The Rise of a New Aristocracy- An American Timeline

Excerpted from the American Pageant by David Kennedy (c) 2008...

The Roots of the First Franco-American War
: Part 2

The aftermath of the XYZ Affair in March of 1798 had brought the young American nation one step closer to what would prove an inevitable war. However, at the time many politicians, Adams and his nemesis Jefferson, best known as the author of the Declaration of Independence and also the most prominent opposition figure of the era, chief among them still sought to avoid war at all costs. Yet the large majority of the American people were outraged by the French actions and war hawks were pushing now harder then ever for a move into conflict with France.

Soon thereafter the opening stages of the war began. The early war, alternatively remembered as the "undeclared war" was in full swing by July of 1798 as French privateers engaged American warships lead by the USS Constitution. Still, though, at this late point in the development it was still Adams intent to avoid total conflict. Enter Timothy Pickering. Pickering had spent the majority of his life as a little known businessman and lawyer, the height of his political career had seemed to be as a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the Constitution. However after a series of successful land speculation ventures his persona began to rise, culminating in George Washington appointing him as Postmaster General, Commissioner of Iroquois lands, Secretary of War, and finally Secretary of State. Many credit his intense pressure upon Adams to be the cause of the next step America took.

Taking inspiration from the crossing of the Delaware, Adams gave the OK to group of militiamen from Western states to assault New Orleans on Christmas day 1798. The fear was that, with tensions ever worsening, the West might permanently lose access to New Orleans and the Mississippi River, with potentially crippling economic effects. The attack caught the French entirely off guard, aided by the lack of eastern troops being moved west. By the end of the day New Orleans was in firm control of the United States. On top of this Arthur St. Clair, military-governor of the Northwest Territory, ordered a small force across the Mississippi further north, fearing French retaliation and hoping to keep all fighting west of the river. His attack focused on and successfully captured St. Louis.

Thus, as the sunset on December 25, 1798, two new cities had joined the fledgling United States, the Mississippi River seemed secure, and war lay clearly on the horizon.

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The Letters of General Alexander Hamilton to President John Adams (December 1798-October 1799)

12/28/1798
My friend,
I am quite keenly aware that you did not want this war we are now engaged in. Yet here we are, the war is upon us and we must fight to the fullest of our abilities for the good of America and our countrymen, for the defense of Liberty and Independence. We must therefore, if we are too be in good conscience, engage to the fullest of our capabilities in this struggle we find ourselves within... I must then, if I am ever to sleep at night, humbly request your permission to engage in warfare with the Spanish in Florida in order to secure the tranquility of our southern-most states and for the sake of the prosperity of our still young nation.

1/09/1799
My friend,
I write to confirm my reception of your confirmation of our plans regarding Florida and would like to state my admiration for your ability to formulate the correct decision...

1/20/1799
...Operations will began with the onset of February...

3/16/1799
My friend,
Our operations to date have been a grand success. We have extended a defensive line directly North-South extending from Georgia to Cedar Key, effectively isolating the panhandle from the peninsula proper...

5/1/1799
...Tallahassee, the largest of cities of the Florida panhandle has surrendered and the whole of the panhandle is under our control. Furthermore we have surrounded St. Augustine, the capital of La Florida. However securing its surrender will be much more difficult unless you, Mr. President, are willing to move additional naval detachments southward to end siege relief to the city...

7/4/1799
My friend,
I write to wish you well at the onset of the 23rd year of our nation's history. As you know Tallahassee has, at long last, fallen and our path remains open to the remainder of Florida. As soon as independence celebrations cease we will begin full movement southward...

8/14/1799
My friend,
I have great news for you indeed. The government of Spain has agreed to cede the whole of the remainder of Florida to us in exchange for a ceasefire and several additional clauses. They wish our recognition of their Caribbean holdings and the right to do trade with American merchants be preserved. Furthermore they wish to right of Spanish companies to operate free of tax or tariff in American governed Florida and, should it ever all into our possession, New Orleans. I must urge you to bring this treaty before the senate so as we may focus on the war in the west and upon the waters which, as we are all keenly award, has not been nigh as successful as these Florida campaigns...

10/12/1799
My friend,
I congratulate you upon the passage of the treaty of Cayo Hueso...

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Interesting, but I'm afraid New Orleans was still owned by Spain in 1798. Louisiana. France didn't get Louisiana back until I believe late 1802 in a secret treaty with Spain, unless you have a PoD earlier then the events you have described that led to France getting Louisiana back earlier.
 
As a city, Tallahassee didn't exist until the 1820's and didn't become significant until recently. A better city for you to use in Tallahassee's place, would be St. Augustine.
 
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