A Stronger South
1861: The Confederate States of America is formed in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Battle of Bull Run occurs, and it results in a Confederate victory. POD: And the commanding general Johnston orders a pursuit, defeating the Union Army at the Battle of the Rappanock, where the Union Army is utterly and ultimately destroyed, allowing the Confederates to swing northwards and occupy Washington after a quick but bloody battle. Jefferson Davis orders Johnston to demand the cessation of the Arizona and Indian Territories as well Kentucky and all Federal possessions within the Confederacy. The Grief stricken President Lincoln accepts these demands, which are finalized in the Treaty of Brussels as follow:
•The Territories of Arizona and the Indian Territory will be ceded to the Confederate States of America
•Kentucky will be ceded to the Confederacy
•All Federal possessions within the Confederate States will be ceded to the Confederate government.
Strangely, the Treaty does not force the United States to recognize the CSA, which will lead to other events in the future. Since the war ended so quickly, West Virginia will remain a part of Virginia.
1862: With the threat to their freedoms gone, the fledgling Confederate States begin to feel internal tensions between the states and federal government, which they feel is not protecting their interests, but as of yet, little actually happens.
The Union: Stunned and Angry over the quick and ultimate victory by the Confederacy over the United States, President Lincoln orders the formation of a large standing Army numbering 350,000 men to defend the Union form the “confederate Menace” on the Unions southern border as well as the complete restructuring of the United States navy to replace the largely wooden warships core of Americas Naval force with new and stronger Ironclads. He also creates the United States military Council of Americas best generals, admirals, and weapon designers to take care of battle plans should another war occur with the Confederacy.
Other: Britain and Franc formally recognize the Confederate States of America as an independent nation.
1863: The South formally sings an alliance with Britain and France to heightened tensions in the Confederacy between some of the states and the federal government as it fails to solve interstate issues and its refusal to send troops to put down small slave revolts and repair the damages caused by them.
Angry because of these problems and not giving the “Yankee bastards what they deserved”, a radical John Wilkes Booth assassinates Confederate President Davis, and Alexander Stephens is inaugurated as President of the Confederacy. After assuming the Presidency, he orders the Confederate Army (still numbering 120,000 troops), on full alert, causing the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas to revolt against the Federal government and call on the other states to answer the call to destroy the tyrannical and useless federal government in the name of liberty and southern ideals. No states answer the call and immediately declare loyalty to the Confederate government. The Rebellious States then mobilize their militias to a grand total of just over 325,000 men and 3 ironclad warships. The loyal states mobilize an additional 395,000 troops to add to the original 120,000 troops in the Confederate Army, giving the Confederate States Army just over 445,000 men and 18 ironclad warships. A standoff occurs between the two sides until finally, the Rebellious States War Council orders Rebel troops into Florida in a pre-emptive strike, marking the beginning of the Confederate Civil War.
September: Rebel troops invade Florida and occupy Tallahassee, forcing Florida to join the rebellion against the government. Texan troops invade the Arizona Territory and occupy everything east of the Rio Grande, securing the area by the 29th of the month.
October: The Confederate Army invades South Carolina and Mississippi from the north with 85,000 men per each army, and Charleston falls within two weeks of the invasions start while Colombia a week after, forcing South Carolina to surrender to the Confederacy and be occupied by Confederate forces. The invasion of Alabama starts off slowly but picks up steam as it goes along until Vicksburg falls at the month to the Confederacy, allowing Confederate troops to flow unheeded from north to south along the Mississippi River.
November: Britain sends 35,000 troops to help the Confederacy against the Rebellious States