2 October
The Peninsular Campaign this week is viewed as one of the weaker ones in the serial, with McClellan's advance northwards up the Peninsua. It is, however, noted that the Confederates are rushing to defend their capital, and that the resultant drawdown of strength is making offensives in the West much more successful.
The article also notes that this too is part of McClellan's strategy - his plan to strain the Confederate capability to respond - and that Richmond is the single most important prize, far more important than Washington is to the Union, because Richmond contains so much of Confederate critical industry.
4 October
Beauregard draws up plans for further Louisiana flood defences. The concept here is one of "hold by levees" - that is, to contain the Mississippi within the channel as far as possible and attempt to speed it up, because a faster river will more quickly drain off the high waters and will dig itself a deeper bed. This is based on the theories of Guglielmini, an Italian civic engineer from the previous century.
He also has a very practical demonstration of this theory put into place - two parallel jetties in the outflow of the Mississippi, in order to confine the river and dig a shipping channel.
7 October
The Russian government, in internal discussions, tacitly accepts that Polish independence is effectively a done deal. Their discussion centres on what areas the new Polish state should be 'permitted', and which it should be forced off by main strength - and on how to possibly incite Polish agitation in the areas of Prussia and/or Austria which contain a Polish minority.
Tension continues in the Prussian army over the drill method, with old-style Prussian officers preferring old-style Prussian drill for the regulars (which focuses on completely regulating every aspect of a soldier's behaviour, to the point where covering fire involves specifying the precise number of shots to be fired and the range at which they should be directed) and many of the newer middle-class officers (and the Landwehr who they tend to officer) claiming the superiority of a system which relies more on individual initiative.
Absent some kind of huge practical demonstration of this effect (which would lead to the deaths of thousands, something even the King Emeritus Wilhelm considers would be excessive for training) the debates seem set to continue.
9 October
In the Peninsular Campaign serial, McClellan is stalled by an order from Halleck which specifies that - in order to better protect the capital - his base must be on the Chickahominy.
Halleck's performance in the late war has been checkered enough that many believe he would do this, though some consider it something of a slander. It is agreed, however, that the "Peninsular Campaign" is not assuming everything will go well!
10 October
Beauregard's jetties (based on an idea originally developed by James B. Eads, though nobody in the Confederacy cares and they are officially Beauregard's Jetties) function just as expected, deepening the water between them and producing a viable shipping channel with no need for dredging. New Orleans is very grateful for the work of this native Louisianan.
11 October
A field engagement takes place between the men of the Bakfu and those of Choshu domain. The battle is an odd, anachronistic affair, as if Pike And Shot had been updated with modern rifles and embrasures, and sees one Bakfu samurai by the name of George Adams distinguish himself by his accurate use of the rifle.
Oddly enough, George Adams is part of a family that has been Japanese for several generations -a descendent of William Adams, a shipwrecked English navigator - and his use of an English name is an affectation for which the Shogun has granted personal permission.
14 October
A slave from a plantation in northern Kentucky swims the Ohio river, arriving in Ohio shortly before a band of Confederate slave-chasers follow.
An armed standoff results between the slave chasers and a local militia squad, and tensions are high before the situation is partially defused (the slave owner is persuaded to make it a legal case).
16 October
The Peninsular Campaign sees a Confederate counterattack hooking around Union lines. McClellan's response is to change-base to the James River, citing the impossibility of retaining his current base on the Chickahominy.
Unusually, much of this particular edition of the column is occupied with logistical theory. It explains why the change of base is required, and particularly it notes that McClellan's swift movement up the Peninsula has forced this disruptive move as soon as it could be launched (as if it had been held off until later it would have been more disruptive, but McClellan's men were stretching Confederate lines).
18 October
The incident over the escaped slave has become a campaign issue. Fremont's position is predictable - freedom for all slaves, including Confederate slaves, as soon as militarily possible - and McClellan takes a more nuanced tone. In particular, he suggests the following:
If a slave escapes across the border and is not followed, then he becomes Federal property as a 'natural resource' and may then work off his price with a term of indentured servitude.
If those who follow him do not include his master, then there is no legal claim on him and the indentured-servitude is natural.
And if he is chased by his master, then the master has been guilty of illegally indulging in the slave trade by importing a slave into the United States!
It is not clear whether these are McClellan's actual thoughts on the matter - many suspect that a senior Democratic Party man has helped him shape a formula that will not offend the Democratic party base and is not too close to the Radical Republican agenda - but it is certainly more amusing than Fremont's view.
20 October
Palmerston turns 80, and celebrates with a ride along the coast inspecting forts. They are currently planned to take Armstrong-Elswick breechloaders, and the gun positions are highly over-built for the 120 pounder RBL - because the expectation is that later guns will be heavier and more powerful. At least the kind of gun to be used is known, however.
21 October
The Puritan is launched, after some considerable delays relating to the time being taken by the armament. The slip is needed, however, so she is launched to clear it.
One side effect of the long delay before launching is that there has been time to do some fitting out on the slipway. This will reduce the work needed in the fitting-out basin, though it is not the most efficient method and it will not accelerate the completion date (the 20" Dahlgren number one is still cooling.)
23 October
The Peninsular campaign serial publishes their penultimate issue. Base secure on the James river, McClellan moves upon Petersburg with his siege train and with the support of a light-draft ironclad along the lines of the British Aetna - this fictional ironclad is named the Union, and it is made clear that it uses most of the material which was wasted on the 20-ironclad navy by the Republican administration.
The Confederate batteries are well sited, but have poor back protection and no bombproofs - as such Petersburg is taken relatively quickly with the aid of the Union, and McClellan's men are free to advance on Richmond.
25 October
Someone in the Confederate Congress suggests expressing the official support of the Confederacy for McClellan's candidacy, as better than Fremont. This is immediately shut down by everyone with more than half a brain as being actively counterproductive.
27 October
Queen Victoria raises the question with her Prime Minister of whether Indian Army soldiers should not be eligible to recieve the Victoria Cross, as the accounts of their bravery in the California campaign suggest that they should.
Palmerston does not raise any significant objection to the idea.
30 October
The Peninsular Campaign serial concludes, with the capture of Richmond on the fourth of July.
An epilogue details the resultant straits the Confederacy is in - bereft of their main source of armour plate, of heavy guns, of all manner of industry, and with their positions threatening Washington almost completely untenable. It also points out that "Were it not for the actions of the Republican Administration of Lincoln, Seward and their fellows, every pain visited upon the Union would have been instead delivered unto the Confederacy" - in effect, making the claim that Lincoln and Seward put their personal 'face' over their patriotic duty.
Armstrong is approached over the possibility of a 3" or similar Armstrong-Elswick gun, and states in reply that he feels it would be better to handle the large guns first. He is not totally opposed to the idea, however.
