12 August
William Palliser begins a sequence of experiments to test how well his shot performs against targets which are not in factory-fresh shape - wondering whether, perhaps, the effects of salt water on the iron of a ship's sides are quantifiable.
His armour-penetrating shot performs well, especially when he fires rounds from the 100-lber Somerset Cannon he has obtained from testing, but the most notable result actually comes from some of the control shots - Palliser has made full use of the ironclad building program and has obtained a dozen rejected plates from the same batch (hence of the same quality), and as some of his experiments compared AP shot to conventional shot and rusted armour to pristine armour, the treated plates were soaked over a period of weeks in a mine.
Owing to a slight mixup, one of the untreated plates also kept in the mine is tested, and it produces significantly different results than the plates which were kept in the open - in fact, it allows a projectile into the backing where the 'control' plate (which has been out in the hot summer sun) resisted competently.
Palliser will chase up this effect over the following weeks, and conclude that for iron armour temperature is immensely important for resistance - in fact, in going from 32 Fahrenheit to 100 Farenheit (both temperatures a battle is possible at), the energy absorbed by the armour doubles!
13 August
The CSS Alabama sails into Gosport, captained by Bulloch. This leads to considerable surprise, as the Confederate Congress had essentially lost track of their naval procuring agent and indeed had forgotten about the procurement of the Alabama entirely.
On the same date, further Confederate naval surprise is curtailed somewhat when the Admiralty - having taken the construction time of the United States ironclads and extrapolated, with some unjustified alarm - concludes that in the event of a resumption of the war they may face as many as eight more Union ironclads of this class or dozens of smaller ones. They thus begin plans for a second-generation small ironclad, armed with a Coles turret to mount a Somerset gun or similar heavy anti-armour piece, though are somewhat surprised to discover that Laird already has two half-finished turret rams of an appropriate design (Hulls 294 and 295) and make preparations to purchase not only the ships but the design. (Laird successfully avoids censure by pointing out that no ship was launched by the yard in breach of neutrality regulations, as by the time the Alabama and the rams were under construction the British were already at war with the Union.)
15 August
The Vanderbilt's captain is confronted by the local Ottoman governor, and informed he is seriously outstaying his welcome. When the Union officer protests, the governor emphasizes his point by pointing out to sea - where the Mahmudiye is visible on the horizon.
Steam versus sail or no, the idea of confronting a 128-gun first rate is enough to tip the balance in the mind of Vanderbilt's captain, and he (reluctantly) has his ship head back out to sea.
Vanderbilt shapes her course for Benghazi, intending to pick up a prize or two before heading back into the Aegean to hide. This time the captain thinks Santorini might be a better bet.
17 August
With the belated arrival of the Prussian representative, the peace conference at Havana begins.
It does not start well, with the three powers in question putting forward completely incompatible and often risible initial negotiating positions.
The British ask for Oregon Country, the Red River area, all the islands that have been in dispute at any point in the past eighty years, the Lake of the Woods area, Michigan, the south of the St Lawrence, essentially all of Maine, an indemnity and the Right of Search. And an apology.
The Confederacy ask for every single state in the United States with legal slavery, the area of Kansas Territory, the southern half of California, New Mexico Territory, a transcontinental railroad and an indemnity. And Washington DC.
The Union's position is that the Confederacy will only be permitted to have the states of Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, both Carolinas and Virginia, excluding West Virginia (and ideally the land north of the Rappahanock). And that all former Federal forts will be returned to the Union government, that not a foot of territory will be given to the British, and that the San Juan islands be settled in their favour.
They also want an indemnity.
The Prussian envoy is seen rubbing his temples.
