The War to End All Wars
While in terms of education President Ekelson may have a more positive view of the Federation, as a whole he was still bitter about what the secession had done to his beloved home state of Indiana. Though he had hoped the Metis would be a just enough cause to attack the Dominion, it had fizzled unexpectedly, especially now that Texas has signed a treaty with the United States with the express goal of avoiding war. It seemed his term would end without conflict, but that assumption would be incorrect. In mid 1898, in a parade in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was sitting in his motorcade when a Federation citizen named Alexander Wallis jumped out of the crowd and fired off several shots, killing the Vice President and causing his driver to spin out of control, slamming into a nearby building and killing 2 civilians that could not get out of the way in time. The man attempted to flee afterwards, shouting "For the Federation!" several times before being apprehended by the Secret Service and placed under arrest. In the weeks that followed, during his questioning he stated the Federation was secretly funding resistance cells in Ohio and the other former Federation states, hoping to kick off a revolution. While his mouth was loose in that regard, it was not so when the police demanded to know who his accomplices and suppliers were, to which he would not answer. After 4 days of refusing to talk, President Ekelson sent an ultimatum to the Federation, and ordered for mobilization, demanding information and names on who his suppliers were, as well as reparations for the death of the Vice President. After a week of no response, President Ekelson took it as a refusal, and on April 13th, 1898, he asked Congress for a declaration of war against the Federated States of America. 2 days later he received it.
The opening days of the war were one of shock and disbeileif for both sides, as it had seemed things were finally beginning to settle down. However in a speech made by President Ekelson,
"The Federation wants no peace, only to take what is proper American soil. They want every American to submit to their flag, and to cower in fear to their murderous cowards like in Cincinnati, but we will have none of that. As of this day I will make it our mission, no our destiny, that in this final war we shall remove the risk of war forever from our shores, we shall not stop until the Federation is rightfully American once more, and should their allies in Canada choose to side with the scum in the Federated States, they too shall fall to our guns and our brave men. This war will end all wars on our continent, and when it is over any nation that opposes us will be dealt with and their threat removed. This continent is for Americans, and for no longer will we allow our enemies to remain on it. In honor of our fallen Vice President, forward to New York!"
Following his speech, President Ekelson ordered the expansion of the draft to all able bodied men of age. While around 100,000 men had been mobilized already, more would be needed for effective offensives. Over the next several days the Federation took the time to build defenses along the border, covering many areas with land mines and building bunkers nearby to shoot at invading forces. In the time the two sides were doing this, the Dominion of Canada and Great Britain honored the call of the Federation, and declared war on the United States, to which the United States replied in kind. By the time the new troops were raised the British had been able reinforce the Federation and Canada with an expeditionary force of 100,000 men, while their navy began attempting to blockade the American east coast. By May 3rd, the US had been able to assemble a force of 250,000 draftees, and 80,000 volunteers. Approximately 120,000 in state militias volunteered to fight on the front lines as well, and they were integrated into the initial mobilization force, bringing the number of trained soldiers to 220,000, with 330,000 only having basic training. The trained troops were stationed in defensive positions along the border with Canada and the Federation, while the greener troops began assembling outside of Baltimore, with 200,000 men for the main force and a secondary force of 80,000 men preparing to invade from Ohio into western Pennsylvania. The remaining 50,000 men were stationed in Ohio in order provide reinforcements if needed. Though more troops would be called up in the draft.
As the American units began to prepare for an assault into Federation territory, both the Federation and Canadian governments were building bunkers and fall back points along the border and around their major cities, hoping to prevent the loss of the war from a single buckling line. By the time the Americans finally ordered the offensive, the FSA was prepared, as noted in the battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg, situated along 2 key railways, one from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and one from Harrisburg to Barlow, a minor industrial center just north of the border.
The battle wasn't even expected by the Americans, as their early aircraft reconnaissance showed no formations nearby when the initial invasion commenced. This was later found out to be due to bad maps and pilot error, and it allowed the Federals to hold back the US advance early into the war. Taking 2 weeks, the Battle of Gettysburg eventually ended in an American victory, but a costly one, resulting in over 40,000 men killed or wounded, and over 20,000 Federal dead, numbers on wounded were not very accurate due to the hasty retreat following the battle.
While the Battle of Gettysburg was raging, a similar one was occurring west of the town of Washington, just south of Pittsburgh. The battle lasted a week before Federation forces were ordered to retreat into the city, and take all civilians and goods possible with them back to Pittsburgh. Though the Americans would manage to win these 2 battles, the strain and losses accounted for in just the first month of the war were astronomical in comparison to those in the last war, causing General Isaac Enus of the 2nd Army to use a different strategy, completely disregarding the orders sent down from DC. Called the Trident Maneuver, it divided his force into 3 sections, the larger force being in the center, 2 smaller forces on the left and right flanks. Originally intended for later in the war, Enus ordered its use on the city of Pittsburgh, believing the city must be taken quickly in order to prevent a Federal counteroffensive.
Taking place on September 8th, the central force under command of Enus began advancing towards the southern end of the city, drawing out the bulk of the Federation forces. Upon making contact, the 2 detached forces made their way in a large semi circle, with the eastern force under Commander Ian McClockton entering the outskirts of the eastern edge of the city in the early hours of the 9th, a mere hour before his counterpart lead his force into the western portion. With the suprise of 2 other army groups attacking the city, the Federals were forced to divert the majority of their troops to the other fronts, leaving the southern force weakened. By the 12th, the defending forces had been forced to withdraw deeper into the city as American forces slowly began to seep past the outskirts and into the heart of the city itself. This phase, while the bloodiest, could not sustain itself, leading to the collapse of the Federation force on the morning of the 17th.
With the fall of Pittsburgh, the American position in the south was secured, and the Trident Maneuver began to be repeated as a default in US offensives. Using this, the US was able to knock out Harrisburg and Philadelphia, bombarding New Jersey from across the river in the occupied city. However past that, Federal positions were less strained and the lines were shorter, allowing for the solidifying of the defense, even after Cherry Hill and Brick in New Jersey fell.
The new line held out for 3 months, even after 4 major assault attempts by the Americans. It would not last however, as the American navy, having been growing since the end of the last war, was able to implement a blockade on the Federation and Canadian east coast, cutting off British reinforcements and effectively forcing them out of the remainder of the war. Other than troops being cut off, it also cut off the vital factories of England from its North American allies, leading to less resources for the war effort until new factories could be constructed to replace them. Finally, the US launched a major offensive nearly 2 months into the blockade, breaking the enemy trenches and taking Allentown, Scranton, and Erie within the course of 2 months, causing the collapse of the Federation resistance in the state of Pennsylvania. The war in New Jersey would take several more weeks as the Federals were capable of putting up incredible resistance in the outskirts of New York City, the nations capitol. So much so that by the time the Americans finally were capable of shelling the city itself, the President and most of Congress had been evacuated north to Albany, giving the Federation more time to mount its defense.
The Battle of New York that followed however, would be no help for the Federation, being the bloodiest battle in the history of the continent, over 200,000 men died on both side over the course of the month long battle, eventually ending when the US Navy landed on Manhattan and forced the northerners off the island. This lead to a collapse in Federation lines and the surrender of General Edward E Garick, Commander of the Federal forces in the battle. His capture would severely hinder the war effort for the Federated States, as his expertise had allowed the strong resistance that had blunted so many enemy offensives.
The start of October, 1899, marked what seemed like the beginning of the end for the Federations hopes of victory. With the fall of New York, the continuing blockade, and the fall of the Canadian prairies; the Federated States was on the brink of starving, her troops were behind on their pay, and nearly half the country was under enemy occupation. The desperate measures lead to the resignation of President Clinton, and the assumption of the Presidency by his former VP Philip Sullivan, a man who had only been nominated to the VP due to his annoying tendencies in his home state of Vermont. No one expected him to be any good at leading the country, or for that matter its armed forces, this would be a half truth, but not for his lack of trying.
Upon assuming the office, President Sullivan fired his generals, hiring several lower level Commanders that had showed promise before the war. These new generals would reinforce the Hudson River and force the Americans back at the Battle of Albany, launching a counter offensive that pushed the US back to Buffalo before halting. This line however would hold, blunting numerous American offensives and draining the morale, while allowing the Federation to complete several new factories and revamp its war effort. As the stalemate wore on, many in the US command began to consider the possibility of an amphibious landing south of Boston to throw off the Federated military, diverting its forces and allowing a break in the lines. This would initially be shot down, but as the trenches got bloodier and the public opinion began shifting more negatively towards the conflict, it was eventually decided to prepare a force of 50,000 men in New Jersey, out of the range of Federated guns, and from their sail around Manhattan and land in Rhode Island. Even though it made more sense to land near Boston, Rhode Island would be the shortest time at sea and the least time under FS artillery.
On January 22nd, 1900, the US Army landed near Charlestown, establishing several beachheads before state militias could respond. By that time however it was to late, the beaches had been secured, and the Americans had landed their entire force. While not large in comparison to the main armies of the eastern front, it was larger and better trained than the militias of Rhode Island, allowing it to damage several shipyards and take Warwick before Federal reinforcements arrived, halting the advance. The damage would be done at this point however, as the reduction in troops in the west gave the Americans the opening they were waiting force, and the lines buckled, eventually collapsing 3 days into the assault.
As the lines faltered, the US forces surged, retaking Buffalo and posing a renewed threat to Albany, marking the collapse of the Federated States military on the eastern front. 4 days later, on August 17th, 1900, as the American forces began to surround Albany, President Sullivan gave the order to surrender, marking the end of the eastern front and the fall of the Federation.
As the war raged in the east, the Canadian, or western front as the American command called it, was slower but no less bloody. With the Canadian entry into the war the US was able to make use of their Metis ally, moving an army group with little resistance into the belly of the Dominion. Under General Taylor Dawson, the US was able to take Winnipeg and and Calgary within the opening months of the war, taking vital farmland from the Canadians and allowing the Americans to set up a more preferable line to work with.
While the war in the east was slow and compact, the war in the west was the opposite, as the open prairies and relatively underpopulated areas allowed for US forces to advance with little difficulty after the fall of Calgary. The only true resistance was the Battle of Edmonton, the capitol of the Alberta Province, and even it would not last more than 3 weeks. After its fall, the only true objective was the vast distance and brutal Canadian winters, which took nearly as many lives as Canadians had by 1900.
However, even though the west had not been so difficult, as the Americans began to advance into eastern Canada, the tone of the front changed, going from what had effectively been a leisurely occupation to a one of the bloodiest regions of North America. The Battle of Shamattawa was the first major battle after Edmonton, forcing back the Americans after the Canadian and British forces used their own version of the Trident Maneuver to devastate the 4th Army and break US supply lines. The Battle, having taken 2 weeks, gave the Canadians hope, and similar outcomes began to plague the Americans as they advanced into the shattered landscape of western Ontario.
The geography of western Ontario was different from that of western Canada, as it was covered in lakes which made supply lines and troop movements difficult. That coupled with them being unfamiliar and constant Canadian ambushes and sabotage, lead to the front effectively breaking down into micro battles as some land bridges were so small that the Americans had to go through one platoon at a time, making them easy targets for the Canadian defenders. This would eventually bog down the American invaders, leading to the region being named "the Canadian Shield".
As the war in the east began to turn slowly southwards for the Federation, the Canadians were able to hold off the Americans due to British troops and their knowledge of the terrain, this would have such an effect that the United States would effectively give up on its offensives in the east, hoping to invade from the former Federation once it fell.
Eventually, this strategy became more unlikely, as the Americans, even though progressing against their Federation counterparts, were losing men faster than they could effectively train and replace them. After the surrender of the Federation, this became apparent, as resistance and uprisings across the occupied territories were became larger with no hope for liberation in site. Having to deal with such a resistance made the logistics and potential problems of a second front with Canada unfavorable, or as some historians state, simply impossible. 3 weeks after the surrender of the Federation, the United States offered to open up peace talks with the Dominion and Britain,
de facto ending the conflict.