A little while late, but there you have the Battle of Chantilly. Next we bounce back to Grant in the West, then further further West and I can finally wrap up 1862 
Wrapped in Flames: The Great American War and Beyond
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I think that french will start to support more the CSA at least in economical level, french politican are divided about what camp support but most of them supported the CSA (for economical reason (CSA is more free-trade and supply them with cottons), cultural reason (Louisiana was still billingual in this period and still had a lot of ties with France), political reason (CSA tolerated a french puppet state in Mexico), and strategical (they want to contain the rising power and expansionism of the United states)).
it was the fact that North seems to get a lot of chance to winning and British disapproval about a french intervention that pushed them to the neutrality here i think that they will glady help them with backdoor policies.
Napoleon III seems to have though about sending man to help the south but seen a lot of french troop are in Mexico, Roma, and North Africa i wonder if it could happen maybe (a small expedition force).
i'm curious to see what will happened.
it was the fact that North seems to get a lot of chance to winning and British disapproval about a french intervention that pushed them to the neutrality here i think that they will glady help them with backdoor policies.
Napoleon III seems to have though about sending man to help the south but seen a lot of french troop are in Mexico, Roma, and North Africa i wonder if it could happen maybe (a small expedition force).
i'm curious to see what will happened.
France's reactions thus far have been in (sort of) keeping with her neutral status. Waaaaaaaay back in Chapter 3 Seward is discussing how France would be neutral, but with a decided bent towards benevolent neutrality in favor of Britain, which not so incidentally also means favoring the CSA, with a few hints I've dropped that they're selling weapons and sending merchant ships to places like Wilmington and New Orleans. Sending the message they would be officially pro-British is historical, as they had every reason to court British favor in this period. With war breaking out, the pro-Confederate bent just seems like the logical follow up move what with Napoleon in Mexico.
Events in Mexico will be covered briefly when I do what will probably Chapter 43: 1862 A Year In Review, which will cover all international events, with a focus on those more germane to the TL at large.
As to later Franco-American relations, well we shall see.
I'm glad you've enjoyed this so far and hope you continue to!
Indeed, it is often forgotten how close Britain and France were during this period.
Weirdly so too. Napoleon III was very pro-British as it made life waaaaaay easier for him to court Britain rather than oppose them, and with the tacit support of the British for his various colonial adventures he had nothing to fear from a rival power intervening and mucking things up for him.
Yeah but also don't forget that Bismarck was a master of diplomacy and france was clearly the aggressor during the war.
here some useful info: http://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1125&context=honors_proj
After it could have been far worse the Birtish get many more reason to allies with the Prussian that the french so the fact that they stay neutral could show that napoleon III doesn't really failed at least they stay neutral and Napoleon manage to get some sympathy with few British politicians.
Pretty one sided alliance though wasn't it?
Great update as always EC.
Alas for Napoleon he was never able to cement any firm alliances with his neighbours!
Maybe he will fix that this time
Alas for Napoleon he was never able to cement any firm alliances with his neighbours!
Maybe he will fix that this time
A Franco-Prussian alliance would be one hell of a twist
A Franco-Prussian alliance would be one hell of a twist
Now that would be a British nightmare! Two land powers dominating the continent so thoroughly, their only allies potentially Italy, Austria, and the Ottomans...
I mean Europe is going to have some fun stuff to play around with the the butterflies will be far reaching you can count on that!
Chapter 40: Nine Pins at Island No. 10
Chapter 40: Nine Pins at Island No. 10
“I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a Gentleman, and nothing else.” – Oliver Cromwell
“Grant’s desire for a campaign against Island No. 10 went back to the marching orders of the spring. When he had originally planned to march against the Confederate defenses on the Mississippi, he had intended for a thrust with six divisions against the rebel fortress. Pope’s blunders in June, then the Confederate invasion of Kentucky, had delayed this. With Johnson now stalled at the Salt River, Grant believed it was time that they take the fight to the rebels. He declared to Thomas “I am thoroughly tired of dancing to Johnson's tune. You have men declaring he shall soon be in Louisville and rumours he shall be at Bowling Green next week. I firmly believe it is time he dance to our own music and I mean to play him a jig.” The arrival of Smith from Canada saw a firm agreement with his plan.
The resources needed for such a campaign would be funneled across the nation to him. He would pick up new regiments to reconstitute McClernand’s (now Hamilton’s after his transfer from the East in November) shattered division, and put Sherman in line with him, leaving Wood to police the lines of communication in Kentucky with the local militia. The VIII Corps would move along the Ohio River to Cairo, before marching south to join Pope’s XI Corps. So too would Frederick Steele’s division operating in Arkansas to help control both sides of the river. All told, Grant would be moving some 52,000 men against Island No. 10.
Opposing this, were only the 17,000 men remaining in General Stirling Price’s “Corps” of the Army of the Mississippi.
Beauregard, while earning acclaim and securing Nashville and the Tennessee River with the movement of Van Dorn’s troops in September, had left himself dangerously exposed. He only expected that Pope’s now weakened Corps, and the inactive Federal navy would be opposing him over the winter. Spies had assured him that there was no force moving through Kentucky, and Johnson's reports all said he had the Federals on the ropes. With his confidence buoyed after the events in June, he felt little need to reinforce his position. Though there was a new division forming in Jackson Mississippi under the recently exchanged Tighlman, there was no sense of urgency to move those men forwards…
…Grant’s movements began on the 3rd of November, and while he shuttled his men west, Smith began a running argument with his new, unruly subordinate, John Pope. Since his failure in June, Pope had been chafing under his inability to act. He sought to address his (as he perceived it) set back and gain the spotlight in the press. Under firm orders all the way from Washington not to move until Grant arrived, he began arguing over who should lead the expedition. He believed that his experience trumped Grant’s, and while Washington had given Grant overall command of the expedition Pope desired to be placed in charge of the forces on the West side of the Mississippi. However, Smith did not respond positively to this as he recalled the disorganized command structure of the year past. Pope would smoulder with resentment, but would obey, and only after firm orders from Dix and Lincoln.
On the 19th all of Grant’s troops had arrived from Kentucky and he began his operations against Island No. 10…” - On the Shores of the Mississippi: The Western Theater of the Great American War, Francis MacDougal, University of Boston, 1996
“The two river flotillas, had seen little action since the previous February. The skirmishes at Fort Pillow in June of 1862 had seen little but a sporadic exchange in gunfire by both sides. Foote had not trusted Pope to support the gunboats with the army, and in remembering the damage he had received from Confederate guns was hesitant to move without proper army support.
The Confederate flotilla by contrast, was in high spirits with the Yankees having seemingly been driven off with ease. Every confidence was placed in its commander, George N. Hollins, who had in October of the last year, delivered an embarrassing reversal to the Federal fleet off the Head of the Passes in Louisiana. At 63 he remained an active and aggressive commander, but had grown overconfident after both his victory at Passes and the driving off of Foote’s flotilla.
His squadron was now stronger than it had been before with twenty vessels and 89 guns. However, only seven of these were true warships, the remaining thirteen were hastily impressed smaller gunboats which only mounted two guns each. Hollins true strength lay in his three ironclad vessels, the CSS Mississippi where he had his flag, the Arkansas, and the Tennessee. Both Arkansas and Tennessee, mounted ten guns, while the mighty Mississippi mounted 20. This made these vessels, in theory, a match for the ironclads of the Federal Flotilla.
The rams Little Rebel, Warrior, Defiance, General Jackson, Colonel Lovell, General Breckinridge, General Bragg, General Price, Sumter, General Van Dorn, General M. Jeff Thompson, General Beauregard and Commander Hollins made up the more problematic portion of the squadron.
The Confederate Mississippi Squadron, was in effect two squadrons. The naval squadron under Hollins, and the River Defense Fleet, under “Captain” James E. Montgomery who commanded the rams. The two men were constantly at odds over strategy, tactics, supply, and crews, leading to an immense feud for resources. The ‘states rights’ attitude of Montgomery clashed with that of the navy tradition of Hollins, who insisted on a unified command scheme.
Foote’s flotilla, while smaller in number, had an advantage in ironclads. The five “City Class” ironclads laid down in early 1862, Benton(16), Louisville(15), Carondelet(12), Cairo(14), St. Louis(16) and the new ironclads Cincinnati(14), Mound City(14) and Pittsburgh(14) were his most valuable ships. He also had the smaller ironclad Essex(6) and Alongside that were the lightly armed rams under the command of the slightly eccentric Charles Ellet Jr. The Queen of the West, Monarch, Lancaster and Switzerland. There were also three smaller gunboats Lexington(4), Monarch(6) and Black Hawk(8). Mounting his flag on Cairo Foote had 139 guns, not counting those on the rams. Although, like the Confederate flotilla, the rams were technically a separate force.
Though he outnumbered his opponents in weight of metal, he feared the consequences of attempting to run the steep bluffs and batteries at Island No. 10. He would support Pope’s forces north of the defences, but staunchly refused to move south of them…” – The Western Flotillas of the Great American War, Ambrose Benson, University of Louisville, 1979
“Grant’s arrival on the 20th spurred great debate amongst the officers present. Pope, for the moment, was in accordance with Grant regarding the need to run the guns at the fortress. Foote blanched at the prospect, citing the damage to his fleet this could incur. However, three days later orders were coming down from Washington for him to, in no uncertain terms, run the guns or be replaced.
Reluctantly, Foote agreed. The running of the guns would commence on the night of November 25th. All his ironclads, save the smaller Essex, would begin crossing under barely a quarter moon for light. Amazingly, they managed to thread the needle through the guns until only one ironclad was left in the party. The unfortunate Mound City was spotted just as she was making the turn, and so was opened up on by all the Confederate batteries. Owing to her armor, and the alarm and the disorganization of the Confederate garrison at night, she sailed on with only moderate damage, but would be put ashore on the west bank under the protection of Paine’s division for repairs at New Madrid.
With the powerful ironclads now south of the fortifications, Grant could begin moving his troops to invest the fort itself. Grant’s troops established themselves along the banks of the Mississippi, Wallace’s division encamping at Tiptonville. Hurlbut and Sherman’s divisions were held as the reserve, while Pope’s troops occupied New Madrid and Riddle’s Point. By the 30th the Island was wholly invested.
When this news reached Beauregard, he assumed that he had only to march north and confront the sheepish Federals again. With the news that the Federal boats had run the guns he ordered Hollins north to aide his flank in the attack on the Federals. Price’s Corps marched from Memphis, and soon ran straight into the Federals.
…A fierce skirmish ensued, but Price’s two brigades were no match for two whole divisions, and as Sherman moved onto his flank, Beauregard was compelled to retreat…” - On the Shores of the Mississippi: The Western Theater of the Great American War, Francis MacDougal, University of Boston, 1996
The CSS Arkansas
“While Beauregard was compelled to retreat on land, Hollins soon found himself in trouble on the waters. Advancing up the river to discomfort the Federals, his three ironclad warships led, with the smaller rams in the rear. Soon however, they were confronted by Foote’s flotilla.
The two sides would meet just south of Riddle’s Point. Foote brought six of his ironclads (Benton, Louisville, Carondelet, Cairo, St. Louis, Cincinnati) while Hollins had only his three (Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee) with his unarmoured rams.
Hollins soon came under fire from Federal shore batteries, and the ironclads in the water. Seeing there were only six vessels he advanced, hoping to at least deal a serious blow to the flotilla before he was compelled to withdraw. The constricted waterways meant maneuver was next to impossible, so Hollins opened his barrage by swinging his ironclads dangerously close to the shore, to allow passage for his rams.
The ram fleet, thirteen ships strong, struggled ahead, led by James E. Montgomery in the General Price, with his rams bringing up the rear. Each hoped to hit an individual Union vessel by bringing their rams to bear, and batter the ironclads into submission. With Hollins having maneuvered his ironclads to provide fire support, it seemed this may succeed.
However, the Union ships proceeded in a tight, mutually supporting squadron. Coming around the bend in the river in a staggered formation, their maneuver put them initially closer to Hollins ironclads than the Confederate rams, which lead to an early exchange in gunfire between the ironclads. In turning though, the Union ships momentum carried them straight into the arms of the Confederate rams.
The lead Federal ship¸ Louisville, suffered greatly from this predicament, as she came guns blazing into the arms of no fewer than three rams. General Price collided with her head on, and the ships combined momentum carried them into Little Rebel, while the crew of General Jackson made the astounding decision to ride into Louisville’s flank. The ensuing damage wound up not simply crippling the Louisville, but crippling and sinking both General Price and Little Rebel. The General Jackson alone would retreat from that melee with a sense of accomplishment.
It also had the unintended effect of solving the command problem in the Mississippi Flotilla, as Montgomery was killed in the collision with Louisville.
However, while Louisville would be lost, her sisters followed with vengeance on their mind. Benton led the counter charge, blasting away at the lighter Confederate vessels, her opening salvo crippling the General Bragg and she managed to shrug off an attempted ramming by General Earl Van Dorn, with the guns of the remaining four ironclads making short work of the latter.
The press of vessels now worked against the Confederate flotilla. Hollins could not fire now without fear of striking his own squadron while the Union were in what could be termed ‘a target rich environment’ of their own. Foote’s ironclads fired as fast as their guns could load.
In their haste to get clear, numerous accidents occurred. General Beauregard collided with Commander Hollins and the two would drift down river. Warrior would be beached and burned by her crew. Finally, the Sumter was sunk by Federal shell fire.
Hollins, seeing the debacle unfolding, gave the order for withdrawal. His three ironclads would blast their way back to Memphis, scooping up as many of the smaller rams as they could. Here would come the first action between the CSS Arkansas and the USS Cincinnati.
As Hollins moved south, Arkansas became slightly separated from his vessels, lagging behind the others due to an inferior engine. The commander of the Cincinnati, Lt. George M. Bache, noted the lag of the Confederate vessel, and moved to interpose himself between the Arkansas and her line of escape. Commander of the Arkansas, Captain Isaac Brown, chose to order full speed to use the ram on the prow of his vessel to simply shove the Union ship out of the way. The two ships collided with a resounding crunch, Arkansas momentum simply shoving the Cincinnati forward. Bache began to try and turn his vessel in an effort to break free of the ram, and in doing so began to swing the two vessels in what one observer would describe as “a drunken waltz spin” swinging the two vessels madly around.
Astoundingly, this managed to break Cincinnati free of the deadly embrace of the Arkansas but the damage to her hull meant she had to move wildly to beach herself on the Federal side of the river. Brown though, was not unchivalrous, and used his ship to nudge the enemy vessel in the right direction, with a well timed toot of his whistle to send her on her way.
Despite the victory, Foote could not give chase to the Confederate flotilla. He had lost one vessel, and another was badly damaged, and he could not exceed his orders. Instead he turned his vessels around to aid in the siege of the fortifications…”– The Western Flotillas of the Great American War, Ambrose Benson, University of Louisville, 1979
“With the Confederate squadron driven off, Grant settled in for a siege of the works. He anticipated the Confederate defences under McCown might last a month of bombardment before being starved out. However, with his forces controlling the river, and no immediate hope of relief, McCown surrendered on December 4th 1862.
Grant took 6,000 prisoners, and the door lay open to Memphis. Only the Confederate fortifications of Fort Pillow stood in his way, and they were far less formidable than those of Island No. 10…
…Johnson received word of McCown’s surrender on December 7th, just as Beauregard was pleading for reinforcement. Johnson was suddenly faced with the prospect of having been caught completely off guard by Grant’s offensive. Grant had achieved local superiority and despite Johnson controlling a swathe of territory from Lexington to Memphis, it was simply far too large for him to defend.
Vacillating on what should be done, he called a council of war with his commanders on December 10th. Kirby Smith and Breckinridge pleaded for an attack on Thomas’s army to drive the Union from Kentucky. They argued that surely the victor of Bull Run would be able to halt the Union advance. Bragg and Hardee were adamant that Grant must be stopped.
Hardee made the obvious point that by threatening Memphis, Grant could also threaten the ‘crossroads of the Confederacy’ at Corinth, trapping Johnson’s army in Kentucky and leaving him almost unopposed to marching up the Mississippi.
Finally, a ‘suggestion’ from Richmond came where Davis advised his old friend that “…should the enemy take possession of those positions in your rear, our successes of the summer and winter would be for naught. Memphis must be defended at all hazards.”
The decision made for him, Johnson left Kirby Smith to distract Thomas, and hopefully hold the gains in Kentucky, while he and 30,000 men marched to Corinth to confront Grant…” - On the Shores of the Mississippi: The Western Theater of the Great American War, Francis MacDougal, University of Boston, 1996
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And for now we leave our commanders out West as I go further west across the continent!
Well he was up against Beauregard and Price, not exactly the Confederate A Team there...
That is broadly correct yes. Out West the Confederacy is dealing with a problem they never actually had OTL, and that's garrisoning and holding territory they have captured in broad swathes from the Union. Theoretically if Beauregard had not dispatched Van Dorn to capture Nashville, Grant's campaign would have had a low chance of success. However, with Johnson's army stretched out garrisoning East Tennessee, Nashville, the occupied portions of Kentucky, ect, his comparative striking power becomes much less compared to what it was OTL.
Now though, even with new troops who are being recruited/deployed, they can at most make up the difference from garrisons and line of communication troops. Grant still had a really large force to call upon even before the outbreak of war with Britain, meaning that he had at worst parity with Confederate forces in the early days. Moving troops around to achieve local superiority is something easily achievable.
Loved the river battle! The war in the west is shaping up to be the most interesting theater of the war. Things are looking good for Grant, but will that be enough?
I had hoped you would think that! Grant, Thomas, Sherman, among others, are all out West so some interesting things are bound to happen. We're only missing one of the recognized big heroes of the civil war right now. Wonder where he might end up...
Nope you're absolutely right and my memory failed me while writing this! Thanks for catching that!