What-If Campaigns: America 1816

[Elxaime]

In September 1814, catching the American lake flotilla by surprise, British Captain Downie won a stunning naval victory that cemented complete British control of Lake Champlain.  The news struck the American and British delegates meeting at Ghent in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for peace negotiations like a thunderclap.  Britain immediately terminated negotiations, seeing an opening for a decisive campaign the next year downriver designed to detach the northeastern states of the US and incorporate them into Canada.  The invasion would include veteran British troops released for North American service by the Treaty of Fontainebleau of April 11, 1814, and the subsequent abdication of Napoleon and his exile to Elba.  The unexpected victory on the lake moved the Duke of Wellington, who had initially been skeptical of the prospects for further war with the United States, to accept the offer to command the expedition, which would start out in the spring of 1815.  British intentions were made firmer by the disastrous defeat on January 8, 1815, of their attempt to capture New Orleans (although Mobile, Alabama, was secured as a consolation prize).  The rustic Americans could not be allowed to think they could tweak the tail of the lion without consequence!

Planning for Wellington's campaign in North America was upended by the shocking news of Napoleon's escape from Elba in early 1815.  The Congress of Vienna immediately declared the Corsican an outlaw.  Wellington and the troops intended for America instead headed for the low countries.  In June, the Allied Army led by Wellington, in partnership with the Prussian Army led by Blucher, defeated Napoleon in a series of bloody battles culminating on the field of Waterloo.  On June 22, 1815, Napoleon abdicated for a second time.  To facilitate his departure from the country, the Provisional Government of France requested that a passport and assurances of safety might be accorded to Napoleon and his family, to enable them to pass to the United States of America.  Although the request was denied, Napoleon Bonaparte embarked anyway, at Rochefort, on board the French frigate Saale, and proceeded with his small entourage to elude the British blockades, arriving safely in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 26. The American reaction to the arrival of their guest was muted.  Although the Americans were still at war with Napoleon's nemesis, the British, the former Emperor now carried the stench of defeat twice-over.

Seeing that Napoleon was no longer a threat in Europe, and already entangled in their own rivalries, Prussia, Russia, Sweden and Austria made peace with France, now once more under a Royalist regime.  Angered and frustrated by Napoleon's escape to America - they had intended instead to exile him to St. Helena in the Atlantic - Britain determined to continue preparations for an invasion of America from Canada.  This campaign was now rescheduled for early 1816.  Naval supremacy on the Great Lakes was strengthened.  The victors of Waterloo would finally deal with the American upstarts.

For the American campaign of 1816, Wellington would lead an army almost as heterogenous as the one he commanded at Waterloo.  A core of veteran infantry and cavalry regiments from the Peninsular War and Waterloo would form the main weight, backed by well-served artillery.  The rest of the numbers would be filled out by Canadian militia and Native American allies.  There was some chance of raising pro-British local Americans as he advanced, given the lukewarm attitude of many to the continuation of a war with Britain that was so ruinous to their mercantile trade.  Nonetheless, although he expected to be outnumbered, Wellington was confident he could avoid the fate of British General Burgoyne's 1777 campaign, during the Revolutionary War, where "Gentleman Johnny" was surrounded by rapidly assembling American militias, who forced his surrender.  American leadership on land throughout the War of 1812 had proven dismal, with a few exceptions.  Those exceptions now commanded parts of the United States defenses.  General Jackson, victor of New Orleans, commanded in the southern states, from whence he would be expected to reinforce the north in the event of an invasion from Canada.  The newly breveted Major General Winfield Scott, who had acquitted himself well in battle at Lundy's Lane the previous year, but was still only 30 years old, commanded American troops in the north.  

In February 1816, Wellington's planning was almost complete, and he was just awaiting the arrival of his last reinforcements.  With nearly 60,000 men, he would command the largest army ever assembled by Great Britain on the American continent.  The morale of the troops was high, having recovered from the New Orleans debacle.  Then, once again, as if history on the subject came in threes, came another twist of fate.

Meeting in near panic in early March, the US Congress had done the unthinkable.  Napoleon I, former Emperor of France, was granted US citizenship, and Citizen Bonaparte was quickly made a Lieutenant General in the US Army.  This move had strong opposition from some Members of Congress.  Had not Bonaparte, a former monarch, evinced despotic tendencies in France and elsewhere?  Would he not be as quick to turn his guns on American democracy as he had on those others?  The opposition was narrowly overcome by the pleadings of exigency.  Wellington's plans having apparently been leaked by war-weary British deserters, the Congress knew that only by drastic measures could the massive British host be deterred from conquering a third of the United States.

Napoleon, for his part, was as shocked as any at this turn of events.  His eyes were still on Europe, and plans were already afoot to arrange yet another landing in his former realm.  But at heart he was a man who lived by seizing the moment.  And this opportunity was too tempting to resist.  He would whip the brave, rugged and patriotic Americans into shape. He would expunge the bitterness of his two exiles, and the bad taste left by the result of Mont St. Jean.  He would accept!

The American forces massing in upstate New York under Winfield Scott had mixed feelings about the impending arrival of their new commander.  Many of the United States forces, particularly the regulars, included former subjects of Britain who had long considered Napoleon an ogre and villain.  But overall, awed by the mighty host Wellington was bringing, they were glad enough for the help - especially from the not-inconsequential numbers of French veterans who flocked to join the American armies now that they were to be led by Le Tondu.

Arriving in Albany, New York, in mid-March 1816, Napoleon took stock.  Just General Henri-Gratien Bertrand, grand marshal of the palace, and Montholon, as aide-de-camp, accompanied him from France.  He had none of his other former marshals with him.  This Winfield Scott fellow seemed adequate as his second in command - a requirement of the U.S. Congress.  But Napoleon missed having subordinates like Soult, Ney and Lannes.  No matter!  The fresh air of the New York uplands suited him. The corridors of the imperial palace, he realized, had left him soft and weak.  Already he was losing weight and would soon once again be as fit as he was before the bastions of Toulon.

Napoleon's new army was a far cry from the one he led the year before at Waterloo.  A decent force of American regulars, which he judged almost equivalent to a French veteran, but most of the army would be American militias.  Backwoodsmen.  Foot Cossacks, more or less.  His opinion rose at his first inspection of the American rifle-armed militia battalions - they were deadly accurate with their long-ranged weapons.  Beyond that, the American militia could be counted on to give Napoleon something he sorely needed - numbers.  The American artillery was adequate but not numerous - he assigned French specialists but there would be no grand batteries formed in this war.  In those first weeks, Napoleon came to rely more and more on Winfield Scott - the young general knew the conditions of the country and how best to train, command and motivate the American forces.  Napoleon, on meeting Scott for the first time, jokingly made him a Marshal.  But as time went on, Napoleon began to see that he was fortunate indeed to have the young Virginian at his side.  Andrew Jackson was another matter - judging by the impertinent tone of Jackson's letter to Napoleon on the event of the Corsican's appointment to supreme command, the headstrong Jackson would be a difficult subordinate.  Napoleon was content to leave Jackson in Alabama for now but realized that at some point he would need to send to him for reinforcements.  The U.S. Congress contained its share of meddlers, and President Madison was a distraction.  Napoleon would need to manage them carefully.  At the deepest recesses of his thoughts, he knew what power fell into the hands of a successful military leader.  But first he must gain victories.

Wellington and his officers were sanguine about the news of Napoleon's unexpected reemergence.  But in a way, it made things simpler - they had beaten Boney twice already, in Spain and in Belgium.  This would be the third time - they would give the Corsican Ogre a whacking that would show him off for good!

The weather warmed up.  In late March, Wellington began to put his forces in motion.  By then, he knew his alleged plans had been leaked.  The deserters only thought they knew what he was about!

As Napoleon and Scott pored over their maps in Albany, word came that the Iron Duke was on the march.  Napoleon stretched and smiled.  He had a surprise of his own for his old enemy.  He walked outside.  

Thunderous cheers greeted him.  Over the last month they had come in their hundreds.  They formed only enough for a single brigade.  But they were worth far more.  He waved them quiet.

"Soldiers of the Imperial Guard!  You are few, but your hearts are great!  In them courses the blood of the victors of Friedland!  In your eyes, shines the light of the Sun of Austerlitz!  You had known only victory, until that tragic day of last June.  Yet, even betrayed, still you fought like lions!  Now we meet again, in the New World, to give reply to the traitors who thought us defeated!  Do not call me Emperor now!  I am merely Citizen Bonaparte!  Now we fight alongside the brave Americans, a people who know only the air of freedom!  They are determined not be ruled again by the tyranny of Albion!  And they have put their faith in the sons of France!  Our strong arms, and strong hearts will secure their liberty!  Step eagerly, knowing that victory shall be ours!

   ***

[Elxaime]

I thought I would throw out an idea for a new hypothetical campaign. HPS has made what-if's before, such as Moscow 42' and Sealion 40'. How about one for the Napoleonic era? I tried to construct something plausible, similar to one of Harry Turtledove's alternative history works.

This one would be a fantasy rematch between Wellington and Napoleon, this time the campaign stretching across the vast spaces of upstate New York. Since this is a complete what-if, neither player would be constrained by knowing what the "correct" strategic choice would be. Variable reinforcements would be part of the picture, with Wellington able to call upon more troops from Britain, from among the local Canadians and Native Americans, and even raise American turncoats. Napoleon would have to summon the last of his fading energies to harness disparate but numerous American forces, as well as managing relations with Congress, President Madison, and a prickly Andrew Jackson to obtain any necessary reinforcements, while husbanding a small number of French veterans. This campaign would feature wide options for maneuver, emphasizing the importance of reconnaissance.

Welcome any comments. And other people's ideas for WDS Napoleon what-if campaigns!

[Elxaime]

Here is a version 2, which assumes that, aside from the British victory on Lake Champlain, everything else went according to history.  The respective armies are smaller.  This one is a bit more plausible than the wilder, alternative history first version.  The main barriers to something like this happening IRL was that by 1816 both sides were weary of war, the British blockade was inflicting real harm on the US economy, and Wellington was pretty entrenched in his belief that further war in America would be pointless.

In September 1814, catching the American lake flotilla by surprise, British Captain Downie won a stunning naval victory that cemented complete British control of Lake Champlain.  The news struck the American and British delegates meeting at Ghent in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for peace negotiations like a thunderclap.  Britain immediately terminated negotiations, seeing an opening for a decisive campaign the next year downriver designed to detach the northeastern states of the US and incorporate them into Canada.  The invasion would include veteran British troops released for North American service by the Treaty of Fontainebleau of April 11, 1814, and the subsequent abdication of Napoleon and his exile to Elba.  The unexpected victory on the lake moved the Duke of Wellington, who remained skeptical of the prospects for further war with the United States, to accept the offer to command the expedition, which would start out in the spring of 1815.  This would be of a punitive nature, designed to better position Britain for negotiations where she still entertained the possibility of territorial concessions.  British intentions were made firmer by the disastrous defeat on January 8, 1815, of their attempt to capture New Orleans (although Mobile, Alabama, was secured as a consolation prize).  The rustic Americans could not be allowed to think they could tweak the tail of the lion without consequence!

Planning for Wellington's campaign in North America was upended by the shocking news of Napoleon's escape from Elba in early 1815.  The Congress of Vienna immediately declared the Corsican an outlaw.  Wellington and the troops intended for America instead headed for the low countries.  In June, the Allied Army led by Wellington, in partnership with the Prussian Army led by Blucher, defeated Napoleon in a series of bloody battles culminating on the field of Waterloo.  On June 22, 1815, Napoleon abdicated for a second time.

Finally rid of Napoleon once and for all, Britain resumed preparations for an invasion of America from Canada.  This campaign was now rescheduled for early 1816.  Naval supremacy on the Great Lakes was strengthened.  The victors of Waterloo would finally deal with the American upstarts.

For the American campaign of 1816, Wellington would lead an army almost as heterogenous as the one he commanded at Waterloo.  A core of veteran infantry and cavalry regiments from the Peninsular War and Waterloo would form the main weight, backed by well-served artillery.  The rest of the numbers would be filled out by Canadian militia and Native American allies.  There was some chance of raising pro-British local Americans as he advanced, given the lukewarm attitude of many to the continuation of a war with Britain that was so ruinous to their mercantile trade.  Nonetheless, although he expected to be outnumbered, Wellington was confident he could avoid the fate of British General Burgoyne's 1777 campaign, during the Revolutionary War, where "Gentleman Johnny" was surrounded by rapidly assembling American militias, who forced his surrender.  American leadership on land throughout the War of 1812 had proven dismal, with a few exceptions.  Those exceptions now commanded parts of the United States defenses.  General Jackson, victor of New Orleans, commanded in the southern states, from whence he would be expected to reinforce the north in the event of an invasion from Canada.  The newly breveted Major General Winfield Scott, who had acquitted himself well in battle at Lundy's Lane the previous year, but was still only 30 years old, commanded American troops in the north.  

In February 1816, Wellington's planning was almost complete, and he was just awaiting the arrival of his last reinforcements.  With nearly 35,000 men, he would command the largest army assembled by Great Britain on the American continent since the War of Independence.  The morale of the troops was satisfactory, having recovered from the New Orleans debacle, although war weariness was already creeping in.  Thankfully, by intention, this campaign was to be relatively brief.

Meeting in near panic in early March, the US Congress worked to provide reinforcements for General Scott from all quarters.  The American forces massing in upstate New York under Scott would initially be outnumbered by the British invasion host.  However, the growing core of American regulars, now almost equivalent to the performance of European peers, could be expected to give a good account of themselves.  The bulk of the American army would remain the militias, which varied wildly in quality and armament.  The best of them were the backwoods rifle-armed battalions - deadly accurate with their long-ranged weapons.  There would also be a reinforcement of field artillery - batteries of guns taken off blockaded American warships and manned by their now-landlocked, but elite sailor crews.  The U.S. Marines had likewise been transferred to the army command, and now formed a brigade of their own.  Beyond that, the American militia could be counted on to give Scott something he sorely needed - numbers.  Once the invasion began, it was assumed that the forces in Alabama under Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, would be sent to reinforce Scott.  This should provide the Americans significant numerical superiority and a chance to counterattack.  It was expected that Jackson, once he arrived, would assume overall command.  Plans were also afoot to enable guerilla warfare in the rear of the British invaders, including with the help of Native Americans loyal to the U.S.

Wellington and his officers were not overconfident.  They knew this would be a difficult campaign.  But many of the officers champed to overturn the outcome of New Orleans.  By late March, as the weather warmed up, Wellington began to put his forces in motion.  As Scott pored over his maps in Albany, word came that the Iron Duke was on the march.  He sent letters to the President, to General Jackson in Montgomery, and to the US Congress, and grimly mustered his forces.

   ***