God Save These American States

[Virginia Liberal]

@Theodorecorvin
Good guesses on the african countries. Ethiopia the Soon to be Cape Kingdom (currently known as the Dutch Overseas Kingdom) Egypt and Morocco are going to be the four industrialized African Nations.

As for Europe yes the European Powers will be scrambling for Africa as will the American Republics. Currently the Commonwealth of American States members South Carolina and Georgia have sizable African holdings.

Currently Italy holds Lybia and Tunisia and France hold Algeria. But France is losing Algeria to an Italian invasion and has realize they might have more on there plate than they can handle in this war especially now that Sardinia their only ally is Kaput.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Buffalo soldiers.

When the Commonwealth-Colombian war erupted Virginia Military started looking for additional manpower so that it could meet its requirements to supply troops to the South American expedition, the Vermont Defense Army, and the Ozarks Defence Command, and maintain its minimal standing requirements, without out calling up the reserves. To do this the Commander General of the Virginian Army Thomas Clark asked the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate to amend the Service for Citizenship Act of 1839.

This law established paths for freed to gain citizenship one of which was military service however it didn't take effect until July 1,1855. Clark asked the state government to amend that law so that slaves could enlist effective immediately serve there 10 years and be freed upon completion of service. After a lot of back and forth in both chambers the Clark Amendment to the Service for Citizenship Act of 1839 was passed. This amendment allowed the Army of Virginia to enlist 2 divisions worth of slaves into the Old Dominion Colored Troops of the Army of Virginia. These slaves would be granted immediate freedom and citizenship after 10 years of service.

Starting in the fall of 1841 fliers were posted in the state work crews barracks calling for "20,000 Strong Intelligent Negros to enlist in the Old Dominion Colored Troops.Ten Years of service leads to immediate freedom and full citizenship." The Recruitment officers were flooded with black men eger to enlist. By October of 1841 General Clark had his 20,000 men enlisted; their training would take place at Camp William Lee(1) located just off the James River and Kanawha Railroad line(2) from Richmond to Danville at Drakes Branch in Charlotte County Va. Clark decided that it would be best if the Old Dominion Colored Troops were a separate branch of the Army of Virginia and appointed Major General Irvine McKinney of Halifax County Commandant of the ODCT. The Clark amendment specified that the ODCT have white officers. Together Clark and McKinney would hand pick the officers for the ODCT.

Men of Company A 1st Virginia Colored Regiment muster for inspection at Camp William Lee

By the Summer of 1842 the ODCT were two of the better trained divisions of the Army of Virginia. They were offered when the muster call was given for a second Army to head to South America However Commander General Smith head of the Commonwealth Army, and Major General O'Keefe rejected the offer. The South Carolinian officers wanted little to do with Clark's mad idea of training Slaves to fight. It was looking like the ODCT would end up garrisoning Norfolk Harbor. Then it came time for Virginia to commit troops to the Ozark Territory Defense Command. After a minor debate Virginia Chose to send the Old Dominion Colored Troops to meet both its and Maryland’s requirement Maryland having agreed to take on some of the supply burden instead of sending troops.

General McKinney and the Old Dominion Colored Troops would arrive in the Ozark Territory on August 17,1842. The two divisions would be split between Fort Henry Lee (3) in the Southwest Corner and Fort Andrew Jackson 130 miles to the north. The following months the Major General McKinney and the ODCT would engage the Comanche Chief Iron Jacket in three engagements, Sadlers Farm on September 11,1842 and Lone Pine Bluff on October 1,1843 however the largest of these battles was the Battle of Swifttrout Creek on November 4,1842 in which Iron Jacket brought over 1,500 Comanche together and engaged the 3rd Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiment. Even with the Comanche having a slight advantage in numbers the Black troopers were able to not only soundly defeat the Comanche but also capture Iron Jacket, and his chief lieutenants Bison Runs and Silver Axe alive. They would be brought back to Fort Henry Lee, Tried and hanged for the killing, rape and kidnapping of Commonwealth settlers in the Ozarks Territory.

Two soldiers of the 3rd Virginia Colored Regiment defend a homestead from Indian Attack fall of 1842

The 2nd Virginia Colored Dragoons chase after Comanche raiders

By the Time the Meixan War broke out in February of 1843 the Comanche military activity had been suppressed at least for the time being. Their battles with the Comanche earned the ODCT their nickname the Buffalo Soldiers and the Comanche believed that they were the reincarnation of slain Bull Buffalo of the past due to their hair and the way they fought. (5)

1. Name of Washington’s slave servant that accompanied him during his Revolutionary War Campaigns.
2. The former Richmond and Southern Railroad bought by the JR&K RR in 1837
3. OTL CromwellTx
4. OTL Woodward Ok
5. This is pretty much the myth of how the USTC got this nickname in OTL.
6. This is my homage to the Men who served in the United States Colored Troops the buffalo soldiers have always been a favorite part of American history. The Old Dominion Colored Troops have not made their last appearance in this story.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Our flag is proudly floating on the land and on the main,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Beneath it oft we've conquered, and we'll conquer oft again!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

(Chorus)
Our Republic forever! She's never at a loss!
Tear down with those crosses and raise our egale high,
While we rally 'round the Grand Old flag, we'll rally once again,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

Our gallant boys have marched to the rolling of the drums.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
And the leaders in charge cry out, "Come, boys, come!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

(Chorus)

We fight now to reclaim the land, that was taken so very long ago,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Freedom is our armor, and Liberty is our sword!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

(Chorus)

They have laid down their lives on the bloody battle field.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance – "To the tyrants never yield!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

(Chorus)

Though ten thousand men may fall, we’ll send ten thousand men more.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
To the forces of the King, our Freedoms we’ll not yield.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

(Chorus)

 

[Virginia Liberal]

That song took quite a while to do unlike the last two which I just changed words here and there I wrote two whole verses and rewrote the chorus. It was a challenge but I feel it captures the feelings of the FRA well. There is no chance of a reconciliation with Any of Great Britain or here dominions.

I'm not entirely happy with the second verse of the chorus but its the best I can come up with.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Ghost Fleet

February 19,1843 Admiral of the Fleet Jacob McVey had issued the orders to the fleet basically stripping the Atlantic Fleet of 98% of his ships who were now steam or sailing their way toward New Orleans where he had ordered the new expanded Gulf Fleet to muster. Admiral David Schaefer would have the largest fleet the Commonwealth could muster at the current time, it would still be smaller than the Mexican Imperial Gulf Armada if they brought everything they had to the fight but it could not be helped. Now he was walking along the banks of the James River just outside of Richmond. Here either anchored along the River banks or on stocks on shore was the James River Ghost Fleet. The James River Ghost Fleet like the other three of the Commonwealth Navy’s Ghost fleets was made up of ships that were basically done but not fitted out that had been towed here and put on stocks or older ships that had been replaced in activer service by new ships, these ships had been anchored here in the shelter of the river just incase. He was Activated both the Jame River Ghost Fleet and the Savannah River Ghost Fleet together the two fleets consisted of twenty eight Ships of the Line, twenty six frigates, twenty eight corvettes, and thirty two sloops all of which were sailing vessels. These ships would be used to fill the now vacant slots in the Atlantic Fleet.

May 25,1843 in the Gulf

Admiral David Schaefer had both squadrons of the Gulf Fleet all 42 ships of the Line(20 of which were steam powered*), 20 frigates all steam powered, 10 Corvettes all steam powered, 21 sloops all steam powered and 20 brigs and cutters that were acting as scouts and communication ships. He had another 15 brigs and cutters patrolling along the Louisiana Coast . Scheafer’s objective was to try and pull the Mexicans out of port so that he could engage part of their Gulf Armada and cut down his disadvantage some. To do this he had sent 10 raiding parties head of the fleet to attack Mexican shipping and fishing boats. Each raiding party consisted of a Sloop and two brigs and 1 cutter. Even if the Mexicans didn’t take the bait they would still take some prizes and hurt the mexican merchant fleet. To the south in Central America was the Caribbean Fleet based at Bluefields it consisted of 7 ships of the line, 10 frigates, 16 corvettes, 22 Sloops and 75 Brigs Cutters and smaller vessels, however this fleet was more geared toward anti privacy than actual fleet to fleet combat.

May 30, 1843 Veracruz Mexico

Almirante Juan Manuel Lagos commander of the Imperial Armada of the Gulf was tired of just sitting in port while the Americans were at sea he could feel it. His Fleet was divided into two squadrons the North Squadron was based at Port Isabel in the Province of Rio Grande. The most northern part of the Armada consisted of 5 ships of the line, 15 Frigates, 12 Corvettes, 9 sloops and 20 Briggs, Cutters and smaller vessels. Next was the Central Squadron which was the main punching power of the Gulf Armada with 43 ships of the line, 22 frigates, 14 corvettes, 15 Sloops and 45 Brigs, Cutters and smaller vessels. Of the ships in the Armada about half were steampowered and half were sail.
Almirante’s plan was for the Northern Squadron of the Gulf Armada and the Carribean Armada where to engage in Commerce Raiding. However the Carribean Armada was not of much use to him as it was trapped in port by the Central American Rebels who were besieging Bluefield. This meant that the Northern Squadron of the Gulf Armada was sent out alone. When the Commonwealth Navy sailed to get rid of the Northern’s squadrons raiding he would use the powerful Center Squadron and engage them.

June 7-10,1843

In June Admiral Schaefer was tired of sitting in port while the Mexican picked Commonwealth shipping apart in the Gulf of Mexico. So On June 7,1843 The Commonwealth Gulf Fleet set sail his objective was simple he knew the Mexican Gulf Armada’s Northern Squadron was based at Port Isabel, he would sail their and blockade the Port’s entrench he had wanted to land a Brigade of Infantry to attack the port from the ground but he couldn’t convince the army to detach any troops.

Mexican picket ships stationed in the Gulf noticed and came racing back to Veracruz with word that the Commonwealth Navy was out in force. By Dawn on June 9,1843 the Mexican Armada had left port with the tide and was sailing north. The Two fleets would meet 62 miles northeast of Isla de Lobos. The battle would run northeast to southwest. The battle would begin at 1152h on June 10,1843. Each admiral would try and cross the opposite’s T. This would make the battle a twisted snake like scene in which damaged ships that couldn’t keep up with the line were left behind to be swarmed by the Brigs and Clippers that were tailing the main line of battle It would last till 2108h when both sides would depart towards their respective ports. The Commonwealth navy would lose 6 ships of the line, 9 frigates, 4 corvettes, 7 sloops and 13 smaller vessels. The Mexicans would lose 7 ships of the line 10 frigates. Both sides would claim victory over the Mexicans because they had driven back the Commonwealth Navy’s first outing into the Gulf of Mexico since the start of the war. And the Commonwealth because they had forced the Mexicans to pull back before they could lift the blockade of Port Isabel. To the Foreign observers like the RMS Swansong and the French merchantman Merchant of Lyon the battle was clearly a draw as neither side clearly gained an advantage.

*steam powered means:Steam Aulerally so has sails and steam

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Central Europe

From the outside the Prussian Empire looked like the most stable and powerful German State. However, under the surface this was not the case. These statements were true for the actual Kingdom of Prussia; centrally organized with a decent parliamentary system and an army that was well equipped and well trained from the officers down to the lowest conscript.Then there were the co-kingdoms Poland and Jutland and here was where the troubles began. In Poland the Imperialist faction was the minority in terms of the population numbers; however due to the plural voting for ethinc Germans they held the majority of the Polish seats in the Imperial House of Representatives (the lower house of the Imperial Prussian Landtag). Meanwhile outside of Warsaw an underground Polish Independence movement was being fosted by the Polish Nationals and the Polish Republicans. These groups had been receiving smuggled weapons from Bavaria and Sweden for the last five years at this point, while the weapons were old they still meant that the Polish Rebellion would be armed.

Shifting to the North was the Grand Duchy of Jutland. Much like in Poland thanks to plural voting the ethinic Germans controlled the Duchy’s seats in theImperial House of Representatives. The actually danish people living in Jutland were even more uneasy about living inside the Prussian Empire than the Poles. And Like in Poland the Danes were well organized by the Scandanivan Reunion Party and armed by the Swedish Empire. In short unknown to Berlin the Prussian Empire was not a stable nation it was a powder keg waiting to go off. The War in Spain had primed the keg then on June 17, 1843 Bavarian Agents arrived with word that on June 21,1843 the summer solstice Bavaria would declare war on Prussia and in doing do set the stage for one of the most shocking events of the Bloody Decade the Collapse of the Prussian Empire.

On June 20,1843 King Karl I of Bavaria announced to the Bavarian Parliament that Bavaria could no longer sit by and watch the poor catholics of Poland be trodden upon by the Prussians Jack Boots. It was time that Bavaria rose to her place as the Dominant German state and toppled Prussia's oppressive regime. Stating that "At no time shall Bavaria seek to annex any Polish lands into our kingdom."

At Dawn on June 21,1843; 260,000 Bavarian troops divided into two armies of 130,000 men each crossed the border with Prussia. The 1st Army under General Jakob von Hartmann marched north towards Leipzig. The Prussian border units were easily brushed aside with only minor skirmishes. The German campaign had just begun.

Berlin June 21, 1843

Kaiser Frederick III was beside himself. The Bavarians were invading from the south, to the east the Polish had launched a major rebellion and to top it all off the Danes in Jutland were also joining in the rebellion. Now he hand his generals were looking at the early reports. There were 75,000 men gathering at Dresden under the command of General Albrecht Theodor Emil Graf von Roon another 90,000 at Leipzig under General Helmuth von Moltke, mostly Saxons. Reports from the border said that they were both out numbered 2 to 1. There were 175,000 men mustering in Berlin under Field Marshall,
Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz. In the north we have 59,000 men in Hamburger under the command of General Frederick von Bismark, and lastly we have 25,000 men of the Polish Army still loyal in Warsaw.

The Twin Battles of Dresden and Leipzig.

On June 22,1843 the Bavarians and Prussian met in battle at Dresden and Leipzig. For the Prussians both were a delaying action meant to slow down the Bavarian advance. Both General Roon and Motlke played their hands very well the battle of Dresden was drawn out for two days before Roon was forced to withdraw, while at Leipzig Motlke was able thanks to a slight number of reinforcements to hold out till June 26th before having to withdraw.

The Jutland Campaign

To the North Bismarck has his Army march north from Hamburg to crush the Danish rebels. His army meets the first Rebel force at Flensburg where a Rebel division is dug in just south of the town. Bismarck easily drives the rebels out of the town. By July 1st Bismarck had pushed north to Aarthus and had the main Rebel Army of 40,000 men pinned inside the city. Jutland was the most successful campaign that the Prussians had going into july.

If Jutland marked Prussia's success,to the west in Poland marked its greatest failure. On July 1,1843 the Rebels had attacked the Loyalist army at Warsaw and defeated it in detail. What was left of it had retreated to Konigsberg.

Then on July 3,1843 the European world was shocked again as The Swedish Empire declared war on Prussia citing violence toward Danish citizens in Jutland. Prussia's summer had gotten worse.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Month of July would see more woes for the Prussian Empire. On July 2, 1843 a Swedish Army of 75,000 men under Generallöjtnant Björn Nordin crossed from Odense to Fredericia on the Jutland peninsula. He would detach a division to form his rear guard and march north with the remaining 65,000 men which he divided into two columns a Western Column and an Eastern Column. He gave command of the western Column to Generalmajor Noah Marcussen; while he kept command of the Eastern Column. The plan was that when either column encountered the Prussian forces they would engage them and hold them in place till the other column could reinforce them.

Battle of Drantum

Bismarck Leads the Charge

Bismarck meanwhile had disengaged his siege of the rebels at Aarhus and began moving his army to the South and west seeking to circle around the Swedish troops coming from the Duchy of Denmark He would make it to the town of Brande when he ran into Marcussen’s western column. The battle would take place on the rolling hills of the small village of Drantum With the Swedish Army occupying the hill line. Bismarck saw that he had the number advantage at least for the time being and quickly organized an attack. At 1300h he launched a faint at the Swedish Right flank with a division of Infantry supported by two batteries of artillery at 1345 when he was sure that the Swedes were looking right he struck left with three divisions. The attack on the left flank was an unparalleled success Marcussen had bought the feint on his right hook line and sinker. By 1600h he had completely rolled up Marcussen’s Left flank and the Swedish general was forced to withdraw to the east or risk losing his column. For Bismarck there was little time to celebrate. By 1800h he had gathered up as many wounded as possible and started his Army marching south once more. For now at least he had escaped.

Battle of Cottbus

Roon's Defenders at Cottbus

Meanwhile to the south Things were not going so well Roon would engage the Bavarian second army under GeneralEckehard Schiele at the city of Cottbus Roon had bed the Kaiser to send him more troops but The Kaiser feared to leave Berlin undefined and refused. The battle began on July 12,1843 and would last until July 16,1843 Roon and his men put up and outstanding defensive fight but after four days of battle The Bavarian’s numbers won the day Roon and his battered army were forced to withdraw during the night of the 16th and 17th leaving a good part of their wounded behind. Roon had lost over 5,000 men killed and another 9,000 wounded or missing, the Bavarians had lost 7,500 killed and 10,000 wounded. Most importantly Roon’s stubborn defense had made Schiele pause at Cottbus and wait for three weeks before he advanced north toward Berlin.

Battle of Thiendorf

To the west Molke was not willing to be forced on to the defensive and battered back toward Berlin one strong point at a time. He chose to attack the Bavarian First Army’s rear at Thiendorf. Attacking out of the west from Schonfeld He forced. This forced the Bavarians to turn around and counter march in order to protect their supply lines. The battle of Thiendorf would last just two days starting on July 4th and ending on the 5th and while not as bloody as Cottbus it likewise made the Bavarians pause for a month to secure their supply lines before continuing to advance.

Blue July

The battles of July from Bismarck’s unlikely escape from Jutland, Roon’s tireless defense at Cottbus and lastly but not leastly Molke’s daring attack at Thiendorf had served to make Prussia’s enemy’s pause and buy Prussia some time to catch its breath and regroup. The only place were the news continued to be Grim was Poland were on July 17,1843 the Polish Rebels declared the creation of the Crown Republic of Poland with the signing of the Charter of 1843 They invited Archduke Karl Peter von Habsburg of Croatia to become King of the new Crown Republic of Poland and offered Hungary-Croatia preferred nation status and full alliance in exchange for recognition and military aid. On July 30,1843 King Joseph I and the Federal Government of Hungary-Croatia accepted the polish offer and Karl was dispatched to Warsaw at the head of an army of 65,000 Hungarians and 40,000 Croats, along with official letters recognizing the Crown Republic of Poland as a sovereign nation of Europe.

Archduke Karl Peter von Hapsburg of Croatia Soon to be King Karol I of Poland

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Bloody Days

The Murica Massacre

The events of July of 1843 threw a monkey wrench into the War plans of the British. With the rebellions and the Invasion of their homelands the Prusian Army in Iberia became more and more demoralized and even saw infighting breakout between Prussian Polish and Danish troops within the Prussian Army of Iberia. This would come to a head on August 2,1843 when the Polish and Danish troops united and attacked their Prussian comrades the Murica Massacre as it became known world see almost all of the 50,000 Prussians in the Army of Iberia killed, those who escaped fled into the Spanish countryside about 8,000 of which would eventually turn up at the British Army’s encampment. The Polish and Danish troops knowing that they would receive only death if they British caught them defected to the French, who would arrange for them to be given passage to Bavaria and eventually their respective Homelands.

The Sack of Valencia

The Murica Massacre would give the Duke of Normandy the breathing space he needed to hopefully end this ever growing bloody conflict. During the early weeks of August he shifted his forces to the Siege of Valencia in preparation for what he hoped would be the climactic battle of the war.
The Assault on Valencia began on August 31,1843. The Duke of Normandy had over 200,000 men encircling the city compared to the 98,600 Italian and Spanish defenders inside the entrenchments defending the besieged capital of the Kingdom of Spain. The First wave would begin its attack at 0700h, unlike other assaults the defenses would be attacked from all sides uniformly. By doing this the Duke of Normandy hoped that the defenders would be overwhelmed and forced to surrender without too much bloodshed by either side. In this he was mistaken. As soon as the French and Aragonese troops left their trenches they started falling victim to Spanish rifle and artillery fire. The British and Italians had managed to get over 600 heavy naval guns to reinforce the defenses of the city. When the French reached the Spanish trenches and earth works the whole battle devolved into hand to hand battle. As the Spanish soldier had already determined to die before giving up their capital and their maimed king.

By 1200h The French numbers had allowed them to press on though the outer ring of earthen forts and trenches into the inner ring. The Spanish still fighting tooth and nail for every foot of ground given. This determined defense was having a negative effect on the French Infantry who had grown embittered at the Spanish refusal to accept the facts presented to them. Finally by 1500h the French had broken though the last ring of defenses and were still having to fight for every foot of ground gained. With no more defenses to fight in, the Spanish soldiers had taken to fighting house to house. This fighting would go on for two more days before finally at Noon on September 2,1843 The french entered the Royal Palace and the Spanish spent their last blood with King Marius himself killing 12 French soldiers with his McKnight Revolver before he was finally killed by no less than 28 french Mini Balls hitting his body. With the king dead What was left of the Defenders tried to flee some would make it to the harbor where one last stubborn defense would allow some 9,000 soldiers to make it on to boats heading for the Joint Italian British Fleet off of the coast. By 1900h on September 2,1843 the battle of Valencia ended. But the Bloodshed had not. The enraged french soldiers wold rape loot and pillage the city of Valencia despite the Duke of Normandy’s attempts to stop it with a french soldier even killing his horse out from under the Duke as the tried to stop the Rape of a Spanish girl. The carnage would not end until Noon on September 3rd, leaving the City of Valencia a burning broken wreck. Duke Louis would hold tribunals for the next three days and execute over 15,000 of his own officers and men in response to the Sack of Valencia. The Battle of Valencia Cost the French over 20,000 dead (not counting the men Louis executed.) and 40,000 wounded. The Spanish lost 35,000 men killed, 40,000 men wounded, and with the exception of the 9,000 men that escaped to the ships all the survivors were captured. Over 18,000 civilians were killed in the sack of the city and countless women were raped; on top of that the city was almost entirely destroyed in the fighting. The Second War of Spanish Succession still had over three years left before the it would end; six years before the Bloody Decade would finally end; however, for the Kingdom of Spain the world would never be the same.

Aftermath

Following the end of the Battle Louis would wire his brother about the battle as he closed his report he dictated a professional line. “The actions Conducted by the Army of Iberia under my command may have eliminated the chief need for this war but it has also eliminated any hope that either of my nephews residing in Paris will ever peacefully sit on the Spanish throne. For this I offer my sincerest apology and regrets brother if you would have me retire to the countryside I shall not argue with you.” In the end Louis XVII would forgive his younger brother in a way that Louis Duke of Normandy would never forgive himself. However the press around the world would be less forgiving naming him the Butcher Duke. The events of the Fall of Valencia would weigh on the Soul of Louis Duke of Normandy for the rest of his life finally leading him to end his life in the Fall of 1855.

Marius Bonaparte had never married but he had had an illegitimate son named Gilberto with an actress back in 1825. When he had become King of Spain he had asked the Pope to Legitimize Gilberto; this had taken place on June 11,1842. However for his safety Gilberto would remain in Naples until the conflict was over. However the death of his father changed that on October 1,1843 Gilberto was crowned King of Spain in the Cathedral of Seville. His claim to the throne was tenuous at best. The Spanish Royal Army was reduced to just 12,000 men and the bulk of the forces under his command came from the Christian Republic of Granada which still considered its treaty with the Kingdom of Spain valid, at least for now.

Marius (I) Napoleon Bonaparte King of Spain

Gilberto (I) Emanuel Facile Bonaparte .

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Violate United Portuguese Empire
Light Blue Christian Republic of Granada
Mustard Yellow Kingdom of Spain
Dark Purple French Protectorate of Aragon
Purple Kingdom of France
Green Gold Italian Empire
Red British Empire

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Tejas/Louisiana Campaign

General O’Keefe had a plan to drive the Mexicans out of the State of Louisiana before the end of summer. This plan had three elements to it. Randolph would take the newly minted Army of the Gulf Due west along the Western Road that followed the Louisiana State Railway towards San Antonio, It was roughly known that Santa Anna’s battered army was encamped near the settlement of Buffle (1). Randolph was to engage him and push his army South and Southeast towards the coast keeping him away from the Mexican Army under Rojo that reports placed in San Antonio. Meanwhile O’Keefe would move his force parallel to Randolphs on a more northern Route He would attack the Forts at Bastrop and San Marco drawing Rojo North away from Santa Anna. Providing Randolph the chance to destroy Santa Anna’s Army in Detail. Lastly wanting to pull the Mexican’s attention away from Western Louisiana or Tejas as they called it. He approached Major General Orlando Tiberius Hampton, Commander of the Ozark Territory Defence Command, if he could organize a Raid on the upper Rio Grande Valley. Major General McKinney Volunteered the Old Dominion Colored Troops for this mission, and Hampton would approve the Raid on Albuquerque in the Hopes that he would never see McKinney and his men again.

The Battle of Rancho del Gato

The Campaign in Western Louisiana took off at a snail's pace in the South Randolph had to wait for the Steamboats to be assembled to move his army and to ensure a steady flow of supplies. To the west Santa Anna was waiting for some Reinforcements to replace soldiers he had lost on the campaign to date. It would not be till mid June that Randolph was ready to march west. Santa Anna would begin moving his army east when his scouts reported that the Americans were across the Buffalo Bayou.

The two armies would meet at a large Rance on the Eastern side of the Colorado River called Rancho del Gato. (2). Santa Anna would deploy his 75,000 in a defensive formation with six divisions in the line two on the Right, two on the left and two in the center and one division in reserve. Major General Juan Desantos would command the Mexican Left Flank in the north and Major General Juan Manuel Abasto would command the Right flank in the South., While Brigadier General Miguel Ángel Pozo commanded the 5,000 man Cavalry Brigade.

On the other side Randolph would deploy seven divisions in his line, three on his Right, two in the center and two on the left. Randolph gave command of the Left wing to Major General Orlando Parrish and the Right wing to Major General Isaac Irvine, while he commanded the Center.

The battle was joined at 1300h on June 17,1843 With the Commonwealth army attacking the Mexican center and left flank. Randolph chose a dual attack hoping to keep the Mexicans from shifting troops and to hopefully shorten the battle to one day as the two armies had joined late in the day. Like most battles in the Louisiana campaigns so far would see high volumes of lead fly down field with the Mexicans armed with their version of the Springfield Sharps breech loading rifle and the Commonwealth army armed with its McKnight Revolving Rifles. However, like in South America the Commonwealth had developed new thinner battlelines to negate some of the casualties that faster firing rifles. The Mexicans haven’t had their breech loading rifles as long and were still using traditional battlelines. The Mexican lines would hold till darkness fell however, they had taken a beating at the hands of the American rapid firing revolving Rifles. Santa Anna knew that he could not afford to take a full day’s work of pounding like he had received in the afternoon today. He is thinking of falling back under the cover of darkness when his Cavalry Commander Brigadier General Pozo makes the argument that he could mount a flanking attack in the morning. However Santa Anna points out that the Americans have double the cavalry as Pozo does. He chooses to collect his wounded and withdraw. It is now that one of Pozo’s scouts comes barging in stating that the American cavalry which had only been lightly engaged in the battle was behind them at Buffle. Santa Anna orders his men two withdraw to the Southwest toward the Port town of Beauregard, Pozo in disgrace for the moment quietly goes about setting up a rear guard.

The morning finds the Mexicans gone moving toward the southwest, as this is exactly where Randolph wants them to go he instructs Major General Jonathan Archer. To use his cavalry division to keep Santa Anna from turning towards San Antonio. While he used the main army to keep the pressure on Santa Anna. So far the plan was working.

The Battles of Bastrop and of San Marco

To the North General O’Keefe was not having such good luck. He had moved his men hard hoping to catch the mexican forts before the relief column had arrived. The Commonwealth Army of the West arrived at Bastrop on May 22, 1843 and found the fort manned by just 1500 men lead by Colonel Juan Carlos Fitzpatrick. The Garrison gave an hours worth of battle before spiking their guns and surrendering.

O’Keefe would leave a garrison at Bastrop He marched southwest to San Marco. However here he found Rojo’s Army encamped around the small settlement and the springs that fed the San Marco River.

The Battle would begin on June 1, 1843. The Mexicans held a slight advantage over the Americans despite Rojo having sent men south to reinforce Santa Anna. The battle would go back and five days not ending until June 6,1843. Once more the improved tactics of the Commonwealth men meant that they suffered less casualties. However Rojo’s men were fresh and in good spirits unlike Santa Anna’s. By the end of the second day’s battle O’Keefe’s men were on the defensive. And by the final day of battle O’Keefe was forced to fall back to Bastrop and regroup his men and figure out a new plan of attack. The Battle of San Marcos gave the Mexican Empire a much needed Victory, and would stop the Commonwealth advance on San Antonio. For the rest of summer till reinforcements arrived, in September.

1. OTL Hallettsville.
2. OTL Altair Tx

 

[Virginia Liberal]

What are everyone's thoughts on the Bloody Decade so far and I'm curious to see how you all think its gonna play out. Also I dropped the Confederate from my User name and replaced it with my home state Virginia.

 

[Theodorecorvin]

What are everyone's thoughts on the Bloody Decade so far and I'm curious to see how you all think its gonna play out. Also I dropped the Confederate from my User name and replaced it with my home state Virginia.

Is Russia, Persia, Egypt, Hungry, Indian states and the Byzantines going to get involved?
A future polish nation could bring trouble to Russian Empire and Hungry in the future so they could possibly intervene.

 

[Red Wolfe]

What are everyone's thoughts on the Bloody Decade so far and I'm curious to see how you all think its gonna play out. Also I dropped the Confederate from my User name and replaced it with my home state Virginia.

Is there any chance we will get a map on the situation in Colombia

 

[Virginia Liberal]

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Ok so my pc keyboard just decided it wanted to die joy. Trip to Walmart for me tomorrow.

Russia is gonna sit this one out unless someone gives me a good reason why they would want to. Czar Michael II is looking east at Japanese pirates raiding his gold ships from Alaska.
Remember he doubled the size of the Russian Pacific Fleet last Decade making russia the largest naval power in the Eastern Pacific. Micheal has had a forget the west attitude his whole reign.

Hungary has made a play it was poland the new Crown Republic of poland is gonna because a Hungarian puppet sooner rather than later. The Hungarians are looking at Bavaria and Italy as possible enemies in the future. So they might pick a side butt.. their main concern is the other Romanov lead nation the Byzantine Empire (2.0) with his younger brother looking east Constine is looking to make a name for his rebooted empire and wants the balkins (I was planning on this coming to blows in the 1860 or 70s as the first predreadnought war ) but if yall want them added to the Bloody Decade I can oblige yall no problems.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Albuquerque Raid
To the North Major General Isaac McKinney was busy requisitioning as many horses that he could get his hands on. His plan was to mount all 20,000 men of the ODCT to speed up is March on the way to Albuquerque. He had already dropped off all of his field gun batteries for the lighter Horse Guns Batteries. For this Raid General Hampton had insisted that two additional cavalry brigades, the 31st North Carolina Dragoons Brigade and the 78th Georgian Cavalry Brigade be attached to the 1st Virginia Colored Corps (VCC) as the Old Dominion Colored Troops were known in the theater. This brought the total order of battle for the raid as followers

It would not be until the end of July that they were ready to march. McKinney had managed to secure a mixture of horses and mules for his infantry (90% mules 10% horses) for his command to all be mounted. The Infantry did not make the best horsemen but it was faster than them walking. The march west would begin on July 20,1843, with the fully assembled command leaving Fort Henry Lee at dawn. It would take them three days to arrive at the village of San Miguel (1) where the road split with a western road heading toward Albuquerque and a northern road heading toward Santa Fe. Here McKinney detached Major General Alexander Henry’s 1st Division along with the 1st and 4th Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiments to head north to Santa Fe where they were to do as much disruption as possible. The two columns would reach the edges of their respective objectives on July 24,1843 however due to the heat both McKinney and Henry would rest their men that day. At Albuquerque scouting parties brought back reports of a Brigade sized force of Infantry with a battery of Field guns manning a small adobe fortress just east of the town center (2). At Santa Fe the Scouts reported that the Capital was defended by a Brigade of Infantry with a regiment of Cavalry and a battery of Field guns. All of which were stationed in a fortress made up of a mixture of Adobe and wooden palisades located on the hill just to the Northwest of the city. On the Mexican side their scouts reported that they were facing at least a division of enemy soldiers Brigadier General MAnuel Rodriguez commander of the Albuquerque garrison would send runners out during the night north to Santa Fe and south to Las Cruces seeking reinforcements.

July 25,1843 would see two battles take place; the battle of Santa Fe and the Battle of Albuquerque. At Albuquerque Brigadier General Manuel Rodriguez and his 5,000 infantry and 6 field guns chose to hold out in their fort, the fort was only and poorly maintained but some cover was better than nothing when they were outnumbered. The Fort itself was shaped like a triangle with two guns at each point and rifle holes along the walls in between. At 1030h the Georgians occupied the town with little resistance from the locals while the ODCT Cavalry and the North Carolinian Cavalry swung wide around the Fort Encircling it from the north and south while the infantry no longer mounted on their mules and artillery approached from the east; by 1130h the fort was encircled, and General McKinney send his Mexican counterpart an offer up parole upon surrender of the fort. Rodriquez replied that if the Americans wanted to take his fort they would have to bleed for it. At 1200h the 20 light horse guns that McKinney had brought with them opened up on the fort, with solid shot and exploding shells. The design of the carriages for the American Horse guns allowed them to fire over the walls of the fort sending exploding shells inside the walls. (Ames 3 pounder). At 1230h after a half hour of bombardment the Infantry began to advance on the fort’s eastern and southern walls. Inside the fort the Mexicans began to open up with rifle and cannon fire but the thin spaced out lines of the Virginian Infantry limited the damage; The Blue clad ex slaves thundered over the walls of the fort at 1245h despite fierce resistance by the defenders by 1300h the Flag of Imperial Mexico was torn down and the Flag of Virginia and the Commonwealth National Flag were run up over the fort as the remaining Mexicans surrendered.

While the Americans settled into their new homes at Albuquerque and Santa Fe to the South Major General Jose Hernandez was leaving Las Cruces was heading north at the head of a column of 25,000 men the core of his column was his three brigades of Lancers. The Lancers were some of the best trained most professional units in the Mexican Imperial Army, his remaining 10,000 men were a mix of infantry; he had 4,000 Regular soldiers of the 41st Imperial New Mexican Rifles, however the larger part were the 6,000 New Mexican Militia that he had gathered to him and sporting him were a battery of field guns and a battery of horse artillery.

The Second battle of Albuquerque would begin on July 29,1843 at 1000h when the Mexican scouts came upon a line of Commonwealth Infantry deployed across the Road south of Albuquerque at the village of Isleta Pueblo. The Battle would take place on the Western bank of the river across from the town itself. McKinney had his men on the ridge that came close to the river, he hadn’t had the time to dig in but had deployed his Infantry to take advantage of the terrain as much as possible. The River anchored his right flank and he had his Cavalry securing his left. With his artillery deployed to support the infantry. At 1030h Hernandez had his two batteries of artillery open fire on the Commonwealth men on the ridge. He moved his infantry forward being just about equal in number to the Americans, while he used one brigade of his lancers to occupy the Commonwealth Cavalry.

The Infantry push forward didn’t last long as the disciplined and rapid fire took a toll on the mostly militia formations of Mexican Infantry. Frustrated, Hernandez ordered his infantry to pull back and move the bulk of his Lancer forward. To Increase his number he pulled a couple of Regiments out of the Screen on his right and into the center. This gave him 12,500 men for his charge. The Lancers struck an impressive sight in their green uniforms with red tips their chest were covered by a polished bronze breastplate and helmet. Hernandez had to admit that just the sight of them was martial sight to behold.

On the ridge McKinney and his men had managed to drive the Mexican infantry back well before they had gotten close to their line. With the way that most of them were armed it was safe to assume that they were militia. It was about 1400h when they heard bugles sound over in the Mexican lines. Then the ground began to shake as 12,500 Mexican Horsemen started charging toward his lines. The Sun gleamed off of their helmets and breastplates as they thundered across the fields in front of his men; who displayed nerves of steel as they awaited the order to fire. Fix Bayonets was the first command that sounded down the line as the artillery opened up on the charging horde. Then at six hundred yards the order was given rapid fire and the commonwealth line opened up in a wall of orange flame and smoke. The Riflemen now showed once more how deadly their rifles could be as they rained down a round of death on the charging Mexicans letting lose all nine shots in under a minute as the thundering mass of horse flesh and sharpened steel lances drew ever nearer. The last order to be heard above the dim of the battle was “Lower Barrel '' echoed by every officer and non commissioned officer in the commonwealth line as the men switched their hammers to fire the single 20 gauge shotgun shell full of double ought buckshot. Then the Mexicans were upon them.

Colonel Enrique Manuel’s Horse was out ahead of his regiment of lancers as they thundered across the dry ground toward the invading Commonwealth soldiers. He had lost a lot of men to them and their rifles from the devil but now they were finally out of bullets it seemed then right as his men crashed into the their line and he felt his lance strike home into a soldier’s chest their damned rifles opened up once more catching his horse square in the chest and him the shin now these weren’t rifle bullets it was a shotgun blast. Thrown from his horse he struggled to his feet drawing his single shot pistol and his saber he fended off an enemy soldier who was trying to run him through with his bayonet. He killed the man with his pistol then ran another through with his saber. Finally he was surrounded by a group of the dark skinned soldiers dropping his saber and pistol he holds his hands up in surrender.

Across the field Hernandez watched as the Lancers limped back from across the field. It was not a disaster but it was a defeat,already he would bet he had lost at least 3,000 men killed, wounded or missing. Off to his right the Flanking Lancers had stopped an attempt by the Commonwealth Cavalry element to descend on the retreating lancers in the center. That action was still going on even now. When his horsemen had regrouped he would send some reinforcements to the right. This battle was over true he still had his infantry but they had already been shown to be out matched by the Commonwealth’s firepower. No he would withdraw his force to act as a deterrent against a further push south, until reinforcements could arrive. The next day after a few rounds of artillery fire exchange the Mexicans pulled back, towards the south.

1. OT:L Clines Corners Tx
2. OTL Tiguex Park, Alburquerque

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Hope that chapter was worth the wait. Sorry for the horrible photo edit.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

1st Virginia Colored Corps 15,000 Infantry, 5,000 Cavalry, 4 Batteries of Horse Guns
Commander Major General Irvine McKinney
Aide de Camp Colonel William Anderson

1st Virginia Colored Division: Major General Alexander Henry 7,500 Infantry, 2,500 Cavalry, 2 batteries of Horse Artillery
1st Virginia Colored Brigade Brigadier General Daniel Skanh 3,750 men
1st Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
2nd Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
3rd Virginia Colored Regiment 750 men
2nd Virginia Colored Brigade: Brigadier General Richard Pickett 3,750 men
4th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
5th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
6th Virginia Colored Regiment 750 men
1st Colored Artillery Battery
2nd Colored Artillery Battery

2nd Virginia Colored Division: Major General Arnold Lincoln 7,500 Infantry, 2,500 Cavalry, 2 batteries of Ho26rse Artillery
3rd Virginia Colored Brigade: Brigadier General Utku Sporel 3,750 men
7th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
8th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
9th Virginia Colored Regiment 750 men
4th Virginia Colored Brigade: Brigadier General William H. Thomas 3,750 men
10th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
11th Virginia Colored Regiment 1,000 men
12th Virginia Colored Regiment 750 men
3rd Colored Artillery Battery
4th Colored Artillery Battery

1st Colored Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier General Nathaniel Garland 3,500 men
1st Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiment 1,000 men
2nd Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiment 1,000 men
3rd Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiment 1,000 men
4th Virginia Colored Cavalry Regiment 500 men

31st North Carolina Dragoos Brigade: Brigadier General Thomas Crane 4,000 men
78th Georgian Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier General Ronald Iverson 4,000 men

Campaign Totals 15,000 Infantry (mounted on Mules), 11,500 Cavalry, 20 Horse Guns Total: 26,500 men.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Blood in the Pacific

East China Sea

The Steamer Archangel powered its way through the East China Sea. She was on the last leg of her journey to Port Arthur from the port of St. Michael. Many of the sailors were exhausted from fighting the cold rough seas of the Northern Pacific, and were looking forward to shore leave in the Warm climate of Port Arthur. Then the look out called out “Sail Ho''. The Captain pulled up his looking glass sure enough there was a two mast brig coming out of the North, Japanese Pirates. The Captain ordered all the sails out and extra coal thrown into the boiler, as the Archangel surged ahead maybe he could outrun them only to see two more pirate ships coming at them from the east.

Moscow Capital of the Russian Empire, October 12,1843.

General Admiral Isidor Makarov, head of the Imperial Naval Ministry was led into the Czar’s private office by the private secretary. Micheal looked at him “ Admiral please be seated” at ease please. “I would like to know why my gold ships from America keep getting lost in the East China Sea?” Makarov had guessed it was about this honestly it was getting worse despite Admiral Timofey Sorokin adding more patrols in the region there were just too many damn Japanese Pirates sailing modern French built steam brigs and cutters for the Pacific Fleet to intercept them all. “Your Majesty it is the Japanese and their French masters. This war over the Spanish throne is sapping the treasuries of everyone involved and the French are pressing the Japanese to get them more gold and the Tokugawa Government has become so dependent on them to stay in power that they have no choice but to issue more notes of marquee to the pirates. We have enlarged the Pacific Fleet as you know but it still cannot be everywhere and the French Pacific Fleet Patrols the Japanese Coastal Waters so we cannot go in and root them out.” The Czar pondered that for a second. “I want you to prepare a fleet to head to the Pacific that will carry an army of 100,000 men to reinforce our forces there,I want it ready to sail by the start of December.” Makarov stood up;he understood the conversation was over. He would go on to issue the needed orders.

Micheal took pen to paper and started to write a letter to the French in it he informed King Louis XVII and his government that they had until March of 1844 to stop all japanese Paricy. If not then Russia would be forced to take action to ensure that its ships had free passage across the Pacific Ocean. He sealed the letter and ran a bell for a servant to take it. He then wrote a second letter to Emperor Hyomyeong of Korea, whose queen was a Japanese Princess. In this letter he stressed that if Russia was to undertake offensive action in the Far East that Korea must play its part in providing supplies and troops. If this was done willingly then his heirs may rule over some if not all of Japan making Keora a true Empire. The letter was also sealed and sent with the ringing of the bell. Micheal didn't want to add Japan to the Empire, he was still trying to settle Siberia, Manchuria, and Russian America. If the french and their Japanese Puppets forced a war then the Koreans could rule over what parts of the Japanese Islands he ended up controlling.

Paris

The Czar’s ultimatum reached King Louis XVII and the French Government on October 29,1843. The Idea that Russia might enter the war as the Iberian Front was finally closing was not a pleasant surprise. Louis Returned a letter saying that he would use his influence to discourage the Tokugawa Government from its piracy actions. Louis would also send a small squadron to reinforce the French Pacific Fleet and inform them of possible war with Russia. Just as it appeared that the War was winding down it appeared that Hell had not finished it's visit to Earth. It now became evening more pressing to finish the Spanish problem once an for all before Russia could land an Army and reinvigorate the Iberian Front.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The End of the Beginning

The Fall of Valencia and the Dissertation of the Prussian Army had forced the British and their allies to fall back to the City of Seville and begin to fortify the city against attack. The Duke of Norfolk was down to just 75,000 Infantry 14,000 Cavalry 20 batteries of Field guns, and 7 batteries of Horse guns in his British Army, The Granadan Army was down to 60,000 Infantry 10,000 cavalry, 8 batteries of Field guns, 2 batteries of Horse Guns, and around Seville 48 heavy guns deployed in redoubts around the city. This gave the Allied army defending Seville 130,000 Infantry 26,000 Cavalry, 28 batteries of Field guns, 10 batteries of horse guns and 48 heavy guns.

To the East General Lafayette was gathering up his forces the French Army of Iberia now numbered 390,000 men: 360,000 Infantry, 30,000 Cavalry, 58 batteries of field guns, and 15 batteries of horse guns. In addition to this the Army of Aragon numbered 75,000 Infantry, 10,000 Cavalry, 18 batteries of Field guns and 3 batteries of horse guns. Lafayette chose to give Lieutenant General Ramon Cabrera y Griñó and the Army of Aragon a chance at redemption and sent them to capture the city of Cáceres‎ which was held by the last element of the Spanish Army that was still in the fight, Griñó was to finish off the Spanish Forces at Caceres and then march south to join Lafayette at Seville. Meanwhile, Lafayette would march on Seville with the French army and begin the final battle of the Iberian Campaign.

The Battle of Cáceres‎ October 2,1843

On the mountains surrounding the city of Cáceres General Miguel Badilla commanded the last remnant of the Royal Spanish Army. Under his command was a pathetic force of 15,000 Infantry and 2,000 Cavalry with a battery of field guns to support them. The men much like he himself were demoralized; their king was dead, their capital had been ransacked and raised; they all just wanted to go home and see what fate had befallen their families. Then on October 2, an army flying the flags of the Army of Aragon approached from the west. It was easy to see that they were outnumbered by tens of thousands of troops. Maybe they could hold out for a while but their supplies were limited. Miguel looked at his men once more they had been through enough. Spain had been through enough. He sent a ride out under a white flag with the terms he was willing to accept for the surrender of his force.

General Griñó received the rider under flag of truce and was shocked the Spanish Commander was offering to surrender his force in exchange for Parole for himself and all of his men as well as safe passage for him and his men to return to their homes. He looked at the Spanish cavalry officer standing by his horse. The man’s uniform was tattered and torn; he looked like he had barely slept in days. He realized that it was time to stop thinking of that man as something separate; they were all Spanish again. The Kingdom of Spain was dead as the old Spanish Empire and the Union of Iberian Christian Republics before it. Something new was going to be created what he didn’t know exactly but he figured the Protectorate of Aragon was set to become the Protectorate of Spain. This war was over time to let at least this part of it end not with bloodshed but with reunion. He accepted the offer of Surrender. At 1200h the last part of the Spanish Royal Army marched out of the mountains around Cáceres‎, came to a parade rest one last time stacked arms and rolled up their banners and received their proof of Parole and started marching toward home with select Aragonese troops escorting them.

The final surrender of the Royal Spanish Army

**Note this was Orgionally going to be one update but its getting too big. So I made it a two parter.****