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Pan American War (1846-1852): North America, Part 2
PAN AMERICAN WAR (1846-1852):
North America (Part 2):
In the Spring of 1847, the might of the Empire begins to fall on America. Coastal bombardment and blockade has taken its toll, and strategically placed British forts in the Great Lakes region helps hamper and cripple the American fleet there. Commander in Chief of the British Army, the Duke of Wellington, has sent numerous reinforcements to British North America as well as the Pacific and northern Mexico. The Duke also encourages further unity and solidarity between the colonies of the Commonwealth.
Canadian militia and native tribesmen begin raiding the territories in the American northwest. They are joined by American natives in the Minnesota area hoping to resurrect Tecumseh's dream. British ships, having pounded the US coast, begin preparations for the invasion of mainland USA; most notably Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Since the British had made preparations for war, far greater destruction of the US coast occurs. By the winter of 1847, practically the entire US coast is blockaded and a significant portion of it reduced to rubble.
Prime Minister Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine (left) and Governor-General The Earl Cathcart (right)
With America more focused on its own borders, Mexico takes advantage of the situation and retakes much of their territory in early 1848, mostly eliminating the second front. Mexico does not cross into American territory however as they declared a defensive war against America at the outset. They are also too busy dealing with internal problems such as the subjugation of California and dealing with raiding natives.
Due to the British blockade, America's plans for a campaign from Veracruz to Mexico City cannot happen, allowing Mexican troops to more effectively focus on the Yucatan and their northern rebellions [1]. America focuses on improving its land-based positions in Texas and the Oregon Country, sending waves of militia into the areas. America also prepares the Quebec Campaign, which sought to take Montreal and Quebec and isolate the remains of Canada. Montreal was taken, but Quebec endured and reinforcements from the west and northeast eventually forced the Americans to end their occupation of Montreal. It is the Spring of 1848.
Joseph Légaré's 'The Burning of the Parliament Building in Montreal'. Based on the historical event that occurred the night of April 25, 1848
Until this point, fighting in the Oregon Country had been small-scale battles and raids perpetrated by militia and various native tribes. Many Americans had streamed into the area and the tide began to turn in their favour. With the arrival of additional and professional British forces in the area in the Spring of 1848 however, the campaign began in earnest. The British and their allies seized the majority of the settlements north of the Columbia River in the Oregon Country, effectively ending American hopes of ownership by the winter of 1848.
The British push into northern California in the winter of 1848 and take the settlements around the San Francisco bay area and all the way down to the outskirts of Monterey. They help the Mexicans hold on to everything else south of there. By the Spring of 1849, nearly all American territorial gains had been reversed. It looked as though the tide of war was turning against them [2].
British fleet in San Francisco Bay, with San Francisco in the background (1849)
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[1] Due to the British blockade and military assistance, the one-sided OTL Mexican-American War doesn't happen exactly (it's part of the Pan-American War). With their south more 'secure', the Mexicans can more effectively focus on putting down their domestic rebellions.
[2] The Americans took much of northern California without firing a shot in OTL's Mexican-American War, but in this case it's the British who pull off that feat. This will have repercussions.
North America (Part 2):
In the Spring of 1847, the might of the Empire begins to fall on America. Coastal bombardment and blockade has taken its toll, and strategically placed British forts in the Great Lakes region helps hamper and cripple the American fleet there. Commander in Chief of the British Army, the Duke of Wellington, has sent numerous reinforcements to British North America as well as the Pacific and northern Mexico. The Duke also encourages further unity and solidarity between the colonies of the Commonwealth.
Canadian militia and native tribesmen begin raiding the territories in the American northwest. They are joined by American natives in the Minnesota area hoping to resurrect Tecumseh's dream. British ships, having pounded the US coast, begin preparations for the invasion of mainland USA; most notably Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Since the British had made preparations for war, far greater destruction of the US coast occurs. By the winter of 1847, practically the entire US coast is blockaded and a significant portion of it reduced to rubble.
Prime Minister Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine (left) and Governor-General The Earl Cathcart (right)
With America more focused on its own borders, Mexico takes advantage of the situation and retakes much of their territory in early 1848, mostly eliminating the second front. Mexico does not cross into American territory however as they declared a defensive war against America at the outset. They are also too busy dealing with internal problems such as the subjugation of California and dealing with raiding natives.
Due to the British blockade, America's plans for a campaign from Veracruz to Mexico City cannot happen, allowing Mexican troops to more effectively focus on the Yucatan and their northern rebellions [1]. America focuses on improving its land-based positions in Texas and the Oregon Country, sending waves of militia into the areas. America also prepares the Quebec Campaign, which sought to take Montreal and Quebec and isolate the remains of Canada. Montreal was taken, but Quebec endured and reinforcements from the west and northeast eventually forced the Americans to end their occupation of Montreal. It is the Spring of 1848.
Joseph Légaré's 'The Burning of the Parliament Building in Montreal'. Based on the historical event that occurred the night of April 25, 1848
Until this point, fighting in the Oregon Country had been small-scale battles and raids perpetrated by militia and various native tribes. Many Americans had streamed into the area and the tide began to turn in their favour. With the arrival of additional and professional British forces in the area in the Spring of 1848 however, the campaign began in earnest. The British and their allies seized the majority of the settlements north of the Columbia River in the Oregon Country, effectively ending American hopes of ownership by the winter of 1848.
The British push into northern California in the winter of 1848 and take the settlements around the San Francisco bay area and all the way down to the outskirts of Monterey. They help the Mexicans hold on to everything else south of there. By the Spring of 1849, nearly all American territorial gains had been reversed. It looked as though the tide of war was turning against them [2].
British fleet in San Francisco Bay, with San Francisco in the background (1849)
[1] Due to the British blockade and military assistance, the one-sided OTL Mexican-American War doesn't happen exactly (it's part of the Pan-American War). With their south more 'secure', the Mexicans can more effectively focus on putting down their domestic rebellions.
[2] The Americans took much of northern California without firing a shot in OTL's Mexican-American War, but in this case it's the British who pull off that feat. This will have repercussions.
- Coyote Knight
- Word Count: 630