Chapter 15: Return to New France
In the fall of 1782, the French returned to Canada and began the process of returning Quebec and Newfoundland to what Voltaire had called "a few acres of snow" a couple of decades earlier. King Louis XVI made it clear to his ministers that his intentions for the newest parts of France would be to unlock the economic potential that the two colonies harbored, as well as to rekindle the alliances that the French had held with the Indians. For the various tribes living in Quebec as well as the Ohio Country, it meant that the Americans, British, and French would be played against each other just like it had been before the French and Indian War. That meant that tribes such as the Iroquois would be facing tough decisions, and whomever could pick the right alliance would become a major player on the new map of North America.
France decided to send General Charles Dumouriez to be the military governor of Quebec to establish French control over the colony. Dumouriez arrived in Quebec City in the winter of 1782, and began to carry out the process of turning Quebec back into what it had been decades before. He began by combining Newfoundland and Quebec into the province of New France, restoring the traditional name of France's holdings on the American mainland. The Catholic Church was returned to a place of prominence in the colony, taxes were established, and the colony began to become more French over the next few years. Contact was made with the traditional Indian allies France had held, and militia units were established to aid in the defense of the colony.
One of Dumouriez's soldiers who was sent to New France was a young Corsican artillery officer named Napoleon Bonaparte. Having graduated from Brienne by this time, in early 1783 Napoleon had arrived in Quebec, and was able to set up and train Troupes de la Marine who would be able to better argument New France's defenses. On the ship coming over, Napoleon had studied the French and Indian War, and had noted how the French needed to make the most of troops that they had, figuring that the next war for North America would come sooner rather than later, with Britain looking like a power who had a point to prove after 1782.
The young officer threw himself into the duty, and the Troupes were coming along nicely. It was in New France that Napoleon's reputation as a charismatic and effective leader was born, especially as he had taken notes of what the American militias had done during the Revolutionary War, and Napoleon had been able to blend his traditional European tactics with the American tradition of fighting, which would prove to be an important milestone in his tactical development. During this time, Napoleon would also get a look at the tactics that Indian tribes like the Iroquois and Huron would use as part of New France's policy of restarting the traditional alliances with various Indian groups.
One day on a training exercise, Napoleon was talking with a young warrior about their experiences growing up, and how it seemed like things were changing fast in North America. The young warrior mentioned how despite the best efforts of his delegation, that his people had been ignored at Vienna, and that the Indians would have to make important choices. The warrior also mentioned that he and his brother had been talking amongst the tribes of New France, the Ohio Country, and parts further about what their next steps were going to be. Napoleon wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew that the question of who's land it was in this part of the world would be decided in blood, and that this New World would be defended by a leader who seemed to be a greater version of Pontiac 20 years further. Little did Napoleon know it at the time, but Tecumseh would go on to achieve his promise, and his actions would alter North America forever.
The next day, Napoleon wrote to his superiors in Quebec. In his letter, he made it clear that "Tecumseh is someone who has the capability and intellect to become a major player. It is best that we keep an eye on him. The risk we take by underestimating him could be bloody for our goals in this region. No matter what, I fear that he has ideas of creating something that could be powerful, even more than the Iroquois and Pontiac's War combined." This warning would fall on deaf ears, as New France was confident that they would have the same success that their predecessors had before the French and Indian War. But little did they know that the later part of the 18th and early part of the 19th century would see the frontier of America in flames, and the ambitions of multiple players in this part of the world would be tested, and Tecumseh would be right in the middle.
Author's Notes: And we are back. And yes, in the last chapter it was Tecumseh and the Prophet who saw firsthand how they were rejected, similar to Ho Chi Minh in OTL at Versailles. Napoleon getting outside of Europe is going to have a big impact on his career, and how that will play out is going to be a lot of fun to write. Tecumseh is one of my favorite American historical figures, and him playing a big role in the development of the frontier is something that will change how America views westward expansion. The butterflies are starting to flap a bit faster, and I hope you are enjoying this. Thanks again for reading, and if you have any questions and comments feel free to share them.
France decided to send General Charles Dumouriez to be the military governor of Quebec to establish French control over the colony. Dumouriez arrived in Quebec City in the winter of 1782, and began to carry out the process of turning Quebec back into what it had been decades before. He began by combining Newfoundland and Quebec into the province of New France, restoring the traditional name of France's holdings on the American mainland. The Catholic Church was returned to a place of prominence in the colony, taxes were established, and the colony began to become more French over the next few years. Contact was made with the traditional Indian allies France had held, and militia units were established to aid in the defense of the colony.
One of Dumouriez's soldiers who was sent to New France was a young Corsican artillery officer named Napoleon Bonaparte. Having graduated from Brienne by this time, in early 1783 Napoleon had arrived in Quebec, and was able to set up and train Troupes de la Marine who would be able to better argument New France's defenses. On the ship coming over, Napoleon had studied the French and Indian War, and had noted how the French needed to make the most of troops that they had, figuring that the next war for North America would come sooner rather than later, with Britain looking like a power who had a point to prove after 1782.
The young officer threw himself into the duty, and the Troupes were coming along nicely. It was in New France that Napoleon's reputation as a charismatic and effective leader was born, especially as he had taken notes of what the American militias had done during the Revolutionary War, and Napoleon had been able to blend his traditional European tactics with the American tradition of fighting, which would prove to be an important milestone in his tactical development. During this time, Napoleon would also get a look at the tactics that Indian tribes like the Iroquois and Huron would use as part of New France's policy of restarting the traditional alliances with various Indian groups.
One day on a training exercise, Napoleon was talking with a young warrior about their experiences growing up, and how it seemed like things were changing fast in North America. The young warrior mentioned how despite the best efforts of his delegation, that his people had been ignored at Vienna, and that the Indians would have to make important choices. The warrior also mentioned that he and his brother had been talking amongst the tribes of New France, the Ohio Country, and parts further about what their next steps were going to be. Napoleon wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew that the question of who's land it was in this part of the world would be decided in blood, and that this New World would be defended by a leader who seemed to be a greater version of Pontiac 20 years further. Little did Napoleon know it at the time, but Tecumseh would go on to achieve his promise, and his actions would alter North America forever.
The next day, Napoleon wrote to his superiors in Quebec. In his letter, he made it clear that "Tecumseh is someone who has the capability and intellect to become a major player. It is best that we keep an eye on him. The risk we take by underestimating him could be bloody for our goals in this region. No matter what, I fear that he has ideas of creating something that could be powerful, even more than the Iroquois and Pontiac's War combined." This warning would fall on deaf ears, as New France was confident that they would have the same success that their predecessors had before the French and Indian War. But little did they know that the later part of the 18th and early part of the 19th century would see the frontier of America in flames, and the ambitions of multiple players in this part of the world would be tested, and Tecumseh would be right in the middle.
Author's Notes: And we are back. And yes, in the last chapter it was Tecumseh and the Prophet who saw firsthand how they were rejected, similar to Ho Chi Minh in OTL at Versailles. Napoleon getting outside of Europe is going to have a big impact on his career, and how that will play out is going to be a lot of fun to write. Tecumseh is one of my favorite American historical figures, and him playing a big role in the development of the frontier is something that will change how America views westward expansion. The butterflies are starting to flap a bit faster, and I hope you are enjoying this. Thanks again for reading, and if you have any questions and comments feel free to share them.
