I don't use all the same ones. Just the ones I like or would like to use for something later in the time-line
America: A TL Retold
- Thread starter herricks
- Start date
I don't use all the same ones. Just the ones I like or would like to use for something later in the time-line
Blood in the Streets
On March 13 General Taylor with an army now numbering over 6,500 left Monlova to capture the Mexican city of Monterrey where Cos's army had set up camp and grown to over 7,500. Two weeks after departing Monlova they neared their objective. Taylor's army, with Houston's Texas Division, reached the plain in front of Monterrey at 9 am on the morning of March 29, when they were fired upon by Mexican guns atop the citadel. Taylor ordered the army to camp at Bosque de San Domingo.
Besides the citadel, Mexican strong points within the city included: the "Black Fort", "the Tannery," La Teneria, El Fortin del Rincon del Diablo, and La Purisima bridge and tete-de-pont. West of the city atop Independencia stood Ft. Libertad and the Obispado (bishop's place) with the Activo of Mexico and atop Federacion was a redan and Fort Soldado.
General Zachary Taylor decided to attack western Monterrey using a division under Brigadier General Duncan Lamont Clinch in a giant north and west "hook" movement while simultaneously attacking with his main body from the east. Clinch started at 2 pm on March 30 along with Col. Deaf Smith's Texas Ranger Regiment screening the advance, but they camped for the night three miles from the Saltillo road. By 6 am on March 31, Clinch continued his advance repulsing a Jalisco cavalry charge, and an advance guard consisting of two brigades. By 8:15 am, Worth had severed the Saltillo road from Monterrey and sent 300 infantry and Texans, plus the 7th Infantry ands 2d Brigade to take Federacion and Fort Soldado, which they quickly did. In the mean time Taylor launched a diversion against eastern Monterrey with the 1st and 3d Infantry, which quickly grew into an assault. By 9am, the tannery had been taken and by noon the 1st Tennessee and Mississippi Rifles had taken Fort de La Teneria.
At 3 am on April 1, Clinch sent the Texas Rangers and the 4th and 8th Infantry to take Fort Libertad on Independencia, which they did by day break. They soon took the Obispado and had control of western Monterrey. By then, the Mexicans had abandoned their outer defenses on the east side of Monterrey with it being held by 11 am. By 2 pm General Clinch advanced into the city from the west, burrowing house to house, supported in the late afternoon by a mortar set up in Plaza de la Capella, and were within a block west of the plaza by midnight. The Texan volunteers taught the U.S. regulars new techniques for fighting in the city, techniques that they did not employ on March 29, which had led to staggering casualties. Armed with these new urban warfare skills, the US Army along with Texan, Mississippian, and Tennessee volunteers moved house to house, rooting out Mexican soldiers hiding on rooftops and inside the thick, adobe-walled houses of northern Mexico. By 2 PM Taylor was within two blocks of the plaza when General Cos finally ordered his army's withdrawal.
In the nearly four days of intense fighting both sides armies had suffered a large amount of casualties. The Mexican Army had suffered over 650 casualties, while the Americans had suffered close to 800 casualties of which over 300 were killed or would die from their wounds. The large numbers of casualties sustained in capturing Monterrey would force Taylor to halt his advance to allow his army rest and receive reinforcements. Though more troops were being assembled General Taylor's army was not the only one that needed troops. And the war against Mexico was not the only place that more soldiers were needed.
On March 13 General Taylor with an army now numbering over 6,500 left Monlova to capture the Mexican city of Monterrey where Cos's army had set up camp and grown to over 7,500. Two weeks after departing Monlova they neared their objective. Taylor's army, with Houston's Texas Division, reached the plain in front of Monterrey at 9 am on the morning of March 29, when they were fired upon by Mexican guns atop the citadel. Taylor ordered the army to camp at Bosque de San Domingo.
Besides the citadel, Mexican strong points within the city included: the "Black Fort", "the Tannery," La Teneria, El Fortin del Rincon del Diablo, and La Purisima bridge and tete-de-pont. West of the city atop Independencia stood Ft. Libertad and the Obispado (bishop's place) with the Activo of Mexico and atop Federacion was a redan and Fort Soldado.
General Zachary Taylor decided to attack western Monterrey using a division under Brigadier General Duncan Lamont Clinch in a giant north and west "hook" movement while simultaneously attacking with his main body from the east. Clinch started at 2 pm on March 30 along with Col. Deaf Smith's Texas Ranger Regiment screening the advance, but they camped for the night three miles from the Saltillo road. By 6 am on March 31, Clinch continued his advance repulsing a Jalisco cavalry charge, and an advance guard consisting of two brigades. By 8:15 am, Worth had severed the Saltillo road from Monterrey and sent 300 infantry and Texans, plus the 7th Infantry ands 2d Brigade to take Federacion and Fort Soldado, which they quickly did. In the mean time Taylor launched a diversion against eastern Monterrey with the 1st and 3d Infantry, which quickly grew into an assault. By 9am, the tannery had been taken and by noon the 1st Tennessee and Mississippi Rifles had taken Fort de La Teneria.
At 3 am on April 1, Clinch sent the Texas Rangers and the 4th and 8th Infantry to take Fort Libertad on Independencia, which they did by day break. They soon took the Obispado and had control of western Monterrey. By then, the Mexicans had abandoned their outer defenses on the east side of Monterrey with it being held by 11 am. By 2 pm General Clinch advanced into the city from the west, burrowing house to house, supported in the late afternoon by a mortar set up in Plaza de la Capella, and were within a block west of the plaza by midnight. The Texan volunteers taught the U.S. regulars new techniques for fighting in the city, techniques that they did not employ on March 29, which had led to staggering casualties. Armed with these new urban warfare skills, the US Army along with Texan, Mississippian, and Tennessee volunteers moved house to house, rooting out Mexican soldiers hiding on rooftops and inside the thick, adobe-walled houses of northern Mexico. By 2 PM Taylor was within two blocks of the plaza when General Cos finally ordered his army's withdrawal.
In the nearly four days of intense fighting both sides armies had suffered a large amount of casualties. The Mexican Army had suffered over 650 casualties, while the Americans had suffered close to 800 casualties of which over 300 were killed or would die from their wounds. The large numbers of casualties sustained in capturing Monterrey would force Taylor to halt his advance to allow his army rest and receive reinforcements. Though more troops were being assembled General Taylor's army was not the only one that needed troops. And the war against Mexico was not the only place that more soldiers were needed.
The Northern Crisis
The Oregon Country had been sought after by several nations for its territorial and commercial interests since the 18th Century Spain, Russia, Britain, and the US had all explored the region, however by the 1830's only the latter two remained in the game. Though the US's annexation of the western half of Rupert's Land had blocked Britain's land path to the Pacific Northwest the area was still considered strategically important both commercially and militarily as it provided naval bases and would hamper American expansion.
Since the end of the War of 1810 Britain and the US had both been moving into Oregon and delegates from London and Washington had been trying to find a solution to the overlapping claims. Nothing however had ever worked out and tensions had grown in the area especially between the settlers with some violent incidents occurring.
There were many in Washington and the northern border states that feared Britain would use the war with Mexico to get revenge from the War of 1810 and retake lost territory. These fears forced Washington to keep many military garrisons near Canada and the few in the Oregon Country at full strength and thereby not allowing as many troops as needed from heading to Mexico.
To end the threat of British intervention in the war against Mexico President Jackson and Secretary of State John Forsyth met with British Ambassador Henry Stephen Fox on April 1 to finally put an end to the Oregon dispute and get a guaranteed peace. Talks went on for weeks before an agreement would finally be made. On April 21, the same day as General Kearny captured Tuscon, the Treaty of Washington was signed. In exchange for $5,500,000 Britain guaranteed to not intervene in the US's war with Mexico and dropped claims to most of the Oregon Country. The areas that remained under British control would be Vancouver Island, all islands west of the Rosario Strait, several islands within Puget Sound, Fort Niqually and surrounding areas, Campbell Island, and Haida Gwaii. While it would talk most of a year to spread through the Oregon Country the threat of war with Britain had, for the moment anyway, dissipated.
The Oregon Country had been sought after by several nations for its territorial and commercial interests since the 18th Century Spain, Russia, Britain, and the US had all explored the region, however by the 1830's only the latter two remained in the game. Though the US's annexation of the western half of Rupert's Land had blocked Britain's land path to the Pacific Northwest the area was still considered strategically important both commercially and militarily as it provided naval bases and would hamper American expansion.
Since the end of the War of 1810 Britain and the US had both been moving into Oregon and delegates from London and Washington had been trying to find a solution to the overlapping claims. Nothing however had ever worked out and tensions had grown in the area especially between the settlers with some violent incidents occurring.
There were many in Washington and the northern border states that feared Britain would use the war with Mexico to get revenge from the War of 1810 and retake lost territory. These fears forced Washington to keep many military garrisons near Canada and the few in the Oregon Country at full strength and thereby not allowing as many troops as needed from heading to Mexico.
To end the threat of British intervention in the war against Mexico President Jackson and Secretary of State John Forsyth met with British Ambassador Henry Stephen Fox on April 1 to finally put an end to the Oregon dispute and get a guaranteed peace. Talks went on for weeks before an agreement would finally be made. On April 21, the same day as General Kearny captured Tuscon, the Treaty of Washington was signed. In exchange for $5,500,000 Britain guaranteed to not intervene in the US's war with Mexico and dropped claims to most of the Oregon Country. The areas that remained under British control would be Vancouver Island, all islands west of the Rosario Strait, several islands within Puget Sound, Fort Niqually and surrounding areas, Campbell Island, and Haida Gwaii. While it would talk most of a year to spread through the Oregon Country the threat of war with Britain had, for the moment anyway, dissipated.
I don't generally respond to stuff or post in threads but you looked a little lonely. I have been reading this and imo its been pretty good so far. Do you know if the US is going to have much in the way of over seas territory including Hawaii? Will the British be staying on Vancouver Island and the others permanently? Also do you know currently if the US will end up with any more of Canada?
Sorry for taking so long on a new update. Mardi Gras Texas last weekend really kicked my ass.
To the Seas
The Battle of Monterrey had exhausted General Taylor's army and force him to halt his advance into Mexico. While his force was being replenished it would take some time. Acquiring reinforcements would take longer than expected though as a new army was being built to open up a new front.
In the small but growing Texas port of Galveston over 10,000 regular and volunteer soldiers were gathering under War of 1810 hero brevet Major General Winfield Scott to conduct Americas first major seaborne assault in its history. While General Taylor had been largely successful in securing the northeastern provinces of Mexico after war broke out, it became obvious by the mid-1836, the Mexicans would not surrender the captured territories without a direct assault on their capital. Deeming an overland campaign from northeastern Mexico unfeasible (required marching over 900 km of arid Mexican desert), Scott had began planning an expedition to Gulf port city of Veracruz.
On May 5 General Scott and just over 12,000 men boarded troop ships and set sail on the nearly two week journey for Veracruz. Scott's army would begin their campaign on May 19 with the Americans landing outside the city. While General Scott prepared his army to assault Veracruz the US Navy moved to blockade the port and began bombarding it. Two days after landing US forces assaulted Veracruz and its 3,500 defenders which had already been under intense naval bombardment. The Battle of Veracruz lasted for about eighteen hours before the city surrendered to the Americans. Scott had suffered only 380 casualties during the fight and with a port for supplies to arrive the Americans began planning to move inland to take Mexico City.
After taking Tuscon General Kearny had halted his advance on California for the remainder of April to rest his forces before continuing on May 1. Ten days after leaving Tuscon the Americans crossed the Colorado River and began moving to capture San Diego where 1,600 Mexican troops still held control despite a US naval blockade. On May 26 as Kearny's force neared their objective the Mexican's moved to meet them beginning the Battle of San Pasqual. The Battle of San Pasqual was the first major engagement in California. Though the Americans were outnumbered by over 300 they, like the rest of the American armies fighting across Mexico, were better trained and better equipped. After only eight hours the Mexicans withdrew with more than 600 casualties to the Americans 140. They couldn't return to San Diego however as the US Navy had finally moved in to occupy the city.
Five days after the end of the Battle of San Pasqual General Kearny entered San Diego and greeting the naval occupation forces. With San Diego now under American control Kearny began planning his next move on moving north to take Los Angeles and ultimately Monterrey. San Francisco was already under American control after a revolt that started in Sonoma by several hundred American settlers led by the recently arrived former Tennessee Congressman David "Davy" Crockett on March 9.
To the Seas
The Battle of Monterrey had exhausted General Taylor's army and force him to halt his advance into Mexico. While his force was being replenished it would take some time. Acquiring reinforcements would take longer than expected though as a new army was being built to open up a new front.
In the small but growing Texas port of Galveston over 10,000 regular and volunteer soldiers were gathering under War of 1810 hero brevet Major General Winfield Scott to conduct Americas first major seaborne assault in its history. While General Taylor had been largely successful in securing the northeastern provinces of Mexico after war broke out, it became obvious by the mid-1836, the Mexicans would not surrender the captured territories without a direct assault on their capital. Deeming an overland campaign from northeastern Mexico unfeasible (required marching over 900 km of arid Mexican desert), Scott had began planning an expedition to Gulf port city of Veracruz.
On May 5 General Scott and just over 12,000 men boarded troop ships and set sail on the nearly two week journey for Veracruz. Scott's army would begin their campaign on May 19 with the Americans landing outside the city. While General Scott prepared his army to assault Veracruz the US Navy moved to blockade the port and began bombarding it. Two days after landing US forces assaulted Veracruz and its 3,500 defenders which had already been under intense naval bombardment. The Battle of Veracruz lasted for about eighteen hours before the city surrendered to the Americans. Scott had suffered only 380 casualties during the fight and with a port for supplies to arrive the Americans began planning to move inland to take Mexico City.
After taking Tuscon General Kearny had halted his advance on California for the remainder of April to rest his forces before continuing on May 1. Ten days after leaving Tuscon the Americans crossed the Colorado River and began moving to capture San Diego where 1,600 Mexican troops still held control despite a US naval blockade. On May 26 as Kearny's force neared their objective the Mexican's moved to meet them beginning the Battle of San Pasqual. The Battle of San Pasqual was the first major engagement in California. Though the Americans were outnumbered by over 300 they, like the rest of the American armies fighting across Mexico, were better trained and better equipped. After only eight hours the Mexicans withdrew with more than 600 casualties to the Americans 140. They couldn't return to San Diego however as the US Navy had finally moved in to occupy the city.
Five days after the end of the Battle of San Pasqual General Kearny entered San Diego and greeting the naval occupation forces. With San Diego now under American control Kearny began planning his next move on moving north to take Los Angeles and ultimately Monterrey. San Francisco was already under American control after a revolt that started in Sonoma by several hundred American settlers led by the recently arrived former Tennessee Congressman David "Davy" Crockett on March 9.
it will have some overseas territory though whether or not they keep them forever i''ve not decided. and no comment either way on Canada
Engagements with the Eagle
Following another defeat of Mexico at Monterrey Santa Anna had relieved General Cos of his command and marched north with over 10,000 fresh troops on April 18 to drive the Americans from Mexico. Not knowing of Scott's invasion at Veracruz Santa Anna reached Parras on May 7 and merged Cos's 5,100 troops with his army and turned east to face Taylor, who had began moving again and occupied Saltillo the previous day. Five days later the two armies engaged in the Battle of Saltillo.
General Taylor and his army would outnumbered by more than 2-1 by Santa Anna and the Mexicans. The Americans did have the advantage of being on the defensive however stopping several waves of attacking Mexicans and holding most of their lines until darkness fell. On the morning of the second day renewed Mexican assaults began with an artillery barrage. Though shaken the Americans stood firm against the bombardment however, thirty minutes into the attack tragedy struck the Americans when a cannonball from a Mexican 8-pounder struck an ammunition cart mere yards from General Taylor which exploded killing him instantly.
The death of Taylor caused a panic in the lines which the Mexicans exploited causing the Americans to withdraw more than a mile before noon. By the early afternoon though General Houston, who had assumed command following Taylor' death, took control of the situation and was able to rally his troops and conduct an orderly withdrawal into Saltillo where the Americans used the city to their advantage and stopping the Mexican advance. The remainder of the day would be a stalemate with Santa Anna only launching one more attack shortly before sunset which failed.
As night fell on the second day of fighting word finally arrived to Santa Anna's headquarters of General Scott's landing at Veracruz. Having advanced more than retreated Santa Anna called the battle a victory and ordered his army to withdraw so he could move to face Scott and protect Mexico City. To try and stop the Americans the Mexicans had suffered over 2,700 casualties of which over a thousand either deserted of surrendered to the Americans 750 casualties and ended with them still withdrawing. Like Monterrey however the loss of manpower and supplies would again stop any offensive operations from being taken by Houston and the Americans.
As Santa Anna moved south, General Scott and his army had pushed out of Veracruz and was marching on Jalapa. On June 2 the Americans assaulted the ill-prepared Mexican troops in the Battle of Jalapa in which the larger American force easily overwhelmed the city's defenders. It would be over a month, allowing the supply trains to sufficiently catch up with them, before Scott continued his offensive and moved on Puebla.
Leaving Jalapa on July 4 Scott's army marched on Puebla. Since the Battle of Jalapa however Santa Anna had arrived back in Mexico city and assembled a force of over 18,000 soldiers to defeat General Scott and defend the capital. Seventeen days after leaving Jalapa Scott would reach his objective and meet Santa Anna in the Battle of Puebla.
Following another defeat of Mexico at Monterrey Santa Anna had relieved General Cos of his command and marched north with over 10,000 fresh troops on April 18 to drive the Americans from Mexico. Not knowing of Scott's invasion at Veracruz Santa Anna reached Parras on May 7 and merged Cos's 5,100 troops with his army and turned east to face Taylor, who had began moving again and occupied Saltillo the previous day. Five days later the two armies engaged in the Battle of Saltillo.
General Taylor and his army would outnumbered by more than 2-1 by Santa Anna and the Mexicans. The Americans did have the advantage of being on the defensive however stopping several waves of attacking Mexicans and holding most of their lines until darkness fell. On the morning of the second day renewed Mexican assaults began with an artillery barrage. Though shaken the Americans stood firm against the bombardment however, thirty minutes into the attack tragedy struck the Americans when a cannonball from a Mexican 8-pounder struck an ammunition cart mere yards from General Taylor which exploded killing him instantly.
The death of Taylor caused a panic in the lines which the Mexicans exploited causing the Americans to withdraw more than a mile before noon. By the early afternoon though General Houston, who had assumed command following Taylor' death, took control of the situation and was able to rally his troops and conduct an orderly withdrawal into Saltillo where the Americans used the city to their advantage and stopping the Mexican advance. The remainder of the day would be a stalemate with Santa Anna only launching one more attack shortly before sunset which failed.
As night fell on the second day of fighting word finally arrived to Santa Anna's headquarters of General Scott's landing at Veracruz. Having advanced more than retreated Santa Anna called the battle a victory and ordered his army to withdraw so he could move to face Scott and protect Mexico City. To try and stop the Americans the Mexicans had suffered over 2,700 casualties of which over a thousand either deserted of surrendered to the Americans 750 casualties and ended with them still withdrawing. Like Monterrey however the loss of manpower and supplies would again stop any offensive operations from being taken by Houston and the Americans.
As Santa Anna moved south, General Scott and his army had pushed out of Veracruz and was marching on Jalapa. On June 2 the Americans assaulted the ill-prepared Mexican troops in the Battle of Jalapa in which the larger American force easily overwhelmed the city's defenders. It would be over a month, allowing the supply trains to sufficiently catch up with them, before Scott continued his offensive and moved on Puebla.
Leaving Jalapa on July 4 Scott's army marched on Puebla. Since the Battle of Jalapa however Santa Anna had arrived back in Mexico city and assembled a force of over 18,000 soldiers to defeat General Scott and defend the capital. Seventeen days after leaving Jalapa Scott would reach his objective and meet Santa Anna in the Battle of Puebla.
The Bloody Days
The Battle of Puebla began in the early afternoon on July 21. With over 30,000 troops engaging, roughly 19,000 Mexican and 12,500 American, this would be the largest single battle of the war. General Scott launched the first attack with a brigade of his forces trying to outflank the Mexicans while American artillery pounded on the rest of the lines. Santa Anna's reserve units however were quick to be moved and in less than an hour the Americans had suffered over 200 casualties and withdrew. Night fell before any other significant attacks could be mounted and the two armies settled in.
The next morning, tired from the previous days fighting, the Americans stayed on the defensive and it was Santa Anna's turn to go on the attack. Over the course of the day the Mexicans launched a number of assaults across the American lines and all failed. This would bring about an end to the second day of fighting as the soldiers got rest for the upcoming days battle.
While the Battle of Puebla was taking center stage, the war continued on elsewhere. In California General Kearny, after taking Los Angeles on June 30 after the Battle of San Gabriel, had continued north and now with the assistance of Colonel Crockett and the Californian rebels had Monterrey under siege. On Mexico's Pacific Coast out of San Blas, which had been captured early on in the war, Marine Colonel Archibald Henderson with 250 Marines, 250 sailors, and 600 soldiers had marched inland on July 1 to capture Guadalajara. After the fierce two day Battle of Guadalajara that city to fell into American hands on July 19 further tightening the noose around Mexico.
On the third day of the Battle of Puebla Santa Anna would use over 9,000 troops in a massive predawn assault. The attack took many guard by surprise with many of them being killed before firing a shot. In minutes the Mexicans were mixed up in with the Americans who were only now coming to and the assault turned into a brawl. As daybreak came across the battlefield it was a scene of bloody carnage as the Americans desperately tried to fend off the Mexican attackers. Mid morning saw would finally see a change in luck for the Americans however when former president Henry Lee's son Captain Robert E. Lee led a battalion of troops behind the main Mexican line to assault the rear guard.
General Santa Anna had rode forward to personally view the carnage of the assault and was preparing to return to headquarters when gunfire erupted behind them. Lee and his men's arrival had surprised the Mexicans allowing the Americans the advantage in this engagement. Within fifteen minutes the American troops had control of the Mexican artillery and had begun firing into the Mexicans backs. During his attempt to escape a young Second Lieutenant Robert Payne would shoot Santa Anna's horse out from under him and capture the Mexican leader and bring him to the wounded Captain Lee whom was being treated for a deep saber wound to the abdomen.
Lee's daring attack on the Mexican rear broke their will to fight and the main army that had been engaged in the bitter mostly hand to hand fighting began to either surrender or run. By early afternoon the three day long Battle of Puebla had came to an end in a costly but decisive American victory. The Americans had suffered over 5,000 casualties during the battle but delivered over 7,000 casualties to Mexico along with capturing over 6,000 troops thereby utterly destroying the only army between them and Mexico City. Captain Lee and Lieutenant Payne would be dubbed national hero's for their actions at Puebla and both promoted. For one of them this would be short lived however, two weeks after the Battle of Puebla Major Lee would succumb to his wounds and die. His body would be returned to Virginia where he was given a heroes funeral and buried at Arlington House.
The Battle of Puebla began in the early afternoon on July 21. With over 30,000 troops engaging, roughly 19,000 Mexican and 12,500 American, this would be the largest single battle of the war. General Scott launched the first attack with a brigade of his forces trying to outflank the Mexicans while American artillery pounded on the rest of the lines. Santa Anna's reserve units however were quick to be moved and in less than an hour the Americans had suffered over 200 casualties and withdrew. Night fell before any other significant attacks could be mounted and the two armies settled in.
The next morning, tired from the previous days fighting, the Americans stayed on the defensive and it was Santa Anna's turn to go on the attack. Over the course of the day the Mexicans launched a number of assaults across the American lines and all failed. This would bring about an end to the second day of fighting as the soldiers got rest for the upcoming days battle.
While the Battle of Puebla was taking center stage, the war continued on elsewhere. In California General Kearny, after taking Los Angeles on June 30 after the Battle of San Gabriel, had continued north and now with the assistance of Colonel Crockett and the Californian rebels had Monterrey under siege. On Mexico's Pacific Coast out of San Blas, which had been captured early on in the war, Marine Colonel Archibald Henderson with 250 Marines, 250 sailors, and 600 soldiers had marched inland on July 1 to capture Guadalajara. After the fierce two day Battle of Guadalajara that city to fell into American hands on July 19 further tightening the noose around Mexico.
On the third day of the Battle of Puebla Santa Anna would use over 9,000 troops in a massive predawn assault. The attack took many guard by surprise with many of them being killed before firing a shot. In minutes the Mexicans were mixed up in with the Americans who were only now coming to and the assault turned into a brawl. As daybreak came across the battlefield it was a scene of bloody carnage as the Americans desperately tried to fend off the Mexican attackers. Mid morning saw would finally see a change in luck for the Americans however when former president Henry Lee's son Captain Robert E. Lee led a battalion of troops behind the main Mexican line to assault the rear guard.
General Santa Anna had rode forward to personally view the carnage of the assault and was preparing to return to headquarters when gunfire erupted behind them. Lee and his men's arrival had surprised the Mexicans allowing the Americans the advantage in this engagement. Within fifteen minutes the American troops had control of the Mexican artillery and had begun firing into the Mexicans backs. During his attempt to escape a young Second Lieutenant Robert Payne would shoot Santa Anna's horse out from under him and capture the Mexican leader and bring him to the wounded Captain Lee whom was being treated for a deep saber wound to the abdomen.
Lee's daring attack on the Mexican rear broke their will to fight and the main army that had been engaged in the bitter mostly hand to hand fighting began to either surrender or run. By early afternoon the three day long Battle of Puebla had came to an end in a costly but decisive American victory. The Americans had suffered over 5,000 casualties during the battle but delivered over 7,000 casualties to Mexico along with capturing over 6,000 troops thereby utterly destroying the only army between them and Mexico City. Captain Lee and Lieutenant Payne would be dubbed national hero's for their actions at Puebla and both promoted. For one of them this would be short lived however, two weeks after the Battle of Puebla Major Lee would succumb to his wounds and die. His body would be returned to Virginia where he was given a heroes funeral and buried at Arlington House.
So the American Civil War later on will be much different from OTL. With Lee gone Virgina will be somewhat easier.
well Lee has always been my favorite general and while in the last TL i avoided a large war ITTL I'm planing a civil war. i don't know yet if Virginia will secede ITTL but i don't want to have to make my favorite general be defeated so i killed him before and made him die a hero.
The End is Near
Following the Battle of Puebla the next two months of the war saw few major events outside of the fall of Monterrey on August 14. Delegates from Washington were meeting with their Mexican counterparts to try and put an end to the war. American diplomats offered Mexico $20 million to cede Nuevo Mexico and Alta California to the US and recognize the Rio Grande as the border with Texas in exchange for peace. Mexico City however would refuse Washington's offer on September 29 only agreeing to the Rio Grande as the border and that's it.
To drive the point home that Mexico had lost the war President Jackson ordered Houston and Scott to continue their advance that had been halted at Puebla and Saltillo since July. Houston's army was the first to move out when on October 6 General Houston and 9,500 men began pushing south. For eighteen days Houston moved south before reaching his objective Cedral on October 24 where the once sacked General Cos had assembled a force of 5,000. For once the US held numerical superiority and in just seven hours the Battle of Cedral had ended with the Americans in control.
A week after Houston began moving General Scott began marching on Mexico City. With the army that Santa Anna had had destroyed General José Joaquín de Herrera hastily brought together 8,500 men. On October 31 these two armies would meet just outside Mexico City in the Battle of Molino del Rey. For the next nineteen hours the Battle of Molino del Rey was fought before the weight of American numbers collapsed the Mexican defenses and entered Mexico City.
Though Mexico had forces remaining to put up against the Americans it was clear that the war was over. A new set of peace talks opened up and another armistice went into effect. On January 7,1837 the Treaty of Chapultepec was signed. The Treaty of Chapultepec ended the Mexican-American War and forced Mexico to recognize the Rio Grande as the border with Texas, cede Nuevo Mexico, and cede Alta California to the US in exchange for $10 million payment and the US taking over Mexico's nearly $3 million debt.
Following the Battle of Puebla the next two months of the war saw few major events outside of the fall of Monterrey on August 14. Delegates from Washington were meeting with their Mexican counterparts to try and put an end to the war. American diplomats offered Mexico $20 million to cede Nuevo Mexico and Alta California to the US and recognize the Rio Grande as the border with Texas in exchange for peace. Mexico City however would refuse Washington's offer on September 29 only agreeing to the Rio Grande as the border and that's it.
To drive the point home that Mexico had lost the war President Jackson ordered Houston and Scott to continue their advance that had been halted at Puebla and Saltillo since July. Houston's army was the first to move out when on October 6 General Houston and 9,500 men began pushing south. For eighteen days Houston moved south before reaching his objective Cedral on October 24 where the once sacked General Cos had assembled a force of 5,000. For once the US held numerical superiority and in just seven hours the Battle of Cedral had ended with the Americans in control.
A week after Houston began moving General Scott began marching on Mexico City. With the army that Santa Anna had had destroyed General José Joaquín de Herrera hastily brought together 8,500 men. On October 31 these two armies would meet just outside Mexico City in the Battle of Molino del Rey. For the next nineteen hours the Battle of Molino del Rey was fought before the weight of American numbers collapsed the Mexican defenses and entered Mexico City.
Though Mexico had forces remaining to put up against the Americans it was clear that the war was over. A new set of peace talks opened up and another armistice went into effect. On January 7,1837 the Treaty of Chapultepec was signed. The Treaty of Chapultepec ended the Mexican-American War and forced Mexico to recognize the Rio Grande as the border with Texas, cede Nuevo Mexico, and cede Alta California to the US in exchange for $10 million payment and the US taking over Mexico's nearly $3 million debt.
Can we have a new map of the US? Also Mexico should have taken the first deal, they would have at least get 7 mil from it compare to the second.
Now the US have to deal with all the repels and bandits of it's new territory.
Now the US have to deal with all the repels and bandits of it's new territory.
The New Leadership Era
The Mexican-American War, though extremely controversial, had greatly expanded the United States. America was now a massive nation spreading east to west from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north to south from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. Though he had lead the country in a victorious war against Mexico there were many especially in the northern states that had opposed the war as a way to expand slavery. President Jackson's time inn office would end with three terms as he would be narrowly defeated by Whig candidate Daniel Webster from New Hampshire.
In his last months in office President Jackson would expand the number of states in the Union. Arkansas would become the nations 25th state on November 24,1836 and then, after agreeing to move the territory's western boundary from the Rio Grande to the Pecos, Texas as the 26th state on March 2, 1837 both being slave states.
Upon entering office President Webster sought to warm relations with Mexico once more with very mixed results. Second would be to try and keep slavery from expanding into the Mexican Cession. The southern states would fight against this ferociously and in 1839 a compromise was made. Already in January 1838 the number of free to slave state had been evened out with the admission of Michigan into the Union but more was needed. So in April 1839 several new territories were created out of existing territories, the unorganized territories, and the Mexican Cession.
Out of existing territories the Wisconsin Territory was split with the northern section becoming the Superior Territory, the Iowa Territory was split with the northern section becoming the Minnesota Territory. Out of the unorganized territory the Kansas Territory was created. Most of the Oregon Country was incorporated into the Oregon Territory. And from the Mexican Cession the western third of the land was formed into the California Territory with the southern half of what remained becoming the New Mexico Territory. Out of all of these new territories however only the Kansas and New Mexico Territories permitted slavery which outraged the slave states.
The election of 1840 saw President Webster defeated. He was to abolitionist to win the south and didn't do enough to curb its expansion to win in the north. He would be defeated by the Mexican War hero General Sam Houston. Upon entering office President Houston focus was on the west. Though Mexico officially “recognized” American claims to Texas and the Mexican Cession that didn't mean they liked it or universally agreed with it. While most of the residents in the Cession had agreed to become US citizens there were a few who were defiant. To bolster Army garrisons in Texas and the southwest Houston proposed raising the Army to 35,000 from the current 25,000 in 1842. While congress denied funds to grow the army that far the army was raised to 30,000.
Aside from beginning the Americanization of the Mexican Cession Houston sought to resolve another issue, the issue of the hostilities with the Comanche. There had been fighting between the Comanche and American settlers for years in Texas and more recently in the New Mexico Territory. Houston would spend nearly two years trying make a definitive peace before finally in January 1844 in the small settlement of Austin the Treaty of Austin was signed bringing peace between the US and Comanche. This would be enough to get Houston reelected to a second term in November 1844.
In Houston's second term in office with the new expanded Pacific coastline he looked to expand the navy. In July 1845 the Naval Act of 1845 was implemented to nearly double the size of the navy. Six battleships (ship of line), 20 frigates, and a number of smaller vessels were ordered nearly all steam powered all to be built over the next decade.
Houston would also look to invest in a relatively new technology, railroads. The first railroad to be built in America was the 13 mile long Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1830. Three years later the second railroad stretched 16 miles from Charleston to Hamburg in South Carolina. Houston saw the railroad as a way to connect the growing nation in places where rivers and canals couldn't reach. The expansion of the American railway system would take much longer to grow than the navy but in 1847 the growth rate of the railroad slowly began to grow. In 1848 though popular enough, Houston would decline the party's nomination to a third term believing that the president shouldn't have to ability to stay in power indefinitely. The Presidential election of 1848 would see Houston's second term Vice-President David Crockett narrowly defeated by a national hero from the Mexican War, the 50 year old retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Payne to be the nations ninth president. In his final months in office President Houston oversaw the admission of Wisconsin into the Union in December 1848, his third after Florida in June 1845 and Iowa in August 1846.
US map at the End of Houston's presidency
The Mexican-American War, though extremely controversial, had greatly expanded the United States. America was now a massive nation spreading east to west from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north to south from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. Though he had lead the country in a victorious war against Mexico there were many especially in the northern states that had opposed the war as a way to expand slavery. President Jackson's time inn office would end with three terms as he would be narrowly defeated by Whig candidate Daniel Webster from New Hampshire.
In his last months in office President Jackson would expand the number of states in the Union. Arkansas would become the nations 25th state on November 24,1836 and then, after agreeing to move the territory's western boundary from the Rio Grande to the Pecos, Texas as the 26th state on March 2, 1837 both being slave states.
Upon entering office President Webster sought to warm relations with Mexico once more with very mixed results. Second would be to try and keep slavery from expanding into the Mexican Cession. The southern states would fight against this ferociously and in 1839 a compromise was made. Already in January 1838 the number of free to slave state had been evened out with the admission of Michigan into the Union but more was needed. So in April 1839 several new territories were created out of existing territories, the unorganized territories, and the Mexican Cession.
Out of existing territories the Wisconsin Territory was split with the northern section becoming the Superior Territory, the Iowa Territory was split with the northern section becoming the Minnesota Territory. Out of the unorganized territory the Kansas Territory was created. Most of the Oregon Country was incorporated into the Oregon Territory. And from the Mexican Cession the western third of the land was formed into the California Territory with the southern half of what remained becoming the New Mexico Territory. Out of all of these new territories however only the Kansas and New Mexico Territories permitted slavery which outraged the slave states.
The election of 1840 saw President Webster defeated. He was to abolitionist to win the south and didn't do enough to curb its expansion to win in the north. He would be defeated by the Mexican War hero General Sam Houston. Upon entering office President Houston focus was on the west. Though Mexico officially “recognized” American claims to Texas and the Mexican Cession that didn't mean they liked it or universally agreed with it. While most of the residents in the Cession had agreed to become US citizens there were a few who were defiant. To bolster Army garrisons in Texas and the southwest Houston proposed raising the Army to 35,000 from the current 25,000 in 1842. While congress denied funds to grow the army that far the army was raised to 30,000.
Aside from beginning the Americanization of the Mexican Cession Houston sought to resolve another issue, the issue of the hostilities with the Comanche. There had been fighting between the Comanche and American settlers for years in Texas and more recently in the New Mexico Territory. Houston would spend nearly two years trying make a definitive peace before finally in January 1844 in the small settlement of Austin the Treaty of Austin was signed bringing peace between the US and Comanche. This would be enough to get Houston reelected to a second term in November 1844.
In Houston's second term in office with the new expanded Pacific coastline he looked to expand the navy. In July 1845 the Naval Act of 1845 was implemented to nearly double the size of the navy. Six battleships (ship of line), 20 frigates, and a number of smaller vessels were ordered nearly all steam powered all to be built over the next decade.
Houston would also look to invest in a relatively new technology, railroads. The first railroad to be built in America was the 13 mile long Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1830. Three years later the second railroad stretched 16 miles from Charleston to Hamburg in South Carolina. Houston saw the railroad as a way to connect the growing nation in places where rivers and canals couldn't reach. The expansion of the American railway system would take much longer to grow than the navy but in 1847 the growth rate of the railroad slowly began to grow. In 1848 though popular enough, Houston would decline the party's nomination to a third term believing that the president shouldn't have to ability to stay in power indefinitely. The Presidential election of 1848 would see Houston's second term Vice-President David Crockett narrowly defeated by a national hero from the Mexican War, the 50 year old retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Payne to be the nations ninth president. In his final months in office President Houston oversaw the admission of Wisconsin into the Union in December 1848, his third after Florida in June 1845 and Iowa in August 1846.
US map at the End of Houston's presidency