Grey Revolution Redux

[cheffisti]

Chapter 85: A rebellion inside of a Revolution: the planters rebellion in South Carolina
Not to be outdone during the Toombs Putsch was the rebellion of the states of South Carolina and Georgia. While the events in Richmond were going on the state legislature of South Carolina took their lead from members of the conspirators within the Congress and threw their support against Bismarck and his government. When Governor Milledge Bonham refused to back the Putsch the state legislature impeached the governor and installed James Hammond as the “President “ of the Palmetto Republic. Not to be outdone Governor of Georgia Joseph Brown declared that the bond between the state of Georgia and the Confederate States of America was severed on March 1st, 1863.
On March 3rd, 1863 Vice President Bismarck still trying to secure his support in Richmond dispatched a force to South Carolina. In command of this force was Major General Frederick Wilhelm Hohenzollern and his brother-in-law Major General Wade Hampton III. Both men and a family grudge against the newly proclaimed President of the Palmetto Republic.

The Hampton & Hohenzollern/Hammond feud going back some twenty years when Hammond sexually abused the daughters of his sister-in-law Ann Fitzsimmons and her husband Wade Hampton II. Frederick Hohenzollern when he came to America in order to inter grated into southern society married into the Hampton family not out of status but out of actual love to his wife Mary Hampton. Now it was payback to Hammond and his cronies.
With local militia called out to defend the breakaway state these forces were no match for the veterans that Hohenzollern and Hampton commanded. Using a lighting strike that was reminiscent of Stonewall Jackson Hohenzollern and his mostly South Carolina forces swept in from the north. With small skirmishes littering the March toward Columbia the state capital fell after being its own government for less than ten days. When it was put out that Hammond had a price on his head even his own supporters turned him in to elements of Wade Hampton cavalry that were chasing him. Former Governor Bonham was installed as Military Governor as he was given a commission of Major General and given instructions from Richmond on how to handle the situation. Flushed with victory Hohenzollern and Hampton now turned their attention to the rebellion in Georgia.

 

[cheffisti]

Chapter 86: Marching Through Georgia
When the events of the Toombs Putsch began to unfold Lieutenant General Braxton Bragg was stationed in Atlanta, Georgia and was training a dozen regiments of “Free Men of Color” forming them into brigades to be shipped northward. When Georgia State authorities under Brigadier General Henry R. Jackson tried to disarm and “Re-enslave” the recruits Bragg and his soldiers made quick work of the state authorities. Trying to make sense of what was happening Bragg declared his loyalty to the Richmond government of Otto von Bismarck and sent word to General von Moltke for r assistance.
Bragg’s loyalty wasn’t the case where Confederate officers stayed true the national government. Colonel George Rains commanded the Augusta Arsenal in Augusta, Georgia defied Georgia State authorities and turned the city of Augusta into a fortified city. The actions of Bragg and Rains helped thwart Governor Brown attempt to gain total control over the state but received not as much attention as Hampton’s March Through Georgia.

Braxton Bragg and George Rains the unsung heroes who thwarted the Toombs Putsch


After securing South Carolina Hohenzollern and Hampton moved immediately into Georgia. Newly promoted Lieutenant General Frederick Hohenzollern moved to relieve Augustus while Major General Wade Hampton III moved to secure Savannah, Georgia.
Meeting little resistance Hampton and Hohenzollern marched toward the state capital of Milledgeville, Georgia the state capital of Georgia. The State Forces of Georgia under Major General Pleasant Jackson Phillips commanded the Army of Georgia defending the capital. Both “President “ Brown and Phillips demanded that Hohenzollern and Hampton vacate the Republic of Georgia and demanded that all Georgia troops be released from Confederate service. Hohenzollern and Hampton’s response was answered with a cannon shot.
The ensuing battle of Milledgeville March 22th saw Joseph Brown the rebel President of the breakaway state of Georgia sent fleeing while Phillips severely wounded and near death surrender his army and the capital. The city of Milledgeville was then dismantled as state capital and governor mansion was torched the individual civilian structures were left untouched. The city of Milledgeville would no longer be the seat of government of the state of Georgia.

Georgia State Capital and Governor Mansion going up in smoke

Following their victory at Milledgeville Hohenzollern and Hampton resumed their March toward Atlanta. For Bragg his standoff was never in doubt as supplies and reinforcements arrived from von Moltke but was told from Richmond to hold the insurrectionists in place. By March 30th Joseph Brown was arrested by soldiers under Henry Jackson state troops and officially surrendered at Decatur, Georgia to Wade Hampton. With the last part of the Putsch finally subdued the armies of the Confederacy could finally focus on their Union counterpart while the lawyers in Richmond could put the traitors on trial for their treason.

 

[farmerted555]

I'm now wondering what Confederate pickelhaube would look like.

 

[cheffisti]

I'm now wondering what Confederate pickelhaube would look like.

 

[cheffisti]

Chapter 87: New Priorities
With the coming Spring Offensives the Union Government needed victories and quickly. Secretary of War Edward Baker saw the the defeat of the Confederate armies second to the capture of Nashville. When word had finally gotten northward of the Toombs Putsch and the Assassination of President Quitman both Generals McClellan (commander of Union forces in the East) and Halleck (commander of Union forces in the West) failed to grasp the opportunity that had presented itself. In the East McClellan’s plans utilized the fortifications of Baltimore and Philadelphia to protect his left flank while the reconstructed Army of the Potomac and a new Army of the Susquehanna focused on Joseph Johnston’s armies in Maryland. Here McClellan would be pestered with no stop directives to drive the Confederate forces from Maryland and liberate Washington D.C.
In the West Major General Halleck was given command of all armies in the West. Utilizing Buell’s Army of the Cumberland to keep von Moltke Army of Kentucky fixed upon Nashville. Halleck planned on using his army of the Tennessee under Major General Charles F. Smith to sail down the Tennessee River to get between the Confederate armies of Kentucky and the Army of Mississippi At the same time Major General John Pope’s Army of the Mississippi was tasked with taking the Confederate River strongholds of Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow