The Grey

New Powers and Alliances to Ensure Peace



The Third Confederate-American War had been the main show around. Many of the worlds nations sent officers to both sides of the conflict to observe the war. Germany sent the most observers with 625 sent, Britain was second with 605, then Russia 565, Italy 500, France 324, Austria-Hungary 200, Japan 100, the Ottoman Empire 62, Sweden 44, Bulgaria 20, Serbia 20, Greece 12, Belgium 6, the Netherlands 2, Brazil 2, Argentina 2, Peru 1, Bolivia 1, North Mexico 1, South Mexico 1, and Yucatan 1. Lessons learned during the war would spread across the globe as the world's militaries began working to change their doctrines to try and adapt to this new warfare.



Alliances were either formed or grew during this time as well. Germany and Austria-Hungary had been allied since 1880 and in 1886 the Balkan military behemoth Bulgaria joined them creating the Triple Alliance. The creation of the Triple Alliance caused two old enemies to put aside their differences for the greater good of self preservation and the Franco-Russian Alliance was formed and the next year they were joined by Italy forming the Triple Entente. Smaller alliances were also being made as well. France and Greece aligned in 1885, Serbia and Russia in 1887, and Greece and Serbia in 1889. Britain had reasons to join either side or neither side. They hated France, but they feared the powerhouse Germany had became. For the 1880's it was any mans guess where the British Empire would throw its weight around.



In July 1896 a second major war would open up in the world as Japan and Qing China went to war over who would be the dominant regional power among other grievances. Despite the drastic modernization Japan had gone through most of the world believed that the war would end in Japanese defeat. Japan however, would shock the world and after eight months of near total Japanese land and sea domination the war came to a humiliating end for China. With the Treaty of Hiroshima China recognized the full independence of Korea from their sphere and Japan's subsequent sphering and puppetizing of the peninsula, China cedes the Pescadores islands, Formosa, the city of Hangchow and its immediate surroundings, 290 square miles of the eastern end of the Shandong Peninsula and including the port city of Weihaiwei, China grants Japan most favored nation status, and agreed to pay Japan 200,000,000 Kuping taels of silver. The war had catapulted Japan into becoming a major regional power deserving now of the European powers respect. Proving their strength and vitally needing an ally in the region in the event of another major war France began courting Japan and in 1899 the Franco-Japanese Alliance was formed. This would tip the scales enough for Britain and in 1900 after Kaiser Heinrich, who became crown prince after the death of his older brother in 1865 and Kaiser after his fathers death in 1891, made a state visit to London the Anglo-German Alliance was formed.
 
Vacation pushed this post back a week. But better late than never so here it is.



Storm Clouds Brewing






The year of 1899 saw the beginning of the trials of the Gordon Administration. First up was the man himself President Gordon. The treason trial for President Gordon began on January 25,1899. The trial had the streets of Richmond flooded with thousands of people to witness it. As the days went on more and more showed up and in February the unwelcomed sight of thousands of Red Hoods began arriving in support of Gordon. It wasn't long before violent clashes began occurring all over the city. The violence would get so bad that the committee was forced to bring in the army to help keep order. That would only partially help because many disgruntled soldiers were members of the Red Hood as well. The Trail of President Gordon would go on for a month but the end result were all but positive. On April 11 Gordon was found guilty of all crimes and sentenced to hang. Riots would soon erupt across Richmond after Red Hood members heard of the sentencing and by the time they finally came under control a week later over 1000 people had died and the sentencing had already been carried out.



To keep Richmond, or any other city from suffering the round of violence following Gordon's trial the rest of the former presidents cabinet were moved to the ancient fortification of Fort Marion or also known as Castillo de San Marcos in the town of St. Augustine, Florida. With the rest of the trials now to take place in Florida they were pushed back until August. To be present for the trials the Committee were to travel to Florida. On the night of August 5, 1899 just days before the trial of Vice President Forrest was set to begin a train carrying the Committee was nearing Augusta, Georgia when a series of explosions destroyed the bridge the train was crossing toppling it into the Savannah River. Though the wreck had caused numerous casualties within minutes of the train coming to a stop machine gun rounds began raking the cars as mortar shells rained down with anybody managing to make it to shore being cut don by rifle fire. Within minutes the entire ordeal was over and the heads of the Confederate government were in dead bloody heaps. That however wasn't the only thing occurring this night.



At Fort Marion the quiet of the night was shattered by the eruption of gunfire both around and inside the fort as Red Hood members and soldiers loyal to the former Gordon administration attempted to free Forrest and the rest of the cabinet. The battle raged for over an hour and those loyal to the Committee seemed to be holding their own. However about 3am the gates to the fort were finally blown and hundreds of soldiers and Red Hood stormed in. Finally the Committee Loyalists were subdued. Though some of the prisoners had been killed during the fight Forrest and the Secretaries of War and Treasury, and the Attorney General were liberated and disappeared into the countryside. As the sun rose across the nation and word of the nights happenings spread confusion and hysteria over what was next spread as well.
 
So the Confederacy is either going to explode into civil war or the Red Hoods take over in a coup!?:eek: Both are bad for the CSA. A civil war will further damage an already devastated nation. The Red Hoods taking over in a coup will create a incredibly revanchist CSA that will ultimately make the same stupid decision that Gordon made.

Japan joining the Franco-Russian Entente and Britain allying with Germany and co. is really interesting. I wonder which sides the USA and CSA will take if they even get involved. The war will be very different due to all the European advisers sent to watch the war will give the Europeans a better understanding of modern weapons and tactics.
 
So the Confederacy is either going to explode into civil war or the Red Hoods take over in a coup!?:eek: Both are bad for the CSA. A civil war will further damage an already devastated nation. The Red Hoods taking over in a coup will create a incredibly revanchist CSA that will ultimately make the same stupid decision that Gordon made.

Japan joining the Franco-Russian Entente and Britain allying with Germany and co. is really interesting. I wonder which sides the USA and CSA will take if they even get involved. The war will be very different due to all the European advisers sent to watch the war will give the Europeans a better understanding of modern weapons and tactics.
I've already got plans for both tbr confederacy and Europe aaaand the rest the world. If it goes at the speed I want it to go it'll take a few decades to get through it all. But I hope all of you following this tl will enjoy it as much as I hope I will
 
It is well that war is so terrible, else we should grow too fond of it



For two days the Confederacy was basically leaderless. Former Vice President Forrest was in the wind and the Committee had been wiped out, or so most thought. Though the entire Committee was supposed to be traveling to St. Augustine together Major General Jeb Stuart Jr.'s wife had gone into premature labor the day before their departure and he had traveled to Big Lick, Virginia to be with her. While the Stuart family welcomed the arrival of their third child and second son, Jackson Stuart, 360 miles to the south the rest of the Committee was being slaughtered. Upon learning of the massacre the next day Stuart would immediately leave for Richmond to attempt and gain control of the situation. Soon however he wasn't the only one trying to keep control.



On August 13 Forrest appeared in Tallahassee, Florida and declared that he was the legitimate leader of the nation and to rally and follow behind him as they liberated the nation from the tyranny of the unelected Committee. Forrest had far more support than Stuart believed that he had. On August 14 Governor William D. Bloxham of Florida declared that his state supported the rightful government of “President” Forrest. Though Bloxham was the first governor to throw the weight of the state behind Forrest, he wouldn't be the last. On August 17 South Carolina's Governor Miles McSweeney brought his state in behind Forrest. Mississippi Governor Anselm McLaurin and Alabama Governor William J. Samford followed suit on August 22. After the first four states pledged allegiance to Forrest no others were joining what they were calling the Legitimist faction. Forrest knew that he wouldn't have complete support but he firmly believed that he would have at least the entire deep south. It seemed that some sort of motivation was required. On the night of September 1 Governor Allen D. Chandler of Georgia and his family were killed in a freak “accidental” fire at his house. Two days later the new Governor Joesph M. Terrell declared Georgia's support for Forrest. The sudden death of Governor Chandler would cause a change of heart in Daniel Webster Jones and Murphy J. Foster of Arkansas and Louisiana declared their support for Forrest on September 5 and 6.



General Stuart wasn't just sitting by while half the nation split from Richmond's control. As soon as Florida declared support for Forrest Stuart ordered regular and state militia units from bordering states to move in and restore order. However this showed Stuart that he had an even bigger problem than he imagined as many units refused to move and pledged their loyalties to Forrest and those loyal to Richmond were quickly subdued. With the forces in disloyal states being disloyal themselves Stuart ordered men from the west and the upper south to stop this before it got completely out of hand. Though the governments of these states were staying true the loyalty of their citizens however was a different story. Across the Confederacy, but mainly in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas there were significant numbers of Legitimist's both in the military and the civilian community. Mutinies and small fighting was occurring throughout these states tying up the vast majority of the states police and militia forces just trying to hold their states together.



So General Stuart issued a call to arms for all Loyal current and former soldiers to help put an end to the crises tearing this nation apart. In the areas still loyal to him Loyalist troops began to assemble to move in while likewise Legitimist troops and Red Hood's were assembling to move out. Finally in late September Stuart gave the order for the first of these units to move into the rebellious state as 60,000 men under Brevet Lieutenant General Charles Triplett O'Ferrall moved from Raleigh, North Carolina to restore order to South Carolina. On September 30,1899 however they were met on the border at Charlotte by General William T. Anderson with 50,000 soldiers and 35,000 of the Red Hood blocking their path. At approximately 430am Legitimist artillery erupted and the first shots of the Confederate Civil War had been fired.
 
Eve of the Confederate Civil War



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The US is probably laughing their asses off right now. They need to send arms to the blacks in the confederacy to cause as much trouble as they can, hoping for a general collapse - perhaps even an invasion.
Wonder if the British will intervene?
Population and Industrial weight are very much against Forest government and military
Although, probably cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans have been heavily industrialized. I'd give the edge to Stuart's faction since they have Texas oil and Mexican conscripts they can rely on, but the advantage shouldn't be that disparate.
 
I predict a legitimist victory adding the us doesn't intervene. They have all of their territory connected together. It will be interesting to see what happens in Mexico. Nothimg is stopping the us client state from invading the other and maybe taking some land from the csa maybe ally with the legitimists. Also I wonder if either side will get any foreign volunteers. Also is there any way for the two halves of the loyalists to communicate or are they just split in half?
 
Opening Volley



Though some say the civil war started with the Assault on Fort Marion most agree that the Battle of Charlotte was the true beginning. During the Third Confederate-American War the Carolina's had hardly been touched. That would no longer be true now as the city of Charlotte was destroyed by intense unrelenting fire both Legitimist and Loyalist sides. For roughly twenty-four hours straight Charlotte was witness to the extreme bloody inaugural fighting of the Confederate Civil War. Though both armies were filled with combat veterans the Legitimist's had more youth and vigor in their ranks not to mention having the ferocious and fanatical Red Hood's in line with them. The Loyalist's just couldn't match them and finally retreated back towards Raleigh. The Legitimist armies were determined to keep this war mobile and despite the exhaustion from the battle pursued with extreme ferocity as more men crossed out of South Carolina and marched towards North Carolina's capital. Just nine days after Charlotte Legitimist forces ambushed and encircled over half the Loyalist forces in North Carolina near Fayetteville in the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads where after thirteen hours roughly 30,000 Loyalist troops including General O'Ferrall surrendered. Two major defeats in as many weeks on their soil was enough for most North Carolinian's and on October 16 Governor Daniel Lindsay Russell declared his states support and loyalty to President Forrest. Now Anderson's Legitimist Army was virtually unopposed as they moved north with Virginia and ultimately Richmond in their sights.



While the first shots of the war were in North Carolina they soon weren't the only ones. Within an hour of the start of the Battle of Charlotte Alabama Senator and Red Hood member Brevet Lieutenant General John Tyler Morgan commanded the overall invasion of Tennessee with 55,000 men capturing Chattanooga without a fight and 45,000 Red Hood members capturing Memphis after just three hours of sporadic fighting. General Morgan intended to move hard and fast to “convince” Tennessee to fall behind President Forrest as Anderson had in North Carolina. To drive home the argument that the Legitimist side was the right side Morgan crushed a Loyalist army in the Battle of Lynchburg on October 9 and a second at Jackson three days later taking out most major Loyalist military units south of Murfeesboro. Unlike North Carolina's governor however, Governor Benton McMillin of Tennessee refused to back down saying that his state would not follow behind the administration of a tyrant and war criminal.



The along the Texas-Louisiana border it was the Loyalist side that went on the offensive when Lieutenant General Martin McNulty Crane invaded with 50,000 men on October 3 hoping to liberate the state from the Legitimist's. The Legitimist's didn't leave Louisiana undefended however as 35,000 men under Major General Fancis T. Nicholls and just two days after Crane crossed the two sides met in the Battle of Shreveport. Though outnumbered the Legitimist's were ferocious and after nine hours of fierce fighting Crane was forced to retreat back into Texas. Like elsewhere Forrest didn't want to allow the Loyalist's time to really organize a good defense and just two days later Nicholls invaded Texas with a enlarged army of 70,000 and on October 11 defeated Crane again in the Battle of Longview.
 
I promise this tl isn't dead. I know exactly what I want to do I just can't find enough creativity to make a worthwhile post tgat yall would enjoy. Any time I think of something it's no more than a couple sentences and I'm drawing a blank again. I've also had lots of ideas for a new tl and tgat isn't helping either. But I promise this tl isn't dead and as soon as I can get something worthwhile wrote I will post it
 
I sometimes think about what I'm writing as a go to sleep. Usually I have something to at least get things started when I wake up.
Good luck.
 
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