The Revenge of the Crown : An Alternate 1812 and Beyond.
- Thread starter Sarthak
- Start date
I don't think the US is going to collapse - however, with Federalists having bolted from the country and Madison being utterly humiliated, the American party system is going to be completely reshaped.
FREE NEW ENGLAND!
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about anyone who would be suitable as the first president of New England, so I abstain from the poll.
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about anyone who would be suitable as the first president of New England, so I abstain from the poll.
Lusitania
Donor
We have all the making of the seizure of power by those who feel they cannot trust those elected. How that translates into surviving US not sure or if only 1 US emerge from this calamity.
the loss to the British was not what broke the country apart (it contributed) but the sharp divides between the different regions and the Declaration of Independence by New England. It will leave The remaining states without any industry and they be no different that Brazil with no industry and reliant on exporting commodities.
The remaining states could Balkanize into 2 or more US government each claiming to represent the whole country and neither really doing. With states largely ignoring any federal government.
BlackDragon98
Banned
First of all, great TL.
Very interesting POD, Brock surviving Queenston Heights by leaving his sash back at base.
Sniper no sniping indeed.
One question though.
Have USS Scourge and USS Hamilton capsized and sunk as they did in OTL?
AFAIK they were converted merchant ships that were unsuitable for combat and thus both ships capsized in a storm in 1813 taking almost their entire crews down with them.
Do they meet the same fate ITTL or will they survive the war?
Very interesting POD, Brock surviving Queenston Heights by leaving his sash back at base.
Sniper no sniping indeed.
One question though.
Have USS Scourge and USS Hamilton capsized and sunk as they did in OTL?
AFAIK they were converted merchant ships that were unsuitable for combat and thus both ships capsized in a storm in 1813 taking almost their entire crews down with them.
Do they meet the same fate ITTL or will they survive the war?
Madison being humiliated ruins Monroe's chances. So no Virginia dynasty.
Crawford is the best bet, unless Andrew Jackson pulls off a miracle. But I do consider Jackson to be rather inevitable, and he could change his political beliefs a bit towards a more federalised system in order to revitalise the strength if the US.
BlackDragon98
Banned
For all we know New Orleans might turning into a massive UK victory if they play their cards right.
OTL was more of a UK loss than a US win.
True. Very true.
Not opposed to that, but the battle would have to be very different in certain grounds.
Hell jackson dying might make the United States even more different.
Lusitania
Donor
You might half the garrison out fighting French “rebels” who might be contacted by British who could easily now come down the Mississippi and encourage their rebellion. The British sailing north to half a garrison would be a different battle.
I'm picturing New Orleans like in "The Dead Skunk", with the British being bolder after hearing of the victories in the north and attacking before Jackson is prepared. I'd love to see the bastard captured and humiliated. A long life in bitter obscurity, or hated by everyone, would be nicer than just killing him. Let's see if I nail any of my predictions
That I can see. Attacking before Jackson is ready, or not attacking on a gigantic open field where you can just get shot at....
Chapter 9: Near Collapse.
Chapter 9: Near Collapse.
***
“Burning Washington………That was the Last Straw that broke the camel’s back……”- James Monroe.
“In Novo Scotia, British reinforcements from Ireland, and even some Portuguese volunteers from the Iberian War had started to filter onto the Maritimes as the British forces in the area geared up for something that hadn’t been seen before. The multiple British raids into the Chesapeake Bay had made Rear-Admiral Cockburn know about the severe defensive deficiencies in the region. British raiders raided with impunity much of the time, and these raids led to much destruction and hampered a lot of the war making capability of the United States of America. However in the north at Halifax, Cockburn advocated for humiliating America to the final degree, and by early March, the plan to burn Washington to the ground had already started. With the American defense collapsing like a seam of cards, Admiral Cockburn gave the go to ahead for the Burning of Washington.
Rear Admiral Cockburn.
On June 31st, around 3,000 troops of the Royal Marines, including 100 volunteers from Portugal left Halifax aboard the strongest fleet the British Royal Navy had sent to Chesapeake Bay throughout the War of 1812 with Admiral Cockburn at it’s head. A prominent British general from the War in Iberia had been assigned to the task, and that general’s name was Robert Ross. A prominent general, and capable in his own right, he would lead the land portion of the attack.
General Robert Ross.
In the wake of Brock’s devastating victories up north, much of the American militias had been moved up north to the border between Virginia and Philadelphia, and the stores were moved inland, which made some raids inconsequential, and as a result, Secretary of War, Armstrong Jr, refused to even think about a possibility that the British would attack Washington DC. However on July 7th, Robert Ross and his 3,000 men stepped afoot at Mason Neck from the Potomac river, with the might of the entire British West Indies and British North American Fleets beside him.
One American civilian, Howard Jackson, who was present at Mason Neck when Ross set afoot ashore, would later on write
It was like in the fairy tales, and legends and myths. I saw an armada of ships glistening in the morning sunlight throughout the river, with even a single speck of water being covered by massive broadsides. An army landing in front of me. I couldn’t help myself. I had self preservation to think about. I surrendered.
The British were met with little resistance. Armstrong had kept his troops towards the north, and one cannot fault him, as all American intelligence regarding the subject had him believe that an attack from Baltimore would be the one coming, and not an attack from the Potomac River. However what can be faulted on Armstrong is that even by 10 am, when he learned of the British invasion, he did not reinforce the area, believing it to be a ploy and diversion.
Ross advanced and smashed through the surprised 6th Virginia Militia Regiment, and advanced into Mt. Vernon where he met little to no resistance. Then he entered Washington DC with 3000 troops. Both President Madison and Vice President Elbridge Gerry were captured in the attack while they were packing to escape. Madison’s wife managed to escape along with Secretary of State James Monroe. Of the Madison Cabinet, the President, Vice-President, and the Attorney General (William Pinkney) were captured by Ross. Monroe and George Campbell managed to escape the attack to Baltimore in the nick of time.
The Burning of Washington
Ross then, as did Cockburn order the sacking and burning of Washington DC. At 11:30 am, the capital city of the United States of America went up in flames as the civilians were evacuated and were subjected to seeing their homes go up in flames. All the while, Ross, for a part in irony has the Union Jack, and ‘God Save the King’ play all the while the city burned to the ground. By 3 pm, Armstrong had managed to turn south and come forward with 3 regiments of militiamen, however by then the damage had been done. The city was burned to the ground, and the minute Ross received the notice that Armstrong was turning south, he scooped up the American cabinet members that he had captured and they were all sent aboard the British fleet. From there, the Royal Marines looted anything that would be of use in a war and then retreated aboard the Royal Navy.
This massive loss of half of the cabinet to the enemy, as well as the Vice President and the President shook the very core of the American governance. In Baltimore, James Monroe formed a new government with the remaining members of the cabinet, with himself as interim leader before things could go out of hand. He ordered a contact to John Gaillard, the President of the Pro Tempore of the Senate to come to Baltimore so that he could become the president of the United States of America as per the constitution of the United States of America. Monroe desperately wanted to make sure that a constitutional crisis did not erupt, and ordered his dispatches to be sent as fast as possible, utilizing every resources to deliver the news immediately.
John Gaillard, unfortunately for him, the next President of the US.
Aboard the Royal Navy, the President of the United States and the Vice President were ordered to be sent to London, where they would be held under House Arrest, as was normal for capturing enemy head of states for the time. Cockburn allegedly asked Madison whether or not that the United States would surrender or not, and if they did surrender, then they would release Madison, Elbridge, and Madison’s captured family.
Madison refused to surrender, stating that he hadn’t joined the revolution just to surrender later on. Allegedly, Cockburn shrugged and said ‘your choice’ and they were boarded onto a merchant ship from where they would begin their journey to the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, as the news of the Burning of Washington, and the capture of the highest members of the American government became public, the population of the United States of America exploded into a plethora of fear.” The Government in Crisis, How the Republic Fell, Osprey Publishing, 2009.
“In the north, due to Monroe’s efforts, the news of the burning of Washington and the capture of Madison and Elbridge became public news, and in New York, Governor Tompkins signed a statute of surrender and proposed to meet with Brock. On July 16th, Tompkins and Brock met with each other, in which Tompkins surrendered the state of New York to Sir Isaac Brock and British North America. All throughout the state, the state militias were ordered to stand down, and the regular troops were to be transported safely back to Philadelphia.
The fall of New York, and these tremendous losses made the morale in the American nation plummet, and in the newly formed New English one, rise up. Speaking about New England, the nation was now going to choose their new leader. Among the prominent candidates for the title of President of New England were Timothy Pickering, Timothy Bigelow, George Cabot, Israel Thorndike and John Lowell Jr.
Many of the candidates argued that choosing a war leader to be their president was why the American nation had been so ‘belligerent’ and that a civilian leader who knew the limits of the economy and could confer with his military leaders would be the best leader as the first President of the United States of America. George Cabot, who was charismatic, and a businessman of great success was chosen to become the first President of the Commonwealth of New England. This was meant to be a temporary one until their independence was recognized, by the end of which a formal election would take place. Cabot was able to get the endorsement of Timothy Pickering, Timothy Bigelow, and Governor Strong, extremely influential people to become chosen as the President of the Commonwealth of New England.
George Cabot, the first President of New England, and one of it's very best.
Cabot’s speech of Boston was held in public to the population of Boston where he promised liberty, freedom and economic prosperity to the people. His first act was to make sure that the Militiamen and the Regulars in the new New English Army to be balanced, stating that the invasion of New York had made it pretty clear that having balance between Militiamen and Regulars would work the best, and this was agreed upon, as the government of New England drew up a plan to have 10,000 Regulars in the field alongside the current 19,000 Militiamen by the end of August.
In Plattsburgh, Prevost as the Commander in Chief of British North America also recognized the Commonwealth of New England as an independent nation.
On July 27th, Gaillard was made the President of the United States of America under the supervision of the remaining members of the Congress and the cabinet.
However much to their dismay, on June 27th, Sir Isaac Brock, after managing the occupied New York, went on the offensive once again, this time with his numbers being filled in with defectors and loyalists.” New England’s War of Independence, University of Hartford, 1879.
“With 5,000 men recovered, rested and fed, Isaac Brock now wished to hit the final blow against the Americans. This opportunity came on the 27th when he sighted the 26th US Infantry and the 17th US Infantry aided by the 5th US Rifle Regiment try to defend the road to Philadelphia at Princeton.
Putting the 104th Regiment, the 8th Regiment and the 49th Regiment at Rocky Hill he attacked at 10 am, where the 104th Regiment and the 49th Regiment attacked together. Hardened by battle, the 17th US Infantry managed to throw back the attacks from the 104th Regiment, however by that point, it allowed the 8th Regiment attacked it from the rear, and it’s defense quickly collapsed. Seeing the small battle turn decisively against the US Forces, the 5th Us Rifle Regiment and the 26th US Infantry withdrew from battle. The small Battle of Princeton gave Brock a springboard for an attack on Philadelphia and by this point, President Gaillard assume session in the Congress, where he asked for the United States of America to surrender to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Now we stand at the precipice of the greatest defeat the United States has ever suffered. Our armies are in shambles, and our economy non-existent. Unless we surrender now, we will face the consequences of which we shall never be able to recover from. – President Gaillard.
The Congress refused to surrender, stating that the only way they would surrender would be with the entirety of the United States under occupation. However the vote that decided it was fractious with tension, as the decision not to surrender passed only with 1 vote. The anti-war faction of the Democratic-Republicans left the Congress Meeting after the vote with one stating that this vote would ‘destroy the United States’.
Far in the south, the succession of the New English states and the Burning of Washington reached New Orleans by August 8th. The Francophone population, already who had not been enthused to join an Anglophone nation started to rumble with discontent. On August 11th, The mayor of New Orleans, Nicholas Girod, who was protestant in faith, and avid Union supporter was assassinated by the Francophone population, and led by one Jean Baptiste Plauche. Plauche stated that the Americans were weak, and that their nation was falling apart, and that the Francophones of New Orleans would have to protect themselves along with the Francophones of Louisiana from the reviled British. 6,000 Louisianan Francophones rose up in the famed ‘Louisianan Revolt’. Major General Andrew Jackson who was based in New Orleans met the Rebels in battle outside of New Orleans in what became known as the Battle of Maurepas. The Battle of Maurepas was a one sided affair. Despite having the guts to revolt, and having the will to do so, the Louisianan rebels were extremely poorly armed. They were using muskets from the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War to fight and they were disorganized barely held together.
Jean Baptiste Plauche, the man who wished for an independent Louisiana and died for it.
Jackson defeated the Louisianan Rebels with ease at the Battle of Maurepas. However what he did afterward inflamed the tensions and anger of the population. Surrendered officers from the rebels were all massacred under the orders of Jackson in what became known as the Maurepas Massacre. In New Orleans, the news caused an uproar, and the Francophone population bristled with rage, however with no weapons to fight, they looked on desperately as Andrew Jackson entered the city and then declared martial law, and the relatives of the massacred officers were taken away to be judged. In the Judgments of New Orleans, which was under Martial Law conducted by Andrew Jackson himself, around 12 relatives of the officers were determined ‘guilty’ of treason and then killed.
The Louisianan Revolt petered out in a day or two and the situation returned to as it was before the revolt, however with martial law hanging on them, and with Andrew Jackson’s actions having angered the population, many Louisianan Francophones would defect to the British side.
In Congress, a new vote was held on August 17th, as New English troops started to reinforce Brock for his invasion of Philadelphia. Finally, Congress finally declared its intentions to surrender. President Gaillard sent a note of ceasefire to the British lines which reached Brock by August 29th. Brock accepted the offer of a bilateral ceasefire on the condition that President Gaillard meet him at Philadelphia where an armistice would be signed. Gaillard accepted and on September 19th, the Armistice of Philadelphia was signed in which the American government formally surrendered to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, just as Madison and Elbridge were shunted off to House Arrest in London.
The armistice of Philadelphia.
The Terms of the Armistice of Philadelphia were:-
Fighting ceased on all front except for the North West when some of the companies of the 30th US Infantry clashed with Tecumseh in the Battle of Three Oaks, in which the 30th US Infantry was pushed back and McKay and Tecumseh encircled the entirety of the Michigan Peninsula on September 30th. On October 14th, the news of the armistice reached the west, in which Tecumseh and McKay celebrated and the Americans returned home downtrodden by their obvious defeat in the war.
As the war grounded to a halt, the negotiators from America set sail for Europe, hopeful that the British negotiators would be kind. The British negotiators were in a mood for anything but.” A History of North America, University of Havana, 2009.
***
***
“Burning Washington………That was the Last Straw that broke the camel’s back……”- James Monroe.
“In Novo Scotia, British reinforcements from Ireland, and even some Portuguese volunteers from the Iberian War had started to filter onto the Maritimes as the British forces in the area geared up for something that hadn’t been seen before. The multiple British raids into the Chesapeake Bay had made Rear-Admiral Cockburn know about the severe defensive deficiencies in the region. British raiders raided with impunity much of the time, and these raids led to much destruction and hampered a lot of the war making capability of the United States of America. However in the north at Halifax, Cockburn advocated for humiliating America to the final degree, and by early March, the plan to burn Washington to the ground had already started. With the American defense collapsing like a seam of cards, Admiral Cockburn gave the go to ahead for the Burning of Washington.
Rear Admiral Cockburn.
On June 31st, around 3,000 troops of the Royal Marines, including 100 volunteers from Portugal left Halifax aboard the strongest fleet the British Royal Navy had sent to Chesapeake Bay throughout the War of 1812 with Admiral Cockburn at it’s head. A prominent British general from the War in Iberia had been assigned to the task, and that general’s name was Robert Ross. A prominent general, and capable in his own right, he would lead the land portion of the attack.
General Robert Ross.
In the wake of Brock’s devastating victories up north, much of the American militias had been moved up north to the border between Virginia and Philadelphia, and the stores were moved inland, which made some raids inconsequential, and as a result, Secretary of War, Armstrong Jr, refused to even think about a possibility that the British would attack Washington DC. However on July 7th, Robert Ross and his 3,000 men stepped afoot at Mason Neck from the Potomac river, with the might of the entire British West Indies and British North American Fleets beside him.
One American civilian, Howard Jackson, who was present at Mason Neck when Ross set afoot ashore, would later on write
It was like in the fairy tales, and legends and myths. I saw an armada of ships glistening in the morning sunlight throughout the river, with even a single speck of water being covered by massive broadsides. An army landing in front of me. I couldn’t help myself. I had self preservation to think about. I surrendered.
The British were met with little resistance. Armstrong had kept his troops towards the north, and one cannot fault him, as all American intelligence regarding the subject had him believe that an attack from Baltimore would be the one coming, and not an attack from the Potomac River. However what can be faulted on Armstrong is that even by 10 am, when he learned of the British invasion, he did not reinforce the area, believing it to be a ploy and diversion.
Ross advanced and smashed through the surprised 6th Virginia Militia Regiment, and advanced into Mt. Vernon where he met little to no resistance. Then he entered Washington DC with 3000 troops. Both President Madison and Vice President Elbridge Gerry were captured in the attack while they were packing to escape. Madison’s wife managed to escape along with Secretary of State James Monroe. Of the Madison Cabinet, the President, Vice-President, and the Attorney General (William Pinkney) were captured by Ross. Monroe and George Campbell managed to escape the attack to Baltimore in the nick of time.
The Burning of Washington
Ross then, as did Cockburn order the sacking and burning of Washington DC. At 11:30 am, the capital city of the United States of America went up in flames as the civilians were evacuated and were subjected to seeing their homes go up in flames. All the while, Ross, for a part in irony has the Union Jack, and ‘God Save the King’ play all the while the city burned to the ground. By 3 pm, Armstrong had managed to turn south and come forward with 3 regiments of militiamen, however by then the damage had been done. The city was burned to the ground, and the minute Ross received the notice that Armstrong was turning south, he scooped up the American cabinet members that he had captured and they were all sent aboard the British fleet. From there, the Royal Marines looted anything that would be of use in a war and then retreated aboard the Royal Navy.
This massive loss of half of the cabinet to the enemy, as well as the Vice President and the President shook the very core of the American governance. In Baltimore, James Monroe formed a new government with the remaining members of the cabinet, with himself as interim leader before things could go out of hand. He ordered a contact to John Gaillard, the President of the Pro Tempore of the Senate to come to Baltimore so that he could become the president of the United States of America as per the constitution of the United States of America. Monroe desperately wanted to make sure that a constitutional crisis did not erupt, and ordered his dispatches to be sent as fast as possible, utilizing every resources to deliver the news immediately.
John Gaillard, unfortunately for him, the next President of the US.
Aboard the Royal Navy, the President of the United States and the Vice President were ordered to be sent to London, where they would be held under House Arrest, as was normal for capturing enemy head of states for the time. Cockburn allegedly asked Madison whether or not that the United States would surrender or not, and if they did surrender, then they would release Madison, Elbridge, and Madison’s captured family.
Madison refused to surrender, stating that he hadn’t joined the revolution just to surrender later on. Allegedly, Cockburn shrugged and said ‘your choice’ and they were boarded onto a merchant ship from where they would begin their journey to the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, as the news of the Burning of Washington, and the capture of the highest members of the American government became public, the population of the United States of America exploded into a plethora of fear.” The Government in Crisis, How the Republic Fell, Osprey Publishing, 2009.
“In the north, due to Monroe’s efforts, the news of the burning of Washington and the capture of Madison and Elbridge became public news, and in New York, Governor Tompkins signed a statute of surrender and proposed to meet with Brock. On July 16th, Tompkins and Brock met with each other, in which Tompkins surrendered the state of New York to Sir Isaac Brock and British North America. All throughout the state, the state militias were ordered to stand down, and the regular troops were to be transported safely back to Philadelphia.
The fall of New York, and these tremendous losses made the morale in the American nation plummet, and in the newly formed New English one, rise up. Speaking about New England, the nation was now going to choose their new leader. Among the prominent candidates for the title of President of New England were Timothy Pickering, Timothy Bigelow, George Cabot, Israel Thorndike and John Lowell Jr.
Many of the candidates argued that choosing a war leader to be their president was why the American nation had been so ‘belligerent’ and that a civilian leader who knew the limits of the economy and could confer with his military leaders would be the best leader as the first President of the United States of America. George Cabot, who was charismatic, and a businessman of great success was chosen to become the first President of the Commonwealth of New England. This was meant to be a temporary one until their independence was recognized, by the end of which a formal election would take place. Cabot was able to get the endorsement of Timothy Pickering, Timothy Bigelow, and Governor Strong, extremely influential people to become chosen as the President of the Commonwealth of New England.
George Cabot, the first President of New England, and one of it's very best.
Cabot’s speech of Boston was held in public to the population of Boston where he promised liberty, freedom and economic prosperity to the people. His first act was to make sure that the Militiamen and the Regulars in the new New English Army to be balanced, stating that the invasion of New York had made it pretty clear that having balance between Militiamen and Regulars would work the best, and this was agreed upon, as the government of New England drew up a plan to have 10,000 Regulars in the field alongside the current 19,000 Militiamen by the end of August.
In Plattsburgh, Prevost as the Commander in Chief of British North America also recognized the Commonwealth of New England as an independent nation.
On July 27th, Gaillard was made the President of the United States of America under the supervision of the remaining members of the Congress and the cabinet.
However much to their dismay, on June 27th, Sir Isaac Brock, after managing the occupied New York, went on the offensive once again, this time with his numbers being filled in with defectors and loyalists.” New England’s War of Independence, University of Hartford, 1879.
“With 5,000 men recovered, rested and fed, Isaac Brock now wished to hit the final blow against the Americans. This opportunity came on the 27th when he sighted the 26th US Infantry and the 17th US Infantry aided by the 5th US Rifle Regiment try to defend the road to Philadelphia at Princeton.
Putting the 104th Regiment, the 8th Regiment and the 49th Regiment at Rocky Hill he attacked at 10 am, where the 104th Regiment and the 49th Regiment attacked together. Hardened by battle, the 17th US Infantry managed to throw back the attacks from the 104th Regiment, however by that point, it allowed the 8th Regiment attacked it from the rear, and it’s defense quickly collapsed. Seeing the small battle turn decisively against the US Forces, the 5th Us Rifle Regiment and the 26th US Infantry withdrew from battle. The small Battle of Princeton gave Brock a springboard for an attack on Philadelphia and by this point, President Gaillard assume session in the Congress, where he asked for the United States of America to surrender to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Now we stand at the precipice of the greatest defeat the United States has ever suffered. Our armies are in shambles, and our economy non-existent. Unless we surrender now, we will face the consequences of which we shall never be able to recover from. – President Gaillard.
The Congress refused to surrender, stating that the only way they would surrender would be with the entirety of the United States under occupation. However the vote that decided it was fractious with tension, as the decision not to surrender passed only with 1 vote. The anti-war faction of the Democratic-Republicans left the Congress Meeting after the vote with one stating that this vote would ‘destroy the United States’.
Far in the south, the succession of the New English states and the Burning of Washington reached New Orleans by August 8th. The Francophone population, already who had not been enthused to join an Anglophone nation started to rumble with discontent. On August 11th, The mayor of New Orleans, Nicholas Girod, who was protestant in faith, and avid Union supporter was assassinated by the Francophone population, and led by one Jean Baptiste Plauche. Plauche stated that the Americans were weak, and that their nation was falling apart, and that the Francophones of New Orleans would have to protect themselves along with the Francophones of Louisiana from the reviled British. 6,000 Louisianan Francophones rose up in the famed ‘Louisianan Revolt’. Major General Andrew Jackson who was based in New Orleans met the Rebels in battle outside of New Orleans in what became known as the Battle of Maurepas. The Battle of Maurepas was a one sided affair. Despite having the guts to revolt, and having the will to do so, the Louisianan rebels were extremely poorly armed. They were using muskets from the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War to fight and they were disorganized barely held together.
Jean Baptiste Plauche, the man who wished for an independent Louisiana and died for it.
Jackson defeated the Louisianan Rebels with ease at the Battle of Maurepas. However what he did afterward inflamed the tensions and anger of the population. Surrendered officers from the rebels were all massacred under the orders of Jackson in what became known as the Maurepas Massacre. In New Orleans, the news caused an uproar, and the Francophone population bristled with rage, however with no weapons to fight, they looked on desperately as Andrew Jackson entered the city and then declared martial law, and the relatives of the massacred officers were taken away to be judged. In the Judgments of New Orleans, which was under Martial Law conducted by Andrew Jackson himself, around 12 relatives of the officers were determined ‘guilty’ of treason and then killed.
The Louisianan Revolt petered out in a day or two and the situation returned to as it was before the revolt, however with martial law hanging on them, and with Andrew Jackson’s actions having angered the population, many Louisianan Francophones would defect to the British side.
In Congress, a new vote was held on August 17th, as New English troops started to reinforce Brock for his invasion of Philadelphia. Finally, Congress finally declared its intentions to surrender. President Gaillard sent a note of ceasefire to the British lines which reached Brock by August 29th. Brock accepted the offer of a bilateral ceasefire on the condition that President Gaillard meet him at Philadelphia where an armistice would be signed. Gaillard accepted and on September 19th, the Armistice of Philadelphia was signed in which the American government formally surrendered to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, just as Madison and Elbridge were shunted off to House Arrest in London.
The armistice of Philadelphia.
The Terms of the Armistice of Philadelphia were:-
- A Termination of hostilities all across the front within 24 hours of the signature.
- Immediate repatriation of all British subjects held in America.
- Surrender of the material: 40,000 muskets, 9,000 rifles, 400 guns.
- Evacuation of all American troops in New York back to the Frontlines.
- The current frontlines to be maintained until a final treaty was written down.
- All means of communication, including roads, canals, bridges were to be left intact as well as everything needed for agriculture and industry.
- Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and surrender of all intact American Ship of the Lines by the end of the month.
- Listed American naval ships to be disarmed by the end of October.
- Immediate release of all prisoners of war.
- Surrender of all assets that were frozen by the US government before the war against the United Kingdom.
Fighting ceased on all front except for the North West when some of the companies of the 30th US Infantry clashed with Tecumseh in the Battle of Three Oaks, in which the 30th US Infantry was pushed back and McKay and Tecumseh encircled the entirety of the Michigan Peninsula on September 30th. On October 14th, the news of the armistice reached the west, in which Tecumseh and McKay celebrated and the Americans returned home downtrodden by their obvious defeat in the war.
As the war grounded to a halt, the negotiators from America set sail for Europe, hopeful that the British negotiators would be kind. The British negotiators were in a mood for anything but.” A History of North America, University of Havana, 2009.
***
This is going to be an interesting treaty and I wonder how the capture of Madison will influence his presumably tarnished legacy.