Manifest Destiny: World Power Page 3

  The newspaper accounts of ‘Hannibal’s Stand’ varied widely from a simple recounting of the facts to generally fantastic tales. Some reports blame him for the annihilation of his unit. Others hail him as a larger than life hero; who almost single-handedly held off hundreds of bloodthirsty savages before being forced to blow up the armory. However, after a few days, the news cycle moved on, as the Plains Indians rising and the Mormon rebellion begin to dominate the headlines. The Battle of San Francisco and Hannibal’s Stand slipped quietly into history.

  White House, April 3.

  Abraham Lincoln met with his cabinet. Without preamble, he began: “Gentlemen before we get into the attack on Halifax, we must deal with the issues at hand. I have read the transcription of the telegraph messages about San Francisco and Alcatraz Island. Secretary Farragut, Captain Kincaid, and Commander Dalton need rewarding. Captain Kincaid for his initiative and the repulse of the Royal Navy’s assault. His engagement with three battleships, sinking one and capturing two others is outstanding. Commander Dalton took on three Frigates and sank them all. Please handle that as you deem appropriate.

  We must also decide Admiral Chadbourne. As much as I would like to order his execution, he is a prisoner of war, and it is not allowed. However, diplomatically, we must express our displeasure over his ordering such a barbarous action. Secretary Seward, I will leave that up to you.”

  Then looking at Grant, Lincoln continued: “Secretary Grant, have you reviewed the reports about Hannibal’s Stand?”

  Grant stood up and spoke: “Mr. President, I have reviewed Private Hamilton’s account and the Marine lieutenant’s assessment of the scene. I compared those with the documented layout of the fort, the location of the crater and the casement containing the survivors. It is highly likely that Private Hamilton’s description of the events is accurate.

  Sergeant Major Johnston not only is a hero but a very capable soldier. I have ordered that he immediately be given a battlefield promotion to lieutenant. I also plan to revise the policy of only white officers for colored units. When Lieutenant Johnston recovers, I intend to brevet him to a Captaincy and place him in charge of a company. I have also ordered the review of the records of other colored sergeant majors, for promotion to lieutenant. We will need at least four of them to staff Johnston’s new company. They will be the proving ground for future developments. I can envision the day when all of the colored units will have colored officers.”

  After a pause to drink some water, Grant continued: “I have appointed General George Crook to drive the British out of Seattle. He is currently in Oregon settling a dispute with the Modoc Indians. He currently has 1,600 infantry and another 600 Oregon Cavalry. 2,000 reserves from California are en route as reinforcements. With the losses the Royal Navy suffered in San Francisco, there should be little they can do to support their outpost in Seattle.

  General Sheridan with 25,000 troops is scheduled to depart from St Louis within a week. He will ride the railroads to Cheyenne in the Wyoming Territory. There, 5,000 troops and Cavalry, commanded by General Terry will be detached to deal with the Sioux and Cheyenne. Sheridan will continue to the end of the railroad line. From there, he will march towards Salt Lake City. Those forces should be able to deal with the insurrections.” Grant nodded to the President and sat down.

  Broadly smiling, Lincoln said to Grant: “Thank you Mr. Secretary.” He then turned to Secretary Seward. “Has anything changed on the diplomatic front”?

  Seward stood and replied: “Mr. President, I met with Baron von Stuben, the Prussian Ambassador representing the North German Confederation. He has offered to be an intermediator between us and Great Britain to find a diplomatic solution to the war. Von Stuben is the nephew of the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and if properly cultivated could be a valuable asset. He indicated that their ambassador in London has already approached the British Foreign Office with a similar proposal.

  I thanked him and said I would bring it up in today’s cabinet meeting. It might be to our advantage to let him open talks, especially since we now control the reins. The British are back on their heels and might be seeking a face-saving way out. Any possible negotiations, should not affect our plans to capture New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I have a meeting with von Stuben tomorrow and will use that opportunity to express our displeasure with Admiral Chadbourne. Shall I also advise him to open talks?”

  Lincoln leaned back in his chair, massaged his beard then said: “Mr. Secretary, I concur, let us use the Germans to our advantage. It will not hurt us to talk, or hinder our plans in any way.”

  Seward replied: “Thank you, Mr. President, I will confirm my meeting with Ambassador von Stuben.” Seward then sat down.

  Lincoln then asked Secretary of the Navy David Farragut for an update on naval assets. Farragut replied: “Mr. President, the consortium of Gideon Wells and John Ericsson have solved the exploding breach problem which plagued the Armstrong screw breech. They designed a method which utilized a slot cut into the breech. A horizontal sliding block slides into the slot after loading the shells. The sliding block effectively seals the rear of the breech. The new breech-loading long guns will almost double the range and will cut the reloading time by a third.

  USS Stonewall has completed her refit and has been re-commissioned. The other three Kalamazoo ironclads, USS Quinsigamond, USS Passaconamy and USS Shackamaxon, have completed their sea trials and have joined the fleet. They have been equipped with the new breech-loading long guns and are ready for the Halifax operation. USS Agamenticus also has the new long guns. Her sister ships will get the guns at their next re-fit. Those additions and upgrades give us the most modern and powerful fleet in the world.

  The three sunk sloops of war in San Francisco are in the process of being been raised and should be able to be salvaged. They sank in shallow water, which will make the task easier. The two captured battleships will be cut down to the lower gun deck and converted to twin turreted ironclads. The fact that the hulls are intact will make the conversion process easier. There are two frigates and a sloop of war already under conversion and should be ready for trials within 60 days. By the end of the year, we will have six ocean-going, twin-turreted ironclads protecting the west coast.

  USS Comanche will patrol San Pablo and San Francisco Bays. USS Monadnock will steam to Puget Sound, with three revenue cutters as escorts. Captain Kincaid will support General Crook’s ground assault. Once we recapture Seattle, we will explore a suitable fleet anchorage in that area.”

  With that, Farragut sat down. Lincoln stood up then directed all their attention to a map on the wall.

  The map highlighted the northern portion of the United States and its anticipated conquests in Canada. The border regions of USA are colored green. Upper Canada in gray, Lower Canada in light red, New Brunswick in blue, and Nova Scotia in light pink.

  Lincoln began: “Gentlemen, this is the map of our overall plans for the spring campaign to wrest New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from British Control. The general timetable to begin is from May 1 to May 15. The earlier dates will be preferable. Secretaries Grant and Farragut, please describe the plans.” Lincoln then moved to the side of the room and sat down. Grant rose, picked up a pointer, walked over the map, while Farragut walked over and sat next to Lincoln. Grant pointed to the map and said:

  “Mr. President, the winter has been unseasonably cold. General Sweeney reports from Quebec City that the St. Lawrence still has heavy ice flows, making river traffic very dangerous. He indicates that the locals tell him the river ice is usually out by mid to late April, but this year could be later. General Sherman from his headquarters in Watertown indicates that he has prepared 30,000 men for this campaign. The majority of the soldiers are in New York and Ohio, but transports are available to move them to Quebec City on short notice. He will be ready to go as soon as Admiral Lee brings the fleet and transports.

  Admiral Lee will bring eight up-armored ironclads with him, leaving the gunboat USS Michi
gan and an ironclad to patrol the Lakes. The up-armoring to 8 inches on the hull is important, as the previous 4 inches was barely sufficient in combat with the Royal Navy battleships. As you remember, one of the ironclads sank, and three were significantly damaged. The added weight will cost almost two knots in speed but should increase the survivability of the ironclads in a ship to ship combat.

  Sherman’s Corps does not include garrisons left behind in Upper Canada where resistance was the strongest. The commanders of the garrisons are working with local office holders to keep essential services functioning, to provide a sense of normalcy. Still there reports of resentment and periodic rebellious activity.

  General Chamberlain has assembled 50,000 men from New England. They will gather in Portland, Portsmouth, and Boston, rendezvous east of Portland; and sail to Halifax and the Bay of Fundy. Many of the volunteers who fought under Chamberlain last October, have re-enlisted. They want to end the British threat once and for all. The plan is to wallop the British from three directions at the same time. Sherman will land in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, secure the area then move towards Halifax. Chamberlain’s main landing of 35,000 will be at Halifax and 15,000 men escorted by Commodore Treat up the Bay of Fundy to land at St John, New Brunswick.

  Chamberlain appointed Major General Adelbert Ames to be the field commander of the Bay of Fundy division, which will be escorted by Commodore Treat. Ames recruited his troops from soldiers in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Most will gather in Portland and rendezvous with transports from Augusta, Bangor, and Penobscot Bay which will collect and sail from Searsport. Telegraph messages will coordinate departure times for all the groups.

  The plans are for Treat to capture St Johns, then sail up the St Johns River and take Fredericton. Sherman and Chamberlain will land in Nova Scotia both from the north and the south and invest Halifax. That will force the British to commit the Royal Navy, and Army reserves to try and push us out, or try for a negotiated settlement.” Grant walked over to Farragut, handed him the pointer and sat down next to Lincoln.

  Secretary Farragut began: “Mr. President the Navy is ready for this campaign. Admiral Dahlgren’s fleet will consist of the four Kalamazoo’s, accompanied by USS Weehawken, USS Miantonoth, USS Towanda and USS Sangamon. The single-turreted monitors USS Catskill, USS Canonicus, USS Saugus, USS Nantucket, USS Mahopac, will protect the coast and the harbors in Portland, Portsmouth. Boston has the three surviving Casco Monitors plus the USS Nahant. Support ships will include frigates and sloops of war. The frigates will be escorts for the transport ships, and the sloops of war will be our screen. Chamberlains soldiers will include regiments from Rhode Island, Massachusetts Connecticut. They will assemble in Boston.

  Commodore Treat’s fleet will consist of two single turreted ironclads: USS Manhattan, USS Montauk, and five Neosho Ironclads: USS Abenaki, USS Biddeford, USS Chenango, USS Block Island and USS Suwanee. The last three are the latest fleet additions, finishing their sea trials in March. Their turrets have the new 20-inch rifled Dahlgrens. All of them have been up-armored to 8 inches on the hull. Treat will also have one frigate and four sloops of war as escorts for the transports.” Checking his notes, Farragut continued:

  “Admiral Porter based the Southern fleet in Hampton Roads. It consists of USS Agamenticus, USS Stonewall, USS Onondaga, USS Tecumseh, USS Puritan and USS Dictator. He has six steam frigates and twelve steam sloops of war as support ships. Additionally, Passaic and Canonicus Monitors, with the support of the Mosquito Fleets, are patrolling the waters in and around Bermuda, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. The British government could order the Royal Navy to recover their former Caribbean possessions, while they draw off our naval assets to defend our landings in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Admiral Porter is very capable, and has broad discretion in the deployment of his fleet.” Nodding to President Lincoln, he placed the pointer on an easel; then Secretary Farragut resumed his seat next to Grant.

  Lincoln arose and said: “Thank you, gentlemen, for your planning and organization. The campaign will be significant, and coordination will be of paramount importance. We must not forget that the British will be planning their operations. That is why it is essential that we strike first before they can re-supply Halifax and strengthen their defenses. Let us adjourn for the day. However, I want to be informed as soon as the ice breaks up on the St. Lawrence.”

  Chapter 5

  London, February 1868.

  Earl Derby met with Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace and resigned as Prime Minister. Before that, he met with his cabinet and notified them with the following statement: “My Lords, I am now an old man, and as many of your Lordships, I have already passed the three score years and 10. My political life is at an end; my life is nearly so; and, in the course of nature, my natural life cannot now be long.”

  Earl Derby’s statement was entirely true. However, he was also devastated by Great Britain’s defeats over the past five months. It was time for new leadership. Immediately after informing the Cabinet, Earl Derby left for his appointment with the Queen.

  Realizing that an intraparty power struggle for the office of Prime Minister would only aid the Liberals led by Lord Gladstone, the Conservatives met and selected Benjamin Disraeli as their candidate for Prime Minister. On February 29 Disraeli sought an audience with the Queen to present his credentials. Queen Victoria granted the audience and accepted him as Prime Minister. The Queens approval was a momentous occasion, as Disraeli was the first Jewish politician ever to serve as the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

  Winsor Castle, March 25.

  As a special favor to Disraeli, Queen Victoria offered Windsor Castle as the location for the formal reception to celebrate his selection as Prime Minister. Carriages brought in heads of state and their retinues to the Royal castle. Disraeli and his wife Mary Ann warmly received their guests with pomp and ceremony. Emperor Napoleon III and his Empress Eugenie de Montijo were special guests. Other prominent attendees included Queen Isabella II of Spain, with her husband Francis, Duke of Cadiz; and Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia with his wife Victoria, who was the daughter of the British monarch.

  Following the reception, Disraeli asked to meet privately with Napoleon III, Isabella, the Duke of Cadiz and Crown Prince Frederick. Victoria also attended as she and Frederick had previously agreed to be together in matters of state. Disraeli thought to remind Victoria that her place was with the women, however one imperious glance from Victoria put paid that idea. At that moment, Disraeli saw in Victoria all the strength and determination of her mother.

  The meeting took place in a spacious parlor off the main hall. Seated, with their husbands standing beside them were Empress Eugenie de Montijo, Queen Isabella, and Victoria. After expressing appreciation to them all for attending his reception, Disraeli began with the actual reason for the meeting.

  “My Lord and Ladyships, there is a new and hungry wolf on the world scene. The United States of America is not only united but highly aggressive. Just examine what they have conquered in the past year. Upper and Lower Canada are firmly in their grip, and they have made the Caribbean Basin an American lake. In West Africa, they have created an aggressive partner in Liberia, which could be a threat to all of our colonial ambitions. We need joint actions to curb this menace to all our interests.”

  Napoleon III brushed off Disraeli’s comments and stated: “Liberia is a dragon of your making. It was you British who started the disastrous war with Liberia and then declared war on the United States for supporting their protectorate. That declaration of war gave the United States cause to remove your Imperial forces from much of Canada and undoubtedly motivates them to expel you from the rest. Their ironclad turreted warships swept the Royal Navy from their shores and the Caribbean Basin. Diplomatically they played you like a fiddle and you obliged by dancing to their tune.”

  Pausing to take a sip of his brandy, Napoleon continued: “Now you want us to help pull your chestnuts from the fire. What earthl
y reason could motivate us to do that, and at the same time make an enemy of this newly emerging world power? Mexico, you might suggest, why Maximillian, with his liberal policies, is beginning to gain favor with the Mexican populace and is building an army from his supporters. He even convinced Benito Juarez to make peace and accept the post of Prime Minister. Juarez’s conditions were the removal of French troops, the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, with guaranteed Mexican succession to the throne.

  Maximillian quickly agreed. The Constitution will be revised to make the leader of the lower house of Congress the prime minister, who will select the cabinet. That places Juarez in the seat of power.

  Maximillian has also resolved the succession issue. He is without heirs and has adopted both grandsons of Agustin de Iturbide, who was the Mexican emperor back in the 1820’s to be his heirs. That has won the support of the Mexicans who are opposed to a foreign-led government. Maximillian is not in the best of health. Having a Mexican line of succession has stabilized the monarchy.

  On the third point, Maximillian has ordered the phased withdrawal of French troops. With all the French troops gone, he and Juarez will be able to negotiate a deal for full diplomatic recognition with the United States.”