The Blue, The Grey and The Red

Since this is going to be my first contribution to the site I'll be running a US Civil War alternate that will hopefully differ from many you've read before. Enjoy...

The House of Lords, London, November 27th 1861
AS per usual, chaos reigned in the house of Lords. "We cannot interfere with another nations sovereignty!" Screamed a Tory from one side of the room. "Then are we to allow chaos and oppression?" A liberal replied. "No, we are to allow slavery if the honourable gentleman had his way!" The Prime Minister, The Viscount Palmerston, rubbed his brow. He was growing tired of this bickering. "GENTLEMEN!" He bellowed and silence fell. "Are we to allow this insult to go unchallenged?" A series of "No!"s echoed throughout the room. "Gentlemen, we are Great Britain, are we to bow the United States? No we are not! Earlier today I met with her majesty and she told me that unless we... fine gentlemen, react in a way fitting of strong Englishmen, she should see as as of less use than a court of Frenchmen!" That gathered some laughs and less jeers. "The American President, a man who calls himself "Honest Abe" has issued us this insult!" The Viscount thrust a piece of paper into the air. "No apology, no justice! Nothing but arrogance! Gentlemen, I will not let some colonial revolutionary soil my great nation! Will you?" A roar of support flew from the men around him and Viscount Palmerston smiled.

This is just a basic set-up, the general idea is British intervention in the Civil War following the Trent Affair but I intend it to spiral out from there.
 
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Lord Palmerston's peerage was an Irish one, not entitling him to sit in the House of Lords. He was MP for the borough of Tiverton in Devon. He has also, apparently, managed to find out about the Trent four days before news reached America and convened a meeting of the House of Lords, which wasn't sitting in November, without bothering to invite the Lord Speaker who would normally preside over the sittings.

If you're curious about what Lords debates actually sounded like, Hansard from the period is online. It's rather more genteel than you have presented it as.
 
Lord Palmerston's peerage was an Irish one, not entitling him to sit in the House of Lords. He was MP for the borough of Tiverton in Devon. He has also, apparently, managed to find out about the Trent four days before news reached America and convened a meeting of the House of Lords, which wasn't sitting in November, without bothering to invite the Lord Speaker who would normally preside over the sittings.

If you're curious about what Lords debates actually sounded like, Hansard from the period is online. It's rather more genteel than you have presented it as.

If we want to get technical, the Lord Chancellor is the de jure president of the House at this time...
 
I'm going by memory here (a bit unreliable at my age) but I believe Viscount Palmerston was of the Peerage of Ireland. I don't remember if he was ever one of the 28 elected members of the House of Lords from the Irish Peerage. If I remember correctly, even though he was addressed with all the styles of an Irish peer, he was an elected member of the House of Commons.

Something to think about...
 
If we want to get technical, the Lord Chancellor is the de jure president of the House at this time...
Point conceded, though I don't see basic procedural matters or acknowledgement of travelling times as technical. A technical objection would have been a long discursion on whether a Tory MP would have raised anti-slavery as an objection to war over the Trent, or whether Palmerston would have revealed information from a private discussion with the monarch (traditionally privileged) on the floor of the House.
 
Palmerston was on good terms with Queen Vic, she originally didn't want him to form the first time or the second but she respected him and Lord Granville couldn't generate enough support, he became PM in 1859 for the Second Time and remained so.

The reason he is speaking and the reason there is such chaos is in this timeline, Lincoln issued a much more blunt reply to the Trent Affair and instead of the British seeing it as an apology, they saw it as a massive insult, causing chaos in the House of Parliament and allow Palmerston to step up with the Queens support.

Also Lincoln refused to release the Confederates headed for the UK, sparking tensions even further.
 
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Waterville, Maine, March 23rd 1862
The long line of Redcoats marched through the snowy town of Waterville, it had only been 2 weeks since the Skirmish at Houlton and morale was high. Acting General Allan MacNabs back ached though and he groaned from atop his horse. One of his staff officers was far more enthusiastic though. "We sure licked the Yanks back at Houlton didn't we Sir?" MacNab sighed, "Yes we did Major but it may have had something to do with the fact that we outnumbered them 10 to 1." he replied. The reply was as enthusiastic as ever, "Any victory is a good one sir!" The optimism of young people today tired MacNab and the Canadian Militia didn't have nearly enough discipline in his view but after his political ambitions fell flat the army seemed as good an alternative as any. The Generals thoughts were interrupted by a Scouts on horseback, riding at full speed from over the next hill. "SIR! SIR!" the man shouted. The Scout was bleeding from one arm and men moved to let him pass. MacNab frowned, "What is it Corporal?" he asked. The Scout took a few seconds to get his breath back before replying. "Yankees sir! Thousands of them, less than a days march South-East!" The General swore under his breath, the American armies were supposed to be kept busy in the south, allowing MacNabs Canadian force to seize Maine before the bulk of the British Army arrived. He looked back up to the wounded Scout, "You did good son, but I'll need more information, how many men? How much artillery and cavalry?" The Scout shook his head. "Thirty thousand, maybe more? I got too close and some of them noticed me. They look like conscripts Sir, half of them didn't have uniforms. Maybe a small amount of cavalry but I didn't see any artillery. " That was good news, the Canadians might not have perfect discipline but they would be better trained than any American conscripts and they had cavalry to spare. MacNabs force numbered around twenty thousand but a good third of them were British regulars who had been shipped over ahead of the main force, he was especially pleased with The Rifle Brigade, he was sure the green-jackets would be very effective against the Yanks. He again turned to the Scout "Get yourself to the doctor Sergeant." The man's face lit up with news of his new rank but MacNabs mind had already turned to other matters...

Union Encampment, March 24th
The American force was full of grumbling, who the hell was Lincoln to order conscription 9 months into the war? They were too upset to notice the green-jacketed men sneak through the wood that flanked the American force. Sure a picket had gone missing but he'd probably just wandered home, most of the US troops lived within a few days march of their current location. Only the gunfire spurred the American forces into panic. A Lieutenant lept from his tent and yelled "They're in the forest lads! Fall back and regroup!" He watched as a group of conscripts dropped their rifles to run faster. "Grab weapons men, we'll regroup and push the limey bastards right back to-" The Lieutenants shouts turned into a bloody gurgle as he collapsed to the ground, blood spurting from his throat. As the American forced ran the men at the front screamed as they saw the line of Redcoats waiting for them, a volley of gunfire silenced most of them.

Back at the camp Brigadier-General Joseph Abbott had rallied what remained of his force around him. He thought maybe 10,000 of the 35,000 he'd started with had ran or been ambushed by the Brits but that still gave him a numeracal advantage. The British advanced slowly, letting off deadly volleys as they marched but American resistance was solid, however not enough to stop the Canadian Militia. "Don't worry men, we threw the Brits out once before, we can sure as hell drive them out again!" That got him a few cheers but most of the men were tired and terrified, the British seemed to be coming from every direction. From behind him General Abbott heard a British accent scream; "CHARGE MEN!" and as the first horses of the Canadian Cavalry crashed into the American flank the line collapsed and Bluecoats scattered in every direction. Abbott stood where he was, "STAND!" he shouted, "WE CAN HOLD 'EM OFF YET!" No one listened to him. As the British horsemen began to circle him, General Abbott wept and knew Maine was lost.
 
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This is the last one of these I'm going to post, and I'll leave aside the issue of Palmerston repeating the queen's guidance (which I granted was a technical judgemental issue, though I think his response to the 1851 sacking shows how he feels about the queen's confidential statements being repeated in Parliament).

in this timeline, Lincoln issued a much more blunt reply to the Trent Affair
The Trent was boarded on Friday 8th November 1861. The news reached Britain, the cabinet formulated a response, had it approved by the queen, sent it across the Atlantic, received Lincoln's rejection (which also had to cross the Atlantic), decided on war, Palmerston recalled the House (which wasn't in session), held a debate on the war, and won the vote: all of which was accomplished in five days including a weekend.

MacNabs force numbered around twenty thousand but a good third of them were British regulars who had been shipped over ahead of the main force,
So about 7,000 men- 7-10 battalions depending on strength? Of the 15 which were stationed in Canada during the Trent Affair? That's going to leave a big gap, particularly because it apparently includes the RBs (historically the only regular infantry battalion guarding the border at Hamilton).

snowy town of Waterville, it had only been 4 days since the Skirmish at Houlton
Waterville is 140 miles as the crow flies from Houlton. An army composed primarily of Canadian part-time soldiers marched 35 miles a day through Maine in January (Bangor, this January, enjoying highs of -3 and lows of -14).
 
As per your comments, Robcraufurd, I have made alterations to make it more plausible. The British reply to Lincoln has been moved forward by two weeks, the small Canadian force was heavily bolstered by British regulars, sent over in December and the March to two weeks (factoring in the weather, distance and local resistance).

I appreciate and enjoy feedback, as I'm trying to make this plausible, being a Brit my knowledge of US geography is a bit lacking but my history's pretty good, even so any advice/corrections are appreciated.
 
Washington DC, April 7th 1862
No one had ever expected shells to fall on the Capitol, not so soon at least. That hadn't stopped the bombardment raining down from the British Navy off of the coast. At first people assumed that Lee's Army had advanced within artillery range but reports from The Army of the Potomac reported that there had been no further Confederate Advance and the lack of any reports from the navy left only one solution, the British had finally struck deep. Congress had evacuated to Philidelphia, though 'Honest Abe' had refused to leave and remained in the White House. By the 7th, the Bombardment had been going on for 2 days straight when eventually a cease in fire came. A British Ironclad sailed into the Port of DC, bearing a white flag of peace. Aboard was Richard Lyons, the British delegate to the US who had been driven from the Capital months before and Judah P. Benjamin, a Confederate statesman.

The Oval Officem April 8th
"Mr Lincoln sir, can you not see the futility of continuing this war?" Benjamin's smile was broad but shallow, he saw his position was a dominant one. The President started the round face man straight in the eyes, "No sir," He replied, "I cannot." Lincoln turned to Lord Lyons, "I thought England was a friend against slvaery? Or do you advocate the enslavement of your fellow man as much as..." Lincoln gesture towards Benjamin "Them." Lyons stepped forward, ever confident, "Mr Lincoln, Her Majesty's government bear no affection for the institution of slavery but these things must be dealt with in a more... democratic fashion. You, sir, do not have the authority to abolish slavery in the South, or anywhere else for that matter." That angered Lincoln. "I have not abolished slavery!" the President snapped, "Not in Texas, not in Carolina, not in Virginia or any state and yet you dare call me a tyrant?! Lord Lyons, I do not believe for a second that Great Britain has intervened to restore order or protect an oppressed people, as you seem to be doing quite the opposite. This meeting is over, good day gentlemen." Lyons stared at Benjamin, who simply shrugged and said "Good day mister president, I hope we shall meet again." Lincoln only shrugged as the two diplomats left the oval office. Two hours later, the bombardment began again.

Northern Virginia, April 10th
Robert E. Lee stood in his command tent, overlooking again and again the maps he had prepared for his advance into Maryland and beyond when he heard an unfamiliar voice from behind him. "General Lee sir? Do you mind if I come in?" The accent was British, that Lee could tell and he smiled. "Of course sir." The flap of the tent opened and a man walked in, clad in the Red that marked out the British Army so clearly from the Confederate and Union forces. The man was elderly and bore two large white sideburns "General Lee sir, its an honour!" He said as he stuck out his hand. Lee took it warmly, "Likewise Mr...?" Lee replied warmly.
"Lieutenant-General William Codrington." Lee always too a minute to remember that his new British friend pronounce the word Lieutenant 'Left-tenant'.
"I'll be in command of the British forces accompanying the Army of Northern Virginia in the coming invasion." the Englishman continued.
That made Lee smile, "And how many men are under your command General Codrington?" he asked.
"Just over 20,000. Most of the force is up in Maine you see, but we should still have a good advantage."
Lee had heard about British advances in New England. "Ah yes!" he said, "How goes the war up North?"
Codrinton cast his eye over the maps on Lees table, "Well, I'm told. They'll be marching on Boston soon."
"Well then General, we had best get a move on." said Lee. That made the British General Smile, "Yes sir, we must."
 
Washington DC, April 7th 1862
No one had ever expected shells to fall on the Capitol, not so soon at least. That hadn't stopped the bombardment raining down from the British Navy off of the coast. At first people assumed that Lee's Army had advanced within artillery range but reports from The Army of the Potomac reported that there had been no further Confederate Advance and the lack of any reports from the navy left only one solution, the British had finally struck deep. Congress had evacuated to Philidelphia, though 'Honest Abe' had refused to leave and remained in the White House. By the 7th, the Bombardment had been going on for 2 days straight when eventually a cease in fire came. A British Ironclad sailed into the Port of DC, bearing a white flag of peace. Aboard was Richard Lyons, the British delegate to the US who had been driven from the Capital months before and Judah P. Benjamin, a Confederate statesman.

This all seems pretty unlikely seeing as Washington DC was, by that point in time, the most heavily fortified city on the planet. An attempt to shell the city in 1862 would probably end with most of the offending squadron at the bottom of Chesapeake Bay.
 
First (most obvious) point: Lee was not at this point in command of anything. He served as an adviser directly to President Davis. Command of the Confederate field army in Virginia was still held by Joseph Johnston.

Second: This field army was not yet the Army of Northern Virginia - that name and the self-image was created by Lee after the 7 Days battles. I *think* the official name was still the Army of the Potomac (irony) - at least this is what it was at 1st Bull Run, and I haven't heard that it was changed.

Third: Please go into more detail on the Seaworthy British Ironclad. I don't outright deny its existence at this time, but some sources, or at least context, would be nice. And I assume you have accounted somehow for the U.S.S. Monitor, also an ironclad, that was in position in the lower Chesapeake at this time.

Fourth: What has been happening in Virginia since the BP? In OTL, by April the Union Army of the Potomac should be on the Peninsula, slowly advancing in siege-fashion against Yorktown, where the main Confederate army waited. At this time Virginia north of the Rappahannock River was clear of Confederates (except the Valley with Jackson's command).

If any of these points is no longer the case ITTL, then explaining why would be imperative.
 
Man on reading this threads title I got really excited because I thought it was going to be about a socialist revolt during the Civil War. That would be sweet. Someone write that TL.
 
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