alternatehistory.com

5 August

Lancaster docks in Kagoshima for coal. While there she encounters the HMS Odin, a paddle frigate of about the same size, and is preparing for battle when she spots the Odin flying a flag of truce.
Odin, being on the China Station, got the news of the ceasefire over a week ago (due to the excellent telegraph communications between London and India), and her captain informs the captain of Lancaster that the war has become a cease-fire.
She recommends that Lancaster operate out of a Royal Navy base for the next few months, and that in the event of a resumption of war Lancaster will be given forty-eight hours to leave port before the British ships pursue her. This is accepted, with some further caveats and details relating to the specific situation.


7 August
The ambassadors and delegations begin to assemble in Havana. The Prussian representative at least is not expected for another several days, so the early discussions are largely theoretical -those in charge of the Confederate delegation seeking to get some interest from the French ambassadors regarding future trade deals, mostly without any particular success.

9 August

In Mexico, Fort Loreto at Puebla is captured. The tenacious resistance of the garrison - necessitating de Lorencz bringing up his heaviest artillery in order to batter the walls, and delaying the capture of the whole area by several weeks even after his break-in to the city - has allowed the Mexican Republican government to evacuate, heading north and west. Despite this, the Siege of Puebla is over with a French victory.
de Lorencz does not push his forces northwest in pursuit of the Mexican government, as his men have been tired by the siege. His plan instead is to rest for a few days, allowing his logistics to consolidate, and then take Mexico City later in the month.

10 August
The Charleston goes in for conversion, with some thorough plans being put into action at Gosport.
A minor riot takes place in Baltimore, demanding an end to the Union occupation and for the city (along with Maryland) to join the Confederacy. This makes Congress nervous to say the least.