Start of the War
Start of the War
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On 7 December 1842[1], the US government presents ultimata to the Ambassadors of Britain, Spain and New England, demanding the hand-over of all 'territory rightfully belonging to the United States' within one week. This was a major shock to the Spanish, especially when it became clear that the US was talking about all of Florida, not just the disputed area of West Florida (Pensacola to the Louisiana border, basically). [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]All the governments refused, of course, but the ultimata were obviously meant to be unreasonable. Even if Spain or Britain had been interested in giving up any of the territory involved, the 1 week deadline didn't so much as allow time for the demand to reach London or Madrid, let alone be negotiated, debated and an answer returned. The ambassadors did, however, send off word immediately, not only to their capitals, but to the territories concerned. Fast message boats reached East Florida and Boston in a couple of days, Pensacola in 6 days and Mobile on the 7th (December 14). From there the message was passed on to New Orleans in British Louisiana, but by then the war had started, and messengers had already arrived announcing US forces marching into the Florida parishes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]From Boston, the message was carried throughout New England by rail, so the New England border forces were alerted in time. Messages also sent north by rail through Vermont, reaching Montreal (the 10th), then Toronto (11th ), Detroit and Bathurst (Toledo) the12th , Liverpool (Terre Haute) the 13th, and St. Louis the 14th. While not all the rail connexions were finished, the gaps could be crossed by post riders and the warning reached all of the Protectorate's border forts before the US forces crossed the frontier. Not that most of places had time to do more than drive a few herds of cattle, a handful of wagons loaded with grain and their families into the forts, and possibly send older relatives and mothers with small children fleeing north or west out of the Blue Coats' way. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On 15 December 1842, the US formally declared war on on Britain, New England and Spain, and her armies crossed the respective borders. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On the New York-Connecticut border, a couple of thousand NY militia marched to the border, were met by a similar New Englander force, and after a few exchanges of fire, both sides fell back 100 yards and dug in. This front will be pretty passive for the foreseeable future. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]From several ports along the Atlantic coast, especially from Long Island, various US ships set sail to harass the New England coast and quickly take shipping prizes before New Englander shipping would be able to take defensive measures.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In East Florida, 30k US troops march out of St. Augustine and advance almost unopposed south and west into Florida. Their major adversaries, which get worse as they advance, are 1) logistics 2) guerilla style warfare against supply lines by local blacks and Indians and 3) disease. Many of the milita (2/3 of the force) are put to work building and improving roads, and even extending rail out of St. Augustine, although that is a long term project.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In West Florida, 1k army and 3k militia (including 1k Cherokee) move toward Pensacola. When they arrive, it's obvious that the defences are strong enough to hold off that size group – but not so strong as to defeat it, so that force digs in around the town to try hold down those Spanish forces. After several months, Pensacola is stronger than ever (being able to be supplied by sea), and the US forces have been worn down by disease and guerilla attacks, so they retreat 'Until more forces are available.'[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Similarly, about 1k men approach Mobile, but are driven off before any but their scouts are able even to see the city. Quite obviously, this isn't going to be a fruitful approach, so these men withdraw and join the raiders into eastern Louisiana.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In eastern Louisiana, small groups sneak over the border and raid farms and kill especially blacks (particularly any blacks with a firearm). These are local militia, eventually totalling about 2k, and the raids weren't actually part of the US war plan. In fact, these raids were the first indication the Louisiana government had of war, and gave them extra time to prepare for the official invasion.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The main attack on Louisiana consists of some 30k army troops, with supporting militia, who have gathered along various ports on the US side of the Mississippi, mostly in Memphis, but also Vicksburg and Greenville, and with smaller contingents at river mouths all the way down. The first of these troops will descend the Mississippi river towards New Orleans on barges and rafts and riverboats, picking up more and more troops as they descend. Of the 20k militia allotted for this prong, half accompany the army (at least to start with) and half man forts on the US side and provide logistics support.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]However the biggest US attack is 100k army troops (with militia in support), most of whom head out of Vincennes heading north and west. But small groups also attack north out of (what was) southern Illinois and Indiana and west out of Ohio to cut the railway line connecting Toledo with St. Louis and all the forts in between. This allows the US to cut off each fort and strong point, and attack each in detail, concentrating large forces on each isolated strongpoint in turn. (Note that some of the rail running west from the Wabash (basically OTL's Indiana/Illinois border) and the rail running along the Wabash is preserved, as the US is confident they can take and hold this land, and want to use that rail for their own logistics.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Indianapolis and Liverpool[2] and the entire length of the Maumee river from Ft.Wayne to Bathurst [Toledo] are centres of British strength and well fortified. The US leaves them alone for now and concentrates on trying to isolate them from each other and from the smaller forts, and then roll up the forts one by one. This will give the US troops experience and seasoning, and, they hope, will allow the later reduction of at least Liverpool before spring breakup and Britain can send troops and other reinforcements.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]A small scale raid is also sent against the Welland Canal. Handfuls of men with kegs of gunpowder sneak across the border and attack locks, the viaduct, and the feeder canal. Those that return report great success. Indeed, there was some significant damage done, but it is all repaired by the time the canals reopen in the spring. So the major advantage to US ends up being the extra men tied up in defending the canal against future such attacks. A similar raid against the locks on the St. Lawrence was less successful – the attackers were identified and they fled before reaching the canal.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The final prong of the US attack, and one that was completely unexpected by most, was the 10k US troops spearheading a force of 30k Mexicans heading into Tejas to a) reconquer Tejas for Mexico, and b) to attack Louisiana from the west (or if Louisiana is taken by then, as hoped, the Mexican troops can either help with attacks elsewhere or hold US Louisiana, freeing the US troops for elsewhere). [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Mexico didn't issue any ultimata, nor did it declare war. At this point, she is 'simply subduing a rebellious province', and that doesn't require a declaration of war. If Mexican troops end up fighting against Louisiana, there would have to be a declaration then, but that is not imminent. Mexico even has faint hopes that she might avoid a wider war with Britain. If Louisiana is conquered by the US and is US territory – then an ally can help hold it without warring against Britain, right? Maybe Britain will be too busy with the US and throw Tejas to the wolves, not picking a fight with Mexico. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The US also approached the Dominican Republic (their only other ally) for troops. They declined to provide troops at the moment, and refused to declare war on Britain – but held open the possibility of providing occupation troops for West Florida after the US conquered the area. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 Given the totally unreasonable deadline for this ultimatum, the Prime Minister in Parliament called December 7 “A date which will live in infamy”.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2 Remember Indianapolis is a different city, but roughly in the same place. Liverpool is the settlement grown up around Fort Liverpool (Fort Harrison as was), and is in the northern suburbs of OTL's Terre Haute.[/FONT]
