alternatehistory.com

12 October

The 5th Hussars in Mexico report back to Imperial lines. Their casualties in the raid were heavier than anticipated, but this is recognized to be due to the unexpected encounter with skilled Republican infantry - had they been armed with their previous carbines they would have suffered quite badly.
Having collected reports from his men the previous night, the commander is already writing a report on the Westley-Richards and on breechloaders in general. He includes that there is a distinct tendency towards volume fire instead of aimed fire, but that trained men are not as susceptible to it as might be feared (this based largely on the fact he still has ammunition left!); that the Westley-Richards is a fine weapon, but that it may be too fine and hence expensive for general infantry use; that cavalry regiments armed with this weaponry may well be more effective at pushing home the charge than those without (by being able to dismount an organic base of fire without giving up too many men from the charge) and that firing from horseback is made technically possible but not encouraged!


14 October
Polish assault troops are formally designated grenadierzy by the Sejm.
Also brought up for discussion is that trained horsemen are starting to muster in larger numbers, and that soon the question to be answered will be what kind of cavalry would be appropriate for Poland. (This results in some slight embarassment as the Sejm realizes they already have men designated as huszaria and uhlan - neither of them cavalry.)

A meeting takes place in London between the representatives of Cambridge Rules football clubs and Sheffield Rules football clubs. After a somewhat disastrous game earlier in the year where the clubs played to rather different rules, it is agreed that Something Must Be Done - and, indeed, something is done... the agreement that another meeting should take place to decide on common rules.


17 October
The news of Juarez' death, and the Republican turmoil that has resulted, reach Mexico City and the rest of Mexico.
Maximillian decides to take the opportunity for clemency, and issues a proclamation that anyone who is willing to swear allegiance to the duly chosen Emperor of Mexico and his government will receive full amnesty. (This action does not please many of his local advisors, who have bitter memories of the Reform War, but he overrules them by noting that he is a Habsburg Emperor who they invited to become their absolute monarch.)

19 October
HMS Curacoa grounds and capsizes entering Auckland harbour, with the loss of almost three quarters of her crew and the Australia Squadron commander (Commodore William Wiseman, baronet of Canfield Hall). The blame is attributed to the port authorities for failing to adequately establish lights marking the clear channel, though some also attaches to the Curacoa's captain for failing to update his charts adequately to come in after dark.
The loss of Curacoa complicates matters in the Land Wars - her shallow draft had made her a useful unit for riverine campaigns - and the next mail ship to leave New Zealand carries a request for both a replacement ship and a replacement flag officer.