Grey Revolution Redux

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Chapter 67: Buell Vs von Moltke
Fearful of his rear Buell withdrew into Central Kentucky, but not before von Moltke struck at the town of Hopkinsville, Kentucky on September 13, 1863. It was at the Battle of Hopkinsville where von Moltke unleashed his whole army upon Buell. The Union’s Army of the Cumberland would of been destroyed if it wasn’t for the rearguard action of Brigadier Philip Sheridan that saved Buell’s army.

Philip Sheridan hero of the Battle of Hopkinsville

After Hopkinsville Buell and von Moltke would skirmish all the way back to Louisville where fresh conscripts had dug fortifications. Buell and Garfield now joined forces to protect the Union’s hold on the gateway across the Ohio River.

 

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Chapter 68: Confederate Empire
With the secession of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Yucatán from the United States the Confederacy was tasked with the problem of protecting these far flung outposts. After the secession of Georgia Commander of United State forces Major General David Twiggs resigned, and offered his services to Secretary von Roon. Twiggs was offered the command of the Department of the Caribbean that encompassed Cuba, Yucatán, and Nicaragua with the rank of Lieutenant General. After making his headquarters in Habana, Cuba Twiggs divided his department into three separate districts and with commanders that he personally picked. The strain of command would be too much for Twiggs as he succumbed to health issues dying in July 1862. Command of the Department soon fell to recently promoted Lieutenant General August von Blumenthal.
With the coalition of Central American countries supported by Washington brought the Confederate commander in the Caribbean into a dilemma. Blumenthal had an abundance of members of Knights of the Golden Circle living and plotting filibusters within the confines of the department. One such partisan was William Quantrill.
As a school teacher Quantrill left living in Indiana in 1856 and traveled to Yucatán and took up farming. With sectional fighting escalating in Nicaragua Quantrill joined the KGC in 1859 and began a lifelong battle with abolitionist cause. Excelling in guerrilla tactics against followers of John Brown he rose in the ranks of the KGC. With peace somewhat coming to the Nicaraguan countryside in 1860 Quantrill marries a local girl, and is expecting when war begins again. Abolitionist raiders burn his homestead to the ground and during a gun battle Quantrill’s wife and unborn baby are killed. With forces gathering again Quantrill took up the cause and offered his services to the Confederacy.

William Quantrill

With the coalition of Central American countries of Coast Rico, El Salvador, and Honduras invading Nicaragua Blumenthal scraped together a motley force of Cuban, Mayan native soldiers, volunteer KGC followers and divided his forces sending a smaller force to hinder Honduran forces so he could focus on the Coasta Rican Army.
On August 15, 1862 Confederate forces soundly defeated Costa Rican forces at the Battle of the San Juan River. After capturing the President of Costa Rico’s brother Jose Mora Porras Blumenthal invaded Costa Rico itself. After capturing the capital of San Juan Blumenthal met with opponents of President Porras, and began to set up an opposition to the President with loyalists to the Confederacy. With Costa Rico out of the way Blumenthal moved northward and invaded Honduras. Fighting in the jungles of Honduras soon turned into a stalemate, but after grinding down Honduras’ small army Bowen would continue his fighting well into 1863 when reinforcements arrived to help carry the capital of Tegucigalpa. French & Spanish marines would later work with Blumenthal now promoted to General after soundly defeating all three members of the coalition, and established puppet governments in their place. President Quitman soon dispatched officials to to help administer these “liberated” countries.

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

Plus an agreement to establish a military mission to help train the Spanish Army.

This is almost ASB. No one in Europe had any regard for Americans as soldiers. Compared to the centuries-old military traditions of Europe, American troops were considered backwoods rabble.

 

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This is almost ASB. No one in Europe had any regard for Americans as soldiers. Compared to the centuries-old military traditions of Europe, American troops were considered backwoods rabble.

I will agree that the major powers of Europe probably did but with Scott’s siege of Vera Cruz and his overland campaign to capture Mexico City I’m taking the stance that Spain would be looking to “modernize” their military and looking for future allies.

 

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Chapter 69: Battle of South Mountain
After reorganizing the Army of the Potomac (AoP) and placing Major General Edwin Sumner in command of it McClellan began formed a new army around Baltimore under Major General Benjamin Butler to deal with Beauregard’s army stationed at Annapolis. Butler’s main objective was to keep Beauregard contained to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and away from operations around Washington.
By September 20th Sumner was ordered to take the SoP and occupy the passes west of Frederick, Maryland. Sumner for his part divided his army in two with three corps sent to Crompton’s Gap under Major General William Franklin while Sumner took the rest of the army to push through Fox and Turner Gaps.
Crompton Gap (Sept 23,1862)
Confederate forces at Crompton Gap was under Major General Lafayette McLaws and h faced the whole might of two Union Corps (3rd & 10th). Franklin for his part took well over three hours deploying his troops and began to use overwhelming force to secure the gap. The main fighting concentrating on the brigades Paul Semmes and Thomas Cobb. The fighting becoming so fierce that Brigadier Semmes was mortally wounded, dying four days later of his wounds.
With casualties mounting and with no hope of reinforcements McLaws was forced to withdraw toward the small town of Sharpsburg.

Union forces advancing up Crompton’ Gap

Turner’s Gap (Sept 23, 1862)
Confederate forces defending Turner’s Gap were assigned to the division of Major General William H.C. Whiting. Recently promoted Union 1st Corp commander Major General John Reynolds was determined to prove his promotion and not won due to his friendly connections to McClellan. The now famed Iron brigade pushed forward along the National Road and routed George Anderson’s Georgia Brigade which forced Whiting to call forward his all Texas Brigade under Brigadier John Bell Hood. For three hours Hood and the Iron brigade fought a desperate struggle. Here Hood refused to be pushed down the mountain. Before darkness descended Whiting had his other two brigades brought forward. It was Hood’s defense of Turner Gap that along with the battles of Crompton and Fox Gap that forced Anderson to pull his battered but not broken divisions pulled back to Sharpsburg.

Fox Gap (Sept 23-24, 1862)
To the south of Turner gap Brigadier Cadmus Wilcox commanded former Major General Richard Anderson’s division. The fighting for Fox Gap commenced around 10am and would continue under well after sundown. Here the 9th Corp under Major General Ambrose Burnside led his veterans funneling brigade after brigade into the fight coming nearly within a hair of capturing a vital stonewall denying the gap to the Union.

Longstreet for his part now concentrated his forces at Sharpsburg for a showdown with McClellan.

 

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Chapter 70: Roll of the Dice: Joseph E. Johnston’s greatest gamble
Ever since the formation of the Confederate States of America the question of how to defeat a superior opponent in terms of manpower, industrial might, trade, and financial resources were pondered by many of the Confederacy’s founding fathers. In the late fall of 1862 General Joseph Johnston devised a simple plan. After the southern victory at the Second Battle of Manassas the Union was in disarray and newly promoted General of all Eastern Armies Johnston began his invasion to reclaim Maryland.
With the Battle of South Mountain Johnston opponent McClellan had taken the bait by sending the Army of the Potomac to push the invaders back across the Potomac River. As Sumner AoP stood opposite Longstreet AoNV Johnston unleashed his next phase of his plan.
As the AoP was strung out from Sharpsburg to Washington Robert E. Lee’s Army of Western Virginia secretly withdrew from their positions along Centerville, Virginia and crossed the Potomac River by Leesburg, Virginia routing a green division and perfectly positioned in the rear of Sumner’s Army by September 27th Lee was forced marching toward Frederick, Maryland and the main artery of the AoP and the capital.
The Confederate armies by this time were passing communications by using hot air balloons under the command of Colonel Ferdinand von Zeppelin and the Signal Corps. Lee now moved in for the kill as canon fire was being heard of in the direction of Sharpsburg.

 

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Chapter 71: Bloody Day at Sharpsburg
A Council of War was called by General Johnston at his HQ at the Dunker Church September 28,1862
In attendance was Lieutenant General James Longstreet Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, Lieutenant General G. W. Smith commander of Smith’s Corp, Major General Richard H. Anderson commander of Longstreet’s Corp, Major General Benjamin Huger commander of the AoNV Artillery Reserve, Major General Philip St. George Cooke commander of the AoNV Cavalry Corps, Colonel Ferdinand von Zeppelin commander of the Signal Corp attached to the AoNV

Johnston: “ Zeppelin report the enemy’s positions.”

Zeppelin: (standing in front of a map sitting on a table) “Currently Sumner’s forces are concentrated across Antietam Creek at Rohrback’s Bridge at the southern end here we find the 9th and 12th Corps, just north to that is the Middle Bridge outside of the town of Porterstown we see the 5th and 10th Corps, north to that is Pry’s Ford and the 3rd and 6th Corps, and finally the Upper Bridge we see the 1st and 2nd Corps.

Johnston: “ General Longstreet please share your disposition of you troops”.

Longstreet: “ I’ve placed General Smith’s Corp to defend the Upper Bridge where General Kirby-Smith’s Division is stationed, at the Pry Ford we have D.H. Hill’s Division covering that sector, and at the Middle Bridge I’ve stationed General Bee’s division. To cover the Rohrback Bridge we have stationed General McLaws division.”

Johnston: “That leaves Whiting and Wilcox held in reserve.”

Longstreet: “Correct”. After a brief pause “If any place along the front gets pierced then we will pull back to ground predetermined going from Nicodemus Heights running to a bend along Antietam Creek below Pry’s Ford.”

Huger: “General the Reserve Artillery and the bulk of Anderson’s Corp of Artillery are already deployed along this line. We will cover any retreat by Smith’s troops.”

Johnston: “Colonel Zeppelin what are the whereabouts of Lee’s army?”
Zeppelin: “ the lead elements are south of Frederick.”

An aide arrived “Sir (officer saluting) the Union army has begun to stir.”
Johnston: “General Longstreet I leave you to your battle plan.”
Officers saluted and dispersed.

At 7am elements of the AoP began their attack. Under the personal supervision of the army commander himself the 1st and 2nd Corps attacked Kirby-Smith’s division. After early success Kirby-Smith couldn’t hold out indefinitely and sent word to his commanding officer his need to pull back. G.W. Smith sent word to Longstreet that Upper Bridge would soon fall, and sent word to other divisions under his command to begin withdrawing to the next line of defense.
Around midday Longstreet received the word from Smith of his withdrawal. Soon word arrived to Longstreet that Lieutenant General Gustavus W. Smith was killed while overseeing his corps retreat. Major General Edmond Kirby Smith assumed command of the corps. By 2pm Kirby-Smith had joined the troops of R.H. Anderson and prepared to receive the next wave of the Union’s assault.
At 2:30pm elements of the Union’s 10th Corps under Major General Joseph Mansfield. Here is where the soldiers that fought over termed the place “Bloody Lane” ad a sunken road was used by the troops of Major General Bernard E. Bee who had withheld Mansfield’s attempts at crossing Antietam Creek now rushed the Confederate positions. Leading the assault was Union Brigadier Oliver O. Howard’s Division. Howard for his bravery would be wounded twice in the right arm, for his heroics would receive the Medal of Honor, and pierce the confederate line where hand to hand combat saw the Union forces finally pushed back. By the end of the day the 10th Corps would see their corp commander Mansfield killed, and all three division commanders wounded.

As the battle of Sharpsburg developed Robert E. Lee’s troops smashed into Frederick, Maryland and began to assault the AoP from the rear through the Fox and Turner Gaps. By 4pm Major General Sumner finally received reports of what was happening. His army was fully engaged at Sharpsburg, and now another Confederate army that was supposed to be at Centerville in Northern Virginia was now attacking him from the rear. Sumner now ordered all corps minus the 1st and 2nd Corps to disengage and withdraw northward to Hagerstown. The army commander now personally drew his pistol and joined the battle after he turned control over to his second in command Major General William Franklin. Sumner knowing his mistake decided to go out fighting. His body would be later identified in a cornfield along with hundreds of others killed north of the Dunkers Church.

 

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Chapter 72: On to Washington
Following the Battle of Sharpsburg the shattered AoP withdrew to Hagerstown. Once word reached the capital of the defeat General McClellan began to evacuate the President, his two daughters, and the cabinet. To safe guard the President and his two daughters McClellan entrusted the safety to a member of his staff Captain George A. Custer who along with a detachment of the 2nd Cavalry whisked the party to Baltimore and then Philadelphia. From there they moved to New York City where the new capital was based.
As fate would have it the President’s daughter Kate Chase and Captain Custer would become romantic Lt involved, and by the end of the year we’re engaged. This set the stage for a political dynasty that would engulf the United States for decades to come.

The scene leaving Washington was chaotic at best. Congressman fleeing the city in any means of transportation. Fearing a battle in the city the citizens fled northwards with those who could make while there was still time. The army declared martial law and militarized the railroads leading toward Baltimore. At the behest of President Chase McClellan was ordered to join the President as the General wanted to stay in the city and defend the capital to the last man. Instead that job fell to Major General Alexander McCook who was ordered to hold out to the last.
By October 1st elements of Confederate cavalry began to be seen outside of the fortifications of the city.

 

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Chapter 73: Johnston’s First Attempt
On October 3rd Johnston began probing Washington’s defenses. Sending Major General Lafayette McLaws to reduced Fort Stevens on the Northern Approach of the capital. Fighting was fierce around Fort Stevens where Brigadier Daniel Sickels, a New York Democrat, was determined to show many who questioned his loyalty to the Union. After three attempts McLaws troops were stopped, but before the Sun went down McLaws personally led his troops supported by elements from Wilcox’s division we’re finally able to breach the walls and commenced a desperate hand to hand battle for control of the fort. It was during this struggle where McLaws and one of his brigadiers Thomas Cobb died securing the fort. Sickles for his part was severely injured during the fighting when a cannon ball took off his left leg. As he was being withdrawn from the battlefield Sickles confidently smoked a cigar as he was taken to the hospital that his honor had been restored.

Brigadier Daniel Sickles who for his brave defense of Fort Stevens would be promoted to Major General and would see a rich political future.

Lafayette McLaws who personally led the final charge that captured Fort Stevens

Breaching of Fort Stevens

 

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Chapter 74: Army of the Susquehanna
McClellan pulled the AoP toward Philadelphia to rebuild and refit. As new troops began to arrive from other departments McClellan began to build a new army. The Army of the Susquehanna would be McClellan’s baby. To command these troops McClellan selected his most trusted subordinate Major General William Rosecrans. Troops pulled from the western fronts were selected by McClellan himself, and their officers were loyal to him as well as they knew nothing but victory from the west.
Rosecrans mission was to get the Army of the Susquehanna ready for the offensive for 1863.
All of this was contingent on the Washington garrison holding out and Lee preoccupied with the siege. With the coming Mid-term elections of 1862 President Chase pressured McClellan for a victory, but Little Mac (as his troops referred to him) refused to budge. When in late September when Confederate cavalry
McClellan stationed himself in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and began creating a new army from scratch. The Army of the Susquehanna would be McClellan’s baby. Troops pulled from the western fronts were selected by McClellan himself, and their officers were loyal to him as well as they knew nothing but victory from the west.
To command the remnants of the Army of the Potomac McClellan sent his most trusted subordinate Major General William Rosecrans to Philadelphia where disorganized depleted regiments mingled with unruly green troops. Rosecrans mission was to protect Philadelphia, and get the Army of the Potomac ready for the offensive for 1863.
All of this was contingent on the Washington garrison holding out and Lee preoccupied with the siege. With the coming Mid-term elections of 1862 President Chase pressured McClellan for a victory, but Little Mac (as his troops referred to him) refused to budge. When in late September when Confederate horsemen under Brigadier Turner Ashby raided into Central Pennsylvania all the way to the outskirts of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania McClellan was forced to dispatched his own cavalry under Brigadier David Stanley who was able to chase the raiders back into Maryland, but after considerable destruction to the countryside. Stanley’s western horsemen were the first to stand toe to toe with the vaunted cavalry of the Confederate Eastern Armies.
under Lieutenant General Philip St. George Cooke raided into Central Pennsylvania all the way to the outskirts of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania McClellan was forced to dispatched his own cavalry under Brigadier David Stanley who was able to chase the raiders back into Maryland, but after considerable destruction to the countryside. During one of the skirmishes Cooke was severely wounded, and would die later. Coke’s subordinate and son-in-law Major General James Ewell Brown Stuart took his death personally and swore upon his honor to avenge his father-in-law. Stanley’s western horsemen were the first to stand toe to toe with the vaunted cavalry of the Confederate Eastern Armies.

 

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Chapter 75: Mid Term Election of 1862
Following the military defeats in the Eastern and Western Fronts citizens went to the polls in the fall of 1862. News of Union victory under Major General Henry Halleck at Cape Girardeau didn’t sway many voters and saw democrats take control of the House of Representatives. Republican politicians were able to secure minor victories in New York City as military law kept the Democratic Political Machine: Tammney Hall from using Irish immigrants to secure the election. Republican James Wadsworth was able to secure the Governorship of New York thanks to Major General Ben Butler’s stewardship of the elections. Democrats locally and nationally cried foul of the election even so far as Former PresyStephen Douglass promising to run for President to challenge the heavy handed ness of the Chase Administration. Republicans also cried foul in Southern Pennsylvania where Democrats made gains stating that Southern sympathizers influenced the election. These charges would continue into the election of 1864 where Republicans would label Democrats as the arm of the Confederacy.
With a Democratic Congress and a Republican Senate Chase now saw interference with his agenda, but was determined to carry on the war.

 

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Chapter 76: Johnston’s Second Attempt
During the months of October and early November Johnston began pressing the Union’s defenses north of the Potomac. On November 14, 1862 Confederate naval and land forces joined with their Franco-Spanish allies in assaulting Fort Foote guarding the naval access to Washington. This just left Battery Rodgers protecting the approaches to Alexandria, Virginia. The Battle of Fort Foote saw A.P. Hill’s Light Division committed to the attack where a pre-dawn assault led by Brigadier Charles Field was severely repulsed costing Field’s his life and seeing Hill sending in Brigadier Dorsey Pender’s Brigade of North Carolina Tar Heels to salvage the day where after a day of constant fighting Fort Foote was evacuated and the Stars and Bars flew from the battlements.

Pender’s Brigade moving into the fight

Pender’s capture of Fort Foote set the stage for amphibious assault on Battery Rodgers. On November 16, 1862 Confederate, French, and Spanish Marines attacked the fortifications guarding Alexandria harbor. In what would later generations call the CSMC (Confederate States Marine Corp) finest hours troops under Colonel Lloyd Beall made landings under fire, and after fierce hand to hand combat secured the harbor for the next stage of the siege.

Confederate Marines heading toward Battery Rodgers

Hoping to cut off the Union troops south of the Potomac Johnston now sent troops under the former King of Prussia Lt. Gen. Wilhelm Frederick Hohenzollern into Alexandria to capture the bridges into Washington D.C. Wilhelm even at the age of 65 was determined to reclaim glory for himself and his family’s name since being forced to abdicate 14yrs earlier. Prussian professionalism now took over and troops under Maj. Gen. Albrect von Manstein now began to attack the fortifications outside of Alexandria from the rear. By November 20 the siege lines along the Virginia side of the Potomac was greatly reduced.
Confederate troops now bagged over some 4500 prisoners as the siege was beginning to take its toll on the defenders. For the Union commander McCook now faced new problems of being bombarded from the sea and desertions.

Wilhelm von Hohenzollern commander of the IV Corp during the siege of Washington

 

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Chapter 77: Johnston’s Finale
With the coming of December Johnston continue the siege and by now used his naval might to begin shelling of the city and its fortifications. With deserters coming into Confederate lines daily Johnston began to paint a picture of desperation in the city. McCook and his troops had by now earned the respect of Johnston and many of his lieutenants, but with reports of Union strength gathering in New Jersey and Pennsylvania Johnston needed the siege to end as quickly as possible with as little loss of life.
On Christmas Eve small amounts of couriers weee alliwed into Union lines. For weeks McCook had been begging for McClellan to come to his rescue but to no avail. On Christmas morning after receiving another round of excuses for not coming to their aid McCook finally sent a flag of truce to General Johnston. Terms were simple Unconditional Surrender. McCook a broken man accepted, and after the signing of paroles food was sent into the city as Confederate troops quietly marched without fanfare into the city. After almost three months of siege Washington had finally fell to the Confederate Army. Later that day Johnston sent a message to President Quitman offering up Washington D.C. as a Christmas present to the nation.

 

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Chapter 78: Fort Henry
With the fighting in the east taking center stage Major General Charles F. Smith commander of the Union’s Army of the Mississippi devised a daring gamble to capture the forts that were protecting von Moltke main base of Nashville. Forts Henry and Donelson were protecting the vital waterways of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.
On October 4th Smith departed Paducah with 20,000 troops plus the flotilla under Rear Admiral John Rodgers their destination was Fort Henry. Fort Henry with its poor construction was plagued by flooding and the area commander General Jefferson Davis thought that holed up behind fortifications was an act of cowardice decided to not fix the nature of the problem. So when Smith arrived the fort’s commander Colonel Adolphus Heiman who commanded barely 2500 troops.

Bombardment of Fort Henry
On the morning of the 6th Rodgers flotilla bounded the fort. Outnumbered and with over half of his cannons either unable to fire, because of flooding, or knocked out by naval fire. Colonel Heiman was forced to surrender. The surrender of Fort Henry now opened up the Tennessee River to Union traffic all the way to the Alabama border. Two days later Smith with the remained of his army finally arrived decided to March overland toward Fort Donelson while Rodgers brought up his flotilla to the Cumberland River.

 

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Chapter 79: Fort Donelson
With the capitulation of Fort Henry the Confederate position in the West because perilous. Moltke’s Army of Kentucky stationed outside of Louisville if Fort Donelson fell then Smith’s army could fall upon Nashville cutting Moltke supply line and situated between two Union armies Moltke army of 60,000 would be isolated and destroyed.
On October 10th Smith moved his army of 25,000 toward Fort Donelson. The Confederate forces at Donelson were under Major General Carter Stevenson numbered 8,000 effectively. Stevenson immediate supervisor Lieutenant General Leondias K. Polk traveled from Memphis to Nashville with the rest of his corp to try and reinforce and save the situation. Commander of the Army of Mississippi General Jefferson Davis soon had his whole army moving toward Donelson.
When Smith arrived on the 14th he faced just Stevenson division the ensuing battles saw the Confederate defenders holding off repeated assaults by Smith’s army. The next morning when Rodgers flotilla arrived at Donelson they found a small Confederate flotilla led by the new iron plated River monitor Tennessee plus its escort of gunboats commanded by Commander Isaac Brown. The arrival of Brown was followed by the arrival of Polk and additional reinforcements.
The next day (15th) the guns and Brown’s ships engaged Rodgers ships. At the same time Smith now reinforced assaulted Polk’s entrenchments. During the fighting Polk was killed when an artillery shell exploded right above him killing him instantly. With reports of more Union reinforcements arriving Stevenson now acting commander ordered a withdrawal under the cover of darkness. The battle of Fort Donelson was a tactical Union victory, but it bought time for Moltke and Davis to combine their forces for the defense of Nashville.

 

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Chapter 80: Winter of 1862-63
On New Years Day 1863 President Quitman gathered his war council and met in the newly-liberated city of Washington D.C. (in the White House)which included: Vice-President Bismarck, Secretaries von Roon & Mallory, Generals J. Johnston, Lee, von Moltke, A.S. Johnston, plus Spanish General Juan Primm and French Field Marshal MacMahon to discuss the prospects of the 1863 Campaign Season.
Emperor Napoleon III sent word that he had secured assurances from Great Britain to help mediate an armistice, but no word was coming from the Union of wanting to negotiate. With recent victories in Tennessee Union moral was beginning to stabilize but the loss of their capital was a costly blow to Chase’s regime now situated in New York. France and Spain wanted an end to the fighting so Confederate forces could be focused on subduing the Liberal forces under Mexican President Benito Juarez, and gaining bargaining chip in the future negotiations.
In the Trans-Mississippi Johnston was ordered to send his infantry across the Mississippi River and reinforce von Moltke’s forces in Tennessee. At the same time Johnston was to employ his cavalry in hit and run tactics to divert troops toward the Trans-Mississippi. In 1863 the Trans-Mississippi would be a side show, but with barely a foothold in Missouri Johnston couldn’t afford to be pushed out of the state if the Confederacy hoped to maintain their hold on the state.
In the West von Moltke was directed to hold Nashville at all costs. The industrial might of the city would be a devastating blow to the CSA if it fell. Confederate enclave in Eastern Kentucky would have to be maintained to keep the railroads linking Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Tennessee open. Also the advances along the Mississippi would have to be halted. The capitulation of Forts Henry and Donelson left open the gates into Northern Mississippi and Alabama and if Union forces exploited them would prove disastrous for von Moltke lines of communication.
In the East where the bulk of the fighting is expected to take place Joseph Johnston was tasked with bleeding the Union forces under George McClellan dry. Confederate industry and conscription would help form new formations thanks to the inclusion of men of free color being allowed to gain citizenship thanks to recent legislation, and confiscation on slaves from traitors to the Richmond government.
In Mexico itself Coalition forces would use a holding action and divert forces once victory against the Union was assured.

 

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Chapter 81: Untapped resources
By 1863 many within the abolitionist movement had finally pushed the various states to begin to accept negro volunteers into their ranks. Recruiting Stations throughout New England, especially around Boston Massachusetts we’re able to arm and raise regiments for the coming campaign. Unfortunately for these new recruits levels of racism and prejudice were still prevalent within the Union command structure. While white Union soldiers were paid $13 a month, African American soldiers were paid less than their white counterparts: $10 per month. As well as receiving inferior blankets, tents, uniforms, and outdated rifles.
By 1863 Union forces introduced the Sharps Rifle that now gave Union forces a chance versus the Confederate forces that used the “Needle Rifle”. African American regiments we’re still issued muzzle loading rifled muskets. Even with these setbacks men of color volunteered by the hundreds to fight for Mr Chase’s War. By the time of the campaign season of 1863 over 50,000 fresh troops were ushered into the fighting plus another 150,000 troops that were raised with the newly imposed “Draft” that forced many able body men from 18-55 to be drafted into the army unless they could pay a substitute to take their place.
This would see a slow hatred toward the Republican administration that this was a Rich Man’s War but a Poor Man Fight.

 

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Chapter 82: Toombs Putsch
By the winter of 1863 various segments of the Old Guard of southern politics were becoming disenfranchised with the Quitman strategy for the war. They were against the use of free men of color being used in the ranks. Many of these politicians tried to push legislation to reimposed the African Slave Trade, forcing free men of color back into bondage. They saw in President Quitman and his VP an obstacle that needed to be removed in order to save their way of life.
The leader of this movement was Virginia Senator Edmund Ruffin, but also includes the ringleaders Senators William L. Yancey of Alabama, Robert W. Barnwell of South Carolina, Florida Senator George T. Ward, and Congressmen Laurence Keitt of South Carolina. Former Vice-President Brigadier General Robert Toombs was recovering from a wound sustained during the siege of Washington was recuperating in Richmond soon became the focal point of the plotters. Toombs who had become disenchanted with the Quitman administration for not allowing him a more prominent role in the military agreed to join in the plotting. Toombs an egotistical and a drunkard soon convinced many within the Army of Northern Virginia to join the plot.
The plan called for President Quitman to be assassinated, and the Cabinet to be held captive while forces loyal to the plotters locked down the capital so a provisional government could be formed under Robert Toombs.
By the end of January the plotters were in place. It was only a matter of time before the putsch would be executed.

 

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Chapter 83: Otto von Bismarck, Master of Whispers
When the Confederate States of America was formed in 1861 the nation’s first Secretary of State was Otto von Bismarck. One of his duties as head of the State Department was in charge of the Secret Service. They were in charge of originally of fostering propaganda in the north to raise awareness for Southern Independence. In reality Bismarck turned the Secret Service into a intelligence agency that would be used internally and externally for the CSA.
Bismarck kept a dossier on nearly all political and military officials within the CSA. Even though he moved into the Vice Presidency he retained control over this spy network with his political and personal fried Judson Benjamin as the figure head of the department. So it was no surprise that Bismarck was well aware of the February 22nd Plot against the government, but many would question why the plot was allowed to unfold and claim as many lives as it did.
On February 22nd President Quitman was leaving to attend Sunday services and as the carriage was leaving the Confederate Gray House a lone assailant threw a bomb under the President’s carriage. When the bomb exploded it killed the assailant and severely wounded President Quitman. The President would later die in route to the Richmond Military Hospital.
The Toombs Putsch had begun.
The explosion had rocketed the populace of Richmond. Many thought that an explosion had been triggered at the Tredegar Iron Works which had been know to happen from time to time. Almost immediately reports of the attempt on President Quitman’s life was reported to Bismarck. At the same time the plotters began their assault of the Confederate Government. Just as soon as the plotters began moving their plans began to unravel.
Assistant Secretary of War Alexander Campbell with a handful of loyal officers tried to arrest Secretary of War von Roon. For his part von Roon had Campbell under suspicion from reports from Bismarck so when Campbell gathered his followers Roon laid in wait in his office to spring his trap. When Campbell and his plotters came to Roon’s office to arrest him they were met with a dozen body guards and a fire fight erupted. With no hope of escape Campbell and his portion of the Putsch had failed to topple the civilian head of the CSA military.
Senators Ruffin and Yancey at the same time that Campbell moved against von Roon tried to capture Vice President Bismarck and have him implicated in the death of Quitman. Hours into the coup when no one could find Bismarck or his close friend Benjamin the plotters tried to have them both impeached. Their gross overestimate influence within the Confederate Congress soon became relevant. While all this was happening Bismarck was secretly moving his agents to stop the Putsch.
The man that was closely aligned with the coup Robert Toombs had yet to reveal himself and had spent the opening hours of the Putsch drunk. It wasn’t until well after 4pm that Toombs along with 150 volunteers arrived at the Virginia State Capital Building and proclaimed “the beginning of the end of the tyranny from the Germanic horde that had occupied our beloved Revolution.”
It was with those words that finally cemented the failure of the Putsch. Bismarck had been keeping two regiments of South Carolina Cavalry under Major General Wade Hampton III under cover and now along with loyal militia units began arresting the conspirators. By early on Monday morning the 23rd Richmond was lockdown and the conspirators were all arrested.

 

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Chapter 84: Judgement
Weeks after the failed attempt to overthrow the Confederate Government Vice President Bismarck addressed both chambers of Congress during a closed secession. The mode was somber as the nation was dealing with the death of its leader, and with the coming warmer weather more death would follow. Communication with Richmond and the rest of the Confederacy was closed down and monitor by the Army and the Secret Service.
Bismarck laid out the full scope of the plot to assassinate President Quitman and overthrow his government. He read off the names to the members of Congress of their colleagues who took part in the putsch. He detailed to the Congress how the legislature of both the states of South Carolina and Georgia were in on the conspiracy. As well as members of the military that had joined in the conspiracy. The list was long but Bismarck reminded the many of the members of Congress who wanted the conspirators to be executed that a military tribunal will convene to tend to their fates.
Bismarck called on his followers in Congress to grant Emergency Powers to the President and the military.

Bismarck meeting with Congressional Members to draft legislation giving him more Executive Powers

On March 19th the Vice President Bismarck was sworn in as the 2nd President of the Confederate States of America. The day before all newspapers were subject to military censorship and the most unlikely man was made Director of Communication Major General Robert Barnwell Rhett that answered to the Postmaster General John Reagan. Rhett for his part was a “Fire-Eater” but was commissioned and commanded a brigade of South Carolina Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia and was a vocal defender of the military. When word of the coup reached his camp in Maryland Rhett denounced the traitors as “men of privilege that were determined to keep their status even if it meant the death of the Southern Republic.” Many in Bismarck’s circle were curious that such an ardent fire-eater had changed his affiliation, but the crafty head of the Selected Service knew where his loyalty lie.

Robert Barnwell Rhett was the man who controlled what, when, and how much information the Confederate citizens would be exposed to

Other laws that were passed was the Confiscation Act of 1863 that allowed the military to seize lands, property, and personal effects of any Southern who was found guilty of treason. As prisoner of war camps were emptied a special camp in Georgia was redesigned in Andersonville Prison to handle persons found guilty of treason to the CSA.