alternatehistory.com

3 October

The electoral contest in the Confederate States is intensifying, with the "spirit of Party" by now in full swing. There are still no official political parties as such, but it is definitely the case that broad blocs are consolidating, and in a few cases Senate or House candidates have withdrawn in favour of others - a clear indication of debt-trading to try and elect people willing to take part in a voting bloc.
One reason this is important is that the next Confederate elections - in 1867 - will include the first true election of a Confederate President. (Jefferson Davis was elected by acclamation at a constitutional convention.)


5 October

In the slow progression of talks over Canadian confederation, a major sticking point is the size of the army. The representatives of the British government make no secret of the fact that they would prefer Canada to largely look to her own defences in peacetime (though there will still of course be an army dispatched in wartime) and suggest that the 100th regiment of the British Army - consisting of BNA men in the main - be transferred to Canada, as well as the Royal Canadian Rifles being maintained as a two-battalion regiment.
The issue is whether there will be more Canadian regulars, or whether it would be better to employ a large force of active militia (with training in the otherwise unproductive winter months), or even whether both of these are excessive. The debate frequently breaks down to pointing at a map and trying to decide the vital points to defend (such as the Welland canal or points south of the St Lawrence).

The issue of a Royal Canadian Navy is right out.


8th October

Antoine Alphonse Chassepot trials his latest experimental breech-loading rifle.
It is not ideal, with some deficiencies in the cartridge (it uses a conventional percussion cap, and there are issues with the seal) but one feature about it makes it interesting - it uses the "bolt" action, where the operation of the bolt and the other moving components are controlled by a single handle.
Chassepot considers the action to be sufficient for now, and determines to continue work on the cartridge and the other features of the weapon.
Notably, in dry firing the rifle is very fast - Chassepot estimates it will fire more than twelve times a minute, and thus be better than the British Snider (something which warms the heart of any Frenchman.)



13th October

A clash between Shinsengumi and samurai from Choshu domain takes place, with the eyes of Japan on it - most of the powerful domains are still sitting on the fence.
In the event, the battle is inconclusive - there is plenty of long ranged skirmishing, but the two forces never close to within two hundred yards.
Perhaps oddly, this does convince one daimyo to commit forces - Aizu domain, which expresses support for the Shogunate.
With the weather turning bad for campaigning, the order of the next few months is politicking.


17th October

The Northumberland is launched, the latest in the growing British ironclad navy - one which, by now, is considered probably sufficient to replace wooden ships of the line. More building is ongoing, however, as the next step is to build up a reserve; until this reserve is done, plans are kept ready to razee some well-built ships of the line and plate them promptly upon any increase in tensions.
The launch is well attended, with Viscount Palmerston present to make a speech (which includes, once again, mention of the forts he has been pressing for years and which are well underway).


18th October

The Frederickton, Houlton and Quebec railway is officially opened, after several years of difficulty. This provides most of an all-seasons route to Canada itself (with the remaining issue being connecting Frederickton to the Maritimes rail network itself) and is widely praised - even in Maine, since this means it will soon be possible to reacquire some of the terrain lost in the peace treaty.


21st October

The day after his 81st birthday, Henry John Temple (the Viscount Palmerston) dies in bed. He is reported to be alert up until the end, with his last comment being on the lunettes for the fortifications at Portsmouth (still on his mind after the speech from the launch of the Northumberland).
When the news arrives in the Americas, there are more than a few discreet sighs of relief in the two American nations. (Also a common sentiment in Europe!)


22nd October

The Earl Russell forms a government as the new Prime Minister. He remains Minister for Foreign Affairs until a new minister can be selected.
Punch promptly jumps on this, producing a cartoon depicting the Earl Russel being told that under Palmerston ("If Old Pumicestone was the Prime Minister, there were no Foreign Affairs without his support; when he was in the Foreign Office, there were no domestic affairs without his interest; when he was in London, he was involved in many affairs with all sorts!")