An American Dream, A British Headache - A Kan Sharuminar Independence Day Special
Part Three: June - December 1776
The celebrations at High Command in the wake of New Yorks capture were not over when it was announced that Spain and France openly declared their sympathies lay with the Revolutionaries. Though they had not declared a colonial war on the British Empire, they sent financial aid and some fresh divisions to assist.
The response from Great Britain was immediate. Parliament announced that they would be sending any available units to North America in order to aid Commander Kans campaign goals. They would arrive in August at Halifax - eight divisions in all, including cavalry and German mercenaries.
The response from the rebelling states meanwhile, was to formally declare independence on the 4th July. Once again, France and Spain declared their support for the so-called United States.
They act like gaining independance is a big deal
Commander Kan was not so willing to co-operate. As a show of strength, despite the current strain on his military, he decided to launch Operation: Lightning - an attack on Albany. Drawing newly trained divisions from Canada and a veteran division from New York, it was to strike hard and fast at the city.
Unfortunately, the division from New York could not be utilised at all, due to a sudden appearance of a U.S Cavalry division. A small militia group was formed however, and joined the battle on the 4th November
The Battle of Albany
The engagement was exceptionally costly for Commander Kan. The single Militia division that defended the city utilised the surrounding forests to maximum advantage, fighting a solid defence that wiped out the British Regulars. Only the recently formed British Militia managed to break through from the south - with heavy losses - and capture the city on the 30th of the month.
Elsewhere, minor battles occurred. The expected cavalry attack on New York never came about, but an American offensive in the south was fought off. In response to Spains support of the U.S, Commander Kan decided to garrison the border near the Spanish city of New Orleans with fresh divisions, rather than launch a counter-attack north of Florida.
By December 1776, all the reinforcements from Europe had arrived at New York. Once again Commander Kan was preparing for a spring offensive, though this time he hoped to capture the capital city of Philadelphia and end this bloody conflict once and for all!
The East Coast