alternatehistory.com

9 March

The Confederate Congress votes through a proposal to create, for the support of the Confederate Army, the "Negro Logistical and Engineering Train". This is to be a component of the regular army, to consist of approximately 4,000 overseers and an unspecified (but large) number of slaves, to be trained in engineering, logistics, and the other tasks of an army not performed by the fighting front.
The intent is that, in time of peace, the N.L.E.T can be contracted out to perform engineering works for a given state or individual, and that the Confederate government will offer a rebate on part of the hire cost. In time of war, the N.L.E.T will perform logistical duties for the army; this reduces the level of troops required detached from the fighting front to be those assigned to guard the logistics train or to perform the few tasks too sensitive for slaves.


11 March

An attempt taking place in China to intrigue against the Dowager Empress fails when the plotters attempt to gain the support of the Ever Victorious Army. Unfortunately for them, they are unaware that the "Army is Apolitical" stance taken by the higher-ups in the Ever Victorious Army is actually somewhat accurate, and Ward's reaction to being approached is to promptly publish the details of the plot in the papers!
The idea of an apolitical army seems oddly appealing to those currently in power in China.


14 March

Military exercises take place in Japan. The Bakfu's forces are judged to have performed "adequately" by the referees (British and French NCOs hired on for modernizing Shogunal forces) though they add that there is a lot of work still to do - here "adequate" means "able to form the positions in the drill book, give fire by rank, and conduct a bayonet charge".


15 March

Vituperative debates in the German Confederation over the Polish Issue, which does not look like coming to an end any time soon.


17 March

Seven hundred Fenian filibusters arrive at Lubec, Maine - they consist of a considerable number of Union army veterans, leavened with men just turned adults, and are armed with a mix of modern Springfields and Colt revolving rifles.
Efforts are made to obtain passage to Campobello Island and thus capture it, striking a mighty blow against the English, though Lubec is not a major port by any stretch of the imagination and so finding more than a couple of fishing boats looks very difficult.


19 March

In a perhaps disproportionate show of force, HMS Aboukir (a wooden screw liner) shows up off Lubec, along with two gunboats and a large frigate (the Immortalite). Faced with the prospect of facing this much firepower in a couple of fishing boats, the Fenians disperse.


22 March

Chamberlain's expedition into Afghanistan reaches the Chamla Valley, though Pashtun resistance is heavy and persistent. It is learned that the Pashtuns have been convinced (though by whom is unclear) that the British are planning on annexing Afghanistan.
For the next few weeks, a war of strong-points and heavy sniping takes place in the valley and the surrounding hills.


27 March

With a purchase of large position guns made from Krupp (to deliver over the coming months), the Polish Army begins to lay out the positions for fortified points to defend against future Russian attack. Special attention is paid to river lines and rail lines, and also to "portages" between different logistical routes - the intent is to create points the Russians must cover or reduce in order to advance, and thus to buy time for the Polish reserves to mobilize.
The same commission also begins laying out the same kind of positions for attacks from the west or the south. After the last hundred years and more, very few people in Poland are willing to assume that there is only one potential enemy.


31 March

The Bellerophon ("Billy Ruffian" to the navy) is launched. An innovative design by the DNC, Reed, she follows his "belt and battery" principle by abandoning the concept of having a full armoured side in favour of a waterline belt and a small and very heavily protected battery. This battery is to be equipped with 10 9-inch Armstrong-Elswick guns planned along with five 120 pounder 7" guns of the same type and protected by 6" rolled wrought iron, well backed - her armour's resistance in foot-tons per inch is roughly twice that of the Warrior.
Not one to stand still for long, Reed is also participating in the committee attempting to determine the form of the future turret battleship. Cowper Coles is also getting involved, and telling everyone about his brilliant idea for a turret placed around the masts; there is serious consideration being given to telling him to build it himself, if only to keep the excitable man quiet.