Odyssey of Fritz, the Turncoat Prince
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
I believe that Bengal would remain very wealthy provided it was not conquered by an outside power. Bengal simply had many valuable resources to exploit.
As for the untouchables, I don't know enough about the Hindu religion to know if they would seek to emigrate to other regions to get away from their status in Hindu society.
Probably should research Kalapani in relation to the untouchables to see if they would be willing to cross the sea at this time.
Chapter 212
Chapter 212
November, 1798
District of Manhattan
President John Laurens could not believe that most of his Presidency had already passed. In only two years, the nation would go to the polls to select a new Head of State and Laurens could retreat into quiet retirement like Washington, Jay and the late Mr. Franklin. While the war in Europe had been problematic for the nation, the economy remained moderately stable, with only a handful of shocks. Most Americans seemed to feel he was doing an adequate job. At least they weren't approaching the Presidential Mansion with torches and pitchforks.
Laurens had hoped that two more years of quiet would result in him retiring perhaps the most obscure President in America's short 22 year history.
Unfortunately, that did not appear in the cards.
The Biscayne incident had enraged a large portion of America, whom deemed the attack by the Spanish ships on the modest isolated coastal town an utterly unprovoked assault on helpless civilians. Laurens could hardly disagree. While the explosion aboard the warship Biscay was unfortunate, the local Mayor and militia leader from Biscayne Bay both swore in their dispatches that they took no offensive actions against the Spanish ships either by sabotage or direct fire.
Laurens knew that it was unlikely that any orders came from Madrid commanding these ships to open fire. The vast distances involved often resulted in defacto local autonomy of colonial officials and soldiers. Perhaps Louis II did not want a war any more than Laurens. Wars were expensive and further violence would not bring back the seven people who died in Biscayne Bay.
But sometimes the jingoism and ambition of some relentlessly pressed nations into actions which would not necessarily benefit them in any way. It was obvious that some desired a conquest of Spanish territory, either the islands of the Caribbean or across the vast distances from the Mississippi to the Pacific. That the United American Provinces did not have the capacity to manage off of this territory (or in the case of California, even REACH THE TERRITORY) didn't seem to generate any undo concern.
Upon learning of the Biscayne incident, Laurens wrote a carefully worded letter to the King of Spain requesting in the strongest possible language that the King resolve the issue before it spirals out of control. Already exhausted after years of warfare in Europe and now facing unrest in the Spanish colonies, Laurens could not believe that picking a fight with America was in the King of Spain's best interest.
It was not too late to step back from the ledge despite all the efforts of those convincing both nations to jump.
Western Atacapa
Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte had spent months attempting to intentionally incite an incident between his forces and the Spanish. Word arrived from his brother of the Spanish patrol routes going through what some in America considered American territory. However, it appeared that the Spanish commander in Monterrey wasn't overly meticulous with this timetable...assuming the lazy bastard ever left Monterrey at all. De Buonaparte would spend weeks more wandering the deserts west of Atacapa hoping to run into the Spanish.
Finally exhausted, he was on the verge of giving up when a rider approached his column. One of the inland cattle ranches near the Spanish border had been raided by what was described as Spanish but de Buonaparte suspected were Indians. Having nothing better to do and finding it increasingly difficult to explain to his subordinates why they were out in the barrens wastes, de Buonaparte leapt even as this opportunity. Coming to the ranch, the soldier was surprised to see that the home was aflame and dozens of what appeared to be a mix of Spanish, Mestizo and Indian bandits raiding the place.
The American cavalry would attack promptly, putting the raiders to flight. Several were killed, including one in a Spanish colonial soldiers uniform. Four prisoners, including two deserters from Bexar, provided adequate intelligence of what was happening in New Spain. An uprising had occurred in Monterrey where de Buonaparte's priest brother frequently returned from his posting in San Antonio de Bexar. By this point, the Captain suspected his brother spent more time there than his own mission. De Buonaparte knew that Lucien must be right in the middle of the chaos and wondered how best to help.
He dispatched a letter to his superior Brigadier Hohenzollern stating that he intended to march upon the "disputed territory" of San Antonio de Bexar (which wasn't really disputed) and present the commander of the garrison with his soldiers, demanding to know why Spain was invading American territory. By the time Hohenzollern would receive this information, it would be too late.
November, 1798
District of Manhattan
President John Laurens could not believe that most of his Presidency had already passed. In only two years, the nation would go to the polls to select a new Head of State and Laurens could retreat into quiet retirement like Washington, Jay and the late Mr. Franklin. While the war in Europe had been problematic for the nation, the economy remained moderately stable, with only a handful of shocks. Most Americans seemed to feel he was doing an adequate job. At least they weren't approaching the Presidential Mansion with torches and pitchforks.
Laurens had hoped that two more years of quiet would result in him retiring perhaps the most obscure President in America's short 22 year history.
Unfortunately, that did not appear in the cards.
The Biscayne incident had enraged a large portion of America, whom deemed the attack by the Spanish ships on the modest isolated coastal town an utterly unprovoked assault on helpless civilians. Laurens could hardly disagree. While the explosion aboard the warship Biscay was unfortunate, the local Mayor and militia leader from Biscayne Bay both swore in their dispatches that they took no offensive actions against the Spanish ships either by sabotage or direct fire.
Laurens knew that it was unlikely that any orders came from Madrid commanding these ships to open fire. The vast distances involved often resulted in defacto local autonomy of colonial officials and soldiers. Perhaps Louis II did not want a war any more than Laurens. Wars were expensive and further violence would not bring back the seven people who died in Biscayne Bay.
But sometimes the jingoism and ambition of some relentlessly pressed nations into actions which would not necessarily benefit them in any way. It was obvious that some desired a conquest of Spanish territory, either the islands of the Caribbean or across the vast distances from the Mississippi to the Pacific. That the United American Provinces did not have the capacity to manage off of this territory (or in the case of California, even REACH THE TERRITORY) didn't seem to generate any undo concern.
Upon learning of the Biscayne incident, Laurens wrote a carefully worded letter to the King of Spain requesting in the strongest possible language that the King resolve the issue before it spirals out of control. Already exhausted after years of warfare in Europe and now facing unrest in the Spanish colonies, Laurens could not believe that picking a fight with America was in the King of Spain's best interest.
It was not too late to step back from the ledge despite all the efforts of those convincing both nations to jump.
Western Atacapa
Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte had spent months attempting to intentionally incite an incident between his forces and the Spanish. Word arrived from his brother of the Spanish patrol routes going through what some in America considered American territory. However, it appeared that the Spanish commander in Monterrey wasn't overly meticulous with this timetable...assuming the lazy bastard ever left Monterrey at all. De Buonaparte would spend weeks more wandering the deserts west of Atacapa hoping to run into the Spanish.
Finally exhausted, he was on the verge of giving up when a rider approached his column. One of the inland cattle ranches near the Spanish border had been raided by what was described as Spanish but de Buonaparte suspected were Indians. Having nothing better to do and finding it increasingly difficult to explain to his subordinates why they were out in the barrens wastes, de Buonaparte leapt even as this opportunity. Coming to the ranch, the soldier was surprised to see that the home was aflame and dozens of what appeared to be a mix of Spanish, Mestizo and Indian bandits raiding the place.
The American cavalry would attack promptly, putting the raiders to flight. Several were killed, including one in a Spanish colonial soldiers uniform. Four prisoners, including two deserters from Bexar, provided adequate intelligence of what was happening in New Spain. An uprising had occurred in Monterrey where de Buonaparte's priest brother frequently returned from his posting in San Antonio de Bexar. By this point, the Captain suspected his brother spent more time there than his own mission. De Buonaparte knew that Lucien must be right in the middle of the chaos and wondered how best to help.
He dispatched a letter to his superior Brigadier Hohenzollern stating that he intended to march upon the "disputed territory" of San Antonio de Bexar (which wasn't really disputed) and present the commander of the garrison with his soldiers, demanding to know why Spain was invading American territory. By the time Hohenzollern would receive this information, it would be too late.
Chapter 213
Chapter 213
December, 1798
San Antonio de Bexar
By this point, Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte was getting pissed. He'd marched without permission (he'd carefully sent a report regarding his actions that he knew would not arrive in Buffalo-Khalas until after the deed was done) and arrived within a few days at the gates of Bexar. As expected, his brother was not present, presumably in Monterrey.
As it was, de Buonaparte didn't need to bring along his 100 exhausted soldiers. The small Spanish garrison had disintegrated over the past few months, either recalled or just deserted. By December, there were four drunken imbeciles, probably former prisoners pressed into the service to avoid the hangman. None of they had the slightest idea where the rest of the garrison went. The rest of the town consisted of a few dozen Spanish or Mestizos with an uncertain number of sullen Indians whom appeared to come and go without any particular sense of purpose. Mainly converted to Catholicism, the depth of these conversions was a bit uncertain.
With fewer souls present than his troop, the soldier realized he'd managed to conquer a dirt town in the middle of nowhere...without orders.
Monterrey
Father Lucien would have better luck than his brother in instigating an uprising. With a series of secret meetings with various gentry, the northern Intendancies of New Spain - Leon, Extremadura and Santander - would rise up in rebellion. Declaring the people of New Spain fit to govern themselves, Father Lucien gathered up an odd collection of gentry, peasants and Indians irritated both by the Viceroy's government and that of Spain.
Like Buenos Aires and the Yucatan, this new rebellion would prove utterly surprising to the Spanish government when it received the news in 1799.
Havana
The island of Cuba was a different animal than mainland New Spain. A relatively small population (perhaps 80,000 whites, 40,000 free people of color and 50,000 slaves), Cuba was tightly controlled by a large garrison and squadron relative to the population. Like other West Indian islands, the landowning gentry was also deeply concerned with maintaining control over the slave population, which led to Havana to look to Spain for protection. As such, there were few places in the Empire the gentry was LESS likely to rebel.
Still, Louis de Buonaparte tried to rally support among the middle and lower class whites...and failed miserably. The Spanish garrison marched down upon his rally and arrested dozens including de Buonaparte. The lawyer was thrown bodily into a cell for sedition.
Realizing he'd repeated the mistakes of his later brother, Joseph, Louis doubted that he'd ever see freedom again. By happenstance, a slave rebellion would rise up over the course of the next few days and the jailhouse was raided, freeing most of the prisoners. Over the course of the next month, the slaves were ruthlessly hunted down through the countryside.
Louis and several of his allies, both black and white, would flee to a small coastal town and effectively kidnap a fisherman and his son, forcing them to sail to Biscayne Bay. With a great sense of relief, the refugees threw themselves upon the mercy of the Americans.
They were then thrown in a prison until their story could be verified. Spanish subjects were not popular in Biscayne Bay these days.
New Orleans
Jerome de Buonaparte, just turned fifteen, would serve as Lieutenant in the Cadet Brigade of young men attending school in New Orleans. Technically, he was in the militia as well but did not have an active commission on part of his youth. New Orleans was a cauldron of baffling ethnicity - French, Spanish, Lebanese, Negro, Coptic, Greek, Irish, British and others - which shared the city with the American plurality.
Jerome loved the city. He would often skip classes at the school his wealthy brother-in-law paid for in order to explore his surroundings. Tired of school, Jerome considered seeking a life at sea. Being elected by his fellow "cadets" (a volunteer formation at the school) as their Lieutenant was perhaps the only thing that kept Jerome from running away. The "Cadet Brigade" was more of a youth organization, not intended for actual war. But the prospect of violence with Spain was enough to actually arm the cadets. New Orleans remained an isolated American outpost, utterly dependent upon its own resources should a Spanish force arrive. Even cadets at the local academy would be pressed into service.
December, 1798
San Antonio de Bexar
By this point, Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte was getting pissed. He'd marched without permission (he'd carefully sent a report regarding his actions that he knew would not arrive in Buffalo-Khalas until after the deed was done) and arrived within a few days at the gates of Bexar. As expected, his brother was not present, presumably in Monterrey.
As it was, de Buonaparte didn't need to bring along his 100 exhausted soldiers. The small Spanish garrison had disintegrated over the past few months, either recalled or just deserted. By December, there were four drunken imbeciles, probably former prisoners pressed into the service to avoid the hangman. None of they had the slightest idea where the rest of the garrison went. The rest of the town consisted of a few dozen Spanish or Mestizos with an uncertain number of sullen Indians whom appeared to come and go without any particular sense of purpose. Mainly converted to Catholicism, the depth of these conversions was a bit uncertain.
With fewer souls present than his troop, the soldier realized he'd managed to conquer a dirt town in the middle of nowhere...without orders.
Monterrey
Father Lucien would have better luck than his brother in instigating an uprising. With a series of secret meetings with various gentry, the northern Intendancies of New Spain - Leon, Extremadura and Santander - would rise up in rebellion. Declaring the people of New Spain fit to govern themselves, Father Lucien gathered up an odd collection of gentry, peasants and Indians irritated both by the Viceroy's government and that of Spain.
Like Buenos Aires and the Yucatan, this new rebellion would prove utterly surprising to the Spanish government when it received the news in 1799.
Havana
The island of Cuba was a different animal than mainland New Spain. A relatively small population (perhaps 80,000 whites, 40,000 free people of color and 50,000 slaves), Cuba was tightly controlled by a large garrison and squadron relative to the population. Like other West Indian islands, the landowning gentry was also deeply concerned with maintaining control over the slave population, which led to Havana to look to Spain for protection. As such, there were few places in the Empire the gentry was LESS likely to rebel.
Still, Louis de Buonaparte tried to rally support among the middle and lower class whites...and failed miserably. The Spanish garrison marched down upon his rally and arrested dozens including de Buonaparte. The lawyer was thrown bodily into a cell for sedition.
Realizing he'd repeated the mistakes of his later brother, Joseph, Louis doubted that he'd ever see freedom again. By happenstance, a slave rebellion would rise up over the course of the next few days and the jailhouse was raided, freeing most of the prisoners. Over the course of the next month, the slaves were ruthlessly hunted down through the countryside.
Louis and several of his allies, both black and white, would flee to a small coastal town and effectively kidnap a fisherman and his son, forcing them to sail to Biscayne Bay. With a great sense of relief, the refugees threw themselves upon the mercy of the Americans.
They were then thrown in a prison until their story could be verified. Spanish subjects were not popular in Biscayne Bay these days.
New Orleans
Jerome de Buonaparte, just turned fifteen, would serve as Lieutenant in the Cadet Brigade of young men attending school in New Orleans. Technically, he was in the militia as well but did not have an active commission on part of his youth. New Orleans was a cauldron of baffling ethnicity - French, Spanish, Lebanese, Negro, Coptic, Greek, Irish, British and others - which shared the city with the American plurality.
Jerome loved the city. He would often skip classes at the school his wealthy brother-in-law paid for in order to explore his surroundings. Tired of school, Jerome considered seeking a life at sea. Being elected by his fellow "cadets" (a volunteer formation at the school) as their Lieutenant was perhaps the only thing that kept Jerome from running away. The "Cadet Brigade" was more of a youth organization, not intended for actual war. But the prospect of violence with Spain was enough to actually arm the cadets. New Orleans remained an isolated American outpost, utterly dependent upon its own resources should a Spanish force arrive. Even cadets at the local academy would be pressed into service.
Chapter 214
Chapter 214
January, 1799
Buffalo-Khalas, Atacapa
Brigadier General Frederick Hohenzollern was furious with his subordinate. How dare Napoleon effectively invade what was obviously Spanish territory? It was bad enough that there were so many grey areas on the map. There was no need be so provocative as to chase a few bandits into Spanish territory.
Hohenzollern, no longer trusting his subordinate, ordered Colonel William Henry Beverley to Bexar to relieve de Buonaparte and return the army to American soil.
The Alamo Mission, San Antonio de Bexar
Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte was starting to regret his actions. He'd assumed that the rebellion to the south would totally consume any Spanish retaliation for his occupation of San Antonio de Bexar. However, 300 Spanish soldiers, having been on extended patrol through the Tejas and Nuevo Mexico territory, would arrive in San Antonio expecting a well-earned rest before returning south (they had not even heard of the rebellion in the northeastern Intendancies). Instead, they found 100 foreigners having seized the town and holed up in the old mission.
They were not happy.
Manhattan
Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert would find the increasing demands of his position invigorating. A natural organizer and manager, Stoddert believed his little nation (well, by population, not physical size) was at the very least capable of possessing a second tier navy.
With six of the new ships-of-the-line and a dozen heavy frigates that could stand in a fight with the heavier vessels. Finding sailors was always a problem but the Navy paid well enough and the limited years of service (4 years, not life) in the American Navy ensured a steady flow of volunteers. Unlike the Royal Navy, impressment was not tolerated in the United American Provinces.
This was a vast improvement over the tiny fleet of privateers which had been in service during the War for Independence. The Navy had support from both Congress and the public after the victories along North Africa. While encouraging, this did not make America fully capable of self-defense. The American coast was thousands of miles long from Newfoundland to Karankawa. That meant it was effectively indefensible unless an aggressor happened to sail directly into the American fleet at anchor. Attack anyplace else and by the time word reached the major American bases and the fleet could sail, the enemy would likely be long gone by the time they arrived.
As America could not afford to maintain a powerful fleet in every major port, this presented a bit of a problem. Indeed, it almost made the navy irrelevant in a conflict. Spain, though not the power it had been a hundred years ago, still maintained a fleet at least three times the size of Americas, even if one counted the American frigates as ships of the line. While Spain had many more commitments from which they could spread their fleet, King Louis II's sailors would still have the advantage.
Stoddert would consult his friend and ally, James Madison, the Secretary of War. Like Stoddert, Madison was not really a military man but possessed both ability and practicality. He viewed the dilemma of fighting a defensive naval war as being counter-productive against a more powerful nation. The expensive American fleet and Continental Army would just sit around a few bases and wait to be attacked. The Spanish would have the initiative to damage American interests without America able to retaliate.
Both agreed, though through an odd prism of logic, the only way for America to wage this war would to go on the offensive despite their inferiority of resources. Otherwise, the American resources would simply rot at port without doing any good.
This, of course, created another problem. While America had boundary disputes with Spain, they were not the type which led to many calls for war, especially an aggressive one. Most of the disputed lands in Tejas were barren desert anyway and actually made for a reasonable border. The exploration expeditions to the west, in conjunction to the return of whalers and fur-hunters along the northwestern coast of North America up to the Arctic, would give intelligence that there actually WERE some fertile lands to the west in the areas often called California or Oregon. They reported that Russian fur-hunters and traders were venturing into the far, far northwest. Neither Stoddert nor Madison knew much about these lands or about Russia but they knew they didn't want a Czar on North American soil, even a square inch.
But the vastness of the country and the stubborn resistance of the Indians that America faced in their early steppes towards the plains led to ample evidence that any expansion further west would likely take decades, if not longer.
Thus, what was America to gain from fighting Spain other than honor? Honor was nice but didn't pay the bills. It also tended to get wise men into trouble on occasion.
The only realistic areas of opportunity for conquest (which neither man was opposed to provided they were valuable conquests) was in the West Indies. Most of the West Indian Islands were dominated by Spain and the rest by French now under the protection of Spain. Cuba, Hispaniola (both Spanish and French), Puerto Rico, and some others still produced valuable harvests of sugar, cotton, tobacco, etc. Many others like Jamaica and most of the Lesser Antilles had been effectively abandoned after the forced end of the African slave trade and the bulk of the population either died out in the malarial hell or transferred to the larger islands where the economies of scale ensured a greater profit. By most estimates, the population of the West indies was barely a quarter of its peak in the 1730's.
There were pros and cons of aggression in the West Indies:
Pro: Valuable tropical products for export long prompted European battles over the islands.
Con: Extreme weather would put any American fleet in danger and tropical disease may decimate any American force.
Pro: Several fine Naval Bases - Havana, San Juan, Kingston, etc - would give America a dominant position in the Caribbean and the American southern coast could be protected.
Con: Seizing lands for the sugar cane crop would threaten the American sugar beet farmers with which they competed.
Pro: The loss of these ports would seriously damage Spain's ability to protect/suppress their own colonies, thus eliminating a threat in the future.
Con: Slavery was the basis of the West Indian economy and America's leading men had been trying to quietly strangle the institution for years. Did America want to absorb more slave provinces? How would they be treated? Would the Spanish and French colonials be offered seats in Congress?
In the end, both men agreed that peace would be a better option, even if hot tempers led both nations closer to war. By the time they were able to advise President Laurens, it was no longer a matter of "IF" war came, but "WHEN and HOW".
January, 1799
Buffalo-Khalas, Atacapa
Brigadier General Frederick Hohenzollern was furious with his subordinate. How dare Napoleon effectively invade what was obviously Spanish territory? It was bad enough that there were so many grey areas on the map. There was no need be so provocative as to chase a few bandits into Spanish territory.
Hohenzollern, no longer trusting his subordinate, ordered Colonel William Henry Beverley to Bexar to relieve de Buonaparte and return the army to American soil.
The Alamo Mission, San Antonio de Bexar
Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte was starting to regret his actions. He'd assumed that the rebellion to the south would totally consume any Spanish retaliation for his occupation of San Antonio de Bexar. However, 300 Spanish soldiers, having been on extended patrol through the Tejas and Nuevo Mexico territory, would arrive in San Antonio expecting a well-earned rest before returning south (they had not even heard of the rebellion in the northeastern Intendancies). Instead, they found 100 foreigners having seized the town and holed up in the old mission.
They were not happy.
Manhattan
Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert would find the increasing demands of his position invigorating. A natural organizer and manager, Stoddert believed his little nation (well, by population, not physical size) was at the very least capable of possessing a second tier navy.
With six of the new ships-of-the-line and a dozen heavy frigates that could stand in a fight with the heavier vessels. Finding sailors was always a problem but the Navy paid well enough and the limited years of service (4 years, not life) in the American Navy ensured a steady flow of volunteers. Unlike the Royal Navy, impressment was not tolerated in the United American Provinces.
This was a vast improvement over the tiny fleet of privateers which had been in service during the War for Independence. The Navy had support from both Congress and the public after the victories along North Africa. While encouraging, this did not make America fully capable of self-defense. The American coast was thousands of miles long from Newfoundland to Karankawa. That meant it was effectively indefensible unless an aggressor happened to sail directly into the American fleet at anchor. Attack anyplace else and by the time word reached the major American bases and the fleet could sail, the enemy would likely be long gone by the time they arrived.
As America could not afford to maintain a powerful fleet in every major port, this presented a bit of a problem. Indeed, it almost made the navy irrelevant in a conflict. Spain, though not the power it had been a hundred years ago, still maintained a fleet at least three times the size of Americas, even if one counted the American frigates as ships of the line. While Spain had many more commitments from which they could spread their fleet, King Louis II's sailors would still have the advantage.
Stoddert would consult his friend and ally, James Madison, the Secretary of War. Like Stoddert, Madison was not really a military man but possessed both ability and practicality. He viewed the dilemma of fighting a defensive naval war as being counter-productive against a more powerful nation. The expensive American fleet and Continental Army would just sit around a few bases and wait to be attacked. The Spanish would have the initiative to damage American interests without America able to retaliate.
Both agreed, though through an odd prism of logic, the only way for America to wage this war would to go on the offensive despite their inferiority of resources. Otherwise, the American resources would simply rot at port without doing any good.
This, of course, created another problem. While America had boundary disputes with Spain, they were not the type which led to many calls for war, especially an aggressive one. Most of the disputed lands in Tejas were barren desert anyway and actually made for a reasonable border. The exploration expeditions to the west, in conjunction to the return of whalers and fur-hunters along the northwestern coast of North America up to the Arctic, would give intelligence that there actually WERE some fertile lands to the west in the areas often called California or Oregon. They reported that Russian fur-hunters and traders were venturing into the far, far northwest. Neither Stoddert nor Madison knew much about these lands or about Russia but they knew they didn't want a Czar on North American soil, even a square inch.
But the vastness of the country and the stubborn resistance of the Indians that America faced in their early steppes towards the plains led to ample evidence that any expansion further west would likely take decades, if not longer.
Thus, what was America to gain from fighting Spain other than honor? Honor was nice but didn't pay the bills. It also tended to get wise men into trouble on occasion.
The only realistic areas of opportunity for conquest (which neither man was opposed to provided they were valuable conquests) was in the West Indies. Most of the West Indian Islands were dominated by Spain and the rest by French now under the protection of Spain. Cuba, Hispaniola (both Spanish and French), Puerto Rico, and some others still produced valuable harvests of sugar, cotton, tobacco, etc. Many others like Jamaica and most of the Lesser Antilles had been effectively abandoned after the forced end of the African slave trade and the bulk of the population either died out in the malarial hell or transferred to the larger islands where the economies of scale ensured a greater profit. By most estimates, the population of the West indies was barely a quarter of its peak in the 1730's.
There were pros and cons of aggression in the West Indies:
Pro: Valuable tropical products for export long prompted European battles over the islands.
Con: Extreme weather would put any American fleet in danger and tropical disease may decimate any American force.
Pro: Several fine Naval Bases - Havana, San Juan, Kingston, etc - would give America a dominant position in the Caribbean and the American southern coast could be protected.
Con: Seizing lands for the sugar cane crop would threaten the American sugar beet farmers with which they competed.
Pro: The loss of these ports would seriously damage Spain's ability to protect/suppress their own colonies, thus eliminating a threat in the future.
Con: Slavery was the basis of the West Indian economy and America's leading men had been trying to quietly strangle the institution for years. Did America want to absorb more slave provinces? How would they be treated? Would the Spanish and French colonials be offered seats in Congress?
In the end, both men agreed that peace would be a better option, even if hot tempers led both nations closer to war. By the time they were able to advise President Laurens, it was no longer a matter of "IF" war came, but "WHEN and HOW".
Chapter 215
Chapter 215
March, 1799
Paris
Jean-Paul Marat shivered uncontrollably. His doctors feared that his grievously painful skin condition had become septic and there was nothing that they could do for him.
Over the past eight months, a fragile armistice had been held as the two France's attempted to negotiate an understanding after nearly a decade of war. Both sides hoped that the other would see reason and acceded to their rule. Neither side wanted the House of Bourbon back on the throne. The absurd King Henry Stuart had been crowned by the provincials, which as much as anything proved their incapacity. They offered to bring "northern France" back into the nation under their new Constitution, effectively one ever more concessionary to the reformists than the Estates would have dared ask of Louis XVI prior to the Revolution. The "Occitan" King as he was called in Paris was little more than a puppet and didn't seem to mind that fact.
On the whole, the general amnesty and inclusion in a unified government was a generous offer...if one was predisposed to accept a King. And after mass slaughtering every nobleman in France for years, Marat was not prepared to accept another monarch, even one under the Estate's thumb.
No, only abject defeat would see France accept another King.
The war would recommence the very next week. With control of the northeastern half of the country, Marat was certain that the southern bumkins could be crushed. Rumor had it Spain was picking a fight in the New World with America and their own colonies were revolting themselves. Apparently, the Revolution continued to spread. The end of it was that Spain was not to dispatch forces to stiffen the Occitan spine again.
Now was the time to reunite France under the banner of the Directory.
He just hoped he lived to see it.
Manhattan
President John Laurens, while hoping for peace, would prepare for war. Though it went against the grain, Laurens prepared his forces for an offensive war. In the end, Madison and Stoddert were correct. A defensive war at sea would involve one or two cities being defended by the navy...and none others. The country was simply too damn big.
As it was, Laurens managed to get Congress to authorize an additional 4000 soldiers and 1000 marines, bringing the total, respectively, to 12,000 Continentals and 3000 Marines. It was not a large force by European standards but was by far the strongest military presence in America since the War for Independence.
The Generals and Admirals were busily preparing battleplans and logistics for a wide range of potential battles from and invasion of Newfound to a bombardment of Manhattan to a cavalry battle on the plains west of Atacapa to the tropical islands of the West Indies.
The general consensus was that America could fight...but it may not be in their best interests. The armistice in France would allow Spain to use more resources in the new world.
Laurens knew he needed allies and doubted that he could count upon any European power for support. Both Britain and what was left of Revolutionary France could hardly be expected to continue their seemingly endless wars to the New World for America's benefit.
Madrid
Minister to Spain James Monroe would manage to sputter a few kind words of farewell before turning on his heel and retreating from the Minister of State. Through a translator, the bastard had insulted America and demanded nothing less than a full apology for the "murder of the Biscay" and a retreat from Atacapa and Karankawa east of the Mississippi River. Nothing was mentioned about the American ships being seized in the West Indies.
Monroe knew that President Laurens had dispatched him to Madrid in hopes of reaching accommodation with the Spanish but it became steadily apparent that Spain was unwilling to negotiate or even treat America as a sovereign nation. This was not surprising as Spain had long openly feared that this Democracy disease may spread to their colonies, which may, in fact, be accurate given the rumors of rebellion throughout the Spanish Empire.
Monroe would receive a visitor in the night from Madrid. He'd hoped that the Minister of State intended another meeting of reconciliation. Instead, Monroe was delivered a declaration of war and 24 hours to depart Spanish shores. Fortunately, Monroe had a clipper ship prepared for sailing on a moment's notice. The government must be warned for no doubt the Spanish had every intension of attacking sooner rather than later.
Awadh
Flush from victory in the south of India, the increasingly fragmented Marathas would invade the northern Kingdom of Awadh. Nearly 80% Hindu, it was ruled by a Muslim prince. Apparently that was all that was necessary as the Hindu Empire was driven almost inexorably forward in hopes of maintaining momentum and unity among the diverging Princes.
A relatively poor backwater compared to the riches of Bengal, Awadh was among the last major states along the subcontinent not tribute to the Peshwa and his Maratha Princes.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the Nawab of Bengal marched to his ally's aid and even solicited support from the Durrani Empire, a plea which went unanswered as that nation was in the process of disintegration itself.
Madras
The United East India Company directors were horrified. Both Bengal and the Marathas were trading partners, profitable ones at that. The last thing they wanted was war.
Monterrey
The Republic of the Sierras was set up for the northern Intendancies and territories of New Spain. To describe it as a government would be stretching the definition. While claiming half the territory of New Spain (that portion of the Spanish Empire north of New Granada), in truth this government was actually only represented in a handful of cities. Vast regions to the northwest all the way through California were claimed but the handful of inhabitants were probably unaware that they'd become independent from Spain.
Nevertheless, a hodgepodge mix of peasants, disaffected nobles and unpaid soldiers would form a mob known as the Army of the Sierras. Unfortunately, they lacked a leader worthy of the name.
March, 1799
Paris
Jean-Paul Marat shivered uncontrollably. His doctors feared that his grievously painful skin condition had become septic and there was nothing that they could do for him.
Over the past eight months, a fragile armistice had been held as the two France's attempted to negotiate an understanding after nearly a decade of war. Both sides hoped that the other would see reason and acceded to their rule. Neither side wanted the House of Bourbon back on the throne. The absurd King Henry Stuart had been crowned by the provincials, which as much as anything proved their incapacity. They offered to bring "northern France" back into the nation under their new Constitution, effectively one ever more concessionary to the reformists than the Estates would have dared ask of Louis XVI prior to the Revolution. The "Occitan" King as he was called in Paris was little more than a puppet and didn't seem to mind that fact.
On the whole, the general amnesty and inclusion in a unified government was a generous offer...if one was predisposed to accept a King. And after mass slaughtering every nobleman in France for years, Marat was not prepared to accept another monarch, even one under the Estate's thumb.
No, only abject defeat would see France accept another King.
The war would recommence the very next week. With control of the northeastern half of the country, Marat was certain that the southern bumkins could be crushed. Rumor had it Spain was picking a fight in the New World with America and their own colonies were revolting themselves. Apparently, the Revolution continued to spread. The end of it was that Spain was not to dispatch forces to stiffen the Occitan spine again.
Now was the time to reunite France under the banner of the Directory.
He just hoped he lived to see it.
Manhattan
President John Laurens, while hoping for peace, would prepare for war. Though it went against the grain, Laurens prepared his forces for an offensive war. In the end, Madison and Stoddert were correct. A defensive war at sea would involve one or two cities being defended by the navy...and none others. The country was simply too damn big.
As it was, Laurens managed to get Congress to authorize an additional 4000 soldiers and 1000 marines, bringing the total, respectively, to 12,000 Continentals and 3000 Marines. It was not a large force by European standards but was by far the strongest military presence in America since the War for Independence.
The Generals and Admirals were busily preparing battleplans and logistics for a wide range of potential battles from and invasion of Newfound to a bombardment of Manhattan to a cavalry battle on the plains west of Atacapa to the tropical islands of the West Indies.
The general consensus was that America could fight...but it may not be in their best interests. The armistice in France would allow Spain to use more resources in the new world.
Laurens knew he needed allies and doubted that he could count upon any European power for support. Both Britain and what was left of Revolutionary France could hardly be expected to continue their seemingly endless wars to the New World for America's benefit.
Madrid
Minister to Spain James Monroe would manage to sputter a few kind words of farewell before turning on his heel and retreating from the Minister of State. Through a translator, the bastard had insulted America and demanded nothing less than a full apology for the "murder of the Biscay" and a retreat from Atacapa and Karankawa east of the Mississippi River. Nothing was mentioned about the American ships being seized in the West Indies.
Monroe knew that President Laurens had dispatched him to Madrid in hopes of reaching accommodation with the Spanish but it became steadily apparent that Spain was unwilling to negotiate or even treat America as a sovereign nation. This was not surprising as Spain had long openly feared that this Democracy disease may spread to their colonies, which may, in fact, be accurate given the rumors of rebellion throughout the Spanish Empire.
Monroe would receive a visitor in the night from Madrid. He'd hoped that the Minister of State intended another meeting of reconciliation. Instead, Monroe was delivered a declaration of war and 24 hours to depart Spanish shores. Fortunately, Monroe had a clipper ship prepared for sailing on a moment's notice. The government must be warned for no doubt the Spanish had every intension of attacking sooner rather than later.
Awadh
Flush from victory in the south of India, the increasingly fragmented Marathas would invade the northern Kingdom of Awadh. Nearly 80% Hindu, it was ruled by a Muslim prince. Apparently that was all that was necessary as the Hindu Empire was driven almost inexorably forward in hopes of maintaining momentum and unity among the diverging Princes.
A relatively poor backwater compared to the riches of Bengal, Awadh was among the last major states along the subcontinent not tribute to the Peshwa and his Maratha Princes.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the Nawab of Bengal marched to his ally's aid and even solicited support from the Durrani Empire, a plea which went unanswered as that nation was in the process of disintegration itself.
Madras
The United East India Company directors were horrified. Both Bengal and the Marathas were trading partners, profitable ones at that. The last thing they wanted was war.
Monterrey
The Republic of the Sierras was set up for the northern Intendancies and territories of New Spain. To describe it as a government would be stretching the definition. While claiming half the territory of New Spain (that portion of the Spanish Empire north of New Granada), in truth this government was actually only represented in a handful of cities. Vast regions to the northwest all the way through California were claimed but the handful of inhabitants were probably unaware that they'd become independent from Spain.
Nevertheless, a hodgepodge mix of peasants, disaffected nobles and unpaid soldiers would form a mob known as the Army of the Sierras. Unfortunately, they lacked a leader worthy of the name.
Chapter 216
Chapter 216
April, 1799
Manhattan
The news of the Spanish Declaration of War, though expected, somehow still came as a shock. President Laurens just believed that sanity would prevail and both sides could back off gracefully.
Instead, he was forced to stand before Congress and request a Declaration of War in return.
Having received the news of the Spanish Declaration weeks after the actual event, Laurens knew that the Spanish had the initiative. Fortunately, Laurens and his Secretaries had spent the past year preparing the Army and Navy for war. While not a large military, at least it was in existence, meaning Laurens had an advantage the Founding Fathers had not during the War for Independence. With so many classes having graduated from West Point, he need not appoint rank amateurs to high military posts. How many men had Prince Frederick or the Washington brothers appointed as Generals whom had not a moment of military experience?
Far too many.
As it was, George Washington and Benedict Arnold Sr. had already declined service on the front based upon age and infirmity. Alexander Hamilton had returned to service, fortunately, and General Wayne had served for years as Commander of the Continental Army. A generation of West Point talent supported them including Brigadier Hohenzollern.
Congress would approve the Declaration, leaving the President and his Cabinet Secretaries to fight the war. Prime Minister Morris vowed to do all he could to cover Laurens in Congress. Laurens was uncertain of just how his nation would respond to a war as a consolidated nation rather than collection of rebellious states but was at least grateful that the men whom surrounded him were as dedicated to the nation as he.
He would need such devotion, as the President was about to make a far more radical request of Congress than a declaration of war.
In the meantime, Stoddert, Madison and Wayne were already in motion. Newly minted Admiral John Paul had a plan in place for a swift mobilization and a first strike against the Spanish. Fortunately, the Americans had two distinct advantages: the traditional Spanish lethargy of motion (Spain would waste the six weeks lead time that it took for the Declaration to reach America) and the fact that Spain's colonies began to rebel one at a time.
"Republic of the Sierras"
So livid was Brigadier Frederick Hohenzollern with Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte that he relieved him of command upon his return to Buffalo.
When Colonel Beverley's troop reached San Antonia de Bexar, they found a fierce battle ongoing as de Buonaparte exchanged fired from the walls of the Alamo with the Spanish colonial forces. The Spanish had nearly knocked down the main gate when de Buonaparte ordered them thrown open. The Spanish rushed forward only for dozens to fall before a mass blast of "grapeshot" as the Corsican called it. Four cannon had been preloaded in the courtyard, all aimed towards the gates. This blunted the attack and the Spanish retreated for the night only to find themselves under assault from both sides as Beverley's cavalry attacked from the rear as de Buonaparte's infantry charged out with bayonets fixed.
The Spanish fled en masse, leaving behind horses, mules, wagons, supplies and arms.
Even as the Brigadier verbally ripped his subordinate a new asshole, he knew de Buonaparte would be celebrated in the press.
Irritated, Hohenzollern sent de Buonaparte south into New Spain to parlay with the Spanish rebels. While he'd received no orders from Manhattan or received official word of a declaration of war, the likelihood was high thus he decided to get a jump on this ahead of time. What he did NOT know was that the lead rebel for the Spanish colonials was, in fact, the younger brother of Captain de Buonaparte.
April, 1799
Manhattan
The news of the Spanish Declaration of War, though expected, somehow still came as a shock. President Laurens just believed that sanity would prevail and both sides could back off gracefully.
Instead, he was forced to stand before Congress and request a Declaration of War in return.
Having received the news of the Spanish Declaration weeks after the actual event, Laurens knew that the Spanish had the initiative. Fortunately, Laurens and his Secretaries had spent the past year preparing the Army and Navy for war. While not a large military, at least it was in existence, meaning Laurens had an advantage the Founding Fathers had not during the War for Independence. With so many classes having graduated from West Point, he need not appoint rank amateurs to high military posts. How many men had Prince Frederick or the Washington brothers appointed as Generals whom had not a moment of military experience?
Far too many.
As it was, George Washington and Benedict Arnold Sr. had already declined service on the front based upon age and infirmity. Alexander Hamilton had returned to service, fortunately, and General Wayne had served for years as Commander of the Continental Army. A generation of West Point talent supported them including Brigadier Hohenzollern.
Congress would approve the Declaration, leaving the President and his Cabinet Secretaries to fight the war. Prime Minister Morris vowed to do all he could to cover Laurens in Congress. Laurens was uncertain of just how his nation would respond to a war as a consolidated nation rather than collection of rebellious states but was at least grateful that the men whom surrounded him were as dedicated to the nation as he.
He would need such devotion, as the President was about to make a far more radical request of Congress than a declaration of war.
In the meantime, Stoddert, Madison and Wayne were already in motion. Newly minted Admiral John Paul had a plan in place for a swift mobilization and a first strike against the Spanish. Fortunately, the Americans had two distinct advantages: the traditional Spanish lethargy of motion (Spain would waste the six weeks lead time that it took for the Declaration to reach America) and the fact that Spain's colonies began to rebel one at a time.
"Republic of the Sierras"
So livid was Brigadier Frederick Hohenzollern with Captain Napoleon de Buonaparte that he relieved him of command upon his return to Buffalo.
When Colonel Beverley's troop reached San Antonia de Bexar, they found a fierce battle ongoing as de Buonaparte exchanged fired from the walls of the Alamo with the Spanish colonial forces. The Spanish had nearly knocked down the main gate when de Buonaparte ordered them thrown open. The Spanish rushed forward only for dozens to fall before a mass blast of "grapeshot" as the Corsican called it. Four cannon had been preloaded in the courtyard, all aimed towards the gates. This blunted the attack and the Spanish retreated for the night only to find themselves under assault from both sides as Beverley's cavalry attacked from the rear as de Buonaparte's infantry charged out with bayonets fixed.
The Spanish fled en masse, leaving behind horses, mules, wagons, supplies and arms.
Even as the Brigadier verbally ripped his subordinate a new asshole, he knew de Buonaparte would be celebrated in the press.
Irritated, Hohenzollern sent de Buonaparte south into New Spain to parlay with the Spanish rebels. While he'd received no orders from Manhattan or received official word of a declaration of war, the likelihood was high thus he decided to get a jump on this ahead of time. What he did NOT know was that the lead rebel for the Spanish colonials was, in fact, the younger brother of Captain de Buonaparte.
We know someone who just lost his job, who would be reaaallllyyyyy outstanding in that particular role.
Chapter 217
Chapter 217
June, 1799
Manhattan
President Henry Laurens knew that his actions would not be popular in certain areas of the country. Fortunately, the Indian Lands Treaty which reaffirmed the reservations for the "Five Civilized Tribes" of the South only mattered to a handful of settlers. South Georgia and Augusta were not popular places to homestead and only so many people coveted the Indian lands. That was what the latest hubbub was about in Manhattan. A few hundred land-hungry prospectors and settlers wanted Indian lands for themselves. Laurens would retort that this was a contemptable reason to break a treaty made in good faith. He utterly refused to even consider the matter and neither did Prime Minister Morris.
That was enough to kill any momentum towards confiscating Indian lands. However, Laurens was inclined to make adjustments to the Indian status. He disliked the idea of separate citizenship for Indians and whites. He desired to improve the Indian condition and did not see how relegating them to reservations would do anything to improve their condition. Indians should be able to travel, work and live anywhere in American territory they desired. The President was willing to leave those on the reservation to govern themselves (under the Constitution, of course) but was intent on allowing the Indians to choose for themselves whether to be American or not. Laurens proposed a new law which would grant additional privileges of rights, property, etc for the tribal reservations Indians shortly after his Presidency began.
However, the first main adjustment to the Indian Laws was giving all Americans the right of way along Rivers and roads through Indian territory. Effectively, the country assumed control and protection of these vital transit points. This, indirectly, would reduce white (and black) resentment at the presence of these reservations as they were no longer a barrier to going west.
Only with great difficulty had Laurens, in 1797, managed to obtain legal protection of Indians throughout American territory, expressly stating they may own property and live where they pleased. This was actually difficult as some inquired if Indians would therefore be granted the franchise. Laurens, not willing to commit to such a bold Constitutional question he was sure to lose, replied that Provinces would be responsible for such decision, much as they were fore Negroes (over half the provinces either expressly granted Negroes the vote or passively allowed it without comment).
There were northern reservations as well, most notably the Iroquois and others, but few reservations in Seneca, Mackinac, New York, Wyandotte and other northern Provinces matched the scale of the southern Reservations.
At the very least, Laurens had put off major threat of rebellion among the Indians of the south-central United American Provinces.
Give that he'd just dispatched a lion's share of the American military might - both army and navy - away from America's shores, this was a massive relief.
Of course, Laurens would promptly suggest an even more daring and controversial plan:
Seeing that much of the coming conflict would likely be waged in the West Indies, this not being a desirable locale for volunteers given the climate and endemic disease, Laurens suggested that regiments of Negroes be raised as they were "immune" to tropical diseases. This last was not strictly true. The African slaves brought over on board the transports had the reputation of being immune to various diseases like Malaria, but really just had developed resistance due to regular exposure. Other diseases, like smallpox, yellow fever, etc, they were no more resistant than whites.
In some cases, like the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia a few years prior, whites whom had been living in the tropics would survive the epidemic perfectly well while blacks whom had spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania would expire in large numbers. However, the Negroes of the mid-south (i.e. Maryland through South Carolina) were no doubt MORE accustomed than the average American soldier to tropical disease, if hardly immune. What if the national government were to offer to BUY slaves from these provinces and offer freedom in exchange for a few years service?
Knowing his own people, Laurens knew many would be horrified at the idea of giving Negroes weapons or any semblance of a national policy in favor of manumission. But Laurens knew that volunteers may be tough to come by, especially in the Caribbean, and the army needed all the help it could get. Though afraid he was sticking his genitals in a hornet's nest, he proposed the idea to Prime Minister Morris. The man thought about this and nodded, agreeing to give it a try. Throughout the remainder of 1799, several hundred slaveholders, having suffered losses during the recession caused by lack of markets for their goods, mainly South Carolina's rice plantations, would grudgingly accept payment from the national government at high prices in order to remain solvent. Many of these men would be reviled by their neighbors for "betraying" the Mid-Southern way of life but bankruptcy remained a daily threat to so many landowners that liquidity was vital to survival.
Besides, the near constant flow of slaves out of these four provinces had actually resulted in a DECLINE in slaves over the years from 200,000 in 1776 to 170,000 in 1799 despite a healthy birthrate, unlike the decimating negative increase in the West Indies. Demographic historians of later generations would point out that, in 1740, there were near 1,000,000 Africans in the West Indies and only about 250,000 in America. By 1799, there were about 325,000 blacks (53% slaves, 47% free) in America and only about 140,000 black/mulatto slaves and 60,000 free people of color in the West Indies. This demographic plunge was directly related to the brutality endemic to West Indian chattel slavery, terrible heat, awful provisions, lack of medical care, tropical disease and a demographic imbalance between male and female.
By one estimate, over 75,000 slaves had departed the Mid-South over the past 23 years. The slaves continued to flee in the night to neighboring free provinces, were voluntarily liberated (and often forced to depart the provinces or shipped back to the British factory ports in Africa where they became the new creole elites) or were sold to the West Indies or Brazil. Laurens, whom was an ardent abolitionist himself, was content to look at the demographics and let the institution die a natural death.
In the meantime, he could expedite the process a bit by purchasing slaves from desperate plantation owners whom faced the double disaster of a lack of market for their goods (particularly Laurens' native South Carolina which had not other market for its rice crop) and a sudden plunge in value of the slaves themselves. While most slaveholders would abhor the idea of handing their slaves over the government in exchange for service, some plantation owners were forced to do so.
By 1800, there were four full regiments of "freed men" that would be shipped to the primary Caribbean locale for the American Army and Navy, the port of Galvezton and the city of Buffalo. Later, these soldiers would be referred to as "Buffalo Soldiers" for the first military base in which the majority would serve.
June, 1799
Manhattan
President Henry Laurens knew that his actions would not be popular in certain areas of the country. Fortunately, the Indian Lands Treaty which reaffirmed the reservations for the "Five Civilized Tribes" of the South only mattered to a handful of settlers. South Georgia and Augusta were not popular places to homestead and only so many people coveted the Indian lands. That was what the latest hubbub was about in Manhattan. A few hundred land-hungry prospectors and settlers wanted Indian lands for themselves. Laurens would retort that this was a contemptable reason to break a treaty made in good faith. He utterly refused to even consider the matter and neither did Prime Minister Morris.
That was enough to kill any momentum towards confiscating Indian lands. However, Laurens was inclined to make adjustments to the Indian status. He disliked the idea of separate citizenship for Indians and whites. He desired to improve the Indian condition and did not see how relegating them to reservations would do anything to improve their condition. Indians should be able to travel, work and live anywhere in American territory they desired. The President was willing to leave those on the reservation to govern themselves (under the Constitution, of course) but was intent on allowing the Indians to choose for themselves whether to be American or not. Laurens proposed a new law which would grant additional privileges of rights, property, etc for the tribal reservations Indians shortly after his Presidency began.
However, the first main adjustment to the Indian Laws was giving all Americans the right of way along Rivers and roads through Indian territory. Effectively, the country assumed control and protection of these vital transit points. This, indirectly, would reduce white (and black) resentment at the presence of these reservations as they were no longer a barrier to going west.
Only with great difficulty had Laurens, in 1797, managed to obtain legal protection of Indians throughout American territory, expressly stating they may own property and live where they pleased. This was actually difficult as some inquired if Indians would therefore be granted the franchise. Laurens, not willing to commit to such a bold Constitutional question he was sure to lose, replied that Provinces would be responsible for such decision, much as they were fore Negroes (over half the provinces either expressly granted Negroes the vote or passively allowed it without comment).
There were northern reservations as well, most notably the Iroquois and others, but few reservations in Seneca, Mackinac, New York, Wyandotte and other northern Provinces matched the scale of the southern Reservations.
At the very least, Laurens had put off major threat of rebellion among the Indians of the south-central United American Provinces.
Give that he'd just dispatched a lion's share of the American military might - both army and navy - away from America's shores, this was a massive relief.
Of course, Laurens would promptly suggest an even more daring and controversial plan:
Seeing that much of the coming conflict would likely be waged in the West Indies, this not being a desirable locale for volunteers given the climate and endemic disease, Laurens suggested that regiments of Negroes be raised as they were "immune" to tropical diseases. This last was not strictly true. The African slaves brought over on board the transports had the reputation of being immune to various diseases like Malaria, but really just had developed resistance due to regular exposure. Other diseases, like smallpox, yellow fever, etc, they were no more resistant than whites.
In some cases, like the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia a few years prior, whites whom had been living in the tropics would survive the epidemic perfectly well while blacks whom had spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania would expire in large numbers. However, the Negroes of the mid-south (i.e. Maryland through South Carolina) were no doubt MORE accustomed than the average American soldier to tropical disease, if hardly immune. What if the national government were to offer to BUY slaves from these provinces and offer freedom in exchange for a few years service?
Knowing his own people, Laurens knew many would be horrified at the idea of giving Negroes weapons or any semblance of a national policy in favor of manumission. But Laurens knew that volunteers may be tough to come by, especially in the Caribbean, and the army needed all the help it could get. Though afraid he was sticking his genitals in a hornet's nest, he proposed the idea to Prime Minister Morris. The man thought about this and nodded, agreeing to give it a try. Throughout the remainder of 1799, several hundred slaveholders, having suffered losses during the recession caused by lack of markets for their goods, mainly South Carolina's rice plantations, would grudgingly accept payment from the national government at high prices in order to remain solvent. Many of these men would be reviled by their neighbors for "betraying" the Mid-Southern way of life but bankruptcy remained a daily threat to so many landowners that liquidity was vital to survival.
Besides, the near constant flow of slaves out of these four provinces had actually resulted in a DECLINE in slaves over the years from 200,000 in 1776 to 170,000 in 1799 despite a healthy birthrate, unlike the decimating negative increase in the West Indies. Demographic historians of later generations would point out that, in 1740, there were near 1,000,000 Africans in the West Indies and only about 250,000 in America. By 1799, there were about 325,000 blacks (53% slaves, 47% free) in America and only about 140,000 black/mulatto slaves and 60,000 free people of color in the West Indies. This demographic plunge was directly related to the brutality endemic to West Indian chattel slavery, terrible heat, awful provisions, lack of medical care, tropical disease and a demographic imbalance between male and female.
By one estimate, over 75,000 slaves had departed the Mid-South over the past 23 years. The slaves continued to flee in the night to neighboring free provinces, were voluntarily liberated (and often forced to depart the provinces or shipped back to the British factory ports in Africa where they became the new creole elites) or were sold to the West Indies or Brazil. Laurens, whom was an ardent abolitionist himself, was content to look at the demographics and let the institution die a natural death.
In the meantime, he could expedite the process a bit by purchasing slaves from desperate plantation owners whom faced the double disaster of a lack of market for their goods (particularly Laurens' native South Carolina which had not other market for its rice crop) and a sudden plunge in value of the slaves themselves. While most slaveholders would abhor the idea of handing their slaves over the government in exchange for service, some plantation owners were forced to do so.
By 1800, there were four full regiments of "freed men" that would be shipped to the primary Caribbean locale for the American Army and Navy, the port of Galvezton and the city of Buffalo. Later, these soldiers would be referred to as "Buffalo Soldiers" for the first military base in which the majority would serve.
Chapter 218
Chapter 218
July, 1799
Buffalo-Khalas, Atacapa
Travelling through the Caribbean in June and July was perhaps not the safest decision to make as a hurricane could wipe out a not-so-insubstantial part of the American military machine in hours. But given the limitations of the nation's military might, President Laurens and his advisors knew they had to take risks. A convoy of six warships, including two of the ships-of-the-line, escorted twenty cargo and transport ships to Buffalo-Khalas.
They bore 3000 of the nation's precious experienced regulars. Instructions for raising local militia had been set out to the Provinces over a year ago and patriotic Americans hastened to enlist, though many remained raw and poorly armed. Worse, Galvezton Bay was at the end of a very, very long supply line as America's Caribbean coast was so lightly populated. Even New Orleans was a secondary city and that was by far the most dominant demographic area with over 50,000 people in the extended area. Over 2000 volunteers from New Orleans and up the Mississippi joined the 3000 newly landed regulars in Buffalo-Khalas. Already possessing over 1000 regulars and 500 marines between Buffalo-Khalas and Corpus Christi, General Frederick Hohenzollern knew he should be honored to command the greatest American army since the War of Independence.
Hohenzollern's orders came a few weeks prior at the hands of a courier. The man had orders to throw the dispatches in the sea if assaulted by the Spanish Navy. Again, the American luck held and the fast clipper made Buffalo without incident. The orders informed Hohenzollern that America opted to go on the offensive. As a military man, he knew the limitations of his nation's military capacity but also knew that defending thousands of miles of coastline with a few thousand regulars was a waste of time and material.
If peace could not be had, better to use your resources to attack and make the enemy react TO YOU. Still, Hohenzollern was not quite certain if the Continental Army and Navy was ready for such a campaign as laid out. But the target, while ambitious, was not impossible and would certainly be a devastating strike upon Spanish power if successful.
On the whole, this seemed a better use of soldiers and sailors than having them sit around Manhattan Island awaiting an attack that may or may not ever come.
What bothered Hohenzollern more was the fact that de Buonaparte had been promoted to Major by the Secretary of War. The German-born soldier remained livid at de Buonaparte's provocative actions at San Antonio de Bexar, apparently Manhattan thought differently. Instead the man was an American hero. The Brigadier shook his head. If de Buonaparte did not possess so much potential, Hohenzollern would have court-martialed him.
The soldier only hoped his protégé and prodigal son was doing what he was told in Monterrey and quietly sounding the locals for an alliance.
Monterrey
"The people of the United States stand by you! Death to Kings and liberty for all!" Lieutenant de Buonaparte shouted in his native Spanish before the cheering crowd.
Though born in Corsica, he had been a toddler when his family moved to New Spain in the service of the old King. Bonaparte spoke far better Spanish still than English, which he still struggled with the accent. Carlo de Buonaparte had been a minor functionary in the Spanish Imperial Machine before dying in Manhattan on a diplomatic mission to the newborn United American Provinces.
Now, as the Army of the Republic of the Sierras cheered, de Buonaparte assured them of ultimate victory and urged them on to Mexico City to cast out the King's Men. As the Army of the Sierras was basically a mob of peasants led by Father Lucien, this was unlikely to happen any time in the near future.
But de Buonaparte liked to dream.
July, 1799
Buffalo-Khalas, Atacapa
Travelling through the Caribbean in June and July was perhaps not the safest decision to make as a hurricane could wipe out a not-so-insubstantial part of the American military machine in hours. But given the limitations of the nation's military might, President Laurens and his advisors knew they had to take risks. A convoy of six warships, including two of the ships-of-the-line, escorted twenty cargo and transport ships to Buffalo-Khalas.
They bore 3000 of the nation's precious experienced regulars. Instructions for raising local militia had been set out to the Provinces over a year ago and patriotic Americans hastened to enlist, though many remained raw and poorly armed. Worse, Galvezton Bay was at the end of a very, very long supply line as America's Caribbean coast was so lightly populated. Even New Orleans was a secondary city and that was by far the most dominant demographic area with over 50,000 people in the extended area. Over 2000 volunteers from New Orleans and up the Mississippi joined the 3000 newly landed regulars in Buffalo-Khalas. Already possessing over 1000 regulars and 500 marines between Buffalo-Khalas and Corpus Christi, General Frederick Hohenzollern knew he should be honored to command the greatest American army since the War of Independence.
Hohenzollern's orders came a few weeks prior at the hands of a courier. The man had orders to throw the dispatches in the sea if assaulted by the Spanish Navy. Again, the American luck held and the fast clipper made Buffalo without incident. The orders informed Hohenzollern that America opted to go on the offensive. As a military man, he knew the limitations of his nation's military capacity but also knew that defending thousands of miles of coastline with a few thousand regulars was a waste of time and material.
If peace could not be had, better to use your resources to attack and make the enemy react TO YOU. Still, Hohenzollern was not quite certain if the Continental Army and Navy was ready for such a campaign as laid out. But the target, while ambitious, was not impossible and would certainly be a devastating strike upon Spanish power if successful.
On the whole, this seemed a better use of soldiers and sailors than having them sit around Manhattan Island awaiting an attack that may or may not ever come.
What bothered Hohenzollern more was the fact that de Buonaparte had been promoted to Major by the Secretary of War. The German-born soldier remained livid at de Buonaparte's provocative actions at San Antonio de Bexar, apparently Manhattan thought differently. Instead the man was an American hero. The Brigadier shook his head. If de Buonaparte did not possess so much potential, Hohenzollern would have court-martialed him.
The soldier only hoped his protégé and prodigal son was doing what he was told in Monterrey and quietly sounding the locals for an alliance.
Monterrey
"The people of the United States stand by you! Death to Kings and liberty for all!" Lieutenant de Buonaparte shouted in his native Spanish before the cheering crowd.
Though born in Corsica, he had been a toddler when his family moved to New Spain in the service of the old King. Bonaparte spoke far better Spanish still than English, which he still struggled with the accent. Carlo de Buonaparte had been a minor functionary in the Spanish Imperial Machine before dying in Manhattan on a diplomatic mission to the newborn United American Provinces.
Now, as the Army of the Republic of the Sierras cheered, de Buonaparte assured them of ultimate victory and urged them on to Mexico City to cast out the King's Men. As the Army of the Sierras was basically a mob of peasants led by Father Lucien, this was unlikely to happen any time in the near future.
But de Buonaparte liked to dream.
A mob of peasants and a Bonaparte. Name a more iconic duo. 
That's what OTL Austria thought, too.
That's what OTL Austria thought, too.
Chapter 219
August 1799
San Juan de los Esteros Hermosos, Santander, Eastern Internal Provinces
Half a century ago, several families had taken up residence at the mouth of the Rio Grande, south of the great waters. In that time, little had changed. The population remained low north of the silver mines of San Luis Potosi with cattle ranching being the primary occupation. To the north or northwest, there was little of note other than San Antonio de Bexar, Santa Fe and a few other small towns.
However, the site made up in strategic location what it lacked in population or wealth.
Five hundred soldiers and militia boarded small vessels in Corpus Christi and sailed south to San Juan de Los Esteros Hermosos, seizing the little port. This was done without bloodshed as there was no Spanish military presence in the region.
The true battle would be to the south.
Veracruz
The primary thrust of the American attack was on the most obvious target, the great port of Veracruz, through which virtually all trade through New Spain north of New Granada flowed. Guarded by the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, a centuries-old Spanish fortress and prison, Veracruz was the great prize.
Despite the power and wealth of the Spanish Empire, the fortification had been allowed to deteriorate and only held 100 soldiers on punishment duty. Three Spanish warships were present at the time that the American fleet and their transports arrived. One was abandoned awaiting breakup and the second was under repair. The final ship, a fifth-rate ship-of-the-line was taken quickly by several American frigates. The German-born American soldier was surprised that such a vital outpost be so poorly defended. But the ejection of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic from the West Indies over half a decade ago and the collapse of France's Empire perhaps lent a sense of complacency.
With only a handful of cannon in working condition, the fortification fell quickly. The American Continentals and Marines had assumed control before the city's militia and a few nearby garrisons would be able to march and evict the intruders. With three days, the commanding firepower of the captured and the American ships would leave the Americans in control over the city.
The overwhelming emotion of the citizenry of Veracruz was stunned. It had never apparently occurred to anyone in New Spain that the United States would attack a great city. From a rational standpoint, Hohenzollern understood. After all, the Spanish West Indian Squadron based in Havana alone probably matched the combined American Navy. What lunatic would risk an entire army and fleet which may be cut off and besieged in Veracruz harbor?
But the American government was prepared to gamble and won the first roll of the dice.
Nuevo Leon, Eastern Internal Provinces
Led by Major de Buonaparte and a handful of American "advisors" dispatched by Hohenzollern to look after his protégé, the Spanish colonists of the lightly populated Easter Internal Provinces (Santander, Leon, Extremadura, Saltillo, Parras, Tejas) would march south towards Saltillo, the next largest city in the north after Monterrey.
Father Lucien's mob of 10,000 ill-equipped peasants led by revolutionaries would taken the city by storm. The 500 man garrison would attempt to face off against the rebel. However, they made the mistake of demanding 1000 militia join them only for the militia to attack from behind before the battle even started, the people of Saltillo throwing in with the rebels.
Exultant with victory, de Buonaparte would wonder if he could be defeated. In his youthful enthusiasm, he did not realize that fate was a fickle bitch and easy victories had a way of being reversed.
August 1799
San Juan de los Esteros Hermosos, Santander, Eastern Internal Provinces
Half a century ago, several families had taken up residence at the mouth of the Rio Grande, south of the great waters. In that time, little had changed. The population remained low north of the silver mines of San Luis Potosi with cattle ranching being the primary occupation. To the north or northwest, there was little of note other than San Antonio de Bexar, Santa Fe and a few other small towns.
However, the site made up in strategic location what it lacked in population or wealth.
Five hundred soldiers and militia boarded small vessels in Corpus Christi and sailed south to San Juan de Los Esteros Hermosos, seizing the little port. This was done without bloodshed as there was no Spanish military presence in the region.
The true battle would be to the south.
Veracruz
The primary thrust of the American attack was on the most obvious target, the great port of Veracruz, through which virtually all trade through New Spain north of New Granada flowed. Guarded by the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, a centuries-old Spanish fortress and prison, Veracruz was the great prize.
Despite the power and wealth of the Spanish Empire, the fortification had been allowed to deteriorate and only held 100 soldiers on punishment duty. Three Spanish warships were present at the time that the American fleet and their transports arrived. One was abandoned awaiting breakup and the second was under repair. The final ship, a fifth-rate ship-of-the-line was taken quickly by several American frigates. The German-born American soldier was surprised that such a vital outpost be so poorly defended. But the ejection of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic from the West Indies over half a decade ago and the collapse of France's Empire perhaps lent a sense of complacency.
With only a handful of cannon in working condition, the fortification fell quickly. The American Continentals and Marines had assumed control before the city's militia and a few nearby garrisons would be able to march and evict the intruders. With three days, the commanding firepower of the captured and the American ships would leave the Americans in control over the city.
The overwhelming emotion of the citizenry of Veracruz was stunned. It had never apparently occurred to anyone in New Spain that the United States would attack a great city. From a rational standpoint, Hohenzollern understood. After all, the Spanish West Indian Squadron based in Havana alone probably matched the combined American Navy. What lunatic would risk an entire army and fleet which may be cut off and besieged in Veracruz harbor?
But the American government was prepared to gamble and won the first roll of the dice.
Nuevo Leon, Eastern Internal Provinces
Led by Major de Buonaparte and a handful of American "advisors" dispatched by Hohenzollern to look after his protégé, the Spanish colonists of the lightly populated Easter Internal Provinces (Santander, Leon, Extremadura, Saltillo, Parras, Tejas) would march south towards Saltillo, the next largest city in the north after Monterrey.
Father Lucien's mob of 10,000 ill-equipped peasants led by revolutionaries would taken the city by storm. The 500 man garrison would attempt to face off against the rebel. However, they made the mistake of demanding 1000 militia join them only for the militia to attack from behind before the battle even started, the people of Saltillo throwing in with the rebels.
Exultant with victory, de Buonaparte would wonder if he could be defeated. In his youthful enthusiasm, he did not realize that fate was a fickle bitch and easy victories had a way of being reversed.
Chapter 220
Chapter 220
September, 1799
Lyon
For the past several years, the front lines had rolled back and forth between the Republican north and the new “Stuartist” south. Attempts at a permanent armistice perpetually failed as well as attempts to compromise. By 1799, no one in their right mind would trust the madness endemic in the French Revolution, even after the effective end of the Reign of Terror. Marat had successfully put an end to the mob rule of the Herbertists and the “National Guard” of Paris.
Even the Radical Marat was getting tired of this war and was prepared to compromise. However, too much blood had been shed to turn back. The Republican government of the north had confiscated hundreds of thousands of acres of land from the noble class, whom would presumably want this back in the peace.
As this was plainly unacceptable, the war went on. In hopes of victory, Marat sought yet another offensive. With the national divided, the economy was shattered and taxation virtually impossible to come by. The armies grew smaller and smaller despite ever more draconian measures to enlist soldiers. For the most part, by 1799, no one was getting paid and were lucky to be fed or clothed. The only thing that prevented widespread collapse was a couple of moderate winters which allowed for the collection of harvest, though the border areas, of course, often went hungry as grain was impossible to gather while armies were in the field (even if the armies did not confiscate the provisions, which they would).
Lacking any other ideas, the Republicans assaulted Lyon again, effectively attacking the heart of the Royalist defenses.
The pitiful condition of the French people after suffering a full decade of war upon their own soil led to record emigration from France, whose people typically preferred to remain at home. Over 15,000 souls per year would depart for Quebec, America or San Dominique, mostly on neutral ships. The most common ports of departure were Le Havre (Republican), Brest (Royalist) and Bordeaux (Royalist). This remained a tiny percentage of France’s population but still considerable compared to historical norms. The French people had almost an ingrained love of their home and seldom desired to find alternate abodes.
Oddly, the rest of the Europe apparently tired of the French “Civil War” and stayed out of it for the most part. Emperor Charles’ Austrian forces struggling to maintain peace in his sprawling Empire where his newly conquered domains in the Swiss Cantons and Swabia proved restive along with the resentful non-German Kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary. The German Confederation fortified their borders, always expecting an attack by Austria. Neither side was interested in France at the moment.
Spain, similarly tired of providing armies and subsidies for “Royalist” France, was prepared to sit back after taking a bloody nose by the Republican French, English and Dutch Navies in Brest. Having temporarily believed themselves the masters of the sea for the first time in two centuries, the defeat proved quite deflating. Then the Spanish had their own problems to deal with as King Louis II had received reports of colonial rebellions. He had also declared war upon America but that was considered a tertiary problem and America was expected to seek peace sooner rather than later. Few to no real resources had been allocated to that conflict beyond strengthening Havana’s West Indian Squadron.
The Yucatan
Though the Mayan Empire was long dead, their inheritors remained throughout the Yucatan. The Indians of the interior had continued to develop along their own paths as little of use had been found to exploit over the centuries by the Spanish. There were fewer “mestizos” in this region and far more pureblood Indians. Still armed with traditional bows and spears, the tribes descended upon the coastal towns and plantations burning and looting.
Algiers
Colonel Benedict Arnold II knew that the moment was coming but the Berbers were ready to attack again. Fortunately, the increase in the quantity of Russian and Coptic troops helped the American, Tuscan, Danish, Swedish, Spanish and Papal soldiers huddled behind the city walls. The declaration of war between America and Spain was awkward but did not affect the co-occupation of Algiers. Only 200 Spanish and 100 Americans were within the walls, only a tenth of the population. The Russian commanders and other Europeans reminded the combatants of the greater threat and that perhaps the Spanish and American commanders might accept a local armistice. Outnumbered ten to one and knowing that any violence inside the walls would not only be counter-productive but their allies would forcibly expel any troublemakers from Algiers and then exclude BOTH nation’s ships from anchorage privileges, Arnold and his Spanish counterpart agreed to maintained the mutual truce “pending consultations” with their governments.
Then the Berbers returned after yet another bout of civil war, intent on reclaiming their port city.
Seeing the angry tribesmen circling Algiers, the American and Spanish soldiers were suddenly less interested in fighting one another and determined to concentrate on keeping themselves alive.
September, 1799
Lyon
For the past several years, the front lines had rolled back and forth between the Republican north and the new “Stuartist” south. Attempts at a permanent armistice perpetually failed as well as attempts to compromise. By 1799, no one in their right mind would trust the madness endemic in the French Revolution, even after the effective end of the Reign of Terror. Marat had successfully put an end to the mob rule of the Herbertists and the “National Guard” of Paris.
Even the Radical Marat was getting tired of this war and was prepared to compromise. However, too much blood had been shed to turn back. The Republican government of the north had confiscated hundreds of thousands of acres of land from the noble class, whom would presumably want this back in the peace.
As this was plainly unacceptable, the war went on. In hopes of victory, Marat sought yet another offensive. With the national divided, the economy was shattered and taxation virtually impossible to come by. The armies grew smaller and smaller despite ever more draconian measures to enlist soldiers. For the most part, by 1799, no one was getting paid and were lucky to be fed or clothed. The only thing that prevented widespread collapse was a couple of moderate winters which allowed for the collection of harvest, though the border areas, of course, often went hungry as grain was impossible to gather while armies were in the field (even if the armies did not confiscate the provisions, which they would).
Lacking any other ideas, the Republicans assaulted Lyon again, effectively attacking the heart of the Royalist defenses.
The pitiful condition of the French people after suffering a full decade of war upon their own soil led to record emigration from France, whose people typically preferred to remain at home. Over 15,000 souls per year would depart for Quebec, America or San Dominique, mostly on neutral ships. The most common ports of departure were Le Havre (Republican), Brest (Royalist) and Bordeaux (Royalist). This remained a tiny percentage of France’s population but still considerable compared to historical norms. The French people had almost an ingrained love of their home and seldom desired to find alternate abodes.
Oddly, the rest of the Europe apparently tired of the French “Civil War” and stayed out of it for the most part. Emperor Charles’ Austrian forces struggling to maintain peace in his sprawling Empire where his newly conquered domains in the Swiss Cantons and Swabia proved restive along with the resentful non-German Kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary. The German Confederation fortified their borders, always expecting an attack by Austria. Neither side was interested in France at the moment.
Spain, similarly tired of providing armies and subsidies for “Royalist” France, was prepared to sit back after taking a bloody nose by the Republican French, English and Dutch Navies in Brest. Having temporarily believed themselves the masters of the sea for the first time in two centuries, the defeat proved quite deflating. Then the Spanish had their own problems to deal with as King Louis II had received reports of colonial rebellions. He had also declared war upon America but that was considered a tertiary problem and America was expected to seek peace sooner rather than later. Few to no real resources had been allocated to that conflict beyond strengthening Havana’s West Indian Squadron.
The Yucatan
Though the Mayan Empire was long dead, their inheritors remained throughout the Yucatan. The Indians of the interior had continued to develop along their own paths as little of use had been found to exploit over the centuries by the Spanish. There were fewer “mestizos” in this region and far more pureblood Indians. Still armed with traditional bows and spears, the tribes descended upon the coastal towns and plantations burning and looting.
Algiers
Colonel Benedict Arnold II knew that the moment was coming but the Berbers were ready to attack again. Fortunately, the increase in the quantity of Russian and Coptic troops helped the American, Tuscan, Danish, Swedish, Spanish and Papal soldiers huddled behind the city walls. The declaration of war between America and Spain was awkward but did not affect the co-occupation of Algiers. Only 200 Spanish and 100 Americans were within the walls, only a tenth of the population. The Russian commanders and other Europeans reminded the combatants of the greater threat and that perhaps the Spanish and American commanders might accept a local armistice. Outnumbered ten to one and knowing that any violence inside the walls would not only be counter-productive but their allies would forcibly expel any troublemakers from Algiers and then exclude BOTH nation’s ships from anchorage privileges, Arnold and his Spanish counterpart agreed to maintained the mutual truce “pending consultations” with their governments.
Then the Berbers returned after yet another bout of civil war, intent on reclaiming their port city.
Seeing the angry tribesmen circling Algiers, the American and Spanish soldiers were suddenly less interested in fighting one another and determined to concentrate on keeping themselves alive.
Jeez. Algier's has been under siege sporadically since 1788. I'm honestly surprised that the Americans are still stationed there. Why haven't they been called back yet?