Allied Response
Allied Response
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Spain[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Spain is absolutely shocked by the American declaration of war and attack on East Florida. They were absolutely sure the US would tackle the British first – or only. Some ministers had warned that West Florida was in some danger, and had convinced the regent Don Carlos to upgrade the defences at Pensacola and Mobile. He was willing to do that much – but partly because of his suspicions of British designs on those towns. What no one seriously expected was the full fledged invasion of East Florida. West Florida, the US had some claim on, however tenuous, as it was their contention that it was included in the Louisiana Purchase, but East Florida was never anything the US had claimed. Desired, yes. Claimed, no.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Spain immediately suspends all commercial traffic with the US (especially in militarily sensitive items like gunpowder and mercury), and sends messengers to Portugal and Britain asking for cooperation, if not alliance, and for possible assistance in shipping her forces to America. (Britain cheerfully agrees to buy the mercury that the US had ordered and will now not receive.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Over the next few months, Spain signs a treaty of friendship with Britain and Portugal (not an alliance, per se, - basically a non-aggression pact for the next 5 years or duration of the war), and makes arrangements to use British and Portuguese shipping to help move her army. As the army wasn't ready to move, it takes time get the full force ready to go. But, by the end of June 10k men have been shipped to Florida.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Portugal[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The first 2 regiments ship out within a week of hearing that war was declared, headed for Halifax. By the end of March all 5k are in Canada.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The reduced tensions with Spain mean that another 2k can be freed up, and shipped out by June. In the same timeframe, 2k colonial troops are raised and shipped to Louisiana.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Although Spain is a co-belligerent, rather than an ally, she does agree to a swap whereby some tropic-adapted troops (e.g. Portuguese African colonial troops and/or British black Caribbean troops) might be swapped for European Spanish troops – so e.g. a unit of Spaniards fight in Tejas, while a unit of black troops fights in Florida.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Britain (military)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Britain is perturbed at how early war was declared. They had been expecting another couple of months, at least, and all their preparations were geared to that schedule. Still, preparations are in train for significant troop movements, it's just a matter of speeding things up. Within a week, the first regiments are boarding ships and sailing for Boston. They HOPE New England will agree to shipping all the troops by rail. If they don't the troops can be unloaded in Halifax and march west. The original plans, of course, were to land them in Montreal, but it will be frozen over by the time the troops get there. By the time the troops arrive in Halifax, arrangements have been made with New England to allow the free transport of allied troops north to Montreal. So British and Portuguese troops will both travel that route. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Much of the Royal Navy ups anchor and sets sail for Halifax, preparing for war and for the blockade of the US coast. Both the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast. Once it's realized that Mexico is in the war, the Gulf task force is reinforced and interdicts traffic along the Mexican coast as well. The Portuguese and New Englander navies are a major help here, and the Spanish a minor one. Token deployments by the Brazilians and the Texians (their entire navy of two ships) add to the force. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Britain (diplomatic/undercover)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The accumulated obsolete muskets are now funnelled to partisans inside the US boundaries, both through Spanish territory, across the Mississippi and up and down the entire seaboard. Some are distributed to hastily raised black militia units within Louisiana.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Given that Mexico has declared war (on Tejas, at least), arms are also smuggled into Nuevo Leon and Tamauplipas (the abortive 'Rio Grande Republic' ) and Yucatan (which is still in rebellion against Mexico). UPCA is encouraged to fortify their northern border, but to stay neutral for now.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]British (armaments)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The British have been supplying percussion cap rifles to their Marines for a couple of years now[1]. The Marines have greater need of a weapon that is resistant to wet (rain/spray). So, the British have been experimenting with caps, it's just that they were a lower priority, and produced in fairly small quantities. Now, however, that the production of Norton rifles is in hand, they can start converting some of the production of them to caplocks. Actually, much of the production of the last year or so has been of a model that is readily converted from flintlock to caplock. They also need to massively increase their cap production (which taking over the US mercury contracts makes possible). Wanting to increase production more than is feasible or safe for British producers by themselves, the Brits outsource some of the production to France and the Germanies, to increase the number of skilled workers (especially chemists) available. France is happy to the expansion of her industry paid for by Britain <g> - this is a commercial proposition, nothing like an alliance. In fact, France has every intent to take about half the increased production for her own military and use it in case of future conflict – which could easily be with Britain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Canada/British North America[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As in the War of 1812, military control for all British North America is centralized, and orchestrated from Canada. Nova Scotia and Louisiana WILL function as integral parts of the Canadian military machine. They can argue later about the future political ramifications, but their militias and military units will be directed from Winchester. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]10k decent militia are collected in the Maritimes (mostly Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), and half are immediately sent to Canada (via Boston). The threat of US invasion soon becomes an obvious phantom[2], and most of the rest are released to Canada by mid summer.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]New England[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]New England is very scared of the US. They see the 100k soldiers attacking the Protectorate, and are afraid that the US can come up with a similar force against them. This may not be an entirely reasonable fear, but it is very real. At the moment, the New Englander militias are all focussed on the NE/US border, and they aren't willing to send troops into Canada. Over time this may change. Where the New Englanders are a huge help, is navally. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tejas[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tejas screams bloody murder, and demands that Britain honour their treaty, and defend Tejas NOW. Britain basically says “Sure, we'll help you get your country back once we've dealt with the US, but we're kind of busy right now, don't jog our elbow.” Then word comes down from Winchester. If the Texian military will put itself under British command, and be an organic part of the Canadian army, well, something CAN be done, now. No demands are yet made that the Duke swear fealty to Sophia and Peter or that Tejas join Canada, but as with Nova Scotia and Louisiana, the future is left 'to be negotiated'. Obviously, there are strong limits on just WHAT can be done, as the US-Mexican force has about as many soldiers as the entire population of Tejas. They are clearly meaning to do more than just take Tejas back, and anything that the Brits/Canadians can do to slow the advance on Louisiana is a good thing.[/FONT]
–
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 The supplying of percussion caps to the Marines first is OTL, and in this time frame. With a muzzle-loading rifle, the percussion caps are less of an advantage than with breech loaders, but it's still an advantage. Most of the guns used in the US Civil War were caplock muzzle-loader rifles.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2 basically the Duke of Wellington's (?) old line “I don't say they can not come, I will say they can not come by sea”.[/FONT]