alternatehistory.com

11 July

The Vanderbilt evades HMS Malacca off Pantelleria, taking two hits from 32-lber shells at long range and suffering one casualty. Her return fire damages the mast of the Malacca with a lucky hit, and Vanderbilt pours on the coal in order to get clear - travelling east and south, to pass close to the North African coast and hopefully escape notice.
This means she is off the main trade routes, and cannot take any more prizes for several days.



13 July
The state of peace notwithstanding, the Confederate Army of Maryland continues with the non-military preparations in case the war continues. Much rifle training is taking place, with many Confederate soldiers happy to practice useful (and prestigious) skills at the CSA's expense, and there is even a railroad being set up to allow a future offensive north to be better supplied if need be.


16 July
A major offensive takes place at Pueblo. de Lorencz uses his troops in a three-phase assault - his best riflemen suppressing the enemy from long range, his guerilleros attacking all along the front with sniping, and the main French army mounting an assault supported by artillery.

This attack does not succeed in ending the siege - the Mexican defenders are tenacious - but the major shifting of troops required to fend the assault off does reduce the defenders of an important hill a mile from the city enough that a large band of guerilleros manage to drive the defenders off. de Lorencz commits his reserves, retaining control of the hill and driving off a Mexican countercharge, and has his heavy artillery begin shifting to the summit of the hill - from this position, he will be able to bombard almost any part of the Mexican defences with his longer-ranged rifles.