The Third Pistol

[Meepy]

As explained in the last chapter, the US's newly formed Democratic regime was faced with a choice of which of their neighbors to provoke. Should they retake Michigan? Annex Texas? Attack Great Britain? Spain or France perhaps? As a visual aid I've summarized the "Pros and Cons" of all these major options as the Democrats saw them.

The United Kingdom
---Pros: There was a historical precedent of a war against The UK in the mind of the American people.
---Cons: The UK was at least as strong as the US, and would likely put up a strong fight even if the Staters won. The US possessed no viable casus belli against the British, and recent events (the purchase of Freetown, free passage to Upper Canada) had left the two nations on relatively friendly terms. War with the UK was out of the question.

The Republic of Michigan
---Pros: The RoM was far weaker than the US militarily, possessed little manpower, and was very unfriendly towards the US. The US had several casus belli against the RoM (The Pacifica Dispute and The Michiganian Revolution for starters). The Republic of Michigan was very appealing.
---Cons: The RoM was allied with the Republic of Quebec and was at the time very friendly with France, who was likely to intervene on some level if war broke out. The Democrats also didn't want to deal with the massive territorial disputes that the outcome would likely lead to (The UK would probably want Canada back). It is for these reasons that war against Michigan was delayed in the 1840s.

La República de Tejas
---Pros: See list above. Northeastern Tejas was overwhelmingly pro-annexation, and it was unclear whether or not the Tejino Government would intervene in the event of a plebiscite.
---Cons: They, too were allied with France. There remained better targets in the region.

La République du Québec
---Pros: Very few. Quebec was not especially weak, nor did the US have a valid claim to it.
---Cons: See the Con list for a war against Michigan.

Mexico
---Pros: After the Tyrant's War (AKA The Tejan Revolution or The Pastry War), Mexico ceased to exist as a coherent state. "Mexican" piracy against US shipping gives the US a good reason to intervene.
---Cons: Mexico remained under Spanish occupation following the Tyrant's War, and at the time functioned essentially as a Spanish colony. No war could be waged in Mexico without provoking Spain first...

Spain
---Pros: More than any of the above examples, Spain had provided the US with multiple casus belli. Spain had been caught shipping arms to Seminole guerrillas in Florida Territory on several occasions, and had failed to stop the rise of Piracy along the coast of Mexico. Spanish Colonies in the region were just a stone's throw away from open revolt. The Spanish Military was poorly kept, their navy was decades old while the US's was mere months old.
---Cons: Although Stater annalists insisted that the US outgunned Spain, the difference was not so great. Such a war could prove to be costly and (more importantly) long for the US. Despite these cons, however, Spain remained the sole acceptable choice for a US assault.

Polk had made his choice, and all that he needed was an incident to kick off the war against Spain.

-----------From Know Your Enemy by Martin Kinney, Retired Director of Michiganian N.I.D.

 

[Nitzkrieg]

I'd like to see this continue. I'd like to see what's happening in Europe, because the shifts in the New World would certainly upset some balances.

 

[Meepy]

La Habana, Cuba --- January 1st, 1845

Captain Hiram Grant looked somberly towards Cuba as the American fleet sailed towards its ultimate target; The Spanish Colony of Cuba. 1,500 Americans and 200 cannon would shortly be unleashed upon Havana. The United States had gone to war.

The Spanish wouldn't know anything about it until the American bombardment began.

They barely deserved that much warning after their support of the Seminole Insurrection in Florida! Grant had suspected them for quite some time, but the capture of one of the latest Spanish arms shipments bound for Osceola's rebels.

As Grant reflected upon the last several weeks, about two dozen Spanish ships of various models sailed out of the harbor. The war was officially opened when Spanish shore guns opened fire on the American fleet.

After several minutes of shouting orders Grant had corralled his company onto several pontoons and began to row towards shore.

To Grant's left two American barges exploded in rapid succession as Spanish shore guns struck home. By the time they reached shore, half a dozen barges met the same fate.

Grant hurried his men off of the landing barge and then eastward towards the sound of the Spanish battery...

The Spanish-American war was now in full swing!

30 miles off Veracruz, Spanish Mexico --- January 5th, 1845

Vice Admiral Emilio Gonzales had finally been given a chance to earn his recent promotions. The United States had declared war on Spain and he had received advance warning of the location of their primary fleet four days ago.

He had immediately began readying a Spanish fleet to meet the American one. At the time he had possessed 14 Spanish Ships of the Line, 2 Men-o'-War, and 24 various smaller ships. Gonzales had since convinced the French Military Governor to "loan" him 26 Ships from the French base at Ciudad del Carmen, and had even enlisted the services of some three dozen Privateer vessels. A mighty fleet indeed.

Gonzales had been awakened just after midnight, when the American Fleet appeared on the horizon.

Gulf of Mexico, American Fleet --- January 5th, 1845

Winfield Scott awoke to the unholy din of cannon and the shouts of panicked officers. He rushed to the deck as quickly as possible to investigate.

What he saw was a fleet in chaos.

Or, perhaps more accurately, two fleets in chaos. A (presumably) Spanish fleet must've joined battle with the American one while Scott was asleep. A huge battle would certainly explain all the wreckage...

Wait... Wreckage?

With mounting horror Scott absorbed the scene in finer detail. The Americans were losing. Scott counted nearly a score of shattered ships, and noticed a seemingly endless forest of masts flying Spanish colors.

If we don't retreat soon we- Scott was cut off mid-thought when a lucky Spanish broadside set off the ship's powder store causing the ship to explode beneath the General's feet.

Winfield Scott was dead before he hit the water.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Oh me, oh my. Things just aren't going the American's way are they?

La Habana, Cuba --- January 1st, 1845

Captain Hiram Grant looked somberly towards Cuba as the American fleet sailed towards its ultimate target; The Spanish Colony of Cuba. 1,500 Americans and 200 cannon would shortly be unleashed upon Havana. The United States had gone to war.

The Spanish wouldn't know anything about it until the American bombardment began.

They barely deserved that much warning after their support of the Seminole Insurrection in Florida! Grant had suspected them for quite some time, but the capture of one of the latest Spanish arms shipments bound for Osceola's rebels.

As Grant reflected upon the last several weeks, about two dozen Spanish ships of various models sailed out of the harbor. The war was officially opened when Spanish shore guns opened fire on the American fleet.

After several minutes of shouting orders Grant had corralled his company onto several pontoons and began to row towards shore.

To Grant's left two American barges exploded in rapid succession as Spanish shore guns struck home. By the time they reached shore, half a dozen barges met the same fate.

Grant hurried his men off of the landing barge and then eastward towards the sound of the Spanish battery...

The Spanish-American war was now in full swing!

30 miles off Veracruz, Spanish Mexico --- January 5th, 1845

Vice Admiral Emilio Gonzales had finally been given a chance to earn his recent promotions. The United States had declared war on Spain and he had received advance warning of the location of their primary fleet four days ago.

He had immediately began readying a Spanish fleet to meet the American one. At the time he had possessed 14 Spanish Ships of the Line, 2 Men-o'-War, and 24 various smaller ships. Gonzales had since convinced the French Military Governor to "loan" him 26 Ships from the French base at Ciudad del Carmen, and had even enlisted the services of some three dozen Privateer vessels. A mighty fleet indeed.

Gonzales had been awakened just after midnight, when the American Fleet appeared on the horizon.

Gulf of Mexico, American Fleet --- January 5th, 1845

Winfield Scott awoke to the unholy din of cannon and the shouts of panicked officers. He rushed to the deck as quickly as possible to investigate.

What he saw was a fleet in chaos.

Or, perhaps more accurately, two fleets in chaos. A (presumably) Spanish fleet must've joined battle with the American one while Scott was asleep. A huge battle would certainly explain all the wreckage...

Wait... Wreckage?

With mounting horror Scott absorbed the scene in finer detail. The Americans were losing. Scott counted nearly a score of shattered ships, and noticed a seemingly endless forest of masts flying Spanish colors.

If we don't retreat soon we- Scott was cut off mid-thought when a lucky Spanish broadside set off the ship's powder store causing the ship to explode beneath the General's feet.

Winfield Scott was dead before he hit the water.

 

[Meepy]

Well, it still lives! Here's an extremely short update.

------------

The Battle of the Gulf was, at the time, the single largest US military defeat in history. As many as 11,000 killed in a single disastrous defeat, along with almost a third of the American fleet. If the US public were to hear of it, the Democratic Party, and the War, would be finished.
Polk's solution was as simple as it was unethical; he lied about it.
Through Democratic propaganda, one defeat was turned into a whole campaign of attrition. The 400 American deaths at Havana became 1,200, a fictional landing at Tecolutla explained away another 600, and so on. With these tactics, the US was able to maintain high morale at home despite the huge setbacks that would later come to characterize the War.
Following the Battle of the Gulf, the American strategy shifted focus away from Mexico and towards the Hispano-Seminole presence in Florida. It was also around this time that the Spanish approached the Tejinos and French about officially joining the war (both officially refused, however the RoT began to fund large Indian militias to field against the US).
This new US offensive would culminate in the Second Battle of the Himmarshee...

----------- From A Brief Guide to The Hispano-Stater War by Dana Scheck

 

[Meepy]

The Florida Campaign of 1846 was launched in desperation by the United States following the Hispano-Seminole seizure of Jacksonville and the decimation of its division-strength garrison (the US had a large offensive against the Seminole Nation planned for the summer). Fearing a Seminole offensive into Georgia, Stater high command threw together plans for a massive counteroffensive into Florida. The Army of Florida was organized under the command of General Zachary Taylor, it was 15,000 men strong at its formation.
Taylor's army opened the campaign by attacking Osceola's army in Jacksonville (where the latter remained encamped while living off the supplies the old garrison had left) at around midnight on March 2nd. Only the overall disorganization of the Stater force in their opening advance saved the Hispano-Seminole army from total destruction. As it was, the noisy Stater force alerted Osceola to their presence, thus allowing the Seminoles (numbering around 3,500 -nobody's really sure) to organize a line to cover the Spaniards' retreat across the St. Johns River.
Soon after the Spanish force withdrew, Tyler's massive numerical advantage seized the day, and the remains of the Seminole army were captured. Having seen the bulk of the enemy force escape, Taylor worked his men through the night trying to cross the river in what few rafts the Spanish had left. By noon, the Staters were hot on the Spaniards' trail.
However, Tyler had made one huge mistake that would come back to haunt him; he had neglected to ensure that the Osceola's army had been completely disbanded and disarmed. In effect, the whole Hispano-Seminole force had escaped...

Taylor followed the Spaniards for nearly two weeks as they slowly crept through 35 miles of swamp, battles breaking out every time one side bumped into the other (there were four battles all told, three involved the Spanish, the fourth Osceola's army as he attempted to join up with the rest of the army). Attrition was steep on both sides, 900 soldiers perished in the what would be known as Thirteen Days of Chaos. Soon it became clear to Taylor that his enemy was withdrawing to St. Augustine, one of his major objectives. Taylor was confident that he would be able to kill two birds with one stone.
Shortly after passing the former site of Fort Mose, the Spanish commander turned his forces around to face the Staters. The armies met half an hour later at a narrow point on the peninsula (no more than 450 yards across), and began the Battle of Fort Mose.
The battle began as little more than a drawn out artillery duel; both sides shot down the peninsula at each other, neither wishing to risk a dash across the no man's land between. This went on for about an hour until Osceola's force arrived and began to attack the Stater's rear. After exchanging several dozen volleys, three charges, and a counter-charge, Osceola's line began to buckle and was forced to withdraw. Soon thereafter, Taylor followed suite.

----------- From A Brief Guide to The Hispano-Stater War by Dana Scheck

 

[Cylon_Number_14]

I got really busy after getting hired for a real job finally, so I didn't get to thank you for posting a summary of the Michigan-British war a couple months ago. I'm glad to see this TL continuing! It has to be one of the zanier non-ASB timelines around.

 

[NomadicSky]

The United States is going to look mighty ugly on maps, but wow. Michigan carving out a nation of their own. What a world.

 

[Meepy]

After the inconclusive results at Fort Mose, the Stater column under Tyler marched north about 15 miles until setting up camp near present-day Excelsior, Florida. He then sent a party of messengers requesting reinforcement from the 8,000 Stater troops stationed, in reserve, at Fort Amelia. The garrison commander, Brigadier General Clinch, agreed and began preparations of a joint land-naval force soon after the message arrived (in late March, 1846). By April 9th, Clinch set sail down the coast of Florida with a dozen ships, 3,000 men, and 40 cannon.
On the 14th, Tyler's army marched south, 13,000 marched straight towards St. Augustine, and 1,200 were sent south along the Vilano Peninsula to seize a Seminole battery guarding St. Augustine harbor. Clinch landed 600 men on Anastasia Island about 2 miles south of the Spanish battery stationed on its north shore. The Stater naval force declined engagement in the opening battle.
Battle was first joined during the second Stater attempt on St. Augustine at Porpoise Point, on April 15th when Tyler's secondary column engaged the Seminole battery and its escort force of 200 warriors. Through little more than sheer determination and a hastily-built cheval de frise, the Seminoles were able to keep the Stater attack at bey.
On Anastasia Island the Spanish Battery abandoned their posts and withdrew south into the island's interior. Clinch quickly landed his own artillery on the island and began shelling the Seminole position on the other side.
On the mainland Tyler pushed towards St. Augustine at a decidedly slow pace. Osceola's main force was able to maneuver around the Stater's pickets and directly engage Tyler's primary column. After hours of sporadic engagement the Seminoles managed to draw the bulk of the Stater force into the swamplands due west of St. Augustine. The battle - more a series of skirmishes - continued well into the next day before Tyler was able to regather his troops and attack the Seminoles en masse . Once this happened the Seminoles broke and Osceola was forced to withdraw into St. Augustine.
By this time the Seminole position at Porpoise Point was overrun and General Clinch had managed to storm Fort Matanazas to the south (his force of 400 soldiers and 20 cannon overwhelmed the fort's two dozen Spanish defenders), thus securing all exits to the St. Augustine bay.
One the third day of combat Tyler leveled his guns on Fort Marion and marched into the city of St. Augustine itself. By the end of the day, Tyler had begun to dig his earthworks and all major maneuver was over.
The battle had become a siege. For the time being, the Staters had trapped Osceola along with almost all Spanish navy and army presence in Florida. The territory was once again in the US's clutches.

----------- From A Brief Guide to The Hispano-Stater War by Dana Scheck

------------------------------------------

Wow, that came out a tad... confusing.
Maybe I'll throw together a battle map or something tomorrow.

 

[NomadicSky]

Well, I was thinking something like this one, but I'm open to alternate interpretation as always.
EDIT: Yes, it IS a rip-off of the Canadian revolutionary flag. Sue me.

Yeah thats exactly what I was thinking.

If you are going to go with a rip-off why not a knock off of the stars and stripes? Something like Texas maybe.

Or even a simple tricolor like the one Québécoise were using at the time?

 

[Meepy]

Following the battle of St. Augustine the war began to pick up its pace. On the 1st of May, Mexico and Tejas issued a joint declaration of war against the US. Suddenly, the French forces stationed in southern Mexico switched banners and began to set sail to reinforce the remnant Spanish forces on Cuba.
The Army of the Republic of Tejas, levied by senatorial decree the previous year, marched north from Monterrey. Just a week later, a Stater army under the command of General Thomas Jesup set off for San Antonio.
Meanwhile the tattered remains of Osceola's Seminole Army (now under the command of Ar-pi-uck-i, his lieutenant) limped off southward to rebuild. Once in friendly territory Ar-pi-uck-i's force would swell to around 6,000. The single largest purely Native American force ever assembled.
Riding on his victories at St. Augustine and Bayamo, Polk began to open up new fronts against Spain. A series of Franco-Hispanic naval blunders allowed successful US landings in Campeche, Tampico, and even the capital of Spanish Mexico, Veracruz.
By late June the Staters had landed over 25,000 troops in both French and Spanish Mexico, and had retained its foothold in northern Tejas. The Spanish lines were folding.

----------- From A Brief Guide to The Hispano-Stater War by Dana Scheck

 

[MadMc]

something's finally going right for america it seems, keep up the good work

 

[Lord Grattan]

Glad to see that you're continuing w/this TL. Sorry to see Scott die though; sat least he died in battle.

MICHIGAN FOREVER!

 

[Fenrir_Angerboda]

very intresting.

judging by the fact the war is called "Hispano-Stater war", I can safely guess the US won in the end?

 

[Meepy]

Glad to see that you're continuing w/this TL. Sorry to see Scott die though; sat least he died in battle.

MICHIGAN FOREVER!

I like the flag! Any reason in particular for the Oak Leaves?

 

[NomadicSky]

Glad to see that you're continuing w/this TL. Sorry to see Scott die though; sat least he died in battle.

MICHIGAN FOREVER!

I like that flag too, I doubt the wolverine would be that complexly designed (at the time, by now yeah) but its great. Classic design.

Very good!

 

[Lord Grattan]

I like the flag! Any reason in particular for the Oak Leaves?

Glad you like it. I wanted to use leaves to represent John Locke's 3 inalianable rights: life, liberty and property (which I think the Michigan of TTL would use as opposed to the "pursuit of happiness" phrase coined by the USA's Founding Fathers), and oak leaves worked best (birch leaves also did, but not quite as well).

I like that flag too, I doubt the wolverine would be that complexly designed (at the time, by now yeah) but its great. Classic design. Very good!

Thank you very much, and yes, I agree that the wolverine I drew is too modern for an 1830's flag.

 

[NomadicSky]

I do wonder how and if Michigan is going to keep all of their gains?

The Metis for example are just one of the many groups who will probably rebel.

 

[Meepy]

Alrighty, I'm finally going to wrap up this little war.

------------
...And so, after months of siege, a white flag rose above the ramparts of Ft. Marion. With the fall of St. Augustine, Stater dominance of the Atlantic was uncontested* and soon the Kingdom of Spain (fearing more territorial loss) approached the USA with an armistice. Polk quickly accepted, and begun to shift his armies' against the still-hostile Tejas and "Mexico".
Osceola was executed without trial just two days after the fort's surrender, on the grounds of his actions at the First Battle of the Himmarshee (the slaughter of 150 white prisoners).
The Republic of Tejas, facing overwhelming odds and defending a defeated ally (not to mention the threat of a very large Anexionista rebellion) decided to request a cease-fire as well. Polk grudgingly accepted the effective surrender.
As US troops surrounded Mexico City, the President of Mexico also requested an armistice. Polk actually laughed upon receiving this. The Republic of Mexico would eventually be totally annexed into the United States.
The last major player to surrender would be the Seminoles themselves, when they agreed to relocate out of US territory. The Seminole convoy was ambushed by a large rogue Stater army under the command of Richard Call, while crossing the Himmarshee River. Encircled, surprised, and divided by the river, the Seminoles were unable to defend themselves. The battle was quick and brutal; nearly the entire convoy was wiped out. Call would be fined $75 for his breach of protocol.
The Kingdom of Spain ceded the island of Cuba and its territory to Hispaniola in the Treaty of New Orleans. Tejas ceded its territory east of the Neches River. In all, the treaty netted the US nearly 150,000 square miles of new territory.

----------- From A Brief Guide to The Hispano-Stater War by Dana Scheck
*Of coarse this counts only for the USN's strength relative to its enemies. The navies of Great Britain, France, and hell arguably the Ottoman Empire's are still stronger.
-----------------------

OK there it is. I'd appreciate any kind of help with this TL, so if anybody has anything they'd like to add/any historical help (especially with European History) just post it here or PM me with the suggestion(s).

 

[Snowman23]

Excellent! Possibly the best non-ASB but still out there timeline.
It seemed like the US win in the Hispano-Stater War was a little wankish to me. Also, i got to say, it takes getting used to hearing "Stater". It sounds so....ugly. Still, that how a lot of words in ATL's sound at first.