Lyon Comes East or One War at a Time

hzn5pk

September 1 - 7

A third force of 20000 westerners gathers in Columbus, OH under Fits John Porter. They are to head to Fredericksburg to meet up with Easterners and then onto Richmond. Morale is high as these westerners proclaim themselves to be the siege busters.

Grant advances to Stanton, VA. Once there, he pitches a second all out battle against Beauregard. Beauregard is defeated and forced to retreat out of the Shenandoah Valley to Charlottesville, VA. Casualty rates for both sides are high. Grant is foraging the country side to supply his 45,000 man force. He finds that supplies are adequate to keep his men in high supply.

The Richmond siege is in its 5th week. It is draining southern manpower as Lyon, Sherman, and Reynolds hammered positions with harder fighting in the past week. Lee is doing a miraculous job in defending the city by shifting troops about. He receives reinforcements as well but not to the order of the Union. Richmond is not isolated, yet.

Winfield Hancock gathers troops in Washington to travel to Fredericksburg.

Leonidas Polk violates Kentucky neutrality and captures Columbus, KY. Albert Sidney Johnston leads western forces. His main stronghold is at Nashville. Smaller garrisons are in Knoxville and Fort Donnellson. Polk has acted on his own accord and not by orders of Davis or A.S. Johnston. Davis and Johnston have to accept the move by Polk and Johnston will invade Kentucky to drive on Bowling Green in the coming weeks.

Further southern forces are protecting the Gulf Coast.

Sterling Price advances from Springfield to capture Rolla, MO.
 

benjamin

Pretty good so far. Is the Confederate capital still in Richmond? If so, why hasn't it relocated to Montgomery or somewhere far safer?

Also, who is in overall command around Richmond? Most likely it would be Reynolds as I believe he had the highest non-brevet rank pre-Civil (Sherman was in the West Point class of 1840 but left the military to go into banking. Lyon and Reynolds were in the graduating class of 1841). One of either Lyon, Reynolds or Sherman will have to be given that role. And is that Army still known as the Army of the Potomac?

As for foreign intervention...not likely at all barring the Union doing something really, really dumb. With Richmond besieged and the Union doing well, Britain won't touch the Confederate cause and it is likely that they will not allow Confederate agents to assume any role in London. France will follow Britain's lead with the added caveat that there will be even less interest in getting bogged down in Mexican affairs.

Keep up the good work.
Benjamin
 

hzn5pk

benjamin said:
Pretty good so far. Is the Confederate capital still in Richmond? If so, why hasn't it relocated to Montgomery or somewhere far safer?

Also, who is in overall command around Richmond? Most likely it would be Reynolds as I believe he had the highest non-brevet rank pre-Civil (Sherman was in the West Point class of 1840 but left the military to go into banking. Lyon and Reynolds were in the graduating class of 1841). One of either Lyon, Reynolds or Sherman will have to be given that role. And is that Army still known as the Army of the Potomac?

As for foreign intervention...not likely at all barring the Union doing something really, really dumb. With Richmond besieged and the Union doing well, Britain won't touch the Confederate cause and it is likely that they will not allow Confederate agents to assume any role in London. France will follow Britain's lead with the added caveat that there will be even less interest in getting bogged down in Mexican affairs.

Keep up the good work.
Benjamin
Click to expand...

Thanks

Overall command is Sherman. He ranks Lyon and Reynolds in that order. Actually all three are the same rank, but Sherman obtained the rank of general before Lyon in my timeline. Between the two, Sherman is not reckless as Lyon. Sherman is not as aggressive as Lyon would be. Sherman does not commit to all-out fights like Lyon or Grant would have.

My timeline is based off a strategy game of the Civil War that is played out week by week. In the game, a leadership qualities of the generals can be shown. When multiple generals are in a battle, the characteristics of the highest prevail for that side. In the game, Sherman was over Lyon and Reynolds.

The game had the initiative of Grant, Sherman, Lyon, and Reynolds being high. That is these generals would take the initiative to move, to advance, and to fight. The same game has the military initiative of McClellan as below average. OTL, this was the Unions problem, it did not halve the generals who would make a move as leaders. The South has plenty of generals with a high initiative. The Union generals were wusses, they would not move and take advantage of the superior numbers.

Sherman's aggressiveness was moderate as Grant and Lyon have a high level of aggressiveness. It is interesting in the game that Sherman's aggressiveness increased with every battle that he lead. After three battles, he is at the same level as Sherman.

The Confederate capital is still in Richmond. Lee is doing an excellent job in defense. In siege defense mode, Lee is like OTL Joe Johnston in that he is commanding the battles and he is not exposing himself or giving Sherman/Lyon the opportunity to smash him.

Davis still has the capital in Virginia. Davis likes to be where the action is.

I have not touched on it. But Seward has the same attitude towards Britain in this timeline as he had OTL up to this point. Lincoln has not reigned him in as much.
 
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hzn5pk

September 8 – 14
During one of their meeting for the week, Lincoln, Scott, and Stanton talk about the events out West. Price, Polk, and Johnston are unchecked out West. Stanton is worried that this will have bad effects. Lincoln is also concerned. Stanton would like the force that was recruited, marshaled, and trained in August under McClellan in Columbus to be used for an advance through Kentucky.

Scott is not concerned as he points out that they are controlling parts of Missouri and Kentucky that are pro Confederate. It is actually driving the pro Union elements of the state closer to the Union and the Lincoln administration. The farther that these forces advance into Kentucky and Missouri, the more spread out they will be if the Confederates want to keep their gains. When the time is right, the Union can amass and strike where it wants. He also states that the Confederacy is moving too cautiously in Kentucky, northern Kentucky of Louisville, Frankfurt, and Lexington are not as threatened yet. There are still a few more weeks before they are. He states that the Virginia thrust strategy should be continued another month and that the troops that are recruited, equipped and trained in September can be used to take back Kentucky.

Porter sets out by rail for Washington then Fredericksburg from Columbus, OH.

Hancock travels by rail to Fredericksburg from Washington. His 20,000 strong force contains regiments from New York, New Jersey, and New England regiments.

Richmond siege in 6th week, Lee is able to dictate ferocity of fighting.

Grant rests in Stanton, takes new regiments from PA and Maryland. His natural losses of men due to foraging are higher than being directly supplied, but he prefers it as he does not have to worry about his supply train down the valley.

Kentucky asks for Union protection. Union troops are railed from St. Louis to Cairo, IL under Irwin McDowell.

Union troops are added to garrisons in Kansas City, Jefferson City and St. Louis. These positions along the Missouri river are now too strong for Sterling Price to capture and still defend Springfield and Rolla.

Sept. 15 – 21
Hancock arrives in Fredericksburg.

Grant advances onto Charlottesville, VA, relentlessly battles Beauregard and Thomas Jackson a third time. The Confederates are forced to retreat to Lynchburg, VA

Richmond, siege in 7th week

September 22 – 28
Hancock advances onto Richmond, extending the Union line. Lee has to match, further thinning his lines.

Porter arrives in Fredericksburg via rail

Grant rests in Charlottesville, VA. He will assault Lynchburg next.

Richmond siege in 8th week

A.S. Johnston advances and captures to Bowling Green, KY. His main force is still in Nashville, he uses Bowling Green and Fort Donnelson to cover his flanks.
 
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hzn5pk

September 29 – Oct 5
Porter advances to Richmond, further extending the siege line. Confederate lines are stretched to their breaking point.

Grant advances to Lynchburg, fights a fourth battle with Beauregard and wins. Beauregard is forced to retreat to Danville, VA.

Richmond siege in 9th week, Heavy fighting occurs all around the line, Union is repulsed, but Lee has to retreat to Petersburg to save his army. He leaves strong garrison in command at Richmond but retreats to Petersburg in the hopes to regain maneuver. Davis remains in Richmond, most of government has relocated to Raleigh, NC.

John Slidell and James Mason are in Charleston awaiting mission to London. They are waiting for a fast ship to evade the Union blockade. The Union practice is still to stop and inspect all outbound vessels before allowing them to pass. Since their mission is critical, Davis wants them to be on a fast blockade runner. Davis views their mission as the only hope to save Confederacy.

Western troops are located around Kentucky for advancement further into the blue grass state. Missouri gets more reinforcements, but the bulk of the September recruits are to liberate southwestern Kentucky from Confederate occupation.

Irwin McDowell is based in Cairo, IL for advance to Columbus, KY
Edwin Sumner is based in Cairo to advance to Fort Donaldson
George Thomas is based in Evansville, IN to advance to Bowling Green, KY
Smaller commands are based in Cincinnati to advance and secure northern Kentucky. Overall command in northern Kentucky is to William Franklin. (Louisville, Frankfurt, and Lexington)
 

hzn5pk

October 6 – 12
Sherman, Lyon, Reynolds, Hancock, and Porter storm Richmond defenses. Davis relocates Confederate government to Raleigh, NC as union troops arrive in Richmond.

Grant rests in Lynchburg

In Kentucky, Union secures Lexington, Frankfurt, Louisville for the Union. George Thomas leads troops from Evansville, IN to fight and capture Bowling Green, KY after a sharp battle with A.S. Johnston. Thomas is victorious. Johnston retreats to Nashville.

Mason and Slidell leave Charleston aboard the Theodora bound for The Bahamas.

More troops are added to Jefferson City, Samuel Curtis is in command of troops that are to drive Price out of Missouri.

October 13 – 19
Union Army rests in Richmond

Confederates build forces in Petersburg.

Grant advances to Danville, VA, captures it and after a fifth and final battle that eliminates Beauregard as a fighting force.

A.S. Johnston finishes retreat and consolidates forces in Nashville.

Irwin McDowell advances troops from Cairo, Il to Columbus, KY. He is able to defeat Polk.

Edwin Sumner also takes troops from Cairo, IL advances, and captures Fort Donaldson with Naval aid.

With Columbus and Donaldson, Kentucky is now securely in Union hands.

George Thomas at Bowling Green collects all troops including Sumner’s troops at Donaldson for assault on Nashville. Some troops are railed from Richmond to Bowling Green, KY. These are regiments from Ohio and Indiana; they are experienced in breaking through the defenses of Richmond. This experience will be used at Nashville as well.

Curtis advances to Rolla, fights and is defeated by Price. Curtis has to retreat back to Jefferson City.

Slidell and Mason arrive in The Bahamas and then to Cuba. They have made it out of the Confederacy and now await passage to London.
 
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hzn5pk

October 20 – 26
The massive Union Army advances to Petersburg, fights and wins battle against Lee. Lee is forced to retreat to Norfolk. Longstreet withdraws in a southern direction towards Raleigh.

Grant rests in Danville. His next objective will be to advance and capture Raleigh, NC.

Union strategy is now to disperse commands between Sherman, Lyon, Reynolds, and Hancock against Norfolk and North Carolina objectives.
Sherman – Norfolk, VA and Lee
Lyon – to Raleigh, NC from the East to link up with Grant
Reynolds – Plymouth, NC
Hancock – New Bern, NC
Porter – broken up, these westerners were sent west after the victory in Richmond to Thomas’s command for an assault on Nashville.

Lincoln takes special armored train to Richmond. Coming to Richmond, he views the destruction of the city from the weeks of siege and the battles that took place there.

Thomas advances and defeats A.S. Johnston around Nashville. Johnston retreats towards Chattanooga. Nashville defenses are still garrisoned though.

McDowell captures and consolidates Columbus, KY.
Curtis retreats to Jefferson City. Currently neither side is able to break a stalemate that has developed in Missouri.

Slidell and Mason make their way in Cuba to Havana to await the next British mail picket, the Trent to come to Havana for transport to Europe.
 

hzn5pk

October 27 – Nov 2

The Union army rests in Petersburg and takes reinforcements.

Grant seizes the initiative and advances all the way to Raleigh, fights and captures the capital. Davis moves to Columbia, SC and then to Montgomery, AL for the capital of the CSA as there is no significant force to block Grant from advancing to Columbia. Davis calls for his country to remain fighting, cites the condition and defeat of the Continental Army under Washington and how they endured numerous setbacks until independence was secured. He urges southerners to remain fighting in that same spirit.

Lincoln makes an appeal to Southern states as well to return to Union. If they do, they will be able to participate in the 1862 National election after 10% of their populations take oaths of allegiance to the Union and they pass the 13th amendment which states that secession is illegal. Section two of the 13th amendment will clearly state that slavery will be protected in the states where it currently exists but that Congress has the right to outlaw slavery in territories and has power not to admit future slave states. Lincoln extends the peace plan by stating that he would support the simultaneous construction of a southern and central transcontinental railroad and wants to encourage industry in the South.

Lincoln offers this gesture for peace. On the other hand he dictates that any state of the 11 that have seceded that do not surrender to the Union by January first, the slaves in that state that is still rebelling will be forever freed. This is the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln is comfortable in proclaiming since Kentucky is now firmly on the Union side. Lincoln states that slavery will be allowed in the states of the Union where it already exists.

Lincoln is also pondering what to do with the contraband slaves that the army has forwarded back to Washington. These are slaves who have either escaped and ran to the Union lines for protection or who have been freed by the Union army foraging for supplies in Virginia. They have been sent back to Washington. Lincoln’s desire is to do the right thing by these people. While they have been in camps, schooling has been opened for the children and some adults. Other adults wanting to aid the Union cause are on worker duty for the day. The life in the camps is peaceful; roll call is taken every morning before breakfast. Meals are provided three times a day. Abolitionist societies in the North have undertaken the cause to support the needs of the people. Lincoln knows that it will be wrong to return these people back to slavery. He is awaiting the right time to make them 100% totally free.

With his quandary of the condition of the ex-slaves of Virginia, Lincoln tells through Stanton to the generals in Virginia to ease up on removal of slaves from owners in Virginia now that fighting is moving to North Carolina. If slaves escape and reach Union lines, the commanders are not to return them to their owners, but they are now to respect the owners in Virginia and not seize slaves in the state. This is for Virginia only as he sees he needs to start the reconciliation process in Virginia. For North Carolina and Tennessee, the military campaign is ongoing, these are states in open rebellion and the military necessity of removing the slaves is needed. Lincoln states that the policy of removing the slaves and sending them back North to camps is valid for North Carolina and Tennessee.

George Thomas storms Nashville defenses.

McDowell rests at Columbus, KY takes reinforcements, his next objective will be Memphis.
 
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hzn5pk

Nov 3 – 9, 1861
Grant rests in Raleigh, NC. His next objective will be Charlotte.

Lyon marches from Petersburg to Raleigh. His next objective will be Wilmington, NC.

Reynolds marches and captures Plymouth, N Car.

Hancock marches and threatens New Berne, NC but has not reached his destination yet.

Sherman marches to Norfolk, battles and accepts the surrender of Lee’s army. Sherman is able to capture the CSA Virginia as it is being constructed.

Lincoln’s peace offer is delivered to state assemblies in the South.

The San Jacinto stops the Trent and removes John Slidell and James Mason, the envoys to France and England. The Trent is allowed to continue its voyage. The San Jacinto will travel to Ft. Monroe.

The forces of Lee disband; troops head back to their home states. The soldiers from states that are still in the CSA are out of the war until they are exchanged. The soldiers from Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are to go back to their lives before the war.

Albert Sydney Johnston arrives in Chattanooga.

McDowell moves halfway to Memphis, TN battles and defeats Polk as Thomas rests in Nashville.

Nov 10 – 16, 1861
The original four ironclad ships of the Union are complete in Boston, New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. A fifth, the Virginia will be completed as well. Another set of five are set for construction. These ships are seen as coast protectors. The second set of four are identical to the first four, the fifth is a monitor design by John Ericcson.

Wilkes returns to Ft. Monroe with the captives.

Lincoln, Scott, and cabinet discuss the possible results of removing the two diplomats from a British ship. Although a war with England is not likely, Lincoln wants to know what the consequences of such a war would be. Welles states that a main consequence would be a loss of sea trade in all oceans. The US navy, even enlarged as it is cannot fight just yet with the British navy. Welles states that it would take another year, all of 1862 of all out production to be in the same class.

Lincoln credits the success of the current conflict with the South to being prepared. He asks all what the USA can do to prepare for a possible conflict with Britain. This topic will be discussed in future meetings.
Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee take Lincoln’s offer and officially return back to the Union. One immediate effect for Virginia is that the state capital is moved from Richmond to Wheeling. The original seven states and Arkansas that are still part of the Confederacy vow to fight on or at least until December 31st.

Grant marches to Charlotte, NC.

Lyon rests in Raleigh.

Thomas advances three quarters of the way to Chattanooga.

McDowell rests in route to Memphis.

Reynolds rests in Plymouth; Hancock rests in rout to New Berne.
 

hzn5pk

The first half of my time line is complete. It follows a strategy game that I play. In it I have the western forces come East, first with Nathaniel Lyon and then followed by Grant.

The Union uses its advantage of railroads to bring the forces to bear in Virginia. With these forces and leaders who are willing to commit them, the pressure in Virginia is too much to bear.

The Union does not build up as much in Cincinnati or Cairo, IL as OTL. The Union also gives away the southern portion of Missouri to the Confederates.

Part of the strategy game allows for how industry is structured to build arms for the Union. I have the industry of the North set to build more ships including ironclads and to build lots of artillery. I have less production of the springfield rifled musket and other breach loading rifles, the main armament of the Union is the musket. I also have the recruitment bounties set high to gather more men. The Union aim is to flood the South with troops and bombard them with artillery. And it is working. The South cannot stop the young Union generals from advancing.

I also have the Union troops foraging more for supplies in Virginia and Tennessee than OTL.

The results are that Virginia and Kentucky are solidly in Union hands. North Carolina and Tennessee are also pretty much in Union hands. The only theater where the Union has not been able to move forward with momentum is in Missouri, but that is ok.

The events of the Trent affair are happening pretty much the same as OTL, except that the Union position in the war is by far better, the South is holding onto by a thread and that the Union has prepared more for a naval conflict with Britain.

OTL, Lincoln did not want to expand the war with Britain while he was still bogged down with the Confederacy. Now with the fortunes of war turned, he can play with the British. Political pressure may even be for not backing down to Britain now that the North is successfully flexing its muscle.

The fate of the slave population is being considered as well by Lincoln. The war might be going too good for the North and that slave freedom may be sacrificed for harmony with the South.

News of the Trent, the capture of Richmond and the surrender of Lee's army have yet to reach London. No doubt that they will be mad and want an apology. But with the South suffering, Britain may not want to side with it.

For the South, the Trent is a blessing. As it is holding onto a last thread. The northern armies cannot be stopped. That last thread is European intervention.
 

hzn5pk

Nov 17 – 23, 1861

From cabinet meetings, Lincoln states that it is only prudent to be prepared for a naval conflict with Britain. He want wants to proceed with all practical speed in the building the next four iron hull ships, completing the Merrimac, and John Erricson’s design. The first four that have been completed are to protect the harbors of Boston, Long Island, Philadelphia (Delaware river) and The Chesapeake Bay. The next round of six will be for:

Providence, RI
New York (Hudson river) with Erricson’s boat
A second ironclad for the Chesapeake with the Merrimac
Wilmington, NC as it will be in Union hands in the coming weeks
Salem, Mass
Portland, Maine

The first four plus these six are not meant to be ocean going vessels but to protect the coasts from being blockaded.
He also states that he wants to ensure that ports are protected with artillery and forts to resist British attacks. Welles states that using blockade runners as the South has been doing will also aid.

A final way around the royal navy for commercial trade would be to flag ships with that of a foreign country. By doing this, Britain will not want to expand a naval conflict with the other countries. Seward at once sets out to see which countries would participate. He thinks that Russia, Prussia, and the Austrians would be the most likely to go along with flagging shipping from the United States.

The cabinet also states that the West Coast is at risk and that Britain would try to arm the Indians to rise up.
There is not much that can be done for the West Coast. Currently six warships was all that there was to the Pacific squadron, and half of these were old. Part of the naval buildup would be to double the size of the Pacific Squadron. Forts along the Pacific, especially in San Francisco Bay and at the mouth of the Columbia river would also be needed. A naval facility in southern California was wanted for the next Pacific squadron when it was completed.

The Pacific theater did not look good. Orders were sent for a vessel to be started in San Francisco as well as other vessels that were being constructed in Atlantic ports to be tagged for service in the Pacific.

A saving grace for the Union would be that the British would also be weak in the Pacific and an army force should be able to capture their base on Vancouver Island.

A transcontinental railroad would most definitely solve supply and isolation of the Pacific. A transcontinental telegraph had just been completed in October. While the coast of California bulked up a little with fortifications and ships, a railroad could be started from the East. Iowa through Nebraska seemed liked the best location as their would be too much bushwhacker activity for Missouri and Kansas. Immigrant labor and the Freedman camps could be used to build the railroad. Free choice of land and citizenship could be obtained for working the railroad. The first big hurdle would be to bridge the Missouri river and improving the rail network in Iowa.

The railroad would take time. The Missouri river could be expanded for steamers and then a wagon and rail way rout could be established.

More thought was needed where and how the first railroad would be completed. For now though, Lincoln wanted activity to secure California increased.

Calvary would have to be used to fend off Indian raids to protect the wagon trains and railroad crews.
To safeguard the Atlantic coast, Halifax, Bermuda, and the West Indies would need to be neutralized. Lincoln wanted Welles to start working on a plan for the last two and Scott for Halifax overland. Welles is pessimistic about the task, wants to shore up the Atlantic ports first. He begins to work on orders for the blockading fleet should hostilities start with Britain.

Scott and Stanton are to further work on planning hostilities in Canada. Scott welcomes this as there was no real planning before the War of 1812. It should not be hard as objectives would be Montreal, Quebec, Halifax and securing the southeast portion of what was called Canada West or Upper Canada (the Great Lakes portion).

Captain Wilkes returns to Boston to a heroes welcome. There is little opposition or negative comment to the capture of the traitors.

Thomas rests in route to Chattanooga.
Hancock and Reynolds link up in New Bern, NC
Lyon sets out for Wilmington, NC.
Grant rests in Charlotte, NC, he plans to plunge into South Carolina
McDowell advances to Memphis, battles and defeats Polk a third time.

The Trent is still in route to England.
 
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hzn5pk

Territories of the USA in 1861

After Kansas became a state in January 1861, Colorado territory was established from western Kansas Territory and eastern portions of the Utah Territory. Early 1861 also saw the creation of Nevada Territory from the western portion of Utah Territory.

Other territories were Nebraska, Dakota, New Mexico, and Washington.
A major event in the fall of 1861 was the completion of the transcontinental telegraph in October 24, 1861. The last point in connecting California to the rest of the nation via telegraph was in Salt Lake City. Brigham Young, leader of the Church of Latter Day Saints, was thankful for the completion and saw the telegraph as a way to better connect the Mormon settlements in Utah Territory or Deseret as he still liked to use. One of the first telegraph messages was from Brigham Young to Abraham Lincoln;

"Utah has not seceded but is firm for the Constitution and the laws of our once happy country."

Lincoln replied, “Mr. Young, congratulations on completing the first transcontinental telegraph. Thank you for the confirmation of the US Constitution as supreme law in the Utah Territory. When so many states are leaving the Union, it seems to me that Utah is trying to get into the Union.”

This was the beginning of several communications and a generally warm relationship between Lincoln and Young. Lincoln was indeed impressed with the loyalty of Young. Young had disliked Congress, but he had seen an honest and fair individual in Abraham Lincoln. He did not attribute the troubles between Mormons and the US Government to Lincoln.

As part of the strategy to protect California and the West from the British and Indian threats in November 1861, Lincoln communicated to Young on his desire to make Utah a state. Lincoln not only saw this as a necessity for protection, but also as a political necessity for the Republican Party as Utah could be a future bastion for Republicans in elections.

On the subject of polygamy, Lincoln displayed some humor in his communication with Young; “The men of Utah must indeed be latter day saints as I find it difficult to please one wife let alone several.” In reality, Lincoln disliked polygamy as did most Republicans, but he was a realist and saw that there were more evils in the world such as slavery and he wanted Utah in the Union to aid in protection of the West against possible British, Confederate, Indian, and Mexican intrusions. He also saw that as with slavery, the act of polygamy would probably die out as Utah became more integrated with the Union. Finally, Lincoln wanted religious freedom and protected rights for non-Mormons more than he wanted to end polygamy.
Over the next few months, Young and Lincoln had many communications and worked out compromises which were acceptable to both parties. Once the details were ironed out, Lincoln would then use his political popularity to make a new state.

Such compromises for a state constitution were:
Name: Lincoln was fine with Deseret
Polygamy: Not even mentioned as being legal or illegal in the proposed state constitution.
Slavery: Banned
Separation of the government and the Church of Latter Day Saints to be practiced and specifically called out in state constitution
The rights of all citizens regardless of religious practice were to be upheld.

Borders: Nevada was to be made larger yet from more land of western Utah (Deseret). This was a part of Lincoln’s goal to protect the West. In exchange for this western territory, Lincoln gave more land to Deseret to the north at the expense of Washington, Dakota, and Nebraska territories. The eastern and western borders of Utah (114 and 112 meridians respectively) were extended north to the 52nd parallel. Lincoln actually told Young to be fruitful and multiply in the wilderness to the North and that the US government would aid in the expansion of settlement in the new area as long as non-Mormons had access to the state the same as did the Mormons. Lincoln also hoped that the good relations that the Mormons had with Indians would extend to the new tribes that would be included in the new borders to the North.

This good relationship between Lincoln and Young aided in the development of the area with telegraphs, railroads, and US forts to protect Deseret. Part of the agreement was for Young to raise the Mormon Legion as a state militia and place it under the command of federal troops that Lincoln would send to the area. Other Deseret units were also to be raised as part of the volunteer system. Young also did much to aid in the telegraph and railroad expansion in the area.

While Lincoln was harboring a good relationship with Deseret, the Confederacy was making advances in Indian Territory and the southern part of New Mexico in 1861. In fact, the Confederacy claimed the southern half of the New Mexico territory and called it Arizona Territory.
 
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hzn5pk

KG "Cagey" said:
Which one??
I greatly enjoy Victory Games The Civil War [original published 1983 but major online revision / clarification in 2008-2009]
Click to expand...

I remember that game. My older brother bought it. I think that I lost a couple of the counters. I also liked it because it had the southwest version. The game I am play looks like it is based on the board game. It has game turns, and a hex grid, but it is on a computer disk with AI and so forth.

It is called American Civil War: Fort Sumter to Appomatox. It is by I-Magic games. It is old. I purchased it in 1996. I still like it though. It is played week by week. You set up commands, orders for leaders, set your economy, production, manpower .... and it plays by weeks. At the first of each month, you receive new regiments from the states based on political support for the war, your recruiting bounties, and where you would like manpower (infantry, artillery, Calvary, navy).
 
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KG "Cagey"

American Civil War I-magic

I played it as well.
I hated the glitches especially with the naval fleets, cargo from the blockade runner port, etc.

I LOVED the starting What ifs of the game.
-CSA capital in New Orleans, stay in AL or Atlanta
-Production choices of muskets free, Springfields cheap or pricey breechloaders

Anyway, with a hometown of Rolla MO [ the closet Railhead to Wilson's Creek battlefield] I love Lyon ATLs even more than Phil Kearny lives past Aug 62 ATLs.
 

hzn5pk

KG "Cagey" said:
I played it as well.
I hated the glitches especially with the naval fleets, cargo from the blockade runner port, etc.

I LOVED the starting What ifs of the game.
-CSA capital in New Orleans, stay in AL or Atlanta
-Production choices of muskets free, Springfields cheap or pricey breechloaders

Anyway, with a hometown of Rolla MO [ the closet Railhead to Wilson's Creek battlefield] I love Lyon ATLs even more than Phil Kearny lives past Aug 62 ATLs.
Click to expand...

I guess that the glitches were not that bad for me when being either the Union or Confederate.

I also wanted to know if the Brits and Americans went after it, how would it wind up if the Americans were doing significantly better over the CSA. But I guess that would be more than the program could handle.
That is why I am doing this time line to see what would happen.

For Lyon, I not only wanted to see him live, but also to place him in a place other than SW Missouri.
 

hzn5pk

Nov 24 – 30, 1861

Britain learns of Trent incident and the condition of the CSA. It is furious. Debate is in Parliament as to what course of action to take. An apology and release of the prisoners from the USA is needed for sure. Some see this is a way to back the CSA, to permanently split and weaken the USA. The weakened CSA could be a protectorate of Britain much like what was proposed for Texas. Troops are approved to strengthen Canadian interests. If Britain was to back the CSA, the time was now as it truly needed its help.

The fact that the CSA is on the ropes has some members of Parliament nervous about backing a loser, other considerations are for the precedent that this would make for future nations to back factions of the British empire that want to rule themselves.

Parliament resolves that it wants an official apology from the USA and release of the Slidell and Mason. Orders will be sent to Lord Lyons in Washington to vacate his mission in Washington if the conditions of a formal apology and release of the prisoners is not made. He is to present to Seward a stern message to from Lord Russell and Lord Palmerston. Troops were approved to strengthen Canadian interests and naval considerations were made as for possible action against the Union navy.

In the USA, victory fever is sweeping the nation. Wilkes is made a hero in the papers. US Congress grants him a medal of honor for his gallant work. This is the first Congressional Medal of Honor to be granted. The medal awarded to Wilkes was more for political motivation, congressional Republicans riding the wave of national pride, than actual honor on a battlefield or on the open seas. Lincoln does not veto the medal for Wilkes, but asks Congress to define the Congressional Medal of Honor in the future for true, unspoken heroes. Congress also approves of the measures that Lincoln asks to protect the USA from Britain.

These measures are:
The increased naval build up, is to occur faster and stronger, as the Pacific fleet is targeted to be strengthened. Forts and naval gunneries in ports are approved as well for both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The telegraph system is to be widened in California, Oregon, Deseret Territory (named changed), and Nevada territory. Until the system was widened, the Pony Express was to be subsidized and strengthened by the US government. The US government wanted communications with California, Oregon, and the West to be strong.

A transcontinental railroad will be constructed from Iowa, through Nebraska Territory, through Deseret. Resources are to be built up in Eddyville, IA and extended westward through Des Moines to the Missouri river. Labor camps are to be established from emigrants and Freedmen to work on the railroad. The work will start in earnest in the spring of 1862. For now, part of McClellan's command is to build up supplies in Iowa and extend railroad west when weather permits.

Garrisons along the Missouri river in Missouri, Iowa, and Dakota Territory will be strengthened from Confederate and Sioux attacks. The upper Mississippi in Minnesota is also fortified.

Aside from Congress, the Lincoln administration also furthers its plans for a Canadian theatre, and protection of the eastern seacoast. Welles is debating weather or not to send orders to the far flung navy to relocate to home waters.

Seward reaches out to Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and Austria about transporting American goods to their ports on ships of their flags. He states that the US would grant special trading rights with no import duty to these nations if they would flag US cargo ships.

Military action is:
Reynolds and Hancock rest in New Berne, target Beaufort, NC next.
Lyon rests halfway to Wilmington.
McDowell consolidates forces in Memphis.
Sherman is in Norfolk, VA.
Grant sets out for Columbia, SC.
Thomas moves against Chattanooga battles and defeats A.S. Johnston for control of Chattanooga, TN.
McDowell captures and rests in Memphis, TN
 
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hzn5pk

December 1 – 7, 1861
Strong demands and accusations by Palmerston and Russel are sent to Lord Lyons to be given to the United States. This comprises the official British response to the seizure of the Trent. The US is to apologize for the seizure, hand over the two CSA diplomats, censure Captain Wilkes in that he acted without orders, and pay a small amount of tribute for the delay of the Trent. (These are harsher demands than OTL; In this time line, the official correspondence was not filtered by Prince Albert)

Britain makes further military and naval preparations as precaution. Britain also gets the assurance from France, that France will back Britain should hostilities open with the USA.

Lincoln with Seward on hand has a talks with Albert Galt, Canadian minister of finance and Lord Lyons. Lincoln reaffirms that the USA will not start a shooting war with Britain and will not preemptively strike Canada. The USA will not fire the first shots but will defend itself. To Lyons, they state that there were no orders from Washington for Wilkes to stop a British ship and remove the CSA diplomats. Lyons sends this information and newspapers to Lord Russel. Lyons states that Lincoln is wise, cautious, and seems to be a good man to work with. Lincoln is able to muzzle Seward some. He is concerned that public opinion in the USA is anti-British. The United States is truly united due to military success. Lyons has also been getting reports of the USA readying itself if necessary for action against Britain.

Gideon Welles sends orders out to far flung ships in the Mediterranean and Pacific to return to US waters. He also has the blockading fleets return to their home ports. It will take the rest of December for the ships to deploy to home bases.The progress of the armies as most of Tennessee and North Carolina are in Union hands. Welles wants the fleets back in home ports to refit.

Extended storms and rain cause severe flooding in Oregon, California, New Mexico Territory and parts of Deseret. The transcontinental telegraph is down. Messengers and relief parties from Deseret are sent to aid California and Oregon overland. Lincoln wants California and Oregon to know that they are not stranded; Supplies are also sent south into New Mexico territory from Deseret. Plans were already developed for the California Column to cross into Arizona and New Mexico. This regiment had already been securing southern California for the USA. Lincoln did not want to undo these plans.

To aid California, Lincoln called upon Brigham Young to also raise three regiments of troops to be sent West to California to aid in relief, South into New Mexico Territory to link up with both Canby and the California Column, and a third to be ready to head North. Further aid to California is to start two railroads in 1862, the main effort from Iowa, through Nebraska through Deseret to Sacramento. A secondary effort will be from St. Joseph, MO through Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico to link to southern California.

The Homestead Act and Morrill Land Grant Act are proposed and discussed in committee in Congress. These will provide settlers and aid in building the railroads in the West. The Lincoln administration wants to increase immigration to the USA from Europe and Asia. Seeing that immigration from Ireland could be curbed, Seward sends notes to other American Embassies in Europe, (Prussia, Russia, Netherlands, Italy, and Austria ) to encourage immigrants. The railroad companies also send agents to Europe and Asia to encourage more immigration. American trading in China and Japan also spreads the word that emigrants are needed in the USA. This will increase Chinese immigration due to the Taiping Rebellion in southern China. All of the new immigrants and the Freedmen are also eligible to participate in the Homestead Act.

The Republicans see these acts as necessary to settle the West, to block it from Confederate, Indian, Mexican, and British intrusions. The Homestead Act will open up land in phases. The first phase opens up Federal land in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas to Homesteaders. The Republicans wisely see this as also a way to increase their political base and stronghold in American politics.

John Freemont is assigned to McClellan. McClellan has Fremont in Iowa to establish a base, collect the work camps coming from the East, to establish the railroad. McClellan wins approval to develop railroads in Kansas as well, using St. Joseph, MO as a base. McClellan also appoints Greenville Dodge to do the same for Kansas.

William Harney is in charge of Missouri. He is to be on the defensive to protect the Missouri river and the railway in northern Missouri to St. Jo. He has adequate troops to fend off Sterling Price in defense. He is still a bit hesitant to go on the offensive though.

New recruits are available for deployment.
28000 new recruits in the Eastern theater. Each of the five commands in the East are given new regiments of 4000 to replace losses in the last month. 8000 troops under John Sedgwick are stationed in Portland, Maine.

24000 recruits are in the Western theater, 4000 each are given to Thomas and McDowell to replace losses. Another 16000 are gathered in Detroit under Fitz John Porter.

8000 troops are in the Trans-Mississippi. 4000 are to garrison Kansas City, completing Harney’s defense of the Missouri river and northern Missouri railroads. The other 4000 are transferred to McDowell.

Military action
Winfield Hancock advances to Beaufort, NC.
John Reynolds is transferred via rail to Raleigh.
Sherman is transferred via rail to Washington, DC.
Lyon advances to Wilmington, NC and defeats the CSA garrison holding the port. This is the last of Confederate resistance in North Carolina.
Grant rests halfway to Columbia, SC.
Thomas rests in Chattanooga, TN
A confederate garrison in Knoxville, TN surrenders to a Unionist militia. The Confederate are given safe passage out of the area to northern GA.

McDowell advances out of Memphis, his objective is Helena, AR.

All forces are slowing the march to conserve manpower as they go deeper into the South. The weakened state of the CSA also allows for a slower pace. Pressure is still being exerted, but the needless cost of life is trying to be avoided.
 
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hzn5pk

December 8-14, 1861

William Harney makes local truce with Sterling Price. Harney will not advance on Price’s line of Rolla to Springfield in Missouri and visa verse. The Union position is from St. Louis to Jefferson City to Kansas City. Both also agree not to harass civilians whose loyalties are for the other side as long as they are peaceful. The final point of their truce is that each one will notify the other a week in advance of opening hostilities in Missouri. Harney gains approval from Washington before talking with Price. Under this truce, Missourians under Price and Harney are able to go through the lines and spend time in their homes. Even Sterling Price takes advantage of the truce to go back to his hometown. The truce fits more into Union plans, as supplies are being built up for railroads in Kansas and Iowa. It also fits Union plans to stand pat in Missouri while advances are made in Arkansas.

Scott and Stanton have reshaped Union Strategy with Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee officially back in the Union. South Carolina is now the focus with Lyon and Grant campaigning in South Carolina and then swing into Georgia. Thomas will protect Tennessee and wait for Grant and Lyon before joining in an advance to Alabama and Mississippi. McDowell can either continue down the Mississippi after Helena or advance on Little Rock. Other forces under Hancock and Reynolds are protecting the newly returned states to the Union.

The main strategy for the trans-Mississippi is to link the Pacific coast with Iowa and Kansas. This strategy is adopted for out West due to the success of the eastern campaigns and the vulnerability and isolation of California. Two railroads will be started; one from Iowa basically following the Oregon and Mormon trails under the leadership of John Freemont and one from Kansas following the Santé Fe trail under Greenville Dodge. Dodge also gives his engineering advice and former engineering analysis of the central railroad to Fremont.

Dodge moves to set up his base in Atchison, KS across from St. Jo, MO. He will collect supplies and workers for the winter and then start the first section of the railroad from Atchison to Topeka in the spring. From Topeka, he will then connect to Berlingame, KS and then head west generally following the Santé Fe trail. The garrison of Kansas City, MO is under his command. More troops will be coming west in the coming months to be assigned to protect the railroads from Indian and Confederate threats. The activity in California is to recover from flooding and build up defenses.

Winfield Hancock is transferred via rail to Raleigh, NC
John Reynolds is transferred via rail to Richmond, VA
Sherman is transferred via rail to Harrisburg, PA

Nathaniel Lyon rests in Wilmington. His next objective will be to join Grant in the conquest of SC. His plan of advance is to Florence and then Charleston. Both Grant and Lyon will send ex-slaves North as contraband. After spending time in the education camps in Washington, they will be transferred to the West to work on the railroad. All of the men that work are paid a salary. Families are also educated and told about the plans to build railroads. For working the railroads, the men will be given their choice of land as it opens up in the West. In this, they are treated the same as European immigrants as those immigrants who sign up for the rail for land program are also brought to the education camps. The funding for the camps and the railroads is split between railroad companies and the US government. The railroad companies step up their efforts to recruit in immigrants in Europe and Asia. Abolitionist and women societies step up their effort to educate those in the camps.

Grant marches to Columbia, SC.
Thomas waits in Chattanooga to make his next move.
McDowell rests on his way to Helena, Arkansas.

Main Confederate forces are:
William Hardee – is collecting forces from the East. Former units from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina gather in Augusta, GA. Some soldiers are in violation of parole papers from both Lee’s and Beauregard’s former commands.
A.S. Johnston is in Northern Georgia, blocking any movement by Thomas south towards Atlanta.
Polk is in northern Mississippi, with a HQ in Grenada.
Ben McCullough is in Little Rock, AR
Sterling Price in Rolla, MO
Other notable garrisons are in Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; Mobile, AL; and New Orleans, and Vicksburg.
 
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