Indians rose up and attacked the men stationed to attack, and the Washington National Guard, which was assembled to seize Vancouver, was sent running by a larger force of scantily armed militia men. Soon afterwards, the Royal Navy, which had just secured Hawaii, bombarded Sealte, killing over 300 people and striking panic in every city in America. In other words, things could've been going better.
Finally, there was Shafter's offensive. The big flashy one with nearly 14,000 men and orders to secure St. Lawrence. As Shafter moved north, he was consistently pestered by Canadian cavalry and scouts. Unlike Merritt, Shafter quickly realized there was quite a large Canadian army ahead. He was right. By the end of May, he was faced with it."
-from The Anglo-American War
by Terry Hurst, Published 1977
-
SO THE WAR HAS BEGUN!
The first major battle will be gone over tomorrow.
Have fun with this long chapter and have fun discussing it friends! Ask any questions you have!
SO THE WAR HAS BEGUN!
The first major battle will be gone over tomorrow.
Have fun with this long chapter and have fun discussing it friends! Ask any questions you have!
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Man even if the US can't pull out a decisive victory here, the bad feelings this war would create will ensure that US Anglophilia is dead. When WWI comes around, the US will join Germany and any gains Britain makes in this war will be reversed.
One way or another, Canada will be American.
One way or another, Canada will be American.
Just to be clear is Pershing like the Lt Col or an actually Lt taking part in the expedition? Because it sounds like a Lt is leading an regiment size unit.