Peshawar Lancers Redux: North America
- Thread starter Strategos' Risk
- Start date
While jubilant crowds celebrated in New Charleston, news of the raid spread far and wide. Telegraphed accounts of the victory reached beyond the Mississippi by the end of the week, reaching even Texas a few days after that. Sir Anthony Worsthorne, newly confirmed Ambassador from Jamaica was the toast of Atlanta. He very shortly was a much sought-after guest at the homes of the most powerful members of the Nationalist government. An intelligent and affable man, he took the opportunity on each occasion many to lobby for a step that few had dared voice until now: Independence.
He would tell anyone willing to listen, “You chaps have an opportunity now to finally obtain what was denied you in your last war. Month by month,your armies have grown more effective. With our help at sea, surely you can force the government in Memphis to grant you an armistice. Winter is coming on soon. Hunger will be all the greater in their cities if this war continues and they know it. Mexico is not the strong ally they'd hoped for, and my sources inform me that that country may soon be dealing with their own problems closer to home. In the Spring, perhaps sounder heads in Memphis will see the folly of continuing the war. Strike while the iron is hot, gentlemen! Strike while the iron is hot!”
Such words only encouraged those of the Nationalists who had been part of the “unreconstructed” population for years. John Echols, although a veteran of Lee's army was thought by some of being too cautious, not revolutionary enough perhaps. Sensing a political opportunity, General Wade Hampton returned to Atlanta from his campaigning in Tennessee. Once in the city, he conferred with political allies, with some of the more radical groups of the Georgia Klan and the Red Shirts, and finally with Sir Anthony himself. The next meeting of the Governing Council was scheduled for early January. Hampton planned to be ready for it.
In New Orleans, the Mexican Consulate, which by now had grown to no less than five substantial buildings in the middle of town, was the center of a complex enterprise of trade, finance, diplomacy, political intrigue and espionage. The Consul,Ignacio Marquez oversaw it all, the spider at the center of a vast web. Indeed, behind his back, some of the staff referred to Marquez as “la araña” - the Spider. The recent demise, of apparently natural causes, of Ambassador Escobar in Memphis had left Marquez the highest ranking representative of Mexico north of the Rio Grande. He had made himself both wealthy and powerful, but the Spider was not a happy man.
Marquez had been infuriated when he heard of the Federal naval defeats, for it could only lengthen the struggle to defeat the Nationalist factions. There was little he could do directly control naval actions in the Atlantic and Admiral Fuentes was resistant of his suggestions to use the Gulf of Mexico armada to shell the Texan coastal towns. Fuentes had his own base of power in Mexico City, and oversaw the protection of the lucrative extraction of resources from western Cuba. Only President Diaz himself could budge the Admiral, and thus far he had not done so.
Of the most immediate concern to Marquez was the presence in Louisiana of Longstreet in the east and the Texans in the west. Yes, those must be dealt with, before even larger numbers of ignorant yokels joined their ranks. Indeed, even in New Orleans itself one saw anti-Mexican graffiti scrawled on walls, the ungrateful wretches, and lately there had been incidents of violence against some of his agents. That was very worrisome indeed. Tomorrow, he resolved, he would telegraph the Governor directly with some suggestions how best to deal with the situation.
He would tell anyone willing to listen, “You chaps have an opportunity now to finally obtain what was denied you in your last war. Month by month,your armies have grown more effective. With our help at sea, surely you can force the government in Memphis to grant you an armistice. Winter is coming on soon. Hunger will be all the greater in their cities if this war continues and they know it. Mexico is not the strong ally they'd hoped for, and my sources inform me that that country may soon be dealing with their own problems closer to home. In the Spring, perhaps sounder heads in Memphis will see the folly of continuing the war. Strike while the iron is hot, gentlemen! Strike while the iron is hot!”
Such words only encouraged those of the Nationalists who had been part of the “unreconstructed” population for years. John Echols, although a veteran of Lee's army was thought by some of being too cautious, not revolutionary enough perhaps. Sensing a political opportunity, General Wade Hampton returned to Atlanta from his campaigning in Tennessee. Once in the city, he conferred with political allies, with some of the more radical groups of the Georgia Klan and the Red Shirts, and finally with Sir Anthony himself. The next meeting of the Governing Council was scheduled for early January. Hampton planned to be ready for it.
In New Orleans, the Mexican Consulate, which by now had grown to no less than five substantial buildings in the middle of town, was the center of a complex enterprise of trade, finance, diplomacy, political intrigue and espionage. The Consul,Ignacio Marquez oversaw it all, the spider at the center of a vast web. Indeed, behind his back, some of the staff referred to Marquez as “la araña” - the Spider. The recent demise, of apparently natural causes, of Ambassador Escobar in Memphis had left Marquez the highest ranking representative of Mexico north of the Rio Grande. He had made himself both wealthy and powerful, but the Spider was not a happy man.
Marquez had been infuriated when he heard of the Federal naval defeats, for it could only lengthen the struggle to defeat the Nationalist factions. There was little he could do directly control naval actions in the Atlantic and Admiral Fuentes was resistant of his suggestions to use the Gulf of Mexico armada to shell the Texan coastal towns. Fuentes had his own base of power in Mexico City, and oversaw the protection of the lucrative extraction of resources from western Cuba. Only President Diaz himself could budge the Admiral, and thus far he had not done so.
Of the most immediate concern to Marquez was the presence in Louisiana of Longstreet in the east and the Texans in the west. Yes, those must be dealt with, before even larger numbers of ignorant yokels joined their ranks. Indeed, even in New Orleans itself one saw anti-Mexican graffiti scrawled on walls, the ungrateful wretches, and lately there had been incidents of violence against some of his agents. That was very worrisome indeed. Tomorrow, he resolved, he would telegraph the Governor directly with some suggestions how best to deal with the situation.
Honestly I don't see Independence as an option really. Frankly the Nationalists should be seeking to oust the Federals from power and retake the government from the corrupt officials in power.
Good stuff Claudius. Keep 'em coming.
Good stuff Claudius. Keep 'em coming.
In New Orleans, the Mexican Consulate, which by now had grown to no less than five substantial buildings in the middle of town, was the center of a complex enterprise of trade, finance, diplomacy, political intrigue and espionage. The Consul,Ignacio Marquez oversaw it all, the spider at the center of a vast web. Indeed, behind his back, some of the staff referred to Marquez as “la araña” - the Spider. The recent demise, of apparently natural causes, of Ambassador Escobar in Memphis had left Marquez the highest ranking representative of Mexico north of the Rio Grande. He had made himself both wealthy and powerful, but the Spider was not a happy man.
Marquez had been infuriated when he heard of the Federal naval defeats, for it could only lengthen the struggle to defeat the Nationalist factions. There was little he could do directly control naval actions in the Atlantic and Admiral Fuentes was resistant to his suggestions to use the Gulf of Mexico armada to shell the Texan coastal towns. Fuentes had his own base of power in Mexico City, and oversaw the protection of the lucrative extraction of resources from western Cuba. Only President Diaz himself could budge the Admiral, and thus far he had not done so.
Of the most immediate concern was the presence in Louisiana of Longstreet in the east and the Texans in the west. Yes, those must be dealt with, before even larger numbers of ignorant yokels joined their ranks. Indeed, even in New Orleans itself one saw anti-Mexican graffiti scrawled on walls, the ungrateful wretches, and lately there had been incidents of violence against some of his agents. That was very worrisome indeed. Tomorrow, he resolved, he would telegraph the Governor directly with some suggestions how best to deal with the situation.
On October 25th Theodore Roosevelt returned to duty, re-assuming command of his brigade. He looked somewhat haggard, having lost 20 pounds while in the infirmary and walked with the assistance of a cane. Still, he seemed much the same man, he had been before his wounding, grinning broadly when his men gave him a resounding cheer when he appeared for the first time. Pershing was delighted as well. Iron Jack was planning a further advance and very much needed Roosevelt’s Brigade to be a part of it's vanguard.
Marquez had been infuriated when he heard of the Federal naval defeats, for it could only lengthen the struggle to defeat the Nationalist factions. There was little he could do directly control naval actions in the Atlantic and Admiral Fuentes was resistant to his suggestions to use the Gulf of Mexico armada to shell the Texan coastal towns. Fuentes had his own base of power in Mexico City, and oversaw the protection of the lucrative extraction of resources from western Cuba. Only President Diaz himself could budge the Admiral, and thus far he had not done so.
Of the most immediate concern was the presence in Louisiana of Longstreet in the east and the Texans in the west. Yes, those must be dealt with, before even larger numbers of ignorant yokels joined their ranks. Indeed, even in New Orleans itself one saw anti-Mexican graffiti scrawled on walls, the ungrateful wretches, and lately there had been incidents of violence against some of his agents. That was very worrisome indeed. Tomorrow, he resolved, he would telegraph the Governor directly with some suggestions how best to deal with the situation.
On October 25th Theodore Roosevelt returned to duty, re-assuming command of his brigade. He looked somewhat haggard, having lost 20 pounds while in the infirmary and walked with the assistance of a cane. Still, he seemed much the same man, he had been before his wounding, grinning broadly when his men gave him a resounding cheer when he appeared for the first time. Pershing was delighted as well. Iron Jack was planning a further advance and very much needed Roosevelt’s Brigade to be a part of it's vanguard.
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Man I so want Consul Ignacio Marquez to meet a grisly end...
Good stuff Claudius, glad to see TR back up and raring to go.
Good stuff Claudius, glad to see TR back up and raring to go.
The final week of October saw some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict between the Federal and Nationalist armies. On both sides, public war-weariness grew stronger as the weather deteriorated. The first snows had already begun to fall in the Ohio valley and southern Illinois, harming the late harvest. Farther south, in the Nationalist states, chilly winds and sudden downpours cast a gloomy pall over the region and turned roads into quagmires. James Longstreet set his mind to make a final determined push to as he put it in a letter to his wife, “settle things in Louisiana before winter.”
Certainly he was encouraged in this by John Echols, who had caught wind of Wade Hampton's machinations to secure leadership of the Nationalist government away from him. The next meeting of the Convocation of Governors in January Echols knew, was where he would make his push. Although generally speaking, the Nationalist areas had held their own, and had done fairly well in the ongoing struggle, he had no doubt that Hampton would make the argument that so long as the Mexicans remained present in Louisiana and California and influential in Memphis the Federals although shaken, were not in any sense defeated and indeed still threatened important areas in the east He would doubtless argue that what was needed was a radical change in tactics and leadership.
Of particular concern to some of the Governors was the policy of General Pershing to recruit and free from contract considerable numbers of indentured laborers. Many important men had grown wealthy on such workers. A more prolonged conflict they worried overthrow the entire Indentured labor system that had grown up over the past ten years leading to who knows what social changes. Hampton, again, would intimate that he and only he could maintain the status quo. So Echols encouraged Longstreet to aggressively deal with the situation in Louisiana. For his part, he assured the General by telegraph, he would support him with as many resources as could be spared.
That accomplished, Echols mentally prepared himself for his next meeting, that with the Right Honourable Sir Anthony Worsthorne, difficult as that promised to be.
Certainly he was encouraged in this by John Echols, who had caught wind of Wade Hampton's machinations to secure leadership of the Nationalist government away from him. The next meeting of the Convocation of Governors in January Echols knew, was where he would make his push. Although generally speaking, the Nationalist areas had held their own, and had done fairly well in the ongoing struggle, he had no doubt that Hampton would make the argument that so long as the Mexicans remained present in Louisiana and California and influential in Memphis the Federals although shaken, were not in any sense defeated and indeed still threatened important areas in the east He would doubtless argue that what was needed was a radical change in tactics and leadership.
Of particular concern to some of the Governors was the policy of General Pershing to recruit and free from contract considerable numbers of indentured laborers. Many important men had grown wealthy on such workers. A more prolonged conflict they worried overthrow the entire Indentured labor system that had grown up over the past ten years leading to who knows what social changes. Hampton, again, would intimate that he and only he could maintain the status quo. So Echols encouraged Longstreet to aggressively deal with the situation in Louisiana. For his part, he assured the General by telegraph, he would support him with as many resources as could be spared.
That accomplished, Echols mentally prepared himself for his next meeting, that with the Right Honourable Sir Anthony Worsthorne, difficult as that promised to be.
Interesting...say are their any Americans playing the Mexicans at their own game?
Good question. Mexico is indeed reacting to Texas's decision. It has been several months now since it became obvious that Texas was no longer neutral, but raising an additional army training and equipping it takes time and resources which are getting stretched. A response will come and it will affect events in several theaters.
Actually, I happen to be in Texas this week. Beautiful this time of year. What Texas has going for it is its sheer size. Diaz knows what happened even to Napoleon when he tried invading thed vast open spaces of Russia. Perhaps he hesitates because of that that knowledge....
Actually, I happen to be in Texas this week. Beautiful this time of year. What Texas has going for it is its sheer size. Diaz knows what happened even to Napoleon when he tried invading thed vast open spaces of Russia. Perhaps he hesitates because of that that knowledge....
Worsthorne arrived at Echol's office precisely on time. He was a pink-complexioned open-faced fellow about fifty years of age, Echols guessed. He had a firm hand shake and a ready smile. Echols, an old soldier, was not a man for much small-talk and quickly got to the point.
“Mr. Ambassador, it has been reliably reported to me that you have been encouraging some in the government to consider the conflict we are now engaged as a war for independence. Till now, this has not been the position of the Nationalist Party. If it were, perhaps we would have called ourselves the “Independence Party” or some such thing. No, we are simply fighting for our political rights and freedoms within the nation, and against the corrupt gang of men who currently rule in Memphis. No more and no less.”
“ And yet, Governor Echols, many in your government fought a war for independence not that many years since.”
“Yes, a war that we lost. Badly.”
“ Yet the Federals, as you style them, are far less strong now than the Unionists you fought back then. And you are relatively stronger.”
“Such a declaration would only strengthen the resolve of those people and prolong the war. It breaks my heart each day to read the casualty lists and hear of the destruction of what remains of the towns and farmsteads that survived the great disaster ten years ago.”
“Sir, you are functionally the acting President of the of a group of states, all of whom were part of the old Confederacy.”
“That's true, sir, but I have also had the sorry duty to watch thousands of our citizens go to their deaths, farms looted and burned, whole districts uprooted...”
“Indeed, we in Jamaica have been watching. We are aware of the price you have paid, and the depredations of the National Police and the armies of the cabal that runs things in Memphis.
“A price we have been willing to pay for our rights.”
“Thus far, yes, but for how much longer?”
“Mr. Ambassador, it has been reliably reported to me that you have been encouraging some in the government to consider the conflict we are now engaged as a war for independence. Till now, this has not been the position of the Nationalist Party. If it were, perhaps we would have called ourselves the “Independence Party” or some such thing. No, we are simply fighting for our political rights and freedoms within the nation, and against the corrupt gang of men who currently rule in Memphis. No more and no less.”
“ And yet, Governor Echols, many in your government fought a war for independence not that many years since.”
“Yes, a war that we lost. Badly.”
“ Yet the Federals, as you style them, are far less strong now than the Unionists you fought back then. And you are relatively stronger.”
“Such a declaration would only strengthen the resolve of those people and prolong the war. It breaks my heart each day to read the casualty lists and hear of the destruction of what remains of the towns and farmsteads that survived the great disaster ten years ago.”
“Sir, you are functionally the acting President of the of a group of states, all of whom were part of the old Confederacy.”
“That's true, sir, but I have also had the sorry duty to watch thousands of our citizens go to their deaths, farms looted and burned, whole districts uprooted...”
“Indeed, we in Jamaica have been watching. We are aware of the price you have paid, and the depredations of the National Police and the armies of the cabal that runs things in Memphis.
“A price we have been willing to pay for our rights.”
“Thus far, yes, but for how much longer?”
Interesting...something Worsthorne might bring up is that a lot of those dying for the Nationalist cause or not those who did/or would support the Confederacy of old. Many are refugees from the northern states. My guess is many would hang Echol just as much as the thugs in Memphis.
Echols decided to change the direction of the conversation.
“Mr. Ambassador, please don't get me wrong. We are very much appreciative of the aid which your country has extended to us. Your ships and advice have been invaluable in keeping the Federal navy away from our coasts. Many feared that the blockade and bombardment of our seacoast towns was inevitable...but now we dare to hope that we will be spared such attacks. Jamaica has our deepest gratitude for that. But sir may I ask why exactly your country has taken our quarrel as your own? “
Worsthone paused for a moment, took a breath and began. His face seemed to darken a bit, as if reflecting sad memories.
I was not born in Jamaica, sir, but in England When the great catastrophe happened, I had the honor of being Her Majesty's Governor in in what was then the Crown Colony of British Honduras. We soon became well aware of the terrible thing that had happened to our homeland. We stood by to help, as well as we could, shipping food, accepting refugees, doing whatever our government requested. It was a hard time, but we did our part.
In the subsequent years things got worse and worse, not only in Britain, but on the Continent as well. Poor England was swept by famine and pestilence. We began to realize that our beloved Empire was dying and that we would very shortly be on our own. All we had to defend ourselves was a small constabulary and a few boats designed to discourage smugglers. We hoped that things would sort themselves out at home eventually and that life would return to normal.“
Worsthorne grimaced, then continued. “One day, without warning, Mexican gunboats arrived. Shortly thereafter, the Mexican flag had been run up at Government House and my staff and I were sent packing. I was fortunate to reach Jamaica, where I was welcomed with open arms.
Prime Minister Palmerston once said that “Britain has no permanent friends permanent enemies; she only has permanent interests.” Jamaica would say the same of herself. Mexico has been extending her sway from California in the west to the Caribbean Sea in the east and is greedily looking elsewhere as well. Already, perhaps a third of Cuba is theirs and Puerto Rico may well be next. Look at a map sir. Jamaica lies in Mexico's path. And sir, so long as Mexico remains allied with the people in Memphis, so do you.
We are not being altruistic sir, but very practical. We need your states as allies, just as you need us. A common thread: our ships protect your shores, and your soldiers deal with Mexico and her great ally to your north. Our interests are parallel. I am certain that once this present war is over we will remain friends.”
At this, Worsthorne presented a document to Echols.
“Please read this proposal sir. It summarizes what we offer your states, and what we ask in return. At your next Convocation of Governors in January, perhaps your fellow governors could consider ratifying an agreement based on it.”
Echols read the document carefully a.fter Worsthone had taken his leave.
“My, my, my” he thought. “They mean to drive a hard bargain all right, but perhaps with a few adjustments.......it might be acceptable.” Certainly Wade Hampton would think so. And he might just convince the others that he was the man to make it work, damn him.
“Mr. Ambassador, please don't get me wrong. We are very much appreciative of the aid which your country has extended to us. Your ships and advice have been invaluable in keeping the Federal navy away from our coasts. Many feared that the blockade and bombardment of our seacoast towns was inevitable...but now we dare to hope that we will be spared such attacks. Jamaica has our deepest gratitude for that. But sir may I ask why exactly your country has taken our quarrel as your own? “
Worsthone paused for a moment, took a breath and began. His face seemed to darken a bit, as if reflecting sad memories.
I was not born in Jamaica, sir, but in England When the great catastrophe happened, I had the honor of being Her Majesty's Governor in in what was then the Crown Colony of British Honduras. We soon became well aware of the terrible thing that had happened to our homeland. We stood by to help, as well as we could, shipping food, accepting refugees, doing whatever our government requested. It was a hard time, but we did our part.
In the subsequent years things got worse and worse, not only in Britain, but on the Continent as well. Poor England was swept by famine and pestilence. We began to realize that our beloved Empire was dying and that we would very shortly be on our own. All we had to defend ourselves was a small constabulary and a few boats designed to discourage smugglers. We hoped that things would sort themselves out at home eventually and that life would return to normal.“
Worsthorne grimaced, then continued. “One day, without warning, Mexican gunboats arrived. Shortly thereafter, the Mexican flag had been run up at Government House and my staff and I were sent packing. I was fortunate to reach Jamaica, where I was welcomed with open arms.
Prime Minister Palmerston once said that “Britain has no permanent friends permanent enemies; she only has permanent interests.” Jamaica would say the same of herself. Mexico has been extending her sway from California in the west to the Caribbean Sea in the east and is greedily looking elsewhere as well. Already, perhaps a third of Cuba is theirs and Puerto Rico may well be next. Look at a map sir. Jamaica lies in Mexico's path. And sir, so long as Mexico remains allied with the people in Memphis, so do you.
We are not being altruistic sir, but very practical. We need your states as allies, just as you need us. A common thread: our ships protect your shores, and your soldiers deal with Mexico and her great ally to your north. Our interests are parallel. I am certain that once this present war is over we will remain friends.”
At this, Worsthorne presented a document to Echols.
“Please read this proposal sir. It summarizes what we offer your states, and what we ask in return. At your next Convocation of Governors in January, perhaps your fellow governors could consider ratifying an agreement based on it.”
Echols read the document carefully a.fter Worsthone had taken his leave.
“My, my, my” he thought. “They mean to drive a hard bargain all right, but perhaps with a few adjustments.......it might be acceptable.” Certainly Wade Hampton would think so. And he might just convince the others that he was the man to make it work, damn him.