Lusitania
Donor
Note from Author: With the ascension of Maria I to the Portuguese throne, we start the II book in the Empire in Crises portion of the TL.
I would also like to thank Thrudgelmir2333 for his suggestions and great job editing this post.
United States– A country under Siege
Land of the Free and Great
During the year of 1847, as summer turned to autumn, the great country of United States' very existence hanged in the balance. It was besieged by savages, tyrants and despots from every side. It was a time of great agony with death and destruction affecting a great many people. It was also a time of unselfish sacrifice and bravery as Americans, who prided themselves as being the only free people in the world, struggled to push back the savages and invaders while at the same time looking after their less fortunate neighbors.
Miscalculation, hatred and misfortune had brought the country almost to its knees. The invasion of Spain and the liberation of Texas had become stalled due to underestimating the will, strength and military organization of the Spanish people. However, what really derailed the war against the Spanish was the American government’s redirection of its focus, precious resources and personnel against the southern Indian Confederation. America’s long standing hatred of the confederation and its desire to see it destroyed had blinded the people and government into believing that with the political situation in Portugal, the United States would have their chance to extract their revenge against the Indians and blacks of the Confederacy.
The invasion of the Southern Indian Confederation, like many other ill-conceived plans, became bogged down as the stalwart defense and resistance of the confederation people took the Americans by surprise. The invasion was stopped and on many fronts the Americans were pushed off confederated territory. While the nation still attempted to react to the situation in the south it was stunned by the subsequent invasion of America by the northern Indian Confederacy. The states of Illinois and Indiana were almost lost as farms and towns were set ablaze.
The first attacks had shocked the American farmers and towns’ people. They could not believe what was happening to them and many were dazed at the turn of the war. As more and more Americans died from the Indian attacks, tens of thousands fled Illinois and Indiana to take refuge in neighboring states. Those that chose to stay banded together in fortified towns and cities. The plight of the American Patriots, as they were called by the nation's newspapers, forced Washington to divert soldiers to deliver food and suppliers to this newfound militia in the fortified towns and cities.
The western states of Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa had rushed their militia to the east in order to protect themselves from the Indian savages across the Mississippi, but, it also faced a new threat from the west, as the Western American Indians crossed the Missouri River and caught the settlers and government off guard. These Indians had also been forced from their traditional hunting grounds around the great rivers and had faced hardships and starvation in their new lands along the foothills of the Rockies. The arrival of autumn meant that most farmers were busy gathering their harvest and preparing for winter so they were completely unprepared for a new and deadly plague. The Indians attacked farms and small towns, razing them. They destroyed what crops and livestock they could not take and thousands of farmers and towns folks in the western parts of the states were killed. The state governments reacted to these attacks by raising new militia, which people flocked to join in a bid to protect their homes and loved ones.
To the northwest, the state of New York was also ravaged by Mohawk raids. The warriors of the Mohawk Nation waged a savage war of hit and run in support of their Indian brothers to the south. Meanwhile the rest of the US Northern states bordering the British North America also saw their fair share of border skirmishes. Animosity and distrust on both sides led to many battles.
Even though America had its back against the wall and faced enemies on all fronts, it had the capability and determination to defeat and prevail over them, but as summer came to an end the political situation in America took a turn for the worse. For the might and full force of the British and Portuguese Empires were arrayed against the young and proud nation. The change in British governments had also meant a change in British attitude towards the United States. In August of 1847 the British Ambassador gave the American government and its people an ultimatum to end all hostilities by end of year under penalty of a state of war sparking between the two countries. President Polk was infuriated and congress outraged by the British about face.
While the British actions had angered the Americans, the ensuing Portuguese measures completely outraged them and brought the whole country to its feet. Images spread by American Newspapers of the great war of 1814 caused wide spread demonstrations and anger, mixed with fear throughout the population. Like Great Britain, Portugal also had seen a change of government. The ascension of Maria I to the Portuguese throne and the Imperialists control of the Portuguese government had brought Portugal into a confrontation with America. The Portuguese government asserted its protection on the Southern Indian Confederation and Republic of Florida and demanded a complete cease fire, an end to all American hostilities and withdrawal of all American forces from its neighboring countries.
This was followed up by the appearance of the Portuguese Navy off the American coast and attacks on American ships and ports. Americans who up till then had felt secure because they were far away from all the fighting suddenly felt insecure and afraid. American shipping grinned to a halt and even fishing boats never ventured too far out into the sea. New England’s great shipping houses and whaling companies waited anxiously as their ships were either tied up in American ports or sought refuge in neutral ports. Coastal defenses watched wearily for any sight of Portuguese aggression. Rumors and false sightings kept the entire American Atlantic Coast on edge.
In truth, though, the Portuguese incursion of America did not come in New England, Long Island or even Chesapeake Bay as many speculated, but back in the land that the Portuguese had invaded once before, Georgia.
Act I - South Carolina
On September 2, 1847 the city of Charleston, South Carolina, awoke to canon fire as its coastal batteries exchanged shots with the large Portuguese fleet off the coast. The recently completed American batteries on Fort Sumter attempted to intercept the hundred or so Portuguese ships. The American guns exchanged gunfire with Portuguese armored ships nonstop all day and well into the night. As the day continued the intensity of the American guns slowed as the crew and guns could not keep up with the pace. Both the fort and the Portuguese armored ships received substantial damage, the Portuguese kept all their transport and escort ships out of the Fort’s guns range. The Portuguese Admiral Remedios ordered his warships to withdraw and brought the Portuguese steamships against the fort. By nighttime the American guns’ accuracy had diminished and their rate of fire almost cut in half. Using only his steamships he kept up the appearance of siege. The exchange of fire between the Fort and the Portuguese fleet kept everyone in the city very tense and concentrated on the battle out in the ocean. Those most prudent began packing their things in case they were forced to evacuate, while those most frightened left the city during the day.
Unbeknown to the Americans while the Portuguese ships and Fort Sumter exchanged canon fire, to the south Brigadier General Silva led the 1st of three battalions ashore. He and the IV battalion made their way upriver along the Stono River during morning high tide using barges and rowboats. Their discovery only came as they made their way down the newly dredged Wappo Creek which connected the Stono River to the Ashley River.
The citizens of Charleston reacted with determination and ferocity in defending their town. Woman and children were evacuated while men and militia rushed to defend their homes. The Portuguese attack against the city along the Ashley River was repulsed and Brigadier General Silva ordered his troops to setup camp along the mouth of the Wappo Creek on the other side of Ashley River. He then sent the wounded and dead aboard the barges and rowboats back towards the fleet, which returned the following morning with the II battalion.
While the II battalion moved north to cut off the city he ordered IV battalion to create a diversion and attack the city. With Mortar support the IV battalion started its attack on the city, the city defenders responded by bringing in reinforcements. But at about half way at the extreme range of the American flintlocks’ the Portuguese retreated. Meanwhile to the north the II battalion easily crossed the river and landed on the northern shore. By the end of the day they had cut off Charleston from the rest of the state and setup camp along Wagener Terrace. With the city cutoff to the north the remaining civilians were evacuated by boat across the Cooper River leaving only the militia as well as most of the able bodied men to defend the city. While the American defenders did not possess any canons they made up for it in both spirit and determination. News of Portuguese invasion spread throughout the state and beyond. Both the state militia and unlisted men rushed to Charleston to help.
During the afternoon of the 3rd of the month, the Portuguese barrage of the city with rockets and mortars also began from the north. The Americans took cover, hoping to avoid being hit, which was not always successful. They prepared for the Portuguese attack on two fronts, hoping that Fort Sumter would continue keeping the Portuguese ships at bay. During the barrage many homes and business were destroyed and fires raged through the city and by next day almost half the city had been destroyed. With limited resources and personnel, whole city blocks were abandoned as most of the men stayed along the front waiting for the attack. Mortars fell on those few fighting the fires and new rockets hit the remaining buildings and houses. By nighttime, all hope of stopping the fires was lost as the wind picked up and the flames jumped from one building to another. The night was lit by fires from hundreds of building and homes. On the morning of the 5th most of the cities’ buildings and homes had been lost to fire and mortar shelling. The men and militia in the city continued to wait behind barricades and in the burned out husks of their homes and business, thinking that today would be the day the despicable Portuguese invaders would finally show their faces. That today they would fight them like real men instead of hiding and throwing their hell fire down on righteous and Christian men[1].
On the 4th of the month the I battalion arrived and it moved out into the surrounding countryside. The I battalion under the command of Colonel Antonio Fernandes attacked any stragglers and any farms within a 20 mile radius. It engaged groups of unlisted men and small militia units. Forcing them to retreat and wait for re-enforcements. By the 7th of September, close to 50,000 men and militia gathered in the surrounding counties ready to attack the Portuguese, but in the early morning of the 7th heavy rains arrived and soaked everything and everyone. As the American military presence increased Colonel Fernandes ordered his men to pull back and by 7th as rains made traveling difficult they were the first to be pulled back to the ships. American reinforcements marched as fast as they could through the rain and mud. The rains also limited the use of the American main weapon, the flintlocks. During their march, they continued to search for Portuguese invaders, but they found no one and many feared that they were too late.
Meanwhile, in Charleston, September 7th brought little change. The Portuguese continued to bombard American positions, but as the sun set behind their position in Wagener Terrace, the II battalion attacked. While the office was supposed to be only a diversion, the II battalion took heavy damage as the Americans responding with all their pent-up energy and bravery were able to pin the II and III company. Colonel Silva was mortally wounded leading the III and IV companies to rescue the trapped soldiers. Carrying their colonel with them the Portuguese II battalion withdrew from the battle while Portuguese mortar attacks on the American positions kept the Americans from pursuing.
As nighttime approached, the rain intensified and movement could be seen in the Portuguese camps, but most worrisome to the Americans forces was the poor state their flintlock rifles had been left in by the weather. As the night wore on, the Portuguese gunfire also lessened and after midnight it too stopped. During the night the heavy hearted II Battalion pulled out and crossed the river and was withdrawn along with the IV battalions wounded and guns by boat to the waiting ships. Then at first light Brigadier General Silva led his remaining men through the muddy terrain to the Stono River where they waited for the rowboats to return. As the first morning light appeared over the ocean the Americans grudgingly prepared for another day of fighting and hoping that this would be the day that the American reinforcements would arrive and that together they could defeat the invaders. As the sun rose, a fine mist continued to fall and the Americans attempted to keep their flintlocks dry and covered but many knew that they would be unreliable if the Portuguese attacked again. An eerie calm settled over the city and the surrounding lands as the day got lighter the American defenders wondered when the bombardment would start. They could see smoke still coming from the Portuguese camps.
At about 10 in the morning, blasts and gunfire was heard coming from the north and the Americans readied themselves for the expected attack. It was almost a complete shock when instead of Portuguese soldiers coming towards them; they saw instead several flags of the South Carolina militia appear ahead of thousands of American soldiers and men all intent on destroying the invaders. The Militia looking for the Portuguese suddenly stopped when they saw no enemy ahead of them but only the ruins of Charleston. They slowed down and approached their countrymen apprehensively. It was a bitter reunion as the newly arrived Americans saw firsthand the devastation that the invaders had inflicted.
On the morning of September 8th, the South Carolina militia finally arrived north of Charleston. Before General William Bliss, the commander of the South Carolina Militia could send sentries to investigate the Portuguese position hundreds of unlisted men rushed ahead. They soon rushed into a field of fougasse mines and many were killed or maimed. This caused many others to think they were under attack and begin firing towards the injured men. It took General William Bliss several minutes to re-establish order. The Americans soon found the Portuguese camp abandoned and he ordered his militia forward. By the time General William Bliss arrived on the outskirts of the burned out city he was almost certain the enemy had escaped. He ordered troops to cross the Ashley River, but there too they found no invaders only cook fires still burning. No soldiers or any civilians could be found in the camps. General William Bliss surveyed the city and sent out sentries to Fort Sumter. When they returned in the afternoon with Captain Canby the most senior commander of the fort, General Bliss’ suspicions were confirmed. Captain Canby told him that the Portuguese had evacuated during the evening, using small boats they had passed almost undetected close to the fort on their way to the waiting ships and it was only at sunrise that the Americans from the fort saw the last boats being lifted on the ships and they all sailed away south.
On the 9th high tide the Portuguese rowboats returned up the Stono River. Brigadier General Silva was surprised to see General Rafael Oliveira on the leading rowboat. As the rowboats came ashore Brigadier General Silva and his men stood at attention and saluted. The two Generals stood aside talking while the IV battalion boarded the waiting rowboats.
“Tell me, General Silva, what are your thoughts about our new musket?” asked General Oliveira.
“Sir, the Santarem-Morais rifle is like nothing we've ever seen before. Its range is amazing and the ability to fire in all weather is superb, but…the men are not used to them and did not take full advantage of its potential. They were so used to the usual loading and aiming methods and precautions that they kept missing shot opportunities and the rate of fire was in many occasions almost compromised.” Answered General Silva “Many a time we failed to press our advantage over the Americans, including during the heavy weather, where these bullets should have given us the advantage.”
“My thoughts exactly. We took over 700 casualties, including the loss of Colonel Fernandes in this raid.” replied General Oliveira “We need to retrain our soldiers and get them to use the rife and the percussion cap bullets properly otherwise we will waste our advantage and get defeated by the American numbers. The sieges are taking longer than expected. We cannot afford to lose our pressure on their morale.”
Brigadier General Silva nodded at this information. Similar concerns had preoccupied him, for a properly trained soldier should attack and kill the enemy with this rifle before he came under enemy range. “Yes, we will need to reinforce that and make sure that all officers drills it down to every soldier that they don't need to bring umbrellas for their rifles anymore!”
“Correct, lets board and leave this place; our true objective awaits us.” said General Silva as both Generals boarded the last rowboat waiting for them and they joined the flotilla making its way down the river to the waiting ships.
General William Bliss realized that this had been nothing more than a diversion and that the real target of the invaders was elsewhere, but even for a diversion over 1,350 American lives had been lost and the city left a smoldering ruin. Over the next two days thousands of additional militia units and unlisted men arrived so that by the 8th in and around Charleston they numbered over 35,000, interestingly about half were unlisted men. Attempts to disperse them were only half successful as the men lamented the loss of life and the missed opportunity to inflict the pain and misery they felt on the invaders.
On the 14th, a message arrived in Charleston stating that Savannah in Georgia had been attacked and captured. General Bliss gave orders to prepare to march in an attempt to help his countrymen, but the news was met with trepidation and mistrust by many unlisted men. The destruction of Charleston made many realize that their families and property were also vulnerable. News of the fall of Savanah made many reconsider their commitment and resolve. Over next few days thousands left convinced that they could accomplish more if they returned to their homes and families[2]. The loss of thousands of free men who had neither the conviction to enlist in the state militia or to stay and defend the country did not bother General Bliss one little bit. These men had spent half their time arguing and countering orders and he was in part happy they were gone.
On the 16th General Bliss mood had changed from determined to outrage. In the morning he received a note requesting assistance from Captain Francis Page of the Georgia militia. The note had in fact come from Hardeeville South Carolina, where Captain Francis Page, the highest ranking Georgia Militia left in northeast Georgia, and his remaining militia had retreated to. Per his note he had just over 1,000 militia with him, but over 70% were wounded. He and his men were in charge of caring for close to 15,000 civilians (comprising of most of the population from Savanah and from the surrounding counties both in Georgia and South Carolina). They were short of food and supplies and, just as pressing, unable to stop even the smallest Portuguese incursion.
As he finished reading the note a messenger arrived with orders from Governor Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook He put the note down and read the orders. It took him a few minutes to realize what it entailed. He was being ordered to protect all South Carolina and it's coastal areas from further invasions while at the same time send half his militia to the border of Georgia in order to protect the state from the Portuguese. But it was the last paragraph that completely blew him away. He was prohibited from leaving the state without explicit permission from the Governor.
[1] The traditional chivalry and gallantry attitudes prevailed in the south, where war was still seen as a civil affair to be fought by men in open field with bravery and determination the determining factor. The Napoleonic and the Moroccan wars had changed the Portuguese attitude and tactics to discard these former noble attitudes.
[2] In iOTL it wasn’t till the middle of the 20th century that Americans felt this. This was due to the fact that US did not suffer any wars on its territory (Civil war excluded, but that was an internal war). In this TL war has come America and it feels surrounded by enemies.
I would also like to thank Thrudgelmir2333 for his suggestions and great job editing this post.
United States– A country under Siege
Land of the Free and Great
During the year of 1847, as summer turned to autumn, the great country of United States' very existence hanged in the balance. It was besieged by savages, tyrants and despots from every side. It was a time of great agony with death and destruction affecting a great many people. It was also a time of unselfish sacrifice and bravery as Americans, who prided themselves as being the only free people in the world, struggled to push back the savages and invaders while at the same time looking after their less fortunate neighbors.
Miscalculation, hatred and misfortune had brought the country almost to its knees. The invasion of Spain and the liberation of Texas had become stalled due to underestimating the will, strength and military organization of the Spanish people. However, what really derailed the war against the Spanish was the American government’s redirection of its focus, precious resources and personnel against the southern Indian Confederation. America’s long standing hatred of the confederation and its desire to see it destroyed had blinded the people and government into believing that with the political situation in Portugal, the United States would have their chance to extract their revenge against the Indians and blacks of the Confederacy.
The invasion of the Southern Indian Confederation, like many other ill-conceived plans, became bogged down as the stalwart defense and resistance of the confederation people took the Americans by surprise. The invasion was stopped and on many fronts the Americans were pushed off confederated territory. While the nation still attempted to react to the situation in the south it was stunned by the subsequent invasion of America by the northern Indian Confederacy. The states of Illinois and Indiana were almost lost as farms and towns were set ablaze.
The first attacks had shocked the American farmers and towns’ people. They could not believe what was happening to them and many were dazed at the turn of the war. As more and more Americans died from the Indian attacks, tens of thousands fled Illinois and Indiana to take refuge in neighboring states. Those that chose to stay banded together in fortified towns and cities. The plight of the American Patriots, as they were called by the nation's newspapers, forced Washington to divert soldiers to deliver food and suppliers to this newfound militia in the fortified towns and cities.
The western states of Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa had rushed their militia to the east in order to protect themselves from the Indian savages across the Mississippi, but, it also faced a new threat from the west, as the Western American Indians crossed the Missouri River and caught the settlers and government off guard. These Indians had also been forced from their traditional hunting grounds around the great rivers and had faced hardships and starvation in their new lands along the foothills of the Rockies. The arrival of autumn meant that most farmers were busy gathering their harvest and preparing for winter so they were completely unprepared for a new and deadly plague. The Indians attacked farms and small towns, razing them. They destroyed what crops and livestock they could not take and thousands of farmers and towns folks in the western parts of the states were killed. The state governments reacted to these attacks by raising new militia, which people flocked to join in a bid to protect their homes and loved ones.
To the northwest, the state of New York was also ravaged by Mohawk raids. The warriors of the Mohawk Nation waged a savage war of hit and run in support of their Indian brothers to the south. Meanwhile the rest of the US Northern states bordering the British North America also saw their fair share of border skirmishes. Animosity and distrust on both sides led to many battles.
Even though America had its back against the wall and faced enemies on all fronts, it had the capability and determination to defeat and prevail over them, but as summer came to an end the political situation in America took a turn for the worse. For the might and full force of the British and Portuguese Empires were arrayed against the young and proud nation. The change in British governments had also meant a change in British attitude towards the United States. In August of 1847 the British Ambassador gave the American government and its people an ultimatum to end all hostilities by end of year under penalty of a state of war sparking between the two countries. President Polk was infuriated and congress outraged by the British about face.
While the British actions had angered the Americans, the ensuing Portuguese measures completely outraged them and brought the whole country to its feet. Images spread by American Newspapers of the great war of 1814 caused wide spread demonstrations and anger, mixed with fear throughout the population. Like Great Britain, Portugal also had seen a change of government. The ascension of Maria I to the Portuguese throne and the Imperialists control of the Portuguese government had brought Portugal into a confrontation with America. The Portuguese government asserted its protection on the Southern Indian Confederation and Republic of Florida and demanded a complete cease fire, an end to all American hostilities and withdrawal of all American forces from its neighboring countries.
This was followed up by the appearance of the Portuguese Navy off the American coast and attacks on American ships and ports. Americans who up till then had felt secure because they were far away from all the fighting suddenly felt insecure and afraid. American shipping grinned to a halt and even fishing boats never ventured too far out into the sea. New England’s great shipping houses and whaling companies waited anxiously as their ships were either tied up in American ports or sought refuge in neutral ports. Coastal defenses watched wearily for any sight of Portuguese aggression. Rumors and false sightings kept the entire American Atlantic Coast on edge.
In truth, though, the Portuguese incursion of America did not come in New England, Long Island or even Chesapeake Bay as many speculated, but back in the land that the Portuguese had invaded once before, Georgia.
Act I - South Carolina
On September 2, 1847 the city of Charleston, South Carolina, awoke to canon fire as its coastal batteries exchanged shots with the large Portuguese fleet off the coast. The recently completed American batteries on Fort Sumter attempted to intercept the hundred or so Portuguese ships. The American guns exchanged gunfire with Portuguese armored ships nonstop all day and well into the night. As the day continued the intensity of the American guns slowed as the crew and guns could not keep up with the pace. Both the fort and the Portuguese armored ships received substantial damage, the Portuguese kept all their transport and escort ships out of the Fort’s guns range. The Portuguese Admiral Remedios ordered his warships to withdraw and brought the Portuguese steamships against the fort. By nighttime the American guns’ accuracy had diminished and their rate of fire almost cut in half. Using only his steamships he kept up the appearance of siege. The exchange of fire between the Fort and the Portuguese fleet kept everyone in the city very tense and concentrated on the battle out in the ocean. Those most prudent began packing their things in case they were forced to evacuate, while those most frightened left the city during the day.
Unbeknown to the Americans while the Portuguese ships and Fort Sumter exchanged canon fire, to the south Brigadier General Silva led the 1st of three battalions ashore. He and the IV battalion made their way upriver along the Stono River during morning high tide using barges and rowboats. Their discovery only came as they made their way down the newly dredged Wappo Creek which connected the Stono River to the Ashley River.
The citizens of Charleston reacted with determination and ferocity in defending their town. Woman and children were evacuated while men and militia rushed to defend their homes. The Portuguese attack against the city along the Ashley River was repulsed and Brigadier General Silva ordered his troops to setup camp along the mouth of the Wappo Creek on the other side of Ashley River. He then sent the wounded and dead aboard the barges and rowboats back towards the fleet, which returned the following morning with the II battalion.
While the II battalion moved north to cut off the city he ordered IV battalion to create a diversion and attack the city. With Mortar support the IV battalion started its attack on the city, the city defenders responded by bringing in reinforcements. But at about half way at the extreme range of the American flintlocks’ the Portuguese retreated. Meanwhile to the north the II battalion easily crossed the river and landed on the northern shore. By the end of the day they had cut off Charleston from the rest of the state and setup camp along Wagener Terrace. With the city cutoff to the north the remaining civilians were evacuated by boat across the Cooper River leaving only the militia as well as most of the able bodied men to defend the city. While the American defenders did not possess any canons they made up for it in both spirit and determination. News of Portuguese invasion spread throughout the state and beyond. Both the state militia and unlisted men rushed to Charleston to help.
During the afternoon of the 3rd of the month, the Portuguese barrage of the city with rockets and mortars also began from the north. The Americans took cover, hoping to avoid being hit, which was not always successful. They prepared for the Portuguese attack on two fronts, hoping that Fort Sumter would continue keeping the Portuguese ships at bay. During the barrage many homes and business were destroyed and fires raged through the city and by next day almost half the city had been destroyed. With limited resources and personnel, whole city blocks were abandoned as most of the men stayed along the front waiting for the attack. Mortars fell on those few fighting the fires and new rockets hit the remaining buildings and houses. By nighttime, all hope of stopping the fires was lost as the wind picked up and the flames jumped from one building to another. The night was lit by fires from hundreds of building and homes. On the morning of the 5th most of the cities’ buildings and homes had been lost to fire and mortar shelling. The men and militia in the city continued to wait behind barricades and in the burned out husks of their homes and business, thinking that today would be the day the despicable Portuguese invaders would finally show their faces. That today they would fight them like real men instead of hiding and throwing their hell fire down on righteous and Christian men[1].
On the 4th of the month the I battalion arrived and it moved out into the surrounding countryside. The I battalion under the command of Colonel Antonio Fernandes attacked any stragglers and any farms within a 20 mile radius. It engaged groups of unlisted men and small militia units. Forcing them to retreat and wait for re-enforcements. By the 7th of September, close to 50,000 men and militia gathered in the surrounding counties ready to attack the Portuguese, but in the early morning of the 7th heavy rains arrived and soaked everything and everyone. As the American military presence increased Colonel Fernandes ordered his men to pull back and by 7th as rains made traveling difficult they were the first to be pulled back to the ships. American reinforcements marched as fast as they could through the rain and mud. The rains also limited the use of the American main weapon, the flintlocks. During their march, they continued to search for Portuguese invaders, but they found no one and many feared that they were too late.
Meanwhile, in Charleston, September 7th brought little change. The Portuguese continued to bombard American positions, but as the sun set behind their position in Wagener Terrace, the II battalion attacked. While the office was supposed to be only a diversion, the II battalion took heavy damage as the Americans responding with all their pent-up energy and bravery were able to pin the II and III company. Colonel Silva was mortally wounded leading the III and IV companies to rescue the trapped soldiers. Carrying their colonel with them the Portuguese II battalion withdrew from the battle while Portuguese mortar attacks on the American positions kept the Americans from pursuing.
As nighttime approached, the rain intensified and movement could be seen in the Portuguese camps, but most worrisome to the Americans forces was the poor state their flintlock rifles had been left in by the weather. As the night wore on, the Portuguese gunfire also lessened and after midnight it too stopped. During the night the heavy hearted II Battalion pulled out and crossed the river and was withdrawn along with the IV battalions wounded and guns by boat to the waiting ships. Then at first light Brigadier General Silva led his remaining men through the muddy terrain to the Stono River where they waited for the rowboats to return. As the first morning light appeared over the ocean the Americans grudgingly prepared for another day of fighting and hoping that this would be the day that the American reinforcements would arrive and that together they could defeat the invaders. As the sun rose, a fine mist continued to fall and the Americans attempted to keep their flintlocks dry and covered but many knew that they would be unreliable if the Portuguese attacked again. An eerie calm settled over the city and the surrounding lands as the day got lighter the American defenders wondered when the bombardment would start. They could see smoke still coming from the Portuguese camps.
At about 10 in the morning, blasts and gunfire was heard coming from the north and the Americans readied themselves for the expected attack. It was almost a complete shock when instead of Portuguese soldiers coming towards them; they saw instead several flags of the South Carolina militia appear ahead of thousands of American soldiers and men all intent on destroying the invaders. The Militia looking for the Portuguese suddenly stopped when they saw no enemy ahead of them but only the ruins of Charleston. They slowed down and approached their countrymen apprehensively. It was a bitter reunion as the newly arrived Americans saw firsthand the devastation that the invaders had inflicted.
On the morning of September 8th, the South Carolina militia finally arrived north of Charleston. Before General William Bliss, the commander of the South Carolina Militia could send sentries to investigate the Portuguese position hundreds of unlisted men rushed ahead. They soon rushed into a field of fougasse mines and many were killed or maimed. This caused many others to think they were under attack and begin firing towards the injured men. It took General William Bliss several minutes to re-establish order. The Americans soon found the Portuguese camp abandoned and he ordered his militia forward. By the time General William Bliss arrived on the outskirts of the burned out city he was almost certain the enemy had escaped. He ordered troops to cross the Ashley River, but there too they found no invaders only cook fires still burning. No soldiers or any civilians could be found in the camps. General William Bliss surveyed the city and sent out sentries to Fort Sumter. When they returned in the afternoon with Captain Canby the most senior commander of the fort, General Bliss’ suspicions were confirmed. Captain Canby told him that the Portuguese had evacuated during the evening, using small boats they had passed almost undetected close to the fort on their way to the waiting ships and it was only at sunrise that the Americans from the fort saw the last boats being lifted on the ships and they all sailed away south.
On the 9th high tide the Portuguese rowboats returned up the Stono River. Brigadier General Silva was surprised to see General Rafael Oliveira on the leading rowboat. As the rowboats came ashore Brigadier General Silva and his men stood at attention and saluted. The two Generals stood aside talking while the IV battalion boarded the waiting rowboats.
*****
“Tell me, General Silva, what are your thoughts about our new musket?” asked General Oliveira.
“Sir, the Santarem-Morais rifle is like nothing we've ever seen before. Its range is amazing and the ability to fire in all weather is superb, but…the men are not used to them and did not take full advantage of its potential. They were so used to the usual loading and aiming methods and precautions that they kept missing shot opportunities and the rate of fire was in many occasions almost compromised.” Answered General Silva “Many a time we failed to press our advantage over the Americans, including during the heavy weather, where these bullets should have given us the advantage.”
“My thoughts exactly. We took over 700 casualties, including the loss of Colonel Fernandes in this raid.” replied General Oliveira “We need to retrain our soldiers and get them to use the rife and the percussion cap bullets properly otherwise we will waste our advantage and get defeated by the American numbers. The sieges are taking longer than expected. We cannot afford to lose our pressure on their morale.”
Brigadier General Silva nodded at this information. Similar concerns had preoccupied him, for a properly trained soldier should attack and kill the enemy with this rifle before he came under enemy range. “Yes, we will need to reinforce that and make sure that all officers drills it down to every soldier that they don't need to bring umbrellas for their rifles anymore!”
“Correct, lets board and leave this place; our true objective awaits us.” said General Silva as both Generals boarded the last rowboat waiting for them and they joined the flotilla making its way down the river to the waiting ships.
*****
General William Bliss realized that this had been nothing more than a diversion and that the real target of the invaders was elsewhere, but even for a diversion over 1,350 American lives had been lost and the city left a smoldering ruin. Over the next two days thousands of additional militia units and unlisted men arrived so that by the 8th in and around Charleston they numbered over 35,000, interestingly about half were unlisted men. Attempts to disperse them were only half successful as the men lamented the loss of life and the missed opportunity to inflict the pain and misery they felt on the invaders.
On the 14th, a message arrived in Charleston stating that Savannah in Georgia had been attacked and captured. General Bliss gave orders to prepare to march in an attempt to help his countrymen, but the news was met with trepidation and mistrust by many unlisted men. The destruction of Charleston made many realize that their families and property were also vulnerable. News of the fall of Savanah made many reconsider their commitment and resolve. Over next few days thousands left convinced that they could accomplish more if they returned to their homes and families[2]. The loss of thousands of free men who had neither the conviction to enlist in the state militia or to stay and defend the country did not bother General Bliss one little bit. These men had spent half their time arguing and countering orders and he was in part happy they were gone.
On the 16th General Bliss mood had changed from determined to outrage. In the morning he received a note requesting assistance from Captain Francis Page of the Georgia militia. The note had in fact come from Hardeeville South Carolina, where Captain Francis Page, the highest ranking Georgia Militia left in northeast Georgia, and his remaining militia had retreated to. Per his note he had just over 1,000 militia with him, but over 70% were wounded. He and his men were in charge of caring for close to 15,000 civilians (comprising of most of the population from Savanah and from the surrounding counties both in Georgia and South Carolina). They were short of food and supplies and, just as pressing, unable to stop even the smallest Portuguese incursion.
As he finished reading the note a messenger arrived with orders from Governor Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook He put the note down and read the orders. It took him a few minutes to realize what it entailed. He was being ordered to protect all South Carolina and it's coastal areas from further invasions while at the same time send half his militia to the border of Georgia in order to protect the state from the Portuguese. But it was the last paragraph that completely blew him away. He was prohibited from leaving the state without explicit permission from the Governor.
Map of Portuguese Charleston invasion September 2 – 9 1847
[1] The traditional chivalry and gallantry attitudes prevailed in the south, where war was still seen as a civil affair to be fought by men in open field with bravery and determination the determining factor. The Napoleonic and the Moroccan wars had changed the Portuguese attitude and tactics to discard these former noble attitudes.
[2] In iOTL it wasn’t till the middle of the 20th century that Americans felt this. This was due to the fact that US did not suffer any wars on its territory (Civil war excluded, but that was an internal war). In this TL war has come America and it feels surrounded by enemies.
