Bayonets, Balloons & Ironclads: Britain and France Take Sides With the South

by Tsouras, Peter G.

  The early severe winter in North America mercifully shut a snowy curtain down on the fighting. Thus the situation stood as the winter waned in early 1864 to let men once again spill their blood on land and sea and in the air.

  POINT OF DEPARTURE

  I have made every effort to portray weapons as they actually functioned. For example, the U.S. Navy’s Dahlgren smoothbore guns were more powerful and reliable than any contemporary gun in the Royal Navy. Technological innovations were all within the capabilities of the period. Their hurried development can be attributed to the motivation found in Samuel Johnson’s comment.

  Throughout this trilogy, I have attempted to illustrate the growing power of technology and especially what could have been achieved had that technology been more rationally exploited instead of being suppressed, bungled, or even sabotaged, as in the case of repeating weapons such as the Spencer rifle, the coffee mill and Gatling guns, balloons, and submersibles. The development of a national intelligence organization also would have been a logical extension of an already existing and successful organization, the Army of the Potomac’s BMI.

  As it was, in reality the Union prevailed without these advantages but only barely. Union morale was nearly exhausted by the election of 1864, so much so that Lincoln fully expected to be defeated. Only the fall of Atlanta to Sherman and Mobile to Farragut revived that morale, albeit temporarily. The Copperhead conspiracy to sabotage the war had widespread support and had a draining effect on the war effort by undermining morale both in the camp and at home. Even as late as early 1865, Grant and his staff were anxious to end the war because of waning support. Major General Sharpe was paying intense interest in the Confederate attempt to arm slaves to fight for the Confederacy in the last months of the war just because of its potential to prolong the conflict beyond the patience of the North. The quality of replacements had also fallen dangerously. The yeoman American was no longer volunteering. Instead, replacements were now bounty men, drafted men, and immigrants right off the boat. Of the latter, only the Irish showed any fight.

  It has been said that the North fought the Civil War with one arm tied behind its back. At no time did the North mobilize for total war, as understood in the twentieth century, and fully exploit its industrial and manpower potential. War with Great Britain and France then would be the trigger in this trilogy for total war mobilization. It was only under these conditions and the constraints under which both the British and French had to operate that the United States had any hope of surviving, much less being victorious. Thus this trilogy’s grand point of departure is the collision that provokes total war and changes the paradigm under which these societies made war.

  Almost all the figures in this story are historical, acting according to character and past performance. A few fictitious characters have been added to further the plot, such as Lt. Col. Michael Wilmoth, whom I modeled on a superb young intelligence analyst with whom I have worked. Such fictitious characters have been noted with an asterisk in the Dramatis Personae section.

  As always my deepest appreciation goes to my wife, Patty, for her unwavering an cheerful support of my pursuit of Clio. I want to thank special friends who patiently and most intelligently acted as sounding boards in the creation of this trilogy, particularly William (Bill) F. Johnson, Dr. Steven Badsey, and Thomas Bilbao. A thousand thanks for your criticism, advice, and good judgment. My mapmaker, Jay Karamales (Olorin Press), has again done a splendid job to match his work in the first two volumes of this trilogy. My heartfelt thanks goes also to my agent, Fritz Heinzen, whose knowledge of the publishing world continues to astound and inform me, and to the good people at Skyhorse Publications, especially its editorial director, Jay Cassell, and Jon Arlan, who work so hard to turn my poor manuscript into that wonder of wonders—a book.

  Peter G. Tsouras

  Lt. Col., USAR (ret.)

  Alexandria, Virginia

  MAPS

  Map 1. Fortress Monroe, Virginia, 1862

  Map 2. Chazy Campaign Area of Operations, March 1864

  Map 3. Battle of Chazy, British Attack, 18 March 1864

  Map 4. Battle of Chazy, Vivian’s Counterattacvk, 18–19 March 1864

  Map 5. Port Hudson Campaign Area of Operations, March–April 1863

  Map 6. Battle of Chazy, Final Phase, 22–23 March 1864

  Map 7. Dublin, 1864

  Map 8. British Military Forces in Essex, 1864

  Map 9. The Dahlgren Raid, April 3, 1864

  Map 10. British Army Garrisons in Great Britain, 1864

  Map 11. Battle of Tallaght, April 8, 1864

  Map 12. Overland Campaign Area of Operations, May 1864

  Map 13. Second Battle of Big Bethal, April 15, 1864

  Map 14. Chesapeake Bay, 1864

  Map 15. Battle of Hanover Junction, The Cavalry Action, May 5, 1864

  Map 16. Battle of the Chesapeake, First Phase, May 7, 1864

  Map 17. Battle of Hanover Junction, First Phase, May 7, 1864

  Map 18. Battle of the Chesapeake, Second Phase, May 7, 1864

  Map 19. Battle of Saco, May 7, 1864

  Map 20. Battle of Hanover Junction, Second Phase, May 7, 1864

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Abel, Frederick. Chief chemist of the Chemical Establishment of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.

  Adams, Charles Francis. Former U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, son of President John Quincy Adams, and grandson of President John Adams.

  Adams, Charles Francis, Jr. Lt. Col., 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, and son of Ambassador Charles Francis Adams.

  Adams, Henry. Son of Charles Francis Adams and first ambassador to the Republic of Ireland.

  Babcock, John C. Civilian order-of-battle analyst and Director, Bureau of Information (BMI), Headquarters, Army of the Potomac.

  Baker, Lafayette. Director of the Secret Service of the War Department.

  Barton, Clara. Volunteer nurse with the Union Army in the defenses of Washington.

  Bazaine, François Achille. Marshal of France, French Imperial Army Commander, French Forces in North America, and the Armée de la Louisiane in support of the Confederacy.

  Bazalgette, George, VC. Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Marines and commander of daring special operations for the British Fleet in American waters.

  Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant de. General, CS Army, commander of the coastal defenses of South Carolina and Georgia.

  Booth, Edwin. Greatest tragic actor of the American stage of the nineteenth century and loyal to the Union.

  Booth, John Wilkes. Fiery dramatic actor, brother of the more famous tragedian, Edwin Booth, and a rabid Southern sympathizer.

  Bright, John. Radical member of Parliament, one of the great reformers of the age, and advocate of the cause of the Union, derisively referred to as the “Member for America.”

  Brunnow, Baron Phillip de. Imperial Russian ambassador to the Court of St. James.

  Butler, Benjamin Franklin. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; Commander, Army of the James.

  Candy, Charles. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers, commander, First Brigade, Second Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Carnegie, Andrew. Railroad executive, entrepreneur, chosen by Lincoln to rationalize American war industry as chairman of the War Production Board (WPB).

  Carney, Anson. Scout, Bureau of Military Information (BMI), Army of the Potomac.

  Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander of Fortress Portland.

  Chebyshev, Piotr Afansievich. Captain, HIMS Bogatyr, of the Russian Pacific Squadron.

  Clemmons, Samuel. American writer and comedian known by his pen name of Mark Twain.

  Cline, Milton. Major, 3rd Indiana Cavalry, and senior reconnaissance and special operations officer of the U.S. Central Information Bureau (CIB).

  Cobham, George A. Jr. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Second Brigade, First Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Coles, Cowper Phipps. Captain, RN
, innovator and inventor of an armored turret, and commander of the HMS Prince Albert.

  Cullen, Paul. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and head of the church in Ireland.

  Cushing, William “Will” Alonzo. Captain, U.S. Navy, noted for his daring special operations, and first commander of the Naval Aeronautic Service (NAS).

  Custer, George Armstrong. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Cavalry Division, Army of the Hudson.

  Dahlgren, Ulric. Colonel, U.S. Volunteers, hero of Gettysburg, son of Adm. John Dahlgren, and leader of the “Dahlgren Raid” on England.

  Dana, Charles. U.S. Assistant Secretary of War and former editor, New York Tribune.

  Davis, Jefferson. President, Confederate States of America.

  Denison, George. Colonel, Canadian Militia; commander of the Royal Guides.

  Disraeli, Benjamin. Prime Minister and leader of the Tory or Conservative Party in Great Britain.

  Dixon, Manly. Colonel, Royal Engineers, and superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield (RSAF).

  Douay, Félix Charles. Major General, French Imperial Army; second in command, Armée de Louisiane.

  Douglass, Frederick. Leading African American abolitionist and supporter of Lincoln in the war for the Union.

  Doyle, Sir Hastings. Major General, British Army; commander, Portland Field Force.

  Dulaine, Clio. New Orleans libre, mistress of Marshal Bazaine, and agent of the U.S. Central Information Bureau (CIB).

  Dunn, Robert. Lieutenant Colonel, British Army, Acting Commander, 11th Hussars.

  Ford, John T. Owner of Ford’s Theater in Washington and a friend of Edwin Booth.

  Fox, Augustus “Gus.” U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy, essentially in modern terms, Chief of Naval Operations.

  Franklin, William B. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, XIX Corps, Army of the Gulf.

  Geary, John W. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, 2nd Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  George William Frederick Charles, Prince and 2nd Duke of Cambridge. Cousin of Queen Victoria and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.

  Gorchakov, Aleksandr Mikhalovich. Prince and Russian Foreign Minister.

  Grant, James Hope. Lieutenant General, British Army; considered the best general in the Empire, commander of Her Majesty’s military forces in British North America.

  Grant, Ulysses S. Lieutenant General, U.S. Army; general-in-chief of the Armies of the United States.

  Gregg, David M. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, 2nd Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.

  Grierson, Benjamin. Major General, U.S. Volunteers, commander of the cavalry division of the Army of the Mississippi.

  Hamilton, James, 1st Duke of Abercorn. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

  Hampton, Wade. Major General, C.S. Army; commander of Wade Hampton’s Division, Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia.

  Hancock, Winfield Scott. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Army of the Rappahannock.

  Hogan, Martin. Private, U.S. Volunteers; young Irish immigrant and scout for the Bureau of Information (BMI), Army of the Hudson.

  Hooker, Joseph. Major General, U.S. Army; commander, Army of the Hudson.

  Hope, Sir James. Admiral, Royal Navy; commander of the Iron Fleet.

  Ireland, David. Colonel, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Third Brigade, Second Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Kelly, Patrick. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander of the Irish Brigade in the expedition to liberate Ireland.

  Knight, Judson. Sergeant, Union Army; Chief of Scouts, Army of the Hudson.

  Lamson, Roswell Hawk. Captain, U.S. Navy; captain of the USS Kearsarge.

  Layard, Austin David. Member of Parliament, Undersecretary to Lord Russell at the Foreign Office, and envoy to Jefferson Davis.

  Lee, Fitzhugh. Major General, C.S. Army; commander of Fitzhugh Lee’s Cavalry Division, Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia.

  Lee, Robert E. General, C.S. Army; commander, Army of Northern Virginia.

  Lew, Elizabeth Van. Ardent Unionist, agent of the U.S. Central Information Bureau (CIB), and head of the its Richmond spy network.

  Lewis, Pryce. British expatriate and agent of the U.S. Central Information Bureau (CIB).

  Lincoln, Abraham. 16th President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, in the epic struggle for the survival of the Union.

  Lisovsky, Stefan S. Rear Admiral, Russian Imperial Navy; commander of the Baltic Squadron. supporting the Union.

  Long, E.T., Sir. Rear Admiral, Royal Navy; commander of the Australian Squadron.

  Longstreet, James. Lieutenant General, C.S. Army; commander, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

  Lowe, Thaddeus. Scientist, Colonel, U.S. Volunteers; founder and commander, U.S. Army Balloon Corps.

  Lynn, John. Stationmaster of Gorham, New Hampshire, and leader of the Coos County militia.

  Lyons, Lord. Former British ambassador to the United States before the declaration of war.

  McBean, William. Colonel, British Army; commander of the 78th (Highland) Foot at the battle of Chazy, and commander, 12th Brigade at the battle of Saco.

  McCarter, Michael William. Former sergeant of the Irish Brigade discharged for wounds after Chancellorsville and recalled by Hooker.

  McCullough, Richard G. Agent of the Confederate State Department Secret Service.

  McEntee, John. Captain, U.S. Volunteers; Chief, Bureau of Military Information (BMI), Army of the Hudson.

  McPhail, James L. Deputy Chief, U.S. Central Information Bureau (CIB).

  Meade, George Gordon. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Army of the Potomac.

  Meagher, Thomas Francis. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander of the expedition to liberate Ireland.

  Merritt, Wesley. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Reserve Brigade, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.

  Milne, Sir Alexander. Vice Admiral, Royal Navy; commander of the North American and West Indies Station.

  Montgomery, James. Colonel, U.S. Volunteers, commanding a brigade of colored troops transferred to XVIII Corps.

  Muravyov-Karsky, Nikolay Nikolayevich. General, Russian Imperial Army; military governor of the Caucasus.

  Napier, Sir Robert. Major General, Indian Army; commander of the Dublin Field Force.

  Nickolay, John. One of President Lincoln’s two private secretaries.

  Norie, Henry Hay. Captain, commander, 9th Company, Ayrshire Rifle Volunteer Corps.

  Palmer, George. Lieutenant Colonel; commander, West Essex Yeomanry.

  Popov, Andrei Alexandrovich. Rear Admiral, Russian Imperial Navy; commander of the Russian Pacific Squadron.

  Porter, David Dixon. Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; commander of the Mississippi Squadron.

  Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai. Lieutenant, Imperial Russian Navy; Russian representative on the Dahlgren Raid.

  Rowan, Stephen Clegg. Captain, U.S. Navy; commander, USS Ironsides, and acting commander, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

  Ruger, Thomas H. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; acting commander, First Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Sanders, George Nicholas. Kentucky planter and agent of the Confederate State Department Secret Service.

  Scarlet, Sir James Yorke. Lieutenant General, British Army; Adjutant to the Forces, and commander at the battle of Tallaght.

  Schurz, Carl. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Third Division, XI Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Seward, William H. U.S. Secretary of State and close friend of President Lincoln.

  Sharpe, George H. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; Director of the Central Information Bureau, and commander of the 120th Regiment, NY Volunteers.

  Sheridan, Phillip H. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

  Sherman, William Tecumseh. Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Army of the Hudson.

  Smi
th, William Farrar “Baldy.” Major General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Army of the James.

  Spencer, Christopher. Mechanical genius and inventor of the Spencer repeating rifle.

  Stanton, Edwin M. Implacable, able, and vengeful U.S. Secretary of War.

  Steinwehr, Adolph von. Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Second Division, XI Corps, Army of the Hudson.

  Stevenson, Thomas G. Colonel, U.S. Volunteers; commander of a brigade transferred to XVIII Corps.

  Stimers, Albert Crocker. General Inspector of Ironclads, U.S. Navy.

  Stoekel, Baron Eduourd de. Russian ambassador to the United States.

  Stuart, James E. B. (JEB). Major General, C.S. Army; commander, Cavalry, Army of Northern Virginia.

  Taylor, Richard. Lieutenant General, C.S. Army; son of President Zachary Taylor, and commander, Western Louisiana District.

  Thomas, George. Major General, U.S. Volunteers, “the Rock of Chickamauga,” who succeeded Rosecrans as Commander, Army of the Cumberland.

  Turnour, E.W. Captain HMS Charybdis; commander of the Royal Navy squadron at Victoria Island, British Columbia.

  Victoria. Alexandrina Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, ascended her throne on 20 June 1837.

  *Vivian, Paul H. Colonel, U.S. Volunteers; commander, Third Brigade (succeeding Col. David Ireland), Second Division, XII Corps, Army of the Hudson.