The Grey Revolution

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Chapter 97: Forrest/Longstreet Feud

Every Confederate citizen is aware that the famed feud that stereotype the CSA as a nation was centered around two strong willed individuals who came from different backgrounds. Forrest grew up poor and lost his father at age 16. At the age of 25 Forrest avenged the murder of his uncle killing two men in a duel in rural Mississippi. During his life Forrest was a businessman, planter, and slaveholder. By the beginning of the Civil War Forrest was considered one of the wealthiest men of the south owning multiple plantations in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Longstreet was born in rural South Carolina on his father’s plantation. Set on a military career early on in his life Longstreet was sent to live with his uncle once his father died early in his life. Longstreet would enter West Point and later serve in the Mexican War under Zachary Taylor.
Forrest would blame Longstreet for his loss in 1873 and swore revenge. It was by no mistake that on January 17, 1874 Forrest met up with Longstreet while in New Orleans and demanded an apology from Longstreet for his slander of his good name. When Longstreet refused Forrest pulled a pistol and challenged him to a duel. Longstreet who refused to lower his standards to Forrest’s level declined. When Forrest called him a coward Longstreet stood firm and stated that “an officer and a gentleman does not handle quarrels in this matter and as such you are neither a gentleman nor an officer .” Within minutes a fire fight would break out wounding Longstreet in the neck while members of Longstreet staff came to their General rescue. Longstreet’ s Chief of Staff Brigadier General Moxley Sorrel was able to would Forrest in the leg causing both sides to disengage.
For Forrest the New Orleans Shoot Out as the Newspaper called it painted Forrest as the aggressor and soon warrants were issued for his arrest, but fortunately for Forrest he took a steamer back to Central America to join forces with his old acquaintance William Quantrill and the KGC.
As for Longstreet he would recover and be instrumental in the coming Haitian Conflict brewing.

 

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Chapter 98: Fort Twiggs Incident
When the CSA took possession of the Dominican Territory from Spain the War Department constructed numerous forts along the Haitian/Dominican border. By 1873 was a country in anarchy. Military junta’s controlled the countryside, and foreign mercenaries would arrive and exploit the population to the highest bidder. Added into the mix a number of Abolitionist and German Socialist helping to prop up the ineffective government in Port-a-Prince and it made for a very combustible situation.
Fort Twiggs was under the command of Lt. Col Henry Wirz.

Wirz had immigrated to the United States and was living in Louisiana when war broke out in 1861. After being wounded during the siege of Washington Wirz was promoted and remained in the army. At the age of 53 Wirz joined the forces stationed in Dominican. Wirz once he assumed command at Fort Twiggs began extorting Haitian refugees fleeing into Dominican. Instead of turning captured refugees back into Haiti Wirz offered to allow families into Dominican in exchange for their children lives into slavery. Parents not wanting to see their children starve to death decided to sell their children into slavery in exchange for a better life for themselves. Wirz would take these children and sell them into slavery making vast sums of money. When known Abolitionist John Brown arrived in Haiti in 1874 rumors of Wirz actions sent him into a rage. Brown and decided to show the world what the Confederate States were planning for the whole of Haiti.
Brown gathered a force of 3,000 volunteers mostly armed with spears and machetes and on June 18, 1874 ambushed a patrol a mile out from Fort Twiggs. Days later the fort was laid siege by Brown who was determined to rid the world of Wirz and the Confederate presence on the island.
Runners were sent to plead for help, but the situation at Fort Twiggs would be ultimately decided by if help would arrive on time.

 

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Chapter 99: Paul von Hindenburg
Born in Prussia on October 2, 1847 into a minor Prussian nobility family. With the collapse of the Hohenzollern dynasty in Prussia von Hindenburg was forced like many families to immigrate to the Southern United States. The family settled in Virginia where Paul’s father joined the Virginia Militia and later joined the Confederate armed forces. Paul wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, but was forced to enroll in 1861 at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). After graduation in 1863 Paul would join the famed Second Corp, and saw combat at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Once hostilities ceased Paul served along the Mexican border seeing action in several skirmishes, and by 1873 was in command of the 1st Virginia Infantry serving along the Haitian border. When word reached Hindenburg that fort Twiggs was under siege Paul along with four companies of infantry and the new Gatling Guns that were attached to the 1st Virginia raced to the rescue. The ensuing battles if they could be called that saw waves of Haitians slaughtered by Confederate crews of Gatling Guns. During the final battle of Fort Twiggs John Brown was finally killed leading an attack against Hindenburg and the advancing Virginians.
News of John Browns Death was in every headline throughout North America and Europe. Wirtz and his slave dealings were quietly dealt with as a new hero was born in the CSA: Paul von Hindenburg.

Hindenburg in his cadet dress at VMI

 

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Confederate Hindenburg, that's not something you read about every day.

 

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Chapter 100: Bismarck’s Cabinet

Vice-President: Francis P. Blair Jr.
Secretary of State: Wade Hampton III (SC)
Secretary of War: Henry W. Allen (LA)
Secretary of Treasury: Robert Vance (NC)
Secretary of Navy: J.L.M. Curry (AL)
Attorney General: Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (GE)
Postmaster General: William Preston (KY)

President Otto Von Bismarck built his cabinet with strong personalities with South Carolina Governor Wade Hampton III as Secretary of State and Former Governor of Louisiana Henry Allen as Secretary of War. North Carolinian Congressman and part of the House Banking Committee Robert Vance was tapped to head the Treasury Department. Alabama Congressman J.L.B. Curry was made to lead the Naval Department. Up and coming political star, Mayor of Atlanta, war hero Theodore Roosevelt Sr was tapped for Attorney General, and to lead the Postal Department William Preston, apart of the powerful Preston/Johnston political family that backed Bismarck and his run for the Presidency.

 

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Chapter 101: Bismarck Doctrine
In response to the Fort Twiggs Incident President Bismarck ordered a blockade of Haitian ports and dispatched naval warships yo stop everything minus food supplies into Haiti. Secretary of State Hampton was tasked with garnering foreign support to bring law and order to Haiti, as the humanitarian situation soon took a turn for the worse. Countries that were quick to denounce the CSA as trying to impose slavery onto Haitians (United States & Great Britain) refused to join any coalition to bring order to the failed nation.
The Haitian Dictator Septimus Rameau refused overtures to step down or accept Confederate assistance to rid the border of Haiti and Confederate Dominican, and declared war on the CSA thinking the United States and Great Britain would come to Haiti aid. As an improvised country with hardly any natural resources both nations turned a blind eye and gave the CSA permission to bring order to Haiti. President Bismarck now declared that the Confederate States would do all that was necessary to keep Confederate citizens safe, and Confederate property secure.
On August 1, 1874 the first Confederate troops crossed into Haiti under Brigadier Paul von Hindenburg. The CSA Intervention into Haiti had begun. This was soon followed by Confederate Marines landing and capturing the capital of Port-au-Prince.

 

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Chapter 102: Kansas Statehood
One of the territories granted to the CSA following the Treaty of London was Kansas Territory. After a period of time the Confederate Administration of both Wise and Breckinridge wanted to turn the area into another Indian Territory. Most of the southern half of Kansas was granted to the Osage Indian tribe for their support against the Union. A Homestead Act opened up the rest of the territory to immigrant farmers from Scandinavia and Poland flocked to the plains in search of a new life. By early November 1873 the Territory of Kansas set notice to the CS Congress of their intention of being granted statehood. Ironically when Kansas was admitted on November 30, 1874 it became the lowest state per capita for slaves even behind tiny Delaware.

 

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Chapter 103: Davis Vs Confederate States
There was a belief that Otto von Bismarck was unfit for the Presidency since he was born in Prussia. Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis challenged the results of Bismarck being nominated and later the election results. Davis by 1873 was becoming a Nativist in all but name and coveted the Presidency, and thought that aristocratic southern gentleman were needed to save the CSA from foreign interlopers.
On January 16, 1875 Davis Vs the Confederate States of America went to the Supreme Court. Attorney General Theodore Roosevelt representing the government stated that the Confederate Government hadn’t been established until 1861, and in that regards no one was eligible to hold the office since every Confederate citizen was born under “foreign” citizenship. In a 6-1 ruling Chief Justice Thomas Crittenden with the majority ruled in defense of the government.
This ruling would set the stage for the very first Amendment to the Confederate Constitution,

 

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Chapter 104: Haitian Operations
From his Headquarters in Habana, Cuba General James Longstreet oversaw the operations of the 21st Corps stationed in Confederate Dominican under Lt General Alfred Mouton. Mouton’s forces made easy work out of what little standing army Haiti had. Decades of civil war, corruption had forced many competent officers out of the army. Capturing President Rameau was easy once a reward for his capture was made know, and his bodyguards turned him over to the Confederate authorities.
The main source of resistance came in the form of the many warlords dotting the Haitian landscape. When General Mouton arrived in Port-au-Prince locals were rounded up and offered work to help bring local utilities to the city. Almost immediately the people’s attitude had changed from fear to something of hope. The Confederate soldiers that occupied the city were part of the Louisiana Native Brigade made up entirely of men of free color and mulattos. Their commander Colonel Andre Cailloux, the CSA first African officer to obtain such rank, was instrumental in gaining the trust of the local population.

 

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Chapter 105: Crash of 1875
The cause of the Crash of 1875 was the long standing Battle of control of the vast Vanderbilt Empire. Starting during the Civil War Cornelius Vanderbilt fled New York City during the Irish Revolt and fled to Montreal, Canada. From there he secretly helped finance Confederate programs for northerners fleeing persecution in the North. Vanderbilt’s own son Billy along with other business partners took over Vanderbilt’s railroads, but failed to secure the majority of his business. Cornelius vowed to destroy his enemies, and begun to secretly bankrupt railroads and other utilities around New York City sparking a panic on Wall Street.
On March 16, 1875 the Erie Railway Company filed for bankruptcy which led to two other railroads following suit: New York Central Railroad and Lake Shore and Southern Railroad. Jay Cooke & Company Banking which had invested heavily in railroads soon closed its doors and filed bankruptcy. It was soon followed by many factories in New York, Boston, and Chicago laying off workers bringing forth the Panic of 1875.
Little did anyone knew it was the old “Commodore “ who had finally brought his enemies to their knees. Vanderbilt would live another two years dying in 1877 at the age of 82 from his new home in Nashville, Tennessee. After leaving an heafty fortune to his new wife Vanderbilt left millions to charities funding Vanderbilt University outside of Nashville as well as immigration venues for people fleeing the United States.

Vanderbilt in his later years

 

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Chapter 106: Guatemala
By the time Bismarck had taken office Guatemala remained the only “free” nation in Central America. Nicaragua was by now preparing to submit to the Confederate Congress for statehood after having been under Anglo influence for over twenty years. Nicaragua boasted a higher standard of living compared to other countries in South America, and that was thanks to the heavy influx of schools, sanitation, and civil governance that brought peace and prosperity to Nicaragua.
The other countries of Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador boasted puppet governments controlled by the Knights of the Golden Circle. After the civil War Guatemala played the Confederacy and the United States against each other hoping to gain the best advantage. Guatemala President for life Field Marshal Jose Victor Zavala was soon swayed by promises from Northern Business to kick out competing Confederate interests causing businessmen to demand action from Richmond.

 

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Chapter 107: Liberal Republicans on the Offensive
The midterm elections saw the Liberal Republicans gain control of the House and made gains in the Senate. Everyone now looked to see who would run for the nomination. Already Senate heavyweights Roscoe Conklin of New York, Oliver P. Morton of Indiana, and John Sherman of Ohio were the early on favorites. By late 1875 Senator James P. Blaine of Maine, & Pennsylvania Governor John F. Hartranft soon entered the contest. Attacking the Democrats on the economy became their battle cry. After intense pressure from Democratic lawmakers President McClellan refused to run for a third term leaving the road open for Vice-President Morgan to enter the race, but Morgan was no fool, and also declined setting up both major parties looking to nominate their respective candidates.

 

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Chapter 108: Democratic Nomination
Facing almost certain defeat Democratic heavyweights avoided the nomination and instead made alliances that would benefit their causes in 1880. Senator from Indiana Daniel W. Voorhees, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Samuel J. Randall, & New York Governor Samuel J. Tilden agreed to focus on keeping control of the House and Senate, and forgo the Presidency. It was decided that Indiana Congressman Mahlon D. Manson was nominated for President. In a nod to the powerful Tammney Hall faction of New York former New York City Mayor John T. Hoffman for Vice President.

 

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Chapter 109: Liberal Republicans Nomination
Playing off on strong national sentiment the Liberal Republicans (LR) met in Philadelphia on July 3rd, 1876. Demanding to strengthen the army and navy LR party put into their plank to reform corruption within the government. The battle for control centered upon three heavyweights: Senator Roscoe Conklin of New York, Senator John Sherman of Ohio, and Indiana Senator Oliver P. Morton.
The only way to win was to join forces with one of the other top three, or convince one of the two minor contenders: Pennsylvania Governor John Hartranft or Senator James Blaine of Maine to join their cause. Party leaders were against Conklin since they knew that the Senator was a womanizer and had control of the seedier parts of New York City. Plus his support within the nationalist parts of the country was a double edge sword.
Morton was an abolitionist and despised the CSA, and wanted to remove nation from the face of the earth, but was in bad health. A favorite of the military and veterans groups for his part of the recent Civil War and efforts as Governor of Indiana made him a force to recon with.
John Sherman also hated the CSA, and his now disowned brother who followed the south, and was a favorite of the abolitionist movement even befriended John Brown. At a eulogy service in Cincinnati Sherman vowed that “John Brown’s Army” would March again.
All three courted both Hartranft and Blaine after two days of contention seeing that his road to nomination would be blocked was able to strike a deal with Sherman that gave him control over the profitable Port of New York and a seat of his choosing in the Cabinet. Before Conklin made his deal a similar deal was brokered between Sherman and Blaine.
On the 32nd ballot John Sherman was nominated for President and James Blaine for Vice-President.

 

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Chapter 110: A Forgone Conclusion
The election of 1876 was a disaster for the Democratic Party. After being in control for over 12 years the American electorate wanted change. Not only did the Liberal Republicans captured the White House by trouncing the Democrats, but also captured both houses of Congress with sizable majorities.
Many in the US saw the LR victory as a sign of a brighter future, but many in the Confederate States saw the LR victory as another threat to their very existence.
With 24hrs of Sherman’s victory President Bismarck called together his closest advisors and began planning for renewed hostilities with the United States.

 

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Chapter 111: Bismarck Responds
Within days of Sherman’s election Secretary of War Allen brought regiments along the border with the USA up to full strength calling up tens of thousands of reservists. An invasion of Guatemala was postponed due to fears of antagonizing a US response.
Secretary of State Hampton met with representatives from Imperial Mexico, France, and Spain to develop a strategy to handle the incoming administration.
Instead of an aggressive United States the world saw another aggression happening a lot closer to Europe.

 

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Chapter 112: Engels Acts
By 1876 the situation in Europe was volatile. The German Socialist Republic was secretly exporting their vision. German President Friedrich Engels decided the time was right to challenge the “Great Powers” of Europe. Wanting to expand Germany’s borders Engels sent agents into Poland, Bavaria, Italy, and Denmark.
Karl Marx, the Head of the Revolutionary Guard, led the operations in hope of redeeming himself since the failures in the United States. Marx decided to put the majority of his attention into the Danish province of Schleswig and Holstein where there was a high population of Germans living under Danish rule.
The Danish King Christian IX had since his coronation in 1864 cracked down on German nationalism within his country, and since Denmark wasn’t a major European Power was ripe for Germany’s taking.
With protests rocking Schleswig and Holstein in the summer of 1876. Protesters were calling for Independence to a referendum to join Germany President Engels demanded free elections within the embattled provinces. Each of the Major Powers of Europe now turned away from Denmark. Russia was dealing with Polish nationalism as well as a dispute with the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans decided to leave Denmark to its fate.
The Austrian-Hungarian Empire was focused with the situation in Saxony and Bavaria. The Hapsburg Empire was determined to keep these two kingdoms out of German Socialism, as well as the growing Italian nationalism the Italian States.
France by 1876 was dealing with an ailing Emperor, and growing concerns of French national prestige. Emperor Napoleon by 1876 was committed to protecting French stakes in the Suez Canal, propping up the Hapsburg Emperor in Mexico, as well protecting Bavaria along with the Austrians.
All of this Marx took into account and bargain that neither power would intercede on Denmark’s behalf.