Wrapped in Flames: The Great American War and Beyond

[EnglishCanuck]

Just a quick question. If the British blockade is hurting the Union in terms of arms and powder, how the OTL CSA cope with these problems with the Federal blockade?

The Confederates made blockade running an industry essentially. They used Cuba and the Bahamas as ports where legitimate merchants would offload Confederate cargoes and then runners would dash into Confederate ports and offload the cargoes there. Similarly they exported roughly 900,000 bales of cotton (this an estimate from Battle Cry of Freedom) through the blockade, which by 1863 was worth 6x the price of pre-war cotton which was used to pay for guns, power and other necessities. They also printed frankly ludicrous amounts of money, which is what caused such massive inflation since the government was very adverse to raising taxes in 1861-62, which is what caused the Confederate currency to become essentially worthless by 1863.

The Union has it both easier and harder. They have an economy three times the size of the pre-war Confederate economy (far more diverse with 10x the manufacturing capacity) as well as a larger pre-war merchant navy to use to run the blockade or attempt to re-flag and engage in foreign cartels. They also have access to more natural resources than the CSA did, and they can, somewhat tenuously, back their currency in gold and have avoided printing vast amounts of money which means the greeback is still a viable currency. Meanwhile they have to deal with the fact that there is more difficulty running across the Atlantic than dashing from Cuba or Nassau.

 

[RodentRevolution]

or attempt to re-flag and engage in foreign cartels.

Unless you are suggesting they are going to use these vessels to trade between neutral nations that is not all that effective. A blockade is essentially a notification to neutrals that ships headed to specified destinations will be subject to search and seizure should they be found to be carrying contraband.

 

[Bison]

At least the Confederates could trade freely with Mexico until its railroad system crumbled, the Union is surrounded on all sides by enemies and blockaded ports.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

Unless you are suggesting they are going to use these vessels to trade between neutral nations that is not all that effective. A blockade is essentially a notification to neutrals that ships headed to specified destinations will be subject to search and seizure should they be found to be carrying contraband.

More of a case of 're-flagged so we're not captured instantly in port or the Atlantic' kinda thing, similar to what Union vessels did to avoid being caught by the Confederate raiders. If a vessel is previously Union registry and bought by a legitimate say, Russian, trading cartel, it cannot be seized in port like a US flagged merchantmen. Travelling across the Atlantic it can be informed of the blockade, and the captain can say of course of course if she's boarded. Its only then running the blockade where she can be legitimately seized, but before then as long as she has the legitimate paperwork of a neutral nation she can't be seized until she's trying to cross the blockade.

Even the technical ruse of flagging under individual state governments is semi effective for this purpose unless the various Confederate states unilaterally agreed to flag purely under the flag of the CSA, which to my knowledge never happened. It's a paper thin ruse, but for a short time that could be effective.

At least the Confederates could trade freely with Mexico until its railroad system crumbled, the Union is surrounded on all sides by enemies and blockaded ports.

Yup. No neutral borders nearby and surrounded by sea. Other than what slips through the blockade, their entirely dependent on their own resources.

 

[RodentRevolution]

More of a case of 're-flagged so we're not captured instantly in port or the Atlantic' kinda thing, similar to what Union vessels did to avoid being caught by the Confederate raiders. If a vessel is previously Union registry and bought by a legitimate say, Russian, trading cartel, it cannot be seized in port like a US flagged merchantmen. Travelling across the Atlantic it can be informed of the blockade, and the captain can say of course of course if she's boarded. Its only then running the blockade where she can be legitimately seized, but before then as long as she has the legitimate paperwork of a neutral nation she can't be seized until she's trying to cross the blockade.

Even the technical ruse of flagging under individual state governments is semi effective for this purpose unless the various Confederate states unilaterally agreed to flag purely under the flag of the CSA, which to my knowledge never happened. It's a paper thin ruse, but for a short time that could be effective.

The problem is that this runs into the Doctrine of Continuous Voyage, if the vessel is headed carrying a contraband cargo her crew is going to need something pretty strong in the way of paper evidence to argue she was not in fact heading for a port where folks have a suspiciously similar accent to said, for Russkies. I did wonder if maybe you meant something with regards those American owners who did not want to run the blockade and did not feel like idly racking up port fees. However as a means of beating blockades it is in fact pretty close to what the whole legal concept of blockade was invented to defeat.

Re-flagging worked against the Confederates because they were legally only able to engage in commerce warfare and seize US registered shipping. It did not work for the Confederates because the US were operating a blockade and thus permitted to challenge and seize neutral shipping aiming to test the blockade.

Now flying the flag of another nation is a legitimate ruse de guerre hence the right of belligerent warships to stop and search neutral vessels to make sure they are neutrals, so as described your Union ships might as well just try to sound French or Russian (educated Russians of course speak French in this period) when hailed.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

The problem is that this runs into the Doctrine of Continuous Voyage, if the vessel is headed carrying a contraband cargo her crew is going to need something pretty strong in the way of paper evidence to argue she was not in fact heading for a port where folks have a suspiciously similar accent to said, for Russkies. I did wonder if maybe you meant something with regards those American owners who did not want to run the blockade and did not feel like idly racking up port fees. However as a means of beating blockades it is in fact pretty close to what the whole legal concept of blockade was invented to defeat.

Re-flagging worked against the Confederates because they were legally only able to engage in commerce warfare and seize US registered shipping. It did not work for the Confederates because the US were operating a blockade and thus permitted to challenge and seize neutral shipping aiming to test the blockade.

Now flying the flag of another nation is a legitimate ruse de guerre hence the right of belligerent warships to stop and search neutral vessels to make sure they are neutrals, so as described your Union ships might as well just try to sound French or Russian (educated Russians of course speak French in this period) when hailed.

One of the reasons the issue of continuous voyage is tricky here is whether or not those ships can be labelled as heading to the Union just because they are sailing for the coast of North America. Ships leaving neutral ports under a neutral flag are less likely to be searched close to Great Britain, and the right forged paperwork will do wonders even in the Atlantic. Of course, the second they can be found heading north vs south, they're fair game. The whole issue is to keep them from getting nabbed in the North Sea or the English Channel or Med, which is where the biggest threat is.

It's quasi legal I know, but the Lincoln administration historically did some pretty quasi legal things, I'm willing to bet that they could argue this one with various neutral owned companies. Part of the espionage war is the British attempting to figure out who owns what on the Continent so they can seize ships without preamble for violations.

Though I could see some legitimate Russian/neutral sailors jumping into former Union ships to make some good money.

 

[RodentRevolution]

One of the reasons the issue of continuous voyage is tricky here is whether or not those ships can be labelled as heading to the Union just because they are sailing for the coast of North America. Ships leaving neutral ports under a neutral flag are less likely to be searched close to Great Britain, and the right forged paperwork will do wonders even in the Atlantic. Of course, the second they can be found heading north vs south, they're fair game. The whole issue is to keep them from getting nabbed in the North Sea or the English Channel or Med, which is where the biggest threat is.

It's quasi legal I know, but the Lincoln administration historically did some pretty quasi legal things, I'm willing to bet that they could argue this one with various neutral owned companies. Part of the espionage war is the British attempting to figure out who owns what on the Continent so they can seize ships without preamble for violations.

Though I could see some legitimate Russian/neutral sailors jumping into former Union ships to make some good money.

I think the simple flying of a neutral flag is more help here. Arranging to legally transfer registry is more likely to compromise security in many ways. Out in the Atlantic your cargo is rather likely to give you away, certainly if it is powder or arms of any description. At least initially the odds of getting actually intercepted will be little better than the United States Navy achieved until the British get sufficient numbers of ships on station.

I would actually suspect that the main path for gun powder for example would not be as sulphur from Sicily and nitre from India but finished powders of various grades bought from the military stocks of various South American forces and militia and mining companies.

I realise folks might try the re-registering idea but I just do not think it will do any of them much good if they do actually get stopped. The thing to remember though is an awful lot of ship owners will not attempt the blockade though Americans being Americans I imagine an awful lot will. Of the ones who do not, experience from the ACW suggests it will be sailing vessels as these are at a distinct disadvantage. Like you say a big part of blockade will be the intelligence war as the most vulnerable parts of the voyage will setting out just past territorial limits or on the home run at the destination port. The former requires intelligence, the latter is luck and numbers but getting nabbed mid-Atlantic requires breaking your mother-in-law's favourite mirror and then finding out she is a witch levels of bad fortune.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

I think the simple flying of a neutral flag is more help here. Arranging to legally transfer registry is more likely to compromise security in many ways. Out in the Atlantic your cargo is rather likely to give you away, certainly if it is powder or arms of any description. At least initially the odds of getting actually intercepted will be little better than the United States Navy achieved until the British get sufficient numbers of ships on station.

I would actually suspect that the main path for gun powder for example would not be as sulphur from Sicily and nitre from India but finished powders of various grades bought from the military stocks of various South American forces and militia and mining companies.

I realise folks might try the re-registering idea but I just do not think it will do any of them much good if they do actually get stopped. The thing to remember though is an awful lot of ship owners will not attempt the blockade though Americans being Americans I imagine an awful lot will. Of the ones who do not, experience from the ACW suggests it will be sailing vessels as these are at a distinct disadvantage. Like you say a big part of blockade will be the intelligence war as the most vulnerable parts of the voyage will setting out just past territorial limits or on the home run at the destination port. The former requires intelligence, the latter is luck and numbers but getting nabbed mid-Atlantic requires breaking your mother-in-law's favourite mirror and then finding out she is a witch levels of bad fortune.

It's very possible you're right, though I think some legal chicanery could be effective. I freely admit that beyond the research I've done on why the seizure of the Trent was illegal, I have a limited knowledge of the sea laws of the era beyond when people catch my mistakes! To address some problems, the government will soon be commissioning a few fast auxiliary cruisers to run the blockade, vessels like the USS Roosevelt and the USS Cleveland will have some fun, if maybe short, careers. There's a good amount of money to be made in a successful run so some people will try and do it (like in all wars) but you'd be right many others are going to be apprehensive to risk their ships.

Though South American mining companies isn't a bad bet. Ironically one slave owning nation is going to be feeling rather well inclined towards the enemies of Britain pretty soon...

 

[EnglishCanuck]

Chapter 45: General Février​

Memphis, Tennessee, February 11th 1863

The garrison had surrendered the previous day, Stirling Price’s command having been trapped after its attempted break out, but the scars from the artillery bombardment and naval engagement still remained. Outside the city, nearly ten thousand rebel troops were stacking arms and being herded north to prison camps. Though some had escaped, the city had been well and truly encircled for nearly a month and the incessant bombardment had kept most civilians inside and under cover. Smoke from the supplies the Confederates had attempted to burn still wafted over the city, casting a pall that mixed with the cloudy sky, making the city look as though it was locked in a perpetual twilight.

Major General Ulysses S. Grant rode alongside his escort along Third Street towards the city Post Office presently being used as his headquarters. Nearly a month of hard marching and fighting had left the combined Army of the Mississippi and Western Tennessee exhausted. Only the Army of the Mississippi was in much shape for fighting, and they were slowly pushing south while their comrades in the army of Western Tennessee were holding the line in the city. The tired faces of his troops perked up when they saw him ride by and cheers were raised. Grant looked on and nodded or waved, but he didn’t have time to accept the adulation of the troops, fully occupying the city was too much work.

He arrived at the Post Office, dismounted, and walked in past the sentries outside who saluted smartly. The building had been one of the few not damaged during the Confederate attempt at breaking out before their surrender, and it suited him to use the main offices for his own. No former workers were still in attendance, and instead a gaggle of couriers and junior officers was all that occupied the offices, making them seem disturbingly empty. His aide, Colonel Webster met him in the entry hall.

“General Sherman to see you sir.” He said, handing him the most recent dispatches. Grant sighed.

“I told him to rest. He did get that order didn’t he?”

“Says he rested a whole hour sir.” Snorting, Grant took out a cigar while Webster leant over and lit it for him. Nodding thanks he walked into the office he had appropriated as his headquarters. The fiery redheaded soldier was leaning on the old post master’s desk and scowling at the post map Grant had begun using as his own map. The desk was littered with old papers and postal reports, and Grant hoped something useful would come from it.

“I thought I told you to rest Cump.” Grant said stepping in.

“Didn’t Webster tell you? I rested a whole hour, that’s more sleep than our boys get most nights recently.” William Tecumseh Sherman said, not taking his eyes from the map. Shaking his head, Grant joined his most trusted subordinate by the map.

“You changed it.” Grant said simply. Sherman nodded.

“Looks like that ad-hoc division under old Tilghman from Jackson joined Beauregard at Grenada. He’s got maybe ten-thousand troops now. That’s all that’s blocking us from marching to Vicksburg now.” Shifting his head he looked at the other collection of red pins in the map. “Well, that and Johnson's thirty-thousand at Corinth.”

“If Johnson moves soon, and I’ll wager you a whole crate of cigars he doesn’t, it’ll be north. We gave him too much of a beating at Grand Junction.”

Two weeks earlier Grant had moved with Sherman and Hurlbut’s divisions to meet the advance of Johnson’s army. Digging in at Grand Junction they’d weathered no less than three separate attacks by the Confederates before the opposition had withdrawn with greater casualties. Grant estimated they’d inflicted better than three to one losses on Johnson. Now the other man, who had thoroughly vexed the Union cause since last year, was licking his wounds at the crucial rail terminus of the Confederacy, no doubt dug in himself.

But that left Grant with some problems.

While Pope’s Army of the Mississippi was marching south to vex Beauregard and his troops who’d escaped the fall of the city, Thomas and his army in Kentucky were also moving south to threaten Nashville. The city had been in Confederate hands since last fall, and with Memphis having fallen it was open to renewed campaign. However, Grant would have to fight his way down the Tennessee again, and from all his information the Confederates had done much to improve their position from what it had been a year ago.

They’d built a new, stronger, fortification on the high bluffs on the Tennessee River just over the border in Kentucky. Fort Johnson looked stronger than the flooded Fort Henry which Grant had taken without resistance a year ago, and Fort Donelson had been rebuilt and strengthened. Worse, two ironclads had been built and floated on the river, which meant that Grant’s existing naval strength would have to be divided in order to maneuver against it. Though the Confederate fleet was considerably weakened from the fighting in December, it was still a threat.

“I won’t take that wager.” Sherman said grinning ruefully. “Besides, way you’ve been smoking recently I’d have to fight you for them.” Looking over the map he grimaced. “Pope’s men can heckle Beauregard, but we’re going to have to hand Steele back to Curtis. He wants to advance into Arkansas, and he’s asking for some of our supplies to do it.”

“I don’t blame him. He’s been sitting idle for the better part of a year. The only thing he’s done is chase bushwhackers to ground and skirmish with the secesh over the state line. If I were him I would be wanting to march into Little Rock too.”

“Does that mean we are going to send him powder and mules?”

“Not yet.” Grant replied. Webster returned to them with a steaming coffee pot and poured two warm streams into waiting tin cups. Sherman sipped his and grimaced.

“Damn! Chicory again! You’d think with a victory like this we could be celebrating with some real coffee!”

“Didn’t capture any, that or Beauregard skedaddled with it. Besides, we had worse in Mexico.” He remembered with no particular fondness the mesquite brew some troops had taken to distilling. The lack of coffee though, was yet another reason he wasn’t eager to share supplies with Curtis, no matter how much he might need them. With the captured stores in Memphis Grant could keep campaigning for the next six months, if he shared those resources he guessed he might lose three months worth of fighting material, meaning unless he captured another large supply depot he wouldn’t be in any shape to campaign past May.

“Hell of a thing the Limeys are doing keeping a man from real coffee. I bet its just lining the wharves in Charleston and New Orleans.”

“Doesn’t do us much good griping about it.” Grant said. “However, I’m not complaining that the Limey’s sent a few thousand Enfield rifles up the river and Beauregard forgot them. That’s a true present right there.”

“I’ll be glad to return the bullets to the senders.” Sherman grinned. “Now though, what are we going to do about this victory of ours?”

“We have options now at least.” Grant replied. “Johnson is going to be under some pressure to attack at some point, but I don’t want him moving unless its moving against us. If he joined his troops with Van Dorn in Nashville, he won’t have parity with us, but he could cause problems. The only way to get him to move is most likely going to be moving on Nashville from the north and south, and we can squeeze them out unless he wants to get stuck in the city. If he chooses to stay in Nashville and make a siege of it, so much the better.”

“Think he will?”

“Johnson is too smart for that. He’ll probably retreat south and into Eastern Tennessee, maybe he’ll pull Kirby Smith from Kentucky, maybe he won’t. It will depend if Richmond lets him.”

“If they don’t that could work in our favor, less men for Johnson.”

“Let’s hope Richmond is that stupid then.” Sherman said taking another grimacing sip of the chicory coffee. “If they are, it’s on to Nashville, and then, Tennessee will once again fly the Union flag.”

Mechanics Institute (War Department), Richmond, Virginia, February 20th 1863

It was chilly in Richmond. Even the fires burning in the Mechanics Institute, serving as the administrative headquarters of the Confederate War and Navy Department’s, couldn’t keep the whole chill of late February out.

Jefferson Davis sat sipping real honest-to-God-coffee happily keeping the cold out of his bones. Since the British had broken the Yankee blockade the previous year, goods which had been running scarce were now plentiful. More importantly, cotton which had been embargoed or scarce, would be flowing out of Southern ports and into the hungry factories of Britain and France. Already there were murmurs of discontent from Southern planters as they discovered that the government intended to raise the export taxes on their cotton. Governors Pickens and Vance of South and North Carolina, were crying bloody murder. Davis was paying them no mind, they needed the money and he would get it.

The other members of the little gathering, Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of War James Seddon, Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory, Admiral Franklin Buchanan and General Lee, who sat alongside the two other cabinet members in front of Seddon’s desk. Davis himself had claimed the more comfortable chair behind the desk, and sat observing the detailed maps in front of him. They were remarkably well done, more accurate than the slapdash maps in his own office which tracked the armies and rough front lines.

Tracing the lines and known dispositions of the armies in Virginia, they ran as far west as the Shenandoah Valley and out to the positions of the British fleet in the Chesapeake. Various penciled in notes, annotations, and chips marked the most well known intelligence and the lesser known positions of the various forces. On it were clearly indicated the positions of the Army of Northern Virginia and its four Corps, as well as, more speculatively in some cases, the Army of the Potomac.

“These are all the most recent reports General Lee?” Davis asked.

“They are sir.” Lee nodded. “My cavalry reports, and our own spies have corroborated these reports as of this Tuesday. We can be largely certain of McClellan’s dispositions at Centreville, as he has not stirred since November. Beyond that, the government in Washington has been shuffling troops around for various endeavours. So far, no preparations seem to be in the offing for a campaign in the next month or so.”

“This is pleasurable news General Lee. Though I fear inaction here may allow the Yankees to continue their assault out West.” He frowned as he said that. Johnson’s inability to save Memphis was becoming a particular sore spot. Though their forces still controlled Frankfort Kentucky and all points east of the Tennessee River, it was assumed a campaign against Nashville was again in the offing, and the fall of Memphis would allow the Yankees to advance through Arkansas, potentially threatening Mississippi and Louisiana. There was angry grumbling in Congress, and he feared that he was beginning to lose support from his Western caucus. If they joined the Carolinas in grumbling, it could prove disastrous.

“It is my hope Mr. President that out efforts here will forestall any Yankee advance further up the Mississippi. If these operations prove fruitful then we could end the whole war at a stroke!”

“While I approve of this optimism General Lee, what I require is an assurance this is feasible with our means.” Davis said looking to his naval advisors.

“In terms of men, I have no qualms with the plan.” Mallory replied. “As for ships, suitable river craft and coastal vessels could be found or scooped up from the James River and Chesapeake flotillas, but I am not sure that we can be entirely comfortable with their defence.”

“The Virginia and South Carolina are powerful vessels, you may be assured sir.” Admiral Buchanan said. “But they are only two vessels, and the Yankees have their own damnable ships lurking up river. To prevent this operation they might, nay must, risk everything. This even in the face of the British fleet.”

“I will acknowledge sir, this plan is a gamble.” Lee added. “However, if it is to have any chance of success, I must have the navy.”

“And the navy is prepared to support you General.” Mallory said, looking slightly indignant. “We however, do not desire to risk our ships without some assurances of our own.” All eyes suddenly fell on the Secretary of State, who smiled.

“Gentleman, I believe you need not fear. I trust you have all spoken at length with Colonel Freemantle at one time or another since the fall?” There were nods. “Then this is well, as he has assured me that Admiral Milne is inclined to support this venture, he merely requires the blessing of London.”

“And what does London require of us?” Davis asked, sensing a trap.

“London merely requires an assurance that we will not ah, interfere with any colored persons under the British flag. They also seem leery of a coalition effort, their experiences in the Crimea in the last war with Russia seem to have them spooked regarding any direct coalition on our part.”

“They’re presumptuous in asking us not to interfere with negros.” Mallory grumbled. “There’s talk of slaves running to British ships and the British passing them off as colored sailors, and nobody can prove otherwise.”

“Why do we need them anyhow?” Seddon grumbled.

“Why because they have the largest fleet in the world Mr. Seddon.” Benjamin added pleasantly. Seddon looked as though he wanted to retort but Davis forestalled him.

“Has there been any discussion of our recognition?” He asked. Benjamin’s smile deflated slightly.

“So far, no. They seem annoyingly recalcitrant on the issue.”

“They wait for a victory.” Lee said. Davis slapped his coffee cup into its saucer.

“Have we not shed blood enough?” He growled. “Every Yankee incursion against Virginia has failed! You have personally whipped McClellan twice, and he has failed to gain an inch of soil since the summer last! Why must Britain vacillate on the issue? We have the French sniffing around our door every day, but they will not move without Britain!”

“They desire we should win a crushing victory that our independence is not in doubt.” Lee replied. “Their own campaigns took an embarrassing reversal in New York in September, and though they occupy Maine, they have not yet defeated a Yankee army in the field either, and the Yankees are well inside Canada itself. It is in London’s interest to be nervous, which is why I propose such a bold plan.”

Davis looked down at the map again. Only one hundred miles separated the two national capitals, and men had bled and died across them for the past two years. At the start of the war the Federal navy had meant they might land soldiers at will, and had done so, invading the Carolinas and harassing Virginia’s coast and blockading all before them. Now the British made the Yankees feel that fear. Over 200,000 men were gathered to do battle in Virginia, and Davis held the lives of many of them in his hands, and the independence of his infant nation.

The old ache behind his eye throbbed and he closed his eyes for a moment. It was such a momentous decision. So many lives, such risk, but the reward? It was momentarily overwhelming. Opening his eyes he looked at the men with him.

“Very well general, you have my blessing. So long as the British fleet supports us, I am amiable to this action.”

William H. Webb shipyards, New York, February 25th 1863

The frigid breeze ruffling the vests and coats of the three observers brought only some relief to the sweat soaked workers in the yards. They scurried and climbed about the great iron hulls of the two massive warships sitting in the docks, looking like great beached whales for all the work done on them. Shouts and the sound of hammers and steam powered drills carried over even the cacophony of gulls and the waves on the wharf.

Bundled against the cold, John Hay stamped his feet as he watched the scene unfold. It reminded him nothing so much as ants swarming over the carcass of a dead animal in the summer heat. Even though they were building ships rather than eating a corpse, the work seemed distressingly slow.

“I must admit Mr. Hay, I am upset that you and Mr. Fox have insisted on pulling men and material from the Dunderberg project. That ironclad could have been the bane of the British for years.” William H. Webb, the man who ran the shipyards said. The shipping magnate had given himself wholly to the war effort, and his yards had turned out blockade runners and gunboats in good numbers. However, he seemed fixated on the massive ironclad that had been planned the year previous.

“Well Mr. Webb, it was Admiral Farragut who made the suggestion. We are merely deferring to the admirals judgement.” He said, nodding to the tall man in uniform standing next to him. Admiral Farragut, commander of the Atlantic Squadron barely acknowledged the compliment, instead he gestured at the two large ships ahead of him.

“With all due respect Mr. Webb, the Dunderberg would have taken years to complete, and we do not have years. I barely have months.”

“But you have given the British the greatest defeat since Perry at Lake Erie.” Webb objected.

“It has stalled them for now, for now.” Farragut admitted. “But they still have the largest fleet in the world, and they build more warships than we do. My own vessels have suffered loss, and as you gentlemen are no doubt aware, we are losing the ironclad race.”

“We turn out an ironclad almost every three months.” Webb objected.

“The monitors, with all their power, are not vessels to challenge the British at sea Mr. Webb.” The Admiral chided. “These vessels are such, and I need vessels to take the fight to the British. So often now they simply sail out of range when I sortie, but they have large ironclads of their own now. Unless you have missed the new ships anchoring at Sandy Hook?”

The other men nodded solemnly. Even though Farragut had delivered stinging defeats to the British, the British victories in Maine had eased their difficulties considerably. Now they had thickened their lines, and seemed determined to strangle the life blood of America’s greatest city. The empty wharves and warehouses along the waterfront were a grim testament to this fact, even as commerce raiders and blockade runners made their sorties, little trade was coming to the greatest city in North America.

“I merely hope this will be worth it. The Italian minister has lodged incessant complaints regarding their seizure.” Hay said.

“The Italians are not fighting for their lives against the world’s largest empire. They will survive.” Farragut said, blithely brushing the political considerations aside. Hay almost envied his command responsibilities that kept him from dealing with the irate complaints of foreign dignitaries.

“Is the schedule proceeding apace Mr. Webb?” Farragut continued. Webb nodded.

“The men are working double shifts, and every scrap of iron is being scrounged up for them, which I must add is causing no end of complaint from the other builders, but I can say for certain we should be able to launch these vessels by August at the earliest.”

“I would far prefer May.” Farragut said.

“And the whole nation would like to be at peace, but if we all had what we liked I wouldn’t be hear on this pier.” Hay said, that brought smiles from both men. “On a less important note, there is some debate over naming the ships.”

“Well obviously one must be named New York, the people of this state could hardly have it otherwise with the sacrifices they have made.” Webb said.

“Other states will all be competing for names though. These will be some of our largest ships yet put to sea by the nation, and every loyal state wants the honor of having it named after them. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont are all making strong cases. Even Maryland is chiming in.”

“Mr. Hay I am surprised at you.” Farragut said. “The name ought to be simple enough.”

“How do you mean Admiral?” Hay asked, genuinely curious. Farragut gave him a wolfish smile.

“These ships are being made to spite the British, and we want to give them a defeat they shall not soon forget. They believe they have won on the far fronts, with naval descents on our coasts from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Their soldiers have shed American blood in our main border states, and one has suffered more than others in terms of land lost and sons buried. We must remember Maine gentlemen.”

Hay nodded. Remember Maine. It had a catchy line to it, he would need to mention that to the President.

“We must remember Maine Admiral, remember Maine indeed.”

 

[EnglishCanuck]

So I've cheated a bit here and skipped over the maneuvering to battle at Grand Junction. Part of it was simply not being able to find a map which was up to my liking to map out the campaign, the other part was that I was more interested in mapping out the coming campaigns around Nashville again. I'm also looking forward to the big campaigns coming up in the spring and summer of 1863 so I'm working on mapping those out so I can hopefully have one big week of battles sometime around January 2019.
,

 

[Gentleman Johnny]

It's very interesting having McClellan still commanding the AOTP in 1863. Two nitpicks I wanted to point out. It's Sterling Price not Stirling Price, and A. S. Johnston not Johnson. Just wanted to point that out. Great update and I'm looking forward to seeing how Lee's plan pans out.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

It's very interesting having McClellan still commanding the AOTP in 1863. Two nitpicks I wanted to point out. It's Sterling Price not Stirling Price, and A. S. Johnston not Johnson. Just wanted to point that out. Great update and I'm looking forward to seeing how Lee's plan pans out.

Thank you! It's weird to be writing about General McClellan still in command in 1863! Though given his defensive nature, he wouldn't be a terrible choice and Lincoln hasn't found any reason to give him the boot. Though he failed at Fairfax, Lee didn't really manage to exploit the victory, making it an almost reverse Antietam.

Good thing you caught those! I confess I'm probably going to do that a lot. I've been writing Johnston's name wrong for ages now so I'll probably have to go back and check for more errors of that kind! Thanks for catching it!

 

[nepcotevalley]

Remember Maine or the Maine . Nicely done. Another great update. Regards.

 

[Gentleman Johnny]

Thank you! It's weird to be writing about General McClellan still in command in 1863! Though given his defensive nature, he wouldn't be a terrible choice and Lincoln hasn't found any reason to give him the boot. Though he failed at Fairfax, Lee didn't really manage to exploit the victory, making it an almost reverse Antietam.

Good thing you caught those! I confess I'm probably going to do that a lot. I've been writing Johnston's name wrong for ages now so I'll probably have to go back and check for more errors of that kind! Thanks for catching it!

Yeah, I can see McClellan's reputation not being so terrible in this TL since his complaints about needing men and supplies and his lack of aggression are actually more realistic. I thought I saw a foreshadow in one of your earlier chapters about potentially Rosecrans taking over the army. That would provide a very interesting matchup of Rosecrans vs Lee that never happened OTL.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

Remember Maine or the Maine . Nicely done. Another great update. Regards.

Thank you! I'm glad people enjoyed that little tidbit!

Yeah, I can see McClellan's reputation not being so terrible in this TL since his complaints about needing men and supplies and his lack of aggression are actually more realistic. I thought I saw a foreshadow in one of your earlier chapters about potentially Rosecrans taking over the army. That would provide a very interesting matchup of Rosecrans vs Lee that never happened OTL.

When there's less to go around it's easier to feel like you need more! McClellan has actually performed ok for the constraints he has been operating under, and with a much larger enemy force than OTL.

As to the foreshadowing...couldn't possibly say

 

[EnglishCanuck]

So the upcoming chapters look like this:

Chapter 46: (Name undecided) - should appear if not this week this weekend.

Chapter 47: A War of Conscience Pt. 1 - the week after

Chapter 48: A War of Conscience Pt. 2 - first week of December I hope

Chapter 49: War's Evils

Chapter 50 The Armies in Virginia Pt. 1

Chapter 51: The Armies in Virginia Pt. 2

After Chapter 51 I may take a month or so to do all the detailing and plotting for the first part of the campaigns of 1863. Followed by similar plotting for the Northern Theater (Canada) and the Western theater.

 

[Bison]

You should put a prospective release date at the end of the post for the next update, rather than me having to check the forum every time someone comments.

 

[The Gunslinger]

You should put a prospective release date at the end of the post for the next update, rather than me having to check the forum every time someone comments.

Just go to the top of the page and select "watch thread". This thread updates slowly enough that you won't get inundated with messages.

 

[Old1812]

This thread attained the holy number of 777 replies, signifying the blessing left upon its brow by the gods of AH. Its divine light shall shine into every dark crevice, bringing their suffering subjects into blesséd joy.

Until I replied.

 

[EnglishCanuck]

You should put a prospective release date at the end of the post for the next update, rather than me having to check the forum every time someone comments.

Well for the next two chapters, I will try to have each out by Saturday this week and Saturday next week respectively.

Just go to the top of the page and select "watch thread". This thread updates slowly enough that you won't get inundated with messages.

This thread attained the holy number of 777 replies, signifying the blessing left upon its brow by the gods of AH. Its divine light shall shine into every dark crevice, bringing their suffering subjects into blesséd joy.

Until I replied.

I will admit this gave me a good laugh!