The Plans I Have For You

The Plans I Have for You

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

This seemed like his only chance. His father had died before he could receive an education in England as his older brother Lawrence had. However with his father’s death his family could not afford to send him. Luckily, through his brother Lawrence, he was granted an opportunity. He was secured an appointment in the Royal Navy.

On the morning March 3rd, 1747, he stood at the dock in Baltimore Harbor. He stared at the large wooden vessel, the HMS Devonshire, under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Warren. He walked up the gangplank as a voiced called out to him from behind.

“GEORGE STOP!”.

He turned around to see his mother standing on the dock below.

“Do not get on that ship,” she cried, “I forbid you.”

“I must,” he replied “It is the only way.”

He turned back toward the ship and continued up the gang plank until he reached the deck of the ship. At the top a midshipmen was there to greet him. He was holding a stack of papers, and asked the young man, “What is your name?”

The young man took a deep breath and replied, “George Washington.”

The midshipmen looked over the papers and found his name. “Welcome aboard the Devonshire.”
 
So we can assume Commonwealth of North America dead, then?

Might as well assume that. I prefer to think of it as on the back burner, way in the back. I'm having a writers block with the rest of my timelines. I have found the best way for me to break a writers block is to write something new.
 
So can we expect to see Midshipman Horatio Nelson serving under Captain George Washington in the future?

But seriously, this is a cool idea. I'm excited to see where this goes.
 
Cool opening, but its biggest immediate butterfly, is how to start the hostility known as the French and Indian War. Assuming the French still attack Pickawillany, and the Ohio Company of Virginia is still formed, its likely that another man is sent to lead the expedition to the French. Just for the sake of argument, its possible that it could be William Trent, considering the fluidity of position in the Virginia regiment. Trent, being more then a bit more headstrong, and not to mention heavily invested in the Ohio's future as British territory, would very likely foul things up. Much like in OTL, the French beat him and send him packing. Unlike in OTL, no Washington relieves him and assists him in defeating the French. So Joeseph Coulon de Jumonville lives.....and the War never starts.

Either way, hopefully this either turns into a TL where no America is supplanted by a surviving French America, or a TL where America still happens, but differently, and not as a British territory, dominion or commonwealth. I hate those TL's. :mad:;)
 
OH, this is sure to be sweet.

George Washington, Royal Navy, we can at least assume a significant portion of North America (larger than OTL) is going to be under British Dominion.

:D
 
Trent's Expedition

On June 21st, 1752, force of 240 Ottawa and Ojibwa Indians allied with the French attacked Pickawillany, a village of the Miami tribe. The force was led by Charles Michel de Langlade, a Frenchman born in North America. The purpose of the attack was to drive British traders out of the Ohio Country and to punish the Miami people for rejecting an alliance with the French in favor of the British. In the attack at least one British trader was killed, and the Miami Chief Memeskia, better known to the British as “Old Briton.” The French destroy the English stockade and sent the remaining traders fleeing back east.

In the spring of 1753 the French would build a forts in the Ohio Valley in order to maintain their claim. The Iroquois were concerned about the expansion. This prompted Chief Tanaghrisson of the Mingo to send runners to William Johnson, known to the Iroquois as Warraghiggey, meaning “He who does great things.” They met with governor George Clinton of New York in Albany along with officials from other British Colonies. At this meeting, Chief Hendrick of the Mohawk called for the British to uphold their end of the “Covenant Chain.” Governor Clinton decided to uphold the British end of the agreement, and requested the other colonial officials return to their governors and ask them to do the same. The ones to respond would be Thomas Penn of Pennsylvania, and Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, both of whom had invested interests in companies who were active in the region.

In the fall of 1753 Governor Dinwiddie would sent an expedition lead by a fur trader named William Trent, who also had investments in the Ohio Company. Along the way he would pick up a number of other volunteers, including some Mingo Indians and some interpreters. On October 12th Trent and his party arrived at the French outpost of Fort Le Boeuf. Trent would meet with the Commander of the French Forces, Paul Marin de la Malgue. However Trent’s temper got the better of him and stormed out. After acquiring a few more volunteers from nearby Indian villages with ties to the Iroquois.

On October 21st Trent would launch an attack on the French fort. In the battle Marin would be mortally wounded. Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre would take over command of the French forces and successfully counter Trent’s attack, forcing him to retreat. Trent’s party made camp near the fork between the Allegheny and Monogahela rivers. A small party sent out by Legardeur from Fort Le Boeuf would meet with Trent and offer a peace with them in hopes of preventing a war between the British and French. Trent agreed to take the offer back to Virginia with him.

He would arrive in Williamsburg in late December of 1753. The peace offer made by the French was presented to Governor Dinwiddie. The offer was to allow British fur traders access to the French portions of the Ohio but in exchange for an annual fee paid by the Ohio Company or the colonial governments. Dinwiddie was not interested in the deal, and neither were his allies in Pennsylvania and New York. The message was returned to the French, stating a refusal to pay for access to the Ohio. By the Spring of 1754 Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia each sent militias to the Ohio Country. It was the beginning of war.
 
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