alternatehistory.com

24 August

Armstrong publishes the first edition of his Temperature-Corrected Resistance Tables, graphs and tables which attempt to show the effectiveness of artillery at piercing different thicknesses of iron at different temperatures.
With at least four variables to show (armour thickness, weapon, distance and temperature) Armstrong has elected to show iron thickness against range on a two-axis plot, with a separate curve for each temperature and a separate page for each combination of gun, shell and powder load. The type of mark (cross, circle or the like) represents what kind of damage was done, such as cracking the plate or piercing through to the backing.

While still in the preliminary stages (they only report the effectiveness of British guns, only against solid 'B' grade wrought iron rejected from the main line ironclads, and there are considerable uncertainties) these nevertheless form a useful resource and represent an important collection of scientific information.
They also represent a very impressive quantity of damaged iron and expended powder - though Armstrong's ulterior motive is nevertheless fulfilled, as it demonstrates that his heavy rifles are far more able to pierce thick armour when the Palliser shell is used than any of the guns currently in full service. (Also notable is that the 68 lber 112 cwt is far more powerful than had really been appreciated, largely due to the staggering powder load of 24 lbs when fired at full charge.)


26 August
The Confederate Congress debates a major sticking point in the Charleston Crisis - to whit, the Confederate government does not currently have the ability to compel a State to stop doing something even if that action (or inaction) threatens the entire Confederacy. Today it is South Carolina and slave trading (...firing on British ships, refusing to apologize, taking free blacks as slaves...) but tomorrow it may be a Maryland raid across the border into Pennsylvania, a seizure of Spanish islands by Florida or a Texan invasion of Mexico (and thence a war with France, as things seem to be going).
As such a bill is proposed which would grant full Confederate governmental authority if needed over "all matters of relations to foreign powers". The bill is itself heavily debated, and undergoes several revisions though these do not change the thrust of it.
Jefferson Davis, though well-respected, declines to support or condemn the bill - he feels it would be wrong of him to support something which would after all directly expand the powers of his own office quite considerably.


29 August
French/Imperial capture of La Pesca with the support of the Magenta, thus closing the coast and driving Mexican Republicans in the north back entirely on smuggling (through Imperial Mexico or over the Confederate border) for foreign supplies.
On the same day, in a combination of blazing heat and torrential rain, the city of Oaxaca (in Oaxaca) is captured from the Republicans. The rain is heavy enough that misfires take place aplenty, and in particular the Republican artillery in the defensive earthworks of Fort Juarez is all but unable to properly fire cannister as final-protective-fire (and as such the French assault gains the parapet with unexpectedly low casualties, thus unhinging the defence and leading to a swift capture of the city).
This city was where Benito Juarez began his political career, and as such the capture is seen as significant.
One lesson taken from this event is that barbette earthworks (while more resistant to shot and especially shell) do not necessarily offer the same kind of overhead rain (or shell) protection as a well built masonry fort.