Lehe would fine.
The homepage of Lehe mentions the landing and quartering of English troops in 1760/1761.
Some contemporary maps of the area (1757 and 1761).
America - Albion's Orphan - A history of the conquest of Britain - 1760
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
Lehe would fine.
The homepage of Lehe mentions the landing and quartering of English troops in 1760/1761.
Some contemporary maps of the area (1757 and 1761).
Chapter 13: Peace on the Continent
1759 - March
Berlin
Over the Winter of 1758/59, the remnant of the Kingdom of Prussia continued to convulse. With his forces largely focused on the southern theater (he continued to occupy much of Saxony) and facing the Austrian onslaught at the Bohemian/Silesian border, the King could not even pretend to hold off the Russian/Swedish(and now Danish) forces to the north.
Berlin had been momentarily occupied by Hungarian Hussars over the winter and the city fathers had been forced to offer a bribe to get them to retreat without burning the city. Frederick's cavalry did not arrive until the week later. A month after that, a troop of Russian horsemen entered the city of Potsdam near Berlin and sacked the King's favorite palace of Sansouci. Large numbers of objects d'art were stolen, damaged or destroyed when several of the horsemen, angry at the death of several of their fellows by the Palace Guards, would burn most of the palace to the ground.
Again, the horsemen would retreat as the Russian Army had gone into winter quarters already in Pomerania.
But the spring found Frederick in dire straights. His army had not been paid and desertion was rife. Munitions were low and more would not be forthcoming from Britain. Over half his patrimony was occupied by enemies and it appeared over 250,000 men would be marching upon the flat Margraviate of Brandenburg and northern Saxony from all directions. Both the Empress and the Czarina would command their armies to not to halt the 1759 campaign until Prussia was fully conquered.
However, an early spring march by the Russians and Swedes (and a few Danes) would catch him by surprise. He'd kept the bulk of his forces in Saxony and Silesia against the Austrians. With one quick, sharp battle, the Russians scattered the 15,000 strong Prussian Army which opposed it entering Brandenburg. Within days, they approached the outskirts of Berlin with little to no further resistance. As the King was deep in battle in Silesia, he did not return in time to order his people to stand and fight in Berlin. Perhaps with more sense than they expected, the capital commanders offered to surrender the city without a fight if the Russians agreed not to burn it to the ground.
With the Austrian Army nipping at his heels, Frederick retreated north. He massed his troops 20 miles south of Berlin intending to fight the Russians in Berlin and then turn on the Austrians behind.
At this point, news arrived that twenty-five thousand experienced French soldiers crossed the western border from Hanover and the Imperial Army in Saxon was also marching northwards. By May, most of Saxony had been abandoned and large scale invasions of Brandenburg had commenced from 4 directions. Marshall Daun, though commanded to regain Silesia first, disobeyed the Empress' orders and decided that the mountainous country was too tough a nut to crack and pushed the whole of his army towards Berlin (he deemed it easier to take Silesia while dictating the peace to Frederick II in Berlin than on the battlefield. Many Austrian soldiers would thank him for this).
With his armies consolidated, Frederick managed only 45,000 poorly provisioned soldiers against a combined 200,000 enemies. His Generals, certain that Frederick only had supplies for one more battle, viewed the situation as hopeless. The King's younger brother was the one to speak in the council of war. Fighting further was mere pride and would likely only cost more on the bargaining table.
The Russian commander had offered to accept their surrender and it was held that Russia may give softer terms if the peace was agreed now. They also intimated that no two bricks in Berlin would remain together unless the peace were made immediately.
Infuriated, Frederick cursed his brother and his officers, commanding them out of his presence. In time, Frederick looked himself in the mirror. His teeth were falling out due to stress and his hair had grown white on one side of his head over the past year.
The war was lost, even he knew that. It was mere pride. Frederick fancied himself a good King and knew killing thousands more of his men and allowing what remained of his Kingdom to be put to the torch. Another bloody battle may indeed make for a harsher peace for his people. He also imagined that surrendering to one of his enemies rather than all would potentially split the allies and sow discord among them at the bargaining table.
Frederick ordered his army north towards Berlin and advanced upon the Russians...led by a white flag.
Berlin
Over the Winter of 1758/59, the remnant of the Kingdom of Prussia continued to convulse. With his forces largely focused on the southern theater (he continued to occupy much of Saxony) and facing the Austrian onslaught at the Bohemian/Silesian border, the King could not even pretend to hold off the Russian/Swedish(and now Danish) forces to the north.
Berlin had been momentarily occupied by Hungarian Hussars over the winter and the city fathers had been forced to offer a bribe to get them to retreat without burning the city. Frederick's cavalry did not arrive until the week later. A month after that, a troop of Russian horsemen entered the city of Potsdam near Berlin and sacked the King's favorite palace of Sansouci. Large numbers of objects d'art were stolen, damaged or destroyed when several of the horsemen, angry at the death of several of their fellows by the Palace Guards, would burn most of the palace to the ground.
Again, the horsemen would retreat as the Russian Army had gone into winter quarters already in Pomerania.
But the spring found Frederick in dire straights. His army had not been paid and desertion was rife. Munitions were low and more would not be forthcoming from Britain. Over half his patrimony was occupied by enemies and it appeared over 250,000 men would be marching upon the flat Margraviate of Brandenburg and northern Saxony from all directions. Both the Empress and the Czarina would command their armies to not to halt the 1759 campaign until Prussia was fully conquered.
However, an early spring march by the Russians and Swedes (and a few Danes) would catch him by surprise. He'd kept the bulk of his forces in Saxony and Silesia against the Austrians. With one quick, sharp battle, the Russians scattered the 15,000 strong Prussian Army which opposed it entering Brandenburg. Within days, they approached the outskirts of Berlin with little to no further resistance. As the King was deep in battle in Silesia, he did not return in time to order his people to stand and fight in Berlin. Perhaps with more sense than they expected, the capital commanders offered to surrender the city without a fight if the Russians agreed not to burn it to the ground.
With the Austrian Army nipping at his heels, Frederick retreated north. He massed his troops 20 miles south of Berlin intending to fight the Russians in Berlin and then turn on the Austrians behind.
At this point, news arrived that twenty-five thousand experienced French soldiers crossed the western border from Hanover and the Imperial Army in Saxon was also marching northwards. By May, most of Saxony had been abandoned and large scale invasions of Brandenburg had commenced from 4 directions. Marshall Daun, though commanded to regain Silesia first, disobeyed the Empress' orders and decided that the mountainous country was too tough a nut to crack and pushed the whole of his army towards Berlin (he deemed it easier to take Silesia while dictating the peace to Frederick II in Berlin than on the battlefield. Many Austrian soldiers would thank him for this).
With his armies consolidated, Frederick managed only 45,000 poorly provisioned soldiers against a combined 200,000 enemies. His Generals, certain that Frederick only had supplies for one more battle, viewed the situation as hopeless. The King's younger brother was the one to speak in the council of war. Fighting further was mere pride and would likely only cost more on the bargaining table.
The Russian commander had offered to accept their surrender and it was held that Russia may give softer terms if the peace was agreed now. They also intimated that no two bricks in Berlin would remain together unless the peace were made immediately.
Infuriated, Frederick cursed his brother and his officers, commanding them out of his presence. In time, Frederick looked himself in the mirror. His teeth were falling out due to stress and his hair had grown white on one side of his head over the past year.
The war was lost, even he knew that. It was mere pride. Frederick fancied himself a good King and knew killing thousands more of his men and allowing what remained of his Kingdom to be put to the torch. Another bloody battle may indeed make for a harsher peace for his people. He also imagined that surrendering to one of his enemies rather than all would potentially split the allies and sow discord among them at the bargaining table.
Frederick ordered his army north towards Berlin and advanced upon the Russians...led by a white flag.
Chapter 14: The Peace in the East
1759
Berlin
The peace terms against the King of Prussia were harsh:
1. Silesia was handed back to Austria. This was particularly painful for Frederick as Silesia rivalled Brandenburg in importance in terms of population, development and strategic location.
2. East Prussia was given to Russia (though the Czarina was unsure of what she would do with a flat and poor Protestant land).
3. Several exclaves possessed by Prussia within Saxony would be handed to the Elector of Saxony as would the inheritance rights to Ansbach and Bayrouth (whose Margrave was childless and Frederick II would have been his heir).
4. The portion of Prussian Pomerania conquered from Sweden earlier in the century was returned.
5. King Frederick's exclaves in the Rhineland (Cleves, Mark, etc) would also be lost as well though their distribution had yet to be determined.
Frederick, having lost East Prussia which was a Kingdom, was left only with his stem Duchies within the Holy Roman Empire. Thus Frederick was no longer a King but a mere Elector.
Millions of marks in reparations would be extracted and the Elector of Brandenburg's Army would be restricted for 20 years to only 20,000 men. It had been the intention of the victorious parties to force Frederick II to abdicate. However, the former King refused to give them the satisfaction and beat them to the punch. He turned what was left of his domains to his idiot nephew before the final treaty was signed.
Little of this was unexpected. The peace was always going to be harsh for Prussia (now Brandenburg).
What was utterly unexpected were the other provisions of the peace.
The Czarina wanted one thing and would have been more than happy to turn over her conquest of East Prussia to possess: the person of her nephew, Peter. However, the "General" in the Prussian Army wisely fled west in the peace. Disguised as a Hanoverian officer in King Frederick's service, Peter would return to Hanover and then flee into the only real neutral nation of northern Europe, the Netherlands. Had the Czarina gotten her hands on him, Peter's death would likely to be slow and painful. From the Netherlands, he fled to his "ally", Great Britain.
What he didn't realize was that no one in Great Britain, including George II, gave a damn about him and only gave him lodging in hopes that he may be of use in the future either as an asset to hand over to Czarina Elizabeth or somehow if Russia called him back to the throne should the Czarina die.
As it was, Britain had more important things to worry about. As it was, the truth behind the Franco-Austrian alliance had finally come to light in two sections:
1. In return for French aid in regaining Silesia, the Empress had agreed to turn over the Austrian Netherlands (French Speaking Walloonia and Dutch-Catholic Flanders) to the King of France, a boon French Kings had sought for centuries. During the War of Spanish Succession, the longtime Spanish Habsburg possession was handed over to the Austrian Habsburgs. Completely disconnected from the other Habsburg realms, it seemed indefensible in the long run and Maria Theresa was happy to be rid of it in exchange for her beloved (and contiguous) Silesia.
2. An agreement was made regarding the French conquests in the northeastern Holy Roman Empire. The Empress, whom knew well of the long rivalry with France to dominate the Holy Roman Empire, would not accept France gaining a single square inch of land within Germany. By previous treaty, the French would soon gain control over Lorraine (patrimony of Maria Theresa's husband, the Emperor) per the terms of the War of Austrian Succession. The Emperor gave up the Duchy along the French border as part of the peace to the King of France's father-in-law. Once the man died, Lorraine would revert to France (yet another long-desired acquisition by French Kings).
France had recently overrun Hanover and large swathes of the small Protestant German Principalities. King Louis XV agreed to fully withdraw from the Empire upon one condition: That Hanover not be returned to George II or anyone in his immediate family.
The desires of both France and Austria were obvious:
1. France wanted Britain's direct influence in the Empire eliminated. This was not so much that Hanover would ever have been a direct threat to France. Moreso, Britain united in personal union with Hanover was a natural ally to Austria. British funds had long supported the Habsburgs in their wars with France. By pushing out the House of Hanover from Germany, this reduced the likelihood of future Austrian-British alliances against France. Louis XV didn't care much who got the German Electorate as long as it was not affiliated with Britain.
2. Austria wanted a future counter-weight to Brandenburg. Though the immediate future did not point to the House of Hohenzollern being a threat to Austria, that may not be the case always. Most of the Holy Roman Empire was Protestant (Lutheran or Calvinist mainly) and while monarchs no longer attempted to force their own religion upon the people, the Germans may someday rally around a Protestant House...like the Hohenzollerns.
By dividing the power in Germany, Maria Theresa may maintain some semblance of authority in the Empire.
The emissaries of Maria Theresa and Louis XV would debate many options including offering the throne to the Duke of Cumberland (George II would have been happy to agree to this) or one of the younger sons of the late Prince Frederick of Britain (George II would have found this tolerable too). However, the connection was still too close for France's taste.
Finally, an agreement was made which suited both France and Austria.
Hanover was given to the King of Denmark. The Electorate was contiguous to Frederick V of Denmark's lands of Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein. Count Moltke, whom had desperately tried avoiding war, was shocked when informed by the emissaries of France and Austria that his master, Frederick V of Denmark, had just gained an Electorate for such a meager contribution to the war.
It was also agreed that the Protestant Princes whom made a habit of leasing out Regiments of soldiers for foreign service (Hesse, Brunswick) would be restricted from doing so within the Holy Roman Empire. This would prove painful to some Princes but also meant it got the French occupation army out of their Principalities.
As such things took a while to negotiate and longer to implement, it would be 1760 before all the armies retreated to their homelands but the war in the east was effectively over. The administrative occupation of these exchanged territories would take years to carry out as many of the peoples of the "French" Netherlands, East Prussia and Hanover would object to being handed over to a new crown like cattle.
Open issues remained as to the final dispensation of East Prussia (if the Czarina would incorporate it into her Empire directly, hand it to her puppet in the Polish Commonwealth or select a pliable King) as well as the Riksdag of Sweden's still-to-be-determined heir to the vacant throne (their own King remaining in Berlin). Russia in particular became anxious that the Swedes make a choice sooner rather than later. The last thing the Czarina wanted was the idea of a Republic cropping up near her border.
The war in the west continued even as King George II openly wept at the loss of his patrimony in Hanover (he continued to plot to reconquer it from France and Denmark). France and Spain continued to war with Britain across the sea and Denmark was repeatedly ravaged by the Royal Navy in hopes of forcing King Frederick V to relinquish Hanover to her rightful sovereign.
The Dutch would be horrified that the French had been handed the "French Netherlands". The former Austrian Netherlands was a buffer between the Dutch Republic and France. Previous war resulted in a coalition of British, Austria, "Austrian" Netherlands, Dutch, Hanoverian and hired German mercenaries defending the borders against France.
It was looking less and less likely than any such coalition could be formed in the future as neither Britain, Danish Hanover nor Austria would be interested in a French-Dutch war. And certainly no one would pay for mercenaries for help. The wealthy Protestant Dutch Republic in political and military decline would likely be easy prey if France ever elected to invade.
The British were no less horrified. It was bad enough that France had bases across the English channel. Now France had acquired not only more bases but BETTER BASES across the English Channel in Flanders. Given the disparity between the respective sizes of the British and French armies, a successful French landing in Britain may be tantamount to Britain's conquest.
With peace reigning on the continent, war raged in the west as France and Spain (and unwillingly Denmark) sought to bring the British to the bargaining table.
Berlin
The peace terms against the King of Prussia were harsh:
1. Silesia was handed back to Austria. This was particularly painful for Frederick as Silesia rivalled Brandenburg in importance in terms of population, development and strategic location.
2. East Prussia was given to Russia (though the Czarina was unsure of what she would do with a flat and poor Protestant land).
3. Several exclaves possessed by Prussia within Saxony would be handed to the Elector of Saxony as would the inheritance rights to Ansbach and Bayrouth (whose Margrave was childless and Frederick II would have been his heir).
4. The portion of Prussian Pomerania conquered from Sweden earlier in the century was returned.
5. King Frederick's exclaves in the Rhineland (Cleves, Mark, etc) would also be lost as well though their distribution had yet to be determined.
Frederick, having lost East Prussia which was a Kingdom, was left only with his stem Duchies within the Holy Roman Empire. Thus Frederick was no longer a King but a mere Elector.
Millions of marks in reparations would be extracted and the Elector of Brandenburg's Army would be restricted for 20 years to only 20,000 men. It had been the intention of the victorious parties to force Frederick II to abdicate. However, the former King refused to give them the satisfaction and beat them to the punch. He turned what was left of his domains to his idiot nephew before the final treaty was signed.
Little of this was unexpected. The peace was always going to be harsh for Prussia (now Brandenburg).
What was utterly unexpected were the other provisions of the peace.
The Czarina wanted one thing and would have been more than happy to turn over her conquest of East Prussia to possess: the person of her nephew, Peter. However, the "General" in the Prussian Army wisely fled west in the peace. Disguised as a Hanoverian officer in King Frederick's service, Peter would return to Hanover and then flee into the only real neutral nation of northern Europe, the Netherlands. Had the Czarina gotten her hands on him, Peter's death would likely to be slow and painful. From the Netherlands, he fled to his "ally", Great Britain.
What he didn't realize was that no one in Great Britain, including George II, gave a damn about him and only gave him lodging in hopes that he may be of use in the future either as an asset to hand over to Czarina Elizabeth or somehow if Russia called him back to the throne should the Czarina die.
As it was, Britain had more important things to worry about. As it was, the truth behind the Franco-Austrian alliance had finally come to light in two sections:
1. In return for French aid in regaining Silesia, the Empress had agreed to turn over the Austrian Netherlands (French Speaking Walloonia and Dutch-Catholic Flanders) to the King of France, a boon French Kings had sought for centuries. During the War of Spanish Succession, the longtime Spanish Habsburg possession was handed over to the Austrian Habsburgs. Completely disconnected from the other Habsburg realms, it seemed indefensible in the long run and Maria Theresa was happy to be rid of it in exchange for her beloved (and contiguous) Silesia.
2. An agreement was made regarding the French conquests in the northeastern Holy Roman Empire. The Empress, whom knew well of the long rivalry with France to dominate the Holy Roman Empire, would not accept France gaining a single square inch of land within Germany. By previous treaty, the French would soon gain control over Lorraine (patrimony of Maria Theresa's husband, the Emperor) per the terms of the War of Austrian Succession. The Emperor gave up the Duchy along the French border as part of the peace to the King of France's father-in-law. Once the man died, Lorraine would revert to France (yet another long-desired acquisition by French Kings).
France had recently overrun Hanover and large swathes of the small Protestant German Principalities. King Louis XV agreed to fully withdraw from the Empire upon one condition: That Hanover not be returned to George II or anyone in his immediate family.
The desires of both France and Austria were obvious:
1. France wanted Britain's direct influence in the Empire eliminated. This was not so much that Hanover would ever have been a direct threat to France. Moreso, Britain united in personal union with Hanover was a natural ally to Austria. British funds had long supported the Habsburgs in their wars with France. By pushing out the House of Hanover from Germany, this reduced the likelihood of future Austrian-British alliances against France. Louis XV didn't care much who got the German Electorate as long as it was not affiliated with Britain.
2. Austria wanted a future counter-weight to Brandenburg. Though the immediate future did not point to the House of Hohenzollern being a threat to Austria, that may not be the case always. Most of the Holy Roman Empire was Protestant (Lutheran or Calvinist mainly) and while monarchs no longer attempted to force their own religion upon the people, the Germans may someday rally around a Protestant House...like the Hohenzollerns.
By dividing the power in Germany, Maria Theresa may maintain some semblance of authority in the Empire.
The emissaries of Maria Theresa and Louis XV would debate many options including offering the throne to the Duke of Cumberland (George II would have been happy to agree to this) or one of the younger sons of the late Prince Frederick of Britain (George II would have found this tolerable too). However, the connection was still too close for France's taste.
Finally, an agreement was made which suited both France and Austria.
Hanover was given to the King of Denmark. The Electorate was contiguous to Frederick V of Denmark's lands of Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein. Count Moltke, whom had desperately tried avoiding war, was shocked when informed by the emissaries of France and Austria that his master, Frederick V of Denmark, had just gained an Electorate for such a meager contribution to the war.
It was also agreed that the Protestant Princes whom made a habit of leasing out Regiments of soldiers for foreign service (Hesse, Brunswick) would be restricted from doing so within the Holy Roman Empire. This would prove painful to some Princes but also meant it got the French occupation army out of their Principalities.
As such things took a while to negotiate and longer to implement, it would be 1760 before all the armies retreated to their homelands but the war in the east was effectively over. The administrative occupation of these exchanged territories would take years to carry out as many of the peoples of the "French" Netherlands, East Prussia and Hanover would object to being handed over to a new crown like cattle.
Open issues remained as to the final dispensation of East Prussia (if the Czarina would incorporate it into her Empire directly, hand it to her puppet in the Polish Commonwealth or select a pliable King) as well as the Riksdag of Sweden's still-to-be-determined heir to the vacant throne (their own King remaining in Berlin). Russia in particular became anxious that the Swedes make a choice sooner rather than later. The last thing the Czarina wanted was the idea of a Republic cropping up near her border.
The war in the west continued even as King George II openly wept at the loss of his patrimony in Hanover (he continued to plot to reconquer it from France and Denmark). France and Spain continued to war with Britain across the sea and Denmark was repeatedly ravaged by the Royal Navy in hopes of forcing King Frederick V to relinquish Hanover to her rightful sovereign.
The Dutch would be horrified that the French had been handed the "French Netherlands". The former Austrian Netherlands was a buffer between the Dutch Republic and France. Previous war resulted in a coalition of British, Austria, "Austrian" Netherlands, Dutch, Hanoverian and hired German mercenaries defending the borders against France.
It was looking less and less likely than any such coalition could be formed in the future as neither Britain, Danish Hanover nor Austria would be interested in a French-Dutch war. And certainly no one would pay for mercenaries for help. The wealthy Protestant Dutch Republic in political and military decline would likely be easy prey if France ever elected to invade.
The British were no less horrified. It was bad enough that France had bases across the English channel. Now France had acquired not only more bases but BETTER BASES across the English Channel in Flanders. Given the disparity between the respective sizes of the British and French armies, a successful French landing in Britain may be tantamount to Britain's conquest.
With peace reigning on the continent, war raged in the west as France and Spain (and unwillingly Denmark) sought to bring the British to the bargaining table.
Considering the stated premise in the OP, definite foreshadowing. Only question now is, what would anger the French so much that they would want to outright conquer Britain rather than just extract some territory and reparations and such?
Chapter 15: West Indies
1759
London
As the British people looked on horror as the French took up more powerful positions across the English Channel, the war continued apace. For once, the King and William Pitt were in agreement on an issue. The key difference was that King George II wanted conquests for which Britain could trade Hanover. The fact that France, by the end of 1760, had abandoned Hanover to Denmark put something a different spin on matters. George II had always hoped that, even in peace, Maria Theresa would push to return the King's ancestral domain. But the Empress was apparently too happy with the return of her beloved Silesia to give a damn about who controlled a northern German state.
In 1758, the French and Spanish had stolen a march on Britain by seizing the Bahamas, Dominica and the northern and southern extremes of Brazil. But Pitt was not yet done...or even had gotten started.
He ordered his victorious British soldiers in Quebec to march inland and crush the remaining French presence (mainly in Montreal) while the Americans were ordered to attack the inland regions of Upper and Lower Louisiana and Spanish Florida.
Though it had taken some time, additional forces had been dispatched to America (3500 troops to Charlestown and Baltimore), Jamaica (2500) and Barbados (2000). The problem with the latter two (Jamaica and Barbados) was that this may have proven enough men to defend the islands from invasion but hardly enough to commence offensive operations against the vastly more populous French and Spanish possessions in the area. It certainly would not be enough to launch an attack on Havana, San Juan, Cartagena or Veracruz. If not, what was the point of them being there?
If the war was to be largely defensive, maybe peace would be acceptable.
But the Royal Navy would prove decisive. Pitt was certain that the Royal Navy would be able to fight along multiple axis at once.
1759
Cap-Francais, San Dominigue, Hispaniola
Envisioning a glittering British Empire spanning much of the world, Pitt ordered the Royal Navy to sweep the French and Spanish from the seas wherever they could be found. The shoreline of France, Denmark and Spain were to be ravaged. Portuguese insurgents were to be supplied. Perhaps most importantly, the suddenly isolated Brazilians would received vast amounts of munitions, arms, ships and training to resist the Spanish. By 1760, there were almost as many British soldiers in Brazil as America.
Once the enemy fleets were destroyed, the Royal Navy would escort British (and American) soldiers to conquer the Caribbean islands one by one. Pitt didn't give a damn about how long it took.
In one particularly daring action, Cap-Francais, the capital of San Dominigue was attacked. Among the most wealthy spots on earth, San Dominigue provided a wealth of taxes and sugar for the French. The British squadron swept in and wiped out the handful of French warships present (France had not expected the colony to be a target) and seized thirty French merchant ships laden with high-value sugar, coffee, rum, etc. 500 British troops and several hundred marines (augmented by many more sailors) would seize the wharves and another huge quantity of goods. So rich was the plunder that much of it could literally not be fit upon the many ships. Much sugar was simply dumped into the bay to keep it from the French. Large quantities of arms and powder were seized as the French locals had not put up much of a fight.
The British were about to depart when a delegation of Negroes arrived. Having taken heart from the arrival of the British, the French Slaves had risen up throughout much of the island. This was one of the reasons why there had been so little resistance. They inquired if, should they declare allegiance to King George II, would His Majesty approve their manumission?
The British officers, both army and navy, had not expected such a request. Seeing no particular downside, they agreed and, instead of retreating, settled into Cap-Francais to stay. By the close of 1759, the bulk of the British forces in Baltimore and Charlestown would sail to Cap-Francais (with 1000 Americans) to acquire the colony from France. The many thousands of muskets and tons of powder were turned over to their new black allies. Some British and Americans were shocked to learn of the deal. What if the French play the same trick in Jamaica or South Carolina?
But the commander knew his resources were sparse and would certainly have to retreat from Hispaniola in short order without the help of the revolting slaves.
Thus the precedent was set.
London
As the British people looked on horror as the French took up more powerful positions across the English Channel, the war continued apace. For once, the King and William Pitt were in agreement on an issue. The key difference was that King George II wanted conquests for which Britain could trade Hanover. The fact that France, by the end of 1760, had abandoned Hanover to Denmark put something a different spin on matters. George II had always hoped that, even in peace, Maria Theresa would push to return the King's ancestral domain. But the Empress was apparently too happy with the return of her beloved Silesia to give a damn about who controlled a northern German state.
In 1758, the French and Spanish had stolen a march on Britain by seizing the Bahamas, Dominica and the northern and southern extremes of Brazil. But Pitt was not yet done...or even had gotten started.
He ordered his victorious British soldiers in Quebec to march inland and crush the remaining French presence (mainly in Montreal) while the Americans were ordered to attack the inland regions of Upper and Lower Louisiana and Spanish Florida.
Though it had taken some time, additional forces had been dispatched to America (3500 troops to Charlestown and Baltimore), Jamaica (2500) and Barbados (2000). The problem with the latter two (Jamaica and Barbados) was that this may have proven enough men to defend the islands from invasion but hardly enough to commence offensive operations against the vastly more populous French and Spanish possessions in the area. It certainly would not be enough to launch an attack on Havana, San Juan, Cartagena or Veracruz. If not, what was the point of them being there?
If the war was to be largely defensive, maybe peace would be acceptable.
But the Royal Navy would prove decisive. Pitt was certain that the Royal Navy would be able to fight along multiple axis at once.
1759
Cap-Francais, San Dominigue, Hispaniola
Envisioning a glittering British Empire spanning much of the world, Pitt ordered the Royal Navy to sweep the French and Spanish from the seas wherever they could be found. The shoreline of France, Denmark and Spain were to be ravaged. Portuguese insurgents were to be supplied. Perhaps most importantly, the suddenly isolated Brazilians would received vast amounts of munitions, arms, ships and training to resist the Spanish. By 1760, there were almost as many British soldiers in Brazil as America.
Once the enemy fleets were destroyed, the Royal Navy would escort British (and American) soldiers to conquer the Caribbean islands one by one. Pitt didn't give a damn about how long it took.
In one particularly daring action, Cap-Francais, the capital of San Dominigue was attacked. Among the most wealthy spots on earth, San Dominigue provided a wealth of taxes and sugar for the French. The British squadron swept in and wiped out the handful of French warships present (France had not expected the colony to be a target) and seized thirty French merchant ships laden with high-value sugar, coffee, rum, etc. 500 British troops and several hundred marines (augmented by many more sailors) would seize the wharves and another huge quantity of goods. So rich was the plunder that much of it could literally not be fit upon the many ships. Much sugar was simply dumped into the bay to keep it from the French. Large quantities of arms and powder were seized as the French locals had not put up much of a fight.
The British were about to depart when a delegation of Negroes arrived. Having taken heart from the arrival of the British, the French Slaves had risen up throughout much of the island. This was one of the reasons why there had been so little resistance. They inquired if, should they declare allegiance to King George II, would His Majesty approve their manumission?
The British officers, both army and navy, had not expected such a request. Seeing no particular downside, they agreed and, instead of retreating, settled into Cap-Francais to stay. By the close of 1759, the bulk of the British forces in Baltimore and Charlestown would sail to Cap-Francais (with 1000 Americans) to acquire the colony from France. The many thousands of muskets and tons of powder were turned over to their new black allies. Some British and Americans were shocked to learn of the deal. What if the French play the same trick in Jamaica or South Carolina?
But the commander knew his resources were sparse and would certainly have to retreat from Hispaniola in short order without the help of the revolting slaves.
Thus the precedent was set.
unprincipled peter
Donor
invasion would force Britain from the war and regain any lost territories (like new france)
It is not so much that the French wanted the war to continue but the British. France would never give up the "French Netherlands" and could no longer give back Hanover.
With the Royal Navy, the British would have the advantage overseas, including the seizure of Quebec as well as potential seizures of Montreal, New Orleans, Florida and the West Indies.
Britain also could not allow Spain to conquer Portugal and Brazil.
Britain would never pay reparations unless there were actual French troops on their soil forcing them to do so.
Gian
Banned
@Alt History Buff - I still have many questions about the fate of the Acadians. Are they still expelled like IOTL (perhaps with the Canadiens joining them) perhaps even further out to Texas if Louisiana is conquered too.
You called it. I'm going to be concentrating upon the Canadian's fates in the next couple of chapters.
Chapter 16: North America
1759 - Spring
Montreal
General Keppel knew that the broken remnants of the French army in North America had been consolidated over the winter in Montreal with the obvious intent of attacking east against the British-colonial occupation of Quebec. For months, the British had been cut off due to the annual freezing of the St. Laurence. But, of course, the French were even more cut off.
General Montcalm summoned virtually every French and Canadian able-bodied soldiers East of Quebec in hopes of gathering a force large enough to evict the British from Quebec. Indeed, he hoped (with little real expectation) that King Louis would have dispatched reinforcements to retake the great bastion over the winter and manage to reach Quebec before British reinforcements arrived.
As it turned out, this latter hope proved a lie. The British supply convoy arrived in early April even as Montcalm marched. This relief amount to only 500 French soldiers but a large quantity of munitions and foodstuffs. American ships also arrived bearing 400 more colonial volunteers and a large amount of supplies from Boston.
Thus, when Montcalm appeared on the Plains of Abraham in May with 5400 French and Canadian forces, they were met by 8000 British and Americans well-entrenched in the city and on the Plains. The "Battle of the Plains of Abraham" was noted by historians as a great tactical error by Montcalm. Most believed that he never should have tried taking on an entrench superior enemy, especially as he lacked any kind of siege machinery to reduce the city even if he defeated the British army.
Instead, a general massacre occurred with both sides suffering over a thousand casualties and the French were forced to retreat having exhausted a large portion of their powder and supplies and leaving behind many cannon and provisions. Upon retreating, many of the Canadians were forced to abandon the army in order to see to their families. Starvation had been rampant the past two winters and there seemed to be little hope of major improvement in the short term.
Future military historians would also criticize Montcalm for effectively abandoning many of their western fortifications, making them easy prey for the American militias which stumbled into the forests to dislodge their skeleton garrisons.
In a final piece of condemnation, future historians would dismiss Montcalm as a ninny for deliberately damaging relations with the French tribal allies in the region whose irregular warfare tactics had preserved the French position for generations. Irritated, few of the local tribes would aid the French in their final battles.
As it was, Montcalm would never have to hear this criticism as he was killed at the Plains of Abraham and given a martyr death.
By Fall of 1759, the British had cornered the French in Montreal and forced their surrender by September.
This set the stage for an act of brutality uncommon even in a brutal age. Having seized Nova Scotia (Acadia) years before, the British had expelled the Acadians on prison barges dispatched the length of North America's east coast. Nearly a fifth of the Acadians died in the purge but Nova Scotia was made open for British and American resettlement.
The Canadians of Quebec, Montreal and other regions faced a similar eviction. Tens of thousands (out of the 70,000 strong population of French Canada) were forced on boats in 1759, 1760 and 1761 and purposefully split up among the assorted American colonies. Many of these colonies had no provision for these unwelcome and unwilling migrants and were forced to remain on ships for months as they starved or died of disease. Later this would be referred to as the Canadian Genocide.
In the meantime, from 1759 to 1761, over 30,000 American and 10,000 British would take up residence in Nova Scotia and Canada alone. This doesn't even account for the trickling movement west of the American colonials into "Upper Louisiana". Within a few years, the local Indian tribes, bereft of French support, would initiate a mass attack which threatened to push the Americans east of the Appalachians. However, the technology and numbers would start to tell and the Indian tribes were, one by one, forced to made accommodations.
1759 - Fall
Danish West Indies
The Royal Navy did not remain idle over the campaign season of 1759. Ships were dispatched from Antigua to seize the Danish Virgin Islands. These were lightly populated and less important that much of the Caribbean but were considered an easy target.
By 1760, the key British positions in the Caribbean were Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua (more important for her naval base than her sugar industry) and Cap-Francais. Plots were hatched to reclaim St. Kitts and attack stronger French and Spanish islands like Martinique or Havana but the forces were not yet available to make such bold moves.
Montreal
General Keppel knew that the broken remnants of the French army in North America had been consolidated over the winter in Montreal with the obvious intent of attacking east against the British-colonial occupation of Quebec. For months, the British had been cut off due to the annual freezing of the St. Laurence. But, of course, the French were even more cut off.
General Montcalm summoned virtually every French and Canadian able-bodied soldiers East of Quebec in hopes of gathering a force large enough to evict the British from Quebec. Indeed, he hoped (with little real expectation) that King Louis would have dispatched reinforcements to retake the great bastion over the winter and manage to reach Quebec before British reinforcements arrived.
As it turned out, this latter hope proved a lie. The British supply convoy arrived in early April even as Montcalm marched. This relief amount to only 500 French soldiers but a large quantity of munitions and foodstuffs. American ships also arrived bearing 400 more colonial volunteers and a large amount of supplies from Boston.
Thus, when Montcalm appeared on the Plains of Abraham in May with 5400 French and Canadian forces, they were met by 8000 British and Americans well-entrenched in the city and on the Plains. The "Battle of the Plains of Abraham" was noted by historians as a great tactical error by Montcalm. Most believed that he never should have tried taking on an entrench superior enemy, especially as he lacked any kind of siege machinery to reduce the city even if he defeated the British army.
Instead, a general massacre occurred with both sides suffering over a thousand casualties and the French were forced to retreat having exhausted a large portion of their powder and supplies and leaving behind many cannon and provisions. Upon retreating, many of the Canadians were forced to abandon the army in order to see to their families. Starvation had been rampant the past two winters and there seemed to be little hope of major improvement in the short term.
Future military historians would also criticize Montcalm for effectively abandoning many of their western fortifications, making them easy prey for the American militias which stumbled into the forests to dislodge their skeleton garrisons.
In a final piece of condemnation, future historians would dismiss Montcalm as a ninny for deliberately damaging relations with the French tribal allies in the region whose irregular warfare tactics had preserved the French position for generations. Irritated, few of the local tribes would aid the French in their final battles.
As it was, Montcalm would never have to hear this criticism as he was killed at the Plains of Abraham and given a martyr death.
By Fall of 1759, the British had cornered the French in Montreal and forced their surrender by September.
This set the stage for an act of brutality uncommon even in a brutal age. Having seized Nova Scotia (Acadia) years before, the British had expelled the Acadians on prison barges dispatched the length of North America's east coast. Nearly a fifth of the Acadians died in the purge but Nova Scotia was made open for British and American resettlement.
The Canadians of Quebec, Montreal and other regions faced a similar eviction. Tens of thousands (out of the 70,000 strong population of French Canada) were forced on boats in 1759, 1760 and 1761 and purposefully split up among the assorted American colonies. Many of these colonies had no provision for these unwelcome and unwilling migrants and were forced to remain on ships for months as they starved or died of disease. Later this would be referred to as the Canadian Genocide.
In the meantime, from 1759 to 1761, over 30,000 American and 10,000 British would take up residence in Nova Scotia and Canada alone. This doesn't even account for the trickling movement west of the American colonials into "Upper Louisiana". Within a few years, the local Indian tribes, bereft of French support, would initiate a mass attack which threatened to push the Americans east of the Appalachians. However, the technology and numbers would start to tell and the Indian tribes were, one by one, forced to made accommodations.
1759 - Fall
Danish West Indies
The Royal Navy did not remain idle over the campaign season of 1759. Ships were dispatched from Antigua to seize the Danish Virgin Islands. These were lightly populated and less important that much of the Caribbean but were considered an easy target.
By 1760, the key British positions in the Caribbean were Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua (more important for her naval base than her sugar industry) and Cap-Francais. Plots were hatched to reclaim St. Kitts and attack stronger French and Spanish islands like Martinique or Havana but the forces were not yet available to make such bold moves.
Holy crap. I know the English like the French less in TTL but that still seems rather uncharacteristically excessive.
It's mostly based on OTL : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_the_Acadians
Even if here it's worst and sooner, maybe because the Hannobver situation and the fact that they seems reall worried by their lack of allies and the rise of France as great power with Spanish Netherlands.
Even if here it's worst and sooner, maybe because the Hannobver situation and the fact that they seems reall worried by their lack of allies and the rise of France as great power with Spanish Netherlands.
Agreed, this is just a continuation of what happened to the Acadians of Nova Scotia in the early 1750's. Acadia had been conquered in the previous war but the French residents were allowed to remain. However, when the 7 Year War started, the British "COULD NOT TRUST" the Acadians to remain neutral and demanded that they swear allegiance to George II. Naturally, they could not do this and were forcibly ejected by the British. They were pushed onto ships and split up amongst the other British colonies whom were not expecting them, had no way to pay for them and frequently refused to allow them to disembark. They were left on the ships in harbor to starve or die of disease. Children were separated from their parents and eventually many of the Acadians found their way to New Orleans or back to France.
I'm expanding the purge here to include Canada.
unprincipled peter
Donor
I normally don't like to pour cold water in the middle of a TL, but is it feasible to extend the expulsion to a greater population? OTL, the brits went extremely easy on the French Canadians to avoid a difficult occupation, and that was with Britain being victorious around the globe. Here, the British are defeated in a lot of arenas and the homeland is not likely to gladly suffer a difficult occupation. Perhaps making a great blunder is part of your master plan, but I think it is one not likely to be made, and not likely to be easy to implement if made.
Chapter 17 - Britain and France
1759 - Fall, Winter
London
While the news of the fall of Montreal and Cap-Francais were quite welcome, the truth was that Britain's war effort appeared to be going no where. While William Pitt happily trumpeted the British seizure of Canada, the great port of Cap-Francais, an invasion by the Colony of Georgia of St. Augustine and the seizure of the Danish West Indies, this did nothing to deflect from the tru failures of the campaign:
1. His Majesty's home domain of Hanover had fallen and been handed to Denmark apparently.
2. Portugal's great ports of Lisbon and Porto were in enemy hands with little to no chance of the Portuguese of retaking them.
3. The Spanish continued to encroach upon Brazil.
4. Minorca had fallen in the Mediterranean.
5. Petty islands like the Bahamas and Dominica had fallen.
The King demanded an invasion of the Continent to push out the French (and Danes) but the entire government knew this was folly. Britain lacked the army to invade Hanover. They'd probably lose a land war to the Danes along much less the other powers of Europe which had supported the Treaty of Berlin.
In truth, Pitt didn't give a damn about Hanover (reflecting the views of most of Britain) but knew that Portugal and Brazil's strategic and economic importance could not be exaggerated. He doubted that the French and Spanish could do more than hold the main cities of Portugal and the Spanish Empire had done little more than conquer some borders territories to the huge Colony of Brazil. It seemed unlikely that a mass invasion of a thousand mile coast was imminent. Indeed, the British military aid to the Portuguese colonies were bearing fruit and reportedly a useful army and navy were being produced in Brazil to halt any further incursions to the core populated areas (with a British squadron and several regiments to stiffen the Brazilian spine, of course.
Confident in the Royal Navy, Pitt would continue to ship forces to America, the West Indies and Brazil. As a direct invasion of France, Spain or Portugal (or Hanover, he supposed) was nearly impossible given the limitations of the British Army, then he'd take so many enemy colonies that the Bourbons would be forced to come to terms.
Paris
King Louis XV's financial advisors begged the King to seek peace. France could not afford more years of war. Three was more than enough on the Kingdom's rickety finances. Louis XV, happy with the acquisition of the renamed "French Netherlands" and, had the option been offered before, would not have hesitated to allow George II back his petty German Duchy. But now Hanover had been given away to Denmark and there was nothing Louis XV could do about it. Surely, King George could see this too.
But the British plainly intended to conquer what they could, perhaps with an eye to somehow regain Hanover (good luck).
With the British on the front foot, now would be a poor time to offer peace. Louis XV's Minister of State, de Choiseul, would point out that the Franco-Spanish alliance vastly outnumbered the British in the Caribbean and they should, theoretically, overwhelm Antigua, Barbados and Jamaica. De Choiseul's counterpart ordered all of the local Spanish power centers in the region - Havana, San Juan, Veracruz, Cartagena - to mobilize their colonial population to the war effort. France could not do quite as much in their West Indian islands as most of the French islands possessed heavy majority black slave populations and could not hope to put together local militia regiments. Indeed, the French islands were utterly dependent upon Crown troops to protect against rebellion (as was the case in Cap-Francais).
With the richest French colony under defacto occupation and Canada apparently fallen, any peace may be on Britain's terms if negotiated today (assuming Hanover and the Austrian Netherlands were not under negotiation). France and Spain needed a true victory to hold on to France's overseas Empire. Gaining the Austrian Netherlands was nice but Louis XV could not be expected to cede the New World to Britain (and Spain).
De Choiseul, knowing that the Royal Navy was pulled in many directions (Denmark, Portugal, Gibraltar, Brazil, the St. Lawrence, the West Indies), would opt to focus the French assets on one or two campaigns. He elected to focus on Portugal, the West Indies and a new project of his, the threatened invasion of Britain and/or Ireland. Maybe seeing an invasion fleet across the Channel would entice Britain into a fair peace.
London
While the news of the fall of Montreal and Cap-Francais were quite welcome, the truth was that Britain's war effort appeared to be going no where. While William Pitt happily trumpeted the British seizure of Canada, the great port of Cap-Francais, an invasion by the Colony of Georgia of St. Augustine and the seizure of the Danish West Indies, this did nothing to deflect from the tru failures of the campaign:
1. His Majesty's home domain of Hanover had fallen and been handed to Denmark apparently.
2. Portugal's great ports of Lisbon and Porto were in enemy hands with little to no chance of the Portuguese of retaking them.
3. The Spanish continued to encroach upon Brazil.
4. Minorca had fallen in the Mediterranean.
5. Petty islands like the Bahamas and Dominica had fallen.
The King demanded an invasion of the Continent to push out the French (and Danes) but the entire government knew this was folly. Britain lacked the army to invade Hanover. They'd probably lose a land war to the Danes along much less the other powers of Europe which had supported the Treaty of Berlin.
In truth, Pitt didn't give a damn about Hanover (reflecting the views of most of Britain) but knew that Portugal and Brazil's strategic and economic importance could not be exaggerated. He doubted that the French and Spanish could do more than hold the main cities of Portugal and the Spanish Empire had done little more than conquer some borders territories to the huge Colony of Brazil. It seemed unlikely that a mass invasion of a thousand mile coast was imminent. Indeed, the British military aid to the Portuguese colonies were bearing fruit and reportedly a useful army and navy were being produced in Brazil to halt any further incursions to the core populated areas (with a British squadron and several regiments to stiffen the Brazilian spine, of course.
Confident in the Royal Navy, Pitt would continue to ship forces to America, the West Indies and Brazil. As a direct invasion of France, Spain or Portugal (or Hanover, he supposed) was nearly impossible given the limitations of the British Army, then he'd take so many enemy colonies that the Bourbons would be forced to come to terms.
Paris
King Louis XV's financial advisors begged the King to seek peace. France could not afford more years of war. Three was more than enough on the Kingdom's rickety finances. Louis XV, happy with the acquisition of the renamed "French Netherlands" and, had the option been offered before, would not have hesitated to allow George II back his petty German Duchy. But now Hanover had been given away to Denmark and there was nothing Louis XV could do about it. Surely, King George could see this too.
But the British plainly intended to conquer what they could, perhaps with an eye to somehow regain Hanover (good luck).
With the British on the front foot, now would be a poor time to offer peace. Louis XV's Minister of State, de Choiseul, would point out that the Franco-Spanish alliance vastly outnumbered the British in the Caribbean and they should, theoretically, overwhelm Antigua, Barbados and Jamaica. De Choiseul's counterpart ordered all of the local Spanish power centers in the region - Havana, San Juan, Veracruz, Cartagena - to mobilize their colonial population to the war effort. France could not do quite as much in their West Indian islands as most of the French islands possessed heavy majority black slave populations and could not hope to put together local militia regiments. Indeed, the French islands were utterly dependent upon Crown troops to protect against rebellion (as was the case in Cap-Francais).
With the richest French colony under defacto occupation and Canada apparently fallen, any peace may be on Britain's terms if negotiated today (assuming Hanover and the Austrian Netherlands were not under negotiation). France and Spain needed a true victory to hold on to France's overseas Empire. Gaining the Austrian Netherlands was nice but Louis XV could not be expected to cede the New World to Britain (and Spain).
De Choiseul, knowing that the Royal Navy was pulled in many directions (Denmark, Portugal, Gibraltar, Brazil, the St. Lawrence, the West Indies), would opt to focus the French assets on one or two campaigns. He elected to focus on Portugal, the West Indies and a new project of his, the threatened invasion of Britain and/or Ireland. Maybe seeing an invasion fleet across the Channel would entice Britain into a fair peace.
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A reasonable point. Note that the population of Canada was so low and the Administration in London would be in an anti-Catholic hysteria after the fall of Hanover, Portugal and the invasion of Brazil, I suspect that harsher measures would be approved against French Canada.
I believe the French population of Canada, Upper and Lower Louisiana was about 70,000 spread out across a vast area. I though think it would be doable for the British to eject them over a relatively small region like the Quebec to Montreal corridor. Other Canadians would, of course, opt to leave rather than live under the British whom would no doubt demand a pledge of loyalty.
But I think that, YES, it would be a tactical error based upon what I have coming in this TL. The British don't need 10,000 soldiers in Canada when they would be needed elsewhere.
Deleted member 67076
Are the remainder of the Canadians going to be resettled in Louisiana? Additionally, with the now French Netherlands giving France access to a vast amount of capital, what will happen to the French debt (and also settlement patterns)?
As well, what happens to Saint Domingue and its (at this point) roughly 400,000 slaves?
As well, what happens to Saint Domingue and its (at this point) roughly 400,000 slaves?
Thanks. I always enter in the label but half the time, it doesn't get saved for some reason.