Fenians, Brits, Mexicans, Canucks and Frenchies....OH, MY! An alternate American Civil War

Robert e Lee will lose all his slaves if the proclamation of emancipation goes ahead. This might bankrupt him.
Virginia is in rebellion so his slaves would be free.
I do hope this time they do not put the graveyard in the rose garden.
 
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Chapter 16
July, 1862

Schleswig-Holstein


Largely ignoring the protests of even the German Confederation, Bismarck order the Prussian troops crossed into Schleswig-Holstein. Von Moltke and Von Roon were brilliant and the Prussian General Staff was vastly superior to any other organization of its kind on earth.

Politically, his action wasn't popular. He truly doubted that any of the petty German allies of the North were planning on abandoning the Confederation. They could not possibly believe he would ALLOW this to happen. Within a fortnight, he had pushed the Danes out of the German Duchies and declared them a new province for King Wilhelm.

It was also another step in the formation of a true German Empire.

But Bismarck was taken aback by the demand of the German Confederation....and Austria.... that the House of Augustenburg assume the throne and Prussia pull out of Schleswig-Holstein. Bismarck laughed until Austria and her allies, having spent months mobilizing in what he was sure was a bluff, crossed the border into Silesia.

Paris

Napoleon III had spent years attempting to entice his age-old enemy Austria into an alliance. Prussia may be an aspiring power but could hardly expect to fight off Austria AND France. With the formation of a united Italy, there seemed to be little to no chance that Austria would attempt to follow the well-worn path through southern Europe to attack France soon. Instead, France's greatest threat appeared to be from Prussia.

The Emperor blamed the idiots who redrew the map of Europe after Napoleon I's deposition. They'd effectively HANDED half of Germany to the House of Hohenzollern, despite having done little over the years to deserve such a bounty.

Now all of Europe was regretting this as, at last, there was a competent regime in Prussia.

As it so happened, the French buildup of forces was also underway, the nominal target was Italy. The French public was outraged at the seizure of the rump Papal State, guaranteed by France. In truth, Napoleon didn't give a damn about the Papal States. He'd be happy to see it folded into Italy so that country could take its rightful role of as a bulwark against France's enemies.

French diplomats worked overtime attempting to get the Papacy, Italy and Austria to see reason. That is, reason according to French interests.

Moscow

Alexander II had suffered the humiliation of defeat at the hands of a Continental Coalition. Seeing Europe tear itself apart with such ease made the Czar's heart beat in pleasure.

In seven years, he went from defeat to victory regaining virtually all objectives of the late war without the slightest response from any quarter of Europe. He'd dismembered the Kingdom of Poland and made it a mere province of Russia and the total response was muttered disapproval.

Now, the nation's weaknesses of the Crimean Campaign were being addressed. Railroads were snaking out to the corners of Russia (logistics had been a terrible problem in the Crimea). Modern warships had been purchased and locally built, one theoretically strong enough to withstand at least ONE foreign power.

The nation's government and army were being modernized as best the Czar could expect. The Serfs had been freed in Russia and Poland. Land was being redistributed. Settlement into Siberia continued apace.

For the moment, the Czar was pleased. But he could not shake the feeling that he was missing a potential new enemy. The Habsburgs had been enemies for centuries but Alexander II was certain that the festering rot of that dying Empire was not a threat to him, even with Russian ambitions in the Balkans. Austria was now transfixed with her rivalry with Prussia and her defeat two years prior to Italy and France.

He'd never considered Germany to be a real threat to Russia. Not even Frederick II could claim to be that despite his battlefield victories. But....what if the House of Hohenzollern DID somehow unite Germany?

The economic progress of the German Confederation was stunning over the past decades. Could Germany truly become a rival to Russia?

It seemed almost preposterous. But Alexander would watch. Closely.
 
Will the UK threaten to intervene in support of Prussia if France and Austria don't retreat to their ore war borders ?
Hard to see why they would with the coming conflict with the Union and trouble with the Irish and the food shortage that could becoming.
Queen victoria was pro german unity and spent a lot of time there to help that cause.
Her daughter had just married the king of Prussia in 1858.
 
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What do the UK care more for the problems with Lincoln and his government or the balance of power in Europe
The UK did nothing during Franco Prussian war of 187-71 when there was more at stake. So I can not see them doing anything now when they are committed to a conflict with the Union. Prussia does not look like that much of a problem yet.
 
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Chapter 17
July, 1862

Washington DC


The longer that Lincoln reviewed the situation, the more he realized that an opportunity had been lost to crush the Confederates. Outnumbered nearly two to one, Beauregard had retreated from the indefensible Virginia Peninsula and eventually was forced to abandon Fredericksburg. Now, Richmond was besieged on three sides and only a narrow slip of land and and water kept Richmond and Petersburg from being surrounded.

It WOULD have been 100% surrounded if Rosecrans, tasked with flanking the exposed Confederate left, had done his damned job and made his way south of the James as expected. Instead, a few light engagements distracted and potentially intimidated him.

With the given of hindsight, it may be said that Rosecrans' command was too small and resources could have been pulled from the Virginia Peninsula and Fredericksburg lines. But it hadn't and consultation with several of his military advisors confirmed in his mind that Rosecrans had been too timid.

Hooker was already starting to recognize this and was adjusting his strategy away from the trenches around Petersburg and Richmond and towards marching west into the exposed Virginia Tidewater. Beauregard would have to abandon Richmond to pursue or remain trapped and possibly idle as Union troops marched south.

Hooker's orders were clear: ACT before the British weigh in.

Arlington

Though called one of the larger slaveholders in Virginia, Robert E. Lee was in fact anything but. While over two hundred slaves worked his plantation, the truth was that these were inherited by his WIFE from her late father. As executer of his late father-in-law's will (died in 1857), Lee was obligated to free ALL of George Washington Custis' slaves within 5 years of Custis' death. Had the massive estate been in good financial standing, Lee likely would have freed the slaves earlier. However, Arlington was DEEPLY in debt and Lee needed the full five years to get his wife out from under her father's mismanagement.

Lee determined that he would free the slaves on the exact five year anniversary of Custis' death in October. However, the Emancipation Proclamation made this untenable and Lee opted to free the Arlington slaves a few months early. He also determined to free the four slaves he owned personally. Wishing the Negroes the best, he offered them paid labor to remain until harvest. Some opted to do so, other not.

There was little Lee could do about the matter. But at least he'd settled the debts. Now he had three plantations (Arlington and two others being managed by his son still in Confederate territory) and a dwindling labor force. Lee was no friend of slavery but did not like forced emancipation.

But at least the violence no doubt to come in the South would not touch Arlington.

In the meantime, Lee's eldest son had called upon his father's engineering skill to build better prisoner of war camps and Lee had been happy to make several suggestions. A small-scale hospital had remained on Arlington grounds. There was plenty of room for it as most of the fields were already understaffed. Lee would determine to make a switch from grain and tobacco to horse-breeding.

Lee had already forgotten about Lincoln's offer of a Major Generalship. He could not believe that there was anything which could bring him back into uniform, if even he DIDN'T have to serve against the South (not that there was much of Virginia to serve against anymore).

Boston

The people of Boston would look out across the Harbor that very morning and see the first of dozens of British ships blockading the Port.

New York

The fleet which cut off the harbor of New York was even more impressive.

The British had finally arrived.
 
Boston

The people of Boston would look out across the Harbor that very morning and see the first of dozens of British ships blockading the Port.

New York

The fleet which cut off the harbor of New York was even more impressive.

The British had finally arrived.
Americans: "Do I hear boss music?"
 
Chapter 18
August, 1862

Washington DC


Though obviously deeply concerned about the fleets apparently now blockading New York and Boston, the US Congress did not cease functioning. For over a year, the Western Counties of Virginia and Eastern Counties of Tennessee had agitated for independence as separate states. With virtually all of Tennessee under control, this latter seemed a pointless exercise but, by 1862, no one in Congress was inclined NOT to put the screws to a southern state.

Thus, the states of Kanawha (West Virginia) and Nickajack (Eastern Tennessee) were welcomed to the Union.

Richmond

Having identified the error in his previous strategy, a greater portion of the Union Army was shifted west under the far more aggressive General Sheridan. Hooker had complete faith in the man and ordered Sheridan's 40,000 to march west, cross the James as soon as possible and then sweep around east to cut off the rail junctions out of Richmond and Petersburg.

His own resources strained to the breaking point, Beauregard could only dispatch 25,000 of his own 65,000 troops under General Longstreet to challenge Sheridan. Even this left Richmond and Petersburg's expansive lines dangerously exposed. Effectively, the trenches between the two cities (even after withdrawing as deeply as he dared) spanned nearly 40 miles. There were just too much territory to defend. Hooker waited until his spies, scouts and Balloon Corp verified that Longstreet had departed to challenge Sheridan and struck at perceived weakspots in the Confederate trenches.

Sappers had already been digging under several lengths of trench and set bombs, blasting huge holes in the Petersburg lines. Massive artillery bombardments pummeled key entrance points near Richmond. Hooker ordered a focused 40,000 men forward to the most promising targets.

Having defended in depth, the Confederates were ready. Even when pushed back, the rebels had another set of lines on which to fall back. But they could not be everywhere at once. A full breakthrough into the city seemed imminent.

The James

The Richmond and Danville RR snaked westwards from Richmond. This was the first target of General Sheridan. His cavalry easily cut the line in a half dozen places. This left only the southern running Norfolk and Petersburg line that ran from Richmond to the key rail junction of Petersburg and then split into several southwestern, southern and southeastern lines. Petersburg was arguably the most important rail junction in the south and its loss would be felt almost as dearly as Richmond.

Longstreet barely caught Sheridan before he could reach the outskirts of Petersburg. There were no major trenches in this direction and a pitched battle of maneuver was the only option. Hoping to lure Sheridan into attacking him on high ground, Longstreet was disappointed to find Sheridan was disinclined to oblige. Showing a shocking lack of concern about exposing his army's supply/communication lines, Longstreet belatedly realized that Sheridan was prepared to "live off the land" and didn't mind being cut off.

Instead of attacking Petersburg or Longstreet's force, Sheridan merely marched further and further south until he reached the point that the rail lines south of Petersburg were undefended by large groups of men.

Sheridan cut the Southside RR (SW), the Weldon (S) and finally Petersburg RR (SE), casually severing Petersburg and Richmond from the rest of the south. Longstreet followed aggressively but Sheridan almost....ignored him. Longstreet realized that Sheridan had no intention of facing him on anything but the Union man's terms. If Longstreet DIDN'T attack Sheridan, then the Union forces could simply keep wheeling southeast along the Confederate coast or turn north and rejoin the main Union Army besieging Petersburg and Richmond.

Finally, Longstreet caught up and his skirmishers managed to grab the tail of Sheridan's army. Picking a nice spot of high ground, the Union General awaited Longstreet's pleasure. Attacking uphill against a larger army was seldom a good idea but Longstreet had no choice. Neither army had carried heavy guns with them and the bloody affair would be mainly an infantry and light artillery engagement. The results could be expected. The forward charge was beaten back with heavy casualties. But Longstreet's greater hope was that Wade Hampton's Cavalry would be able to strike at Sheridan's supply train.

Sheridan fully expected this and left his own cavalry to defend the vital supplies. It was here that Hampton discovered that 10 of the cavalry troops had been armed with the new Spencer repeating rifle (carbine version). It was plainly superior to the Confederate counterpart and the already outnumbered Confederates were brushed off. Hampton was shot out of his saddle and bled out in the Virginia clay.

Longstreet had hoped to run Sheridan's supplies dry. Instead, Longstreet's limited supplies ran out first and he was forced to retreat west. To his shock, Sheridan did not turn north to rejoin the main Union Army and tighten the grip around Richmond. Instead, he marched south further into the Tidewater of Virginia.

Vicksburg

The crowning achievement of Grant's Western Campaign would be the capture of Vicksburg. Having driven Bragg and his key subordinates William Sherman and Thomas Jackson south from Corinth, the Confederate Army of the Cumberland was outnumbered 2 to 1 by an aggressive Union commander.

Bragg fall back to central Mississippi. After a desultory attempt to protect the Capital of Jackson (which was not defensible), Bragg retreated southeast. However, he made sure to place Sherman and Jackson in command of the 20,000 men left to defend Vicksburg.

On the surface, this seemed an odd choice. Why put your two most active and energetic Generals in a position to basically resist a siege. The primary reason was Bragg's jealousy and fear that one of these men would replace him. Thus, he ordered them into what he knew was a trap, a vice-like Union siege. The remainder of his 45,000 man army remained with Bragg in eastern Mississippi.

Deeming Bragg not much of a threat and consolidating full control over the Mississippi River by seizing Vicksburg, Grant threw most of his resources at throttling the city.
 
I wonder what is being blocked by the royal navy?
Are immigrant ships allowed past? Or only immigrant ships with men of military age? OTL a lot of newly arrived immigrants join the union army.
What cargo is considered contraband?
I wonder how much smuggling will be happening from Canada into the Union.
Could the Fenians get into the business of smuggling for Canada to pay for their other activities?
will there be internment of British citizens in the union?
 
What the official reason for UK blockade and will the blockade trigger a financial Crisis due to being partly cut off from Europe?
 
What the official reason for UK blockade and will the blockade trigger a financial Crisis due to being partly cut off from Europe?
No doubt, there will be some blowback, though Britain is going to have problems as well. The US does alot of trade both ways with Britain in this era. Unlike the South, the North actually could pay her bills. Plus, the US owed a great deal of money to British interests, I would imagine. That may not be paid back.
 
I wonder what is being blocked by the royal navy?
Are immigrant ships allowed past? Or only immigrant ships with men of military age? OTL a lot of newly arrived immigrants join the union army.
What cargo is considered contraband?
I wonder how much smuggling will be happening from Canada into the Union.
Could the Fenians get into the business of smuggling for Canada to pay for their other activities?
will there be internment of British citizens in the union?
I'll be delving into most of these issues. My take is that Britain's strategy of exactly how to fight America would be confused at best as the primary cassis belli is an insult to the British flag. That doesn't lend to a coherent battle plan with defined objectives.
 
With Britain in the war, the Union needs to use all the means at its disposal to bring the Confederacy to its knees. I propose a commando raid to snatch Leonidas Polk. Once he is captured, he should be dressed in the uniform of a Lieutenant-General and deposited with the largest southern force still in the field.
 
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