UPDATE III; 1802
WAR!!
In secret meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, governors and representatives of just about every state in the union met to discuss the sudden shift in European power and consequently North American power, and the future of the United States in this new era. The governors and representatives quickly came to the same decision-war with the ailing British Empire. After contacting France and negotiating a secret deal in which America would seize Canada and transfer it to France in exchange for the right to buy the Louisiana territories, the American states agreed on a series of battle plans and prepared for the upcoming battles.
The first step was rushing the war bill through the House and Senate, where it passed almost unanimously with a few dissenters from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With the Bill passed, the states began sending their militias off to Virginia and New York, where Generals of both states had formulated a complex series of battle plans for the various forces.
Many of the militias were reluctant to serve outside their state, and this added to the disorganization of the states and bureaucracy of some of the larger ones created serious delays throughout both the North and the South. The North, with more infrastructure and smaller land mass, was able to organize its armies into its battle plan and get a jump on the Brits before they could move.
In an incredibly complex and confusing plan, the New York General divided the combined Northern forces into 5 armies, making God fairly confused and annoyed. The armies of Northern New York were first to move out, sailing and marching up the St. Lawrence toward the city of Montreal. The city of Montreal housed the British garrison of about 5,000 well trained regulars, as well as up to 15,000 Canadian militia of moderate experience. The forces wisely entrenched themselves around the city and beat back the initial counter-offensive sent mostly to probe the size and skill of the American armies. Although disorganized, the American militia held its ground (though just barely) against the Canadian attack. The force was left severely weakened however, and requires reinforcements if its to maintain its seige.
The army of the lakes guarding the great lakes successfully beat a small Indian-Canadian invasion force, raising morale for the army and inspiring some confidence in the men.
The army of New England deployed itself to Halifax, one of the most anti-American provinces in the Canadian region. The forces met with heavy civilian and militia resistance, but adopted an incredibly aggressive strategy. After an initial victory against the Halifaxan force, the army sacked, looted, burned, and pillaged the entire island. The army got so carried away however, that they seemed to forget that their mission was to get on to Quebec. Their thirst for violence was eventually satiated, and the army loaded up and headed for the enterance to the St. Lawrence, where the British navy awaits them…
In the South, most of the militias were left within the states, calling mostly upon the federal navy and elite/regular divisions to lead the assaults on the British Caribbean possessions. In the Caribbean there was still a small British naval presence, and that became apparent as the fleet of 35 divisions of ships sailed south to the Bahamas in order to capture the rich Island nation. In the most protracted battle of the campaign, the British with 2 ships of the line and multiple other smaller ships put up a good fight, eventually sinking a whole 10 of the conscript divisions of the Americans. In the process though, 1 ship of the line was lost as 11 smaller ships swarmed it, as well as up to 8 other smaller ship divisions (frigates, and hastily conscripted merchant vessels) before the British ships, mostly damaged and demoralized, retreated to Bermuda. No troops were lost in the engagement, having been kept safely back from the battle in their transports.
With the seas open, despite a great loss of ships on the part of the American navy, the Americans made their first landings on the Bahaman islands. Resistance there was fairly light, but some slave-controlling militias and a few bands of opportunistic slaves, as well as 1 small undermanned British garrison stood in opposition. The Americans quickly overpowered these groups however, and the Virginian commanders were swift to execute all potentially rebellious slaves and those sympathetic to them, exciting a bit of criticism from those of the population who had since grown somewhat less favoring of slavery. The Americans lost 2 conscripts in the battle however, and loaded the remaining 9 divisions to form the assault on the island of Jamaica.
The battle for Jamaica was fierce, and the Americans soon felt the improved defenses as one of their ships was sunk when approaching to close to support the landing forces. The initial landing resulted in many losses for the Americans, but after moving South some of the 1337th division under General Heywood Jablome managed to flank the British positions and seize a key portion of Kingston from underneath the nose of British Commander Lord Albert of Lancaster. The battle for Jamaica is not yet won, but as long as no reinforcements arrive the situation looks bleak for British
South: (-1 VA conscripts, -1 SC conscript, -1GA conscript, -1KY Conscript, -3 federal conscript ship, -2 Maryland conscript ship, -2 SC conscript ship, -3 VA conscript ship, -1 NC conscript ship).
Canada (lakes army: -1 PA conscript) (Niagra Army: -1 NJ regular, -1 PA regular, -2 NY conscript, -2 VT conscript, -1 US regular) NE (-1 CT conscript, -1 MA conscript)
British forces being driven back by American militia outside Montreal
Injuns get an ass-whoopin’
Despite a large portion of the army being off fighting Brits, the American forces in the West have dealt some devastating blows to the Injuns. The Injuns had already been restless in recent times, but with support and arms coming from the British even more tribes amassed their warriors and prepared for a slaughter of the innocent white settlers. Or so they thought. What they found was a large force under General Henry Lee of Virginia of about 6,000 men, and proceeded to be defeated time after time. The Injun forces were driven all the way past the region of Michigan in the territory, but are quickly reforming and are in no way removed as a threat. For now though, Ohio remains safe, and the people of the territories very grateful to Henry Lee for his aid.
General Henry Lee leading his men to victory over the Injuns
Slavers keep swarming into NW territories, PA gobbles up Michigan!
The latest to blatantly disregard the Northwest ordinances is Pennsylvania, forcibly annexing parts of Michigan in an effort to monopolize the Iron, Coal, and control the Western Trade. Though aiding the PA economy, not all the settlers are too happy to be brought back into PA, and many in PA have expressed anger at the government for being hypocritical in its opposition to VA but support of its own personal gains.
Yet more Bills debate, pass, fail in Congress
Here is a synopsis of the various bills submitted to Congress in this new session, skipping the already known war bill:
The first bill submitted by South Carolina failed before it even made it to the senate, hardly even being debated before the Representatives cast their majority against..
The Cherokee nation also befell the same fate, receiving absolutely no support in the South and practically none in the north, another outrageous bill was killed.
News was better for the State Tariff act, which quickly passed in the house but soon was under serious debate in the Senate. The votes were finally cast and the deciding factor was Connecticut’s “yea” vote, which drove some of the smaller NE states to support it as well. In the end, the vote was 20-12 for the passing of the first bill of the century.
The fourth and final bill was far more of a toss up, with half the states from either region voting “yea” and the other half voting “nay”. South Carolina and Virginia voiced different opinions in the South, while in the North PA and Connecticut had contradictory views. The bill just
barely passed in the house, mostly due to Virginia’s support for the bill. In the senate however, the bill was finally defeated 21-11, falling short of the 17 necessary votes to pass.
Also note that North Carolina has banned the importation of slaves, the first slave state to do so.
Some new bills have also been proposed in congress, make sure to check them out.
NE economies among others fall as British trade ends!
In conjunction with the already decreasing trade since their defeat at Trafalgar, the war with Britain has totally halted British trade with the colonies and hurt many Northern and Southern Coastal States. Though the damage has been light with France replacing much of the trade, the transition still hurt NE fairly badly, though hopefully only temporarily.
(-Eco levels to almost everyone)
Napoleon Invades Southern Ireland!
Napoleon launched a surprise invasion of Ireland contrary to the British fears of invasion of the homeland, and caught many, but not all, by surprise. The French forces have been marching through the countryside rallying the oppressed Irish to fight for their freedom, a call which many were attracted by. The British spent most of the year rushing troops to Ireland to keep the areas still under control under control, and amassing forces in preparation for an offensive to drive the French from Ireland. The French have already stretched themselves out far too thin, with troops in Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland finding themselves in an increasingly desperate need for manpower.
In the US, many Irish immigrants migrated back to Ireland in order to fight for their home country’s freedom, not really having much effect on the economies of any state whatsoever.
Napoleon surveying his landing forces in southern Ireland, before heading back to France
“random” events:
PA Coal mines continue to strike more veins, Governor creates simplified maps for God +2 eco/turn
The people of Connecticut sign up by the droves, Trade smoothly transitions to France +1 eco/turn, +5 volunteer divisions +1 eco to project
In Kentucky, Jablome’s courage inspires the people to support the war effort, +2 eco
In Virginia, cotton is now the Queen as well, +2 eco
In NY, volunteers scramble to defend their homeland from Injun and Canadian oppression, +3 volunteer divisions