Presidents
Liberty and Union War (1868-76)
1868-1869: William Pitt Fessenden (Justice)
-godson of the great Daniel Webster
-but attains fame on his own terms
-made his name as a charismatic supporter of his godfather and the whole Union Party
-when Webster becomes president, Fessenden serves as highly important congressman
-and deputy of Webster in the house
-later becomes a Senator for Massachusetts
-where his stunning oratory makes him a leading Northern Unionist and later a Dorrite
-extremely bellicose rhetoric makes him extremely popular
-becomes President of the Committee of Vigilance after separation
-which organizes northern resistance to "King George IV"
-after Woodward suppresses the Wigwam Congress Fessenden issues declaration of resistance
-convenes it in Philadelphia
-refuses any and all talk of compromise even if that means hostages are killed
-Committee of Vigilance becomes Committee of Safety for the whole nation
-engages in military plans against invasion and faces off in Battle of Chester which wins
-had previously served as President of the Committee of Safety
-made President Pro Tempore of the Senate so that he also becomes president upon swift impeachment
-ascent to office only recognized by philadelphia congress, but nonetheless provides for military preparation and beginning of war
-and in practice authority continues to be held within Committee of Safety
-revokes territorial governors, everywhere except east florida is successful
-oversees era of military preparation
-secures recognition from most northern states
-and organizes an army waiting for more war to begin
-with a lot of defections from governmental units
-but then again peacetime army is pretty small anyways
-in practice a lot of army consists of Comunero Order members
-Kances has revolution over this, as slaver controlled territorial assembly sees massive rebellion by comunero rebels
-and Frank Townes gets commission from Johnson government in Constitutional Government > Constitutional Army
-when Indianan governor castigates johnson and calls woodward rightful pres, johnson gets Indiana congress to say no
-brings kansas on path to union
-baltimore falls, but swathes of maryland stays loyal
-upon election ends up not being nominated
-considered too radical and people worry he'll end up being alienating
-due to aggressive maneuvers
-additionally he regards the post of presidency as ungentlemanly and the legislature his home
-result is that the most moderate member of the Committee of Safety made next president
-for rest of his life Fessenden is a quite hard working Senator and very powerful
-dies in 1873 with death widely mourned
1869-1870: George Bancroft (Justice) †
-moderate Justicialist, broke with Populists very recently
-nominated because he's very moderate, need to unify coalition of Constitutional Government as much as possible
-goes on criss-crossing national tour, gives fairly well-respected speeches
-in prelude to officially taking office
-essentially a plan to ensure he gets enough support from the people at large
-but nevertheless receives groundswell of support from paramilitary organization, "Comunero Clubs" formed by volunteer veterans of buenaventura war
-practically speaking the Straight-Out Unionists with their agenda of national compromise are a weak impotent opposition
-guarded every step of the way by Comunero troops
-election confirmed by congress session in philadelphia, however slavers have majority of senators
-swiftly assembled armies, navy, and declared the southern congress in dc illegitimate but much damage already done
-it's pretty tough to organize the Constitutional Government > Constitutional Army
-but with some difficulty including having to hand out blank commissions to governors does so
-a lot of political generals emerge
-also brings a great number of factories to work to make arms
-harpers ferry arsenal seized by richmondites
-arms given to baltimore richmondites, kicks off rebellion that takes over city before being crushed
-numerous countries declare the government of usa to be unclear
-because Washington is under control of continuous Woodward administration which hands power over
-Britain under Heads of British Isles > 1864-1869 George Grey (Moderate) † which views Richmondites as kin recognizes Richmond Government
-this immediately means the Constitutionalists are on the backfoot
-nevertheless deflected attempts in border states like his own maryland, also illinois, to join southern government
-a year into presidency a charge took dc and brought it back under legitimate rule, southern congress forced into richmond, though they take documents, seals with them in flight
-congress formally meets in dc once more in its hallowed halls
-south has more industrial capacity due to better development of new orleans, birmingham, also because kentucky is in southern hands
-though dc never threatened again during war, richmondite charge into pennsylvania at times before major american victory
-blockade established partially (due to spanish recognition of richmondites) though attempt to take new orleans stopped in its tracks
-ohio river boundary holds despite attempt to crack it
-richmondites launch raids on columbus, indianapolis, humiliating but ultimately do not have much impact
-illinois, where slavery is weakest, nevertheless goes richmondite with constitutionalist activities though with dissident pockets, general issues emancipation decree of disloyal in 1869 which davis revokes
-st louis sees pitched street battles between railroad workers and slavers, ends up with missouri, illinois state regiments crushing it
-kansas-missouri border filled with fighting as missouri attempts to invade, kansas fights back in tumultuous war
-appalachian kentucky, virginia fall to constitutional control
-state conventions form separate states of New Virginia and Franklin
-war radicalizes Bancroft into supporter of emancipation to renew the nation
-and Vice President Davis straight from borderland unionist to radical believer in racial equality
-Bancroft issues emancipation proclamation providing for the emancipation of all slaves in territories in rebellion
-revolutionary and results in major shifts of Constitutional government into a mission of emancipation
-Bancroft assassinated in 1870 by Richmondite sympathizer at long-range by
-inspires new wave of nationalist hatred of Richmondism
-remembered to posterity as great American hero
-who saw the light of abolition before he died for the country
1870-1877: Henry Winter Davis (Justice)
1872: (with Samuel Tilden Washington Hunt/Mark M. Pomeroy (Compromise)
-marylander, avowed supporter and follower of henry clay and his ideals
-hates abolitionists for most of his life, regards them as rabid despite belief in eventual emancipation
-supports recognition of buenaventura in major break with southern unionist stance, trumpets their fight against spanish despotism as like america's own
-does not support jones in 1864 election
-and votes for Dorr in contingent election
-which is decisive in shaping people's view of him
-refuses to be like other southern unionists who join populists, instead he joins up with oppositionist candidates
-gets elected senator by oppositionist govt in maryland
-opposes bill making kansas slaveowning, makes him friend of northern oppositionists further
-opposes court case allowing slaveowners transit across states
-opposes blatant fraud in cimarron and east florida statehood referenda
-when justicialist national convention occurs, attends in attempt to moderate it
-nominated as Vice President, as youngish moderate candidate selected to keep from shaking the boat too much
-and to reassure the South (failed)
-more moderate than party, but that does not reassure south one bit and letters fly about violently keeping justicialists out of power
-becomes president following Bancroft's death
-Davis ends up being very radical, far more than people would have expected
-third confiscation act providing for the emancipation of all slaves in territories in rebellion gets issued by congress through patronage means, turns civil war further into crusade against slavery and also includes securities for freedmen escapees
-because Davis believes that Emancipation Proclamation is not constitutional yet is unwilling to say it because Bancroft is a martyr and all
-but supplements Third Confiscation Act with a further Emancipation Proclamation to bring it into effect everywhere in the nation (that's in rebellion)
-by the end of the war he is declaring his endorsement of colorblind suffrage
-on basis of colored troops which makes it an absurdity not to have them with the right to vote
-a stark contrast to his formerly moderate conduct in the prewar era
-ultimately illinois entirely falls into constitutional arms in 1871
-arming of freedmen and incorporation into full army despite widespread controversy but effective
-with path having been laid through Constitutional Government > Army of Kances being extremely effective in its part-Colored "peppercorn" soldiery
-aversion to the emancipation act causes the rise of independent "Compromise Party"
-with the platform of some sort of dual resignation and a new united government emerging
-is able to win a number of seats in the House in the midterms
-results in many fears that its members will, if taking control of states, will switch sides
-increases authoritarian tendencies at state levels as well as movement to give soldiers right to vote
-midterms prove to be large losses to compromise party led by washington hunt
-who advocates dual resignation of both presidents and unification of nation in its wake
-against this Davis furiously declares he would never ever resign and make treason respectable
-by 1871, richmondites pushed to ohio river
-redistribution of land from disloyal landholders to freedmen as army creeps
-in essentially independent movement from general level, with generals essentially acting independently of the government
-war proves long and difficult, due to south having more industrial capacity
-in 1872, constitutionalists cross ohio river to reach lexington and take st. louis, on backs of that davis wins re-election in 1872 in landslide
-over small body of compromisers calling for a dual resignation of both governments to a compromise body
-congressional act ensures states have to be readmitted into union upon 50% of people swearing ironclad oath, including shadow govts set up
-tide turns, memphis taken in 1873
-army strikes southwards to take over Mississippi
-gets through fourteenth amendment banning slavery
-armies meet into new south, in 1875 take over of new orleans, and finally eastern trench warfare comes to an end and takeover of richmond
-richmondites flee to lille [birmingham] but their confidence destroyed and richmondite lines break apart
-richmond government flees further, reaches Appalachicola and then, when this attempting regrouping fails it flees to havana, becoming congress over the water
-finally in 1876 war brought to conclusion, many richmondite politicians flee to cuba, mexico, spain, portugal, maranhao
-Fall of Appalachicola is essentially end of war, a few minor rebel regiments notwithstanding
-originals of constitution, declaration of independence left behind, but some seals taken with them and one only returned to usa recently
-leaves office in 1877, seeking congressional career to complete reconstruction
-because though Justicialist convention happens before war ends, it's pretty obvious war is reaching its end
-davis lays groundwork for radical reconstruction before his terms come to an end including land reform to freedmen, leaves office a massive hero
-goes on to serve as senator with lots of soft power until overworking himself to death in idk 1882
Feeble Peace (1876-9)
-era of great hope and attempts at securing some true peace in the South
-however, rising White Knight movements in the South which claim loyalty to Congress Over the Water
-cut short by assassination
1877-1879: John Wentworth (Justice) †
1876 (with Curran Emmet Andrew Johnson/Samuel J. Randall (Restoration)
-served as successful War Governor for Michigan
-well-noted for suppressing anti-Colored riots in Miami [Toledo]
-as well as for enacting full colorblind suffrage
-fought for radical reconstruction of south
-amends constitution to avoid constitutional coups, also establish equality
-after southern constitutional conventions prove shit, causes radicalism further and enforcement acts against terror attacks
-establishment of education systems in south
-variously with Colored and white schools
-ratifying amendment made price of readmission
-however, too much violence and even attempt to establish quasi-territorial legislatures not entirely successful
-expands settlement west, enforces homestead act across 100th meridian (is wet period so it's a success - for now)
-notably, sees the rise of the Country folders/United States/Economy/Mineral rushes > Pikes Peak Gold Rush (1878)
-which does more than anything to bring in settlers across the border
-makes laws for mining licensing on public land
-also begins to buy up gold for the purpose of making loans abroad with it
-in anti-corporate gesture, refuses to sell off nationalized railroads and enforces maximum railroad rates
-with financial chaos of war years having meant that old bank notes are now worthless, the rich, including railroad owners, lost it
-resulted in many of railroads being in the hands of the government
-terror attacks increase, crushed hard
-Saskatchewan Metis rebellion in Canada (Heads of Laurentia > ^baf9ec ) supported by Cree who cross border in its support, crushed after a lot of difficulty, causes scandal
-Canadian regiments cross border, inspiring crisis and Canadian govt paying indemnity thanks to swift diplomacy
-also cavalry surge in region
-during and following Antillean War (1880-4) , need to use army against outside results in numerous army regiments being transferred to Civil Guard
-sees migration of Metis into North-West Indian Territory
-assassinated by white supremacist terrorist while at centennial expo in philly (World Expo > 1879 Centennial Festival (Philadelphia) )
-terrorist worked as part of cell calling itself "Knights of the White Magnolia", claims loyalty to the congress over the water
Antillian War, Prelude (1879-80) and War (1880-4)
1879-1887: Curran Emmet (Justice)
1880 (with John F. Hartranft Samuel Tilden/Darius N. Couch (National Stability) , Samuel Fenton Cary/William Daniel (Prohibition)
1884 (with John F. Hartranft George A. Custer/Edward P. Allis, /John Quincy Adams II (Custer Republican)
1886: New Constitution adopted; presidents restricted to six year terms without reelection, vice presidency abolished
-full name John Philpot Curran Emmet (Curran Emmet )
-son of Thomas Addis Emmet, a United Irishman exile, and nephew of Irish nationalist martyr Robert Emmet
-long involved in antislavery politics
-arose to power on back of assassination, waves bloody shirt of his predecessor when pushing reforms
-swiftly holds inauguration and gives a speech transmitted immediately over telegraph
-to assure the public that there is still authority
-receives recognition from all the governors as well
-sees first of the White Knight rebellions in the South
-angers the North hard and results in new army movement down south to suppress them
-formally divides the Army into an exterior Army and a Civil Guard
-with the Civil Guard for largely internal uses and general policing
-this is because it makes the army seem smaller now that it's been cut up
-and also so that it can get to work deploying the army in prep for war with Spain
-also sees rebellion in Tahosa to massive northern anger
-results in new laws to tighten mining laws
-war frenzy to liberate cuba to expel richmondite exiles in wake of assassination
-spanish tentative attempts to remove congress over the water not enough
-us recognizes cuban rebels as legitimate government
-speed gathers ironclads in gulf ports, and despite supply issues (worsened by destroyed railroads) gathers soldiers in new orleans, mobile, appalachicola, pensacola thru waterways
-arms funneled to spanish haiti, sent to independentist rebels
-holds extended attempts to negotiate with Spain
-in truth this is more showmanship than real negotiation to buy time to build up something of a navy
-and because it's pretty clear that Spain would totally own the US if war occurs too early
-and simultaneously he assures supporters of intervention that this is just showmanship while he builds up a navy
-after failed attempts to negotiate, spanish capture of us merchant vessel and speed impressed by military readiness results in war in mid 1880 and outbreak of Antillean War (1880-4)
-In the war
-spanish attacks on ports halted by competent fleet but after extreme difficulty
-the US has some pretty severe logistical issues due to wrecked railroads
-but eventually it does prevail by sending troops down south and all
-american vessels land on cuba
-which isn't all that hard because it's actually pretty close to the US
-troops battle and defeat spanish forces in alliance with cuban revolutionaries
-similarly force invades puerto rico in alliance with rebels there
-by 1883, spain driven to the peace table, in effort to keep mexico in their hands concedes independence of cuba, puerto rico
-continues to own railroad shares, establishing public-private partnerships
-to increase profits (decreased due to rate caps), railroads involved in massive land speculation
-which results in growing anger against railroads as an institution
-increasingly consolidates government-owned railroads into a singular authority with this move
-and wartime only enhances this further
-which culminates in formation of Railroad Company of the United States after a lot of negotiation and stock consolidation
-part of a general plan to establish a singular railroad system under the direct supervision of the government in order to bind the nation together
-expands settlement of west further, engages in wars with native americans with goal in forcing them into reservations in minasota
-establishes National University of the United States of America incorporating smithsonian into it, funds new constituent colleges in various cities
-but scotus strikes it down as unconstitutional, govt ignores it and continues building anyways
-results in scotus formally censuring government
-despite Congress issuing act confirming government action
-results in more states, issuing declarations for an Article V Convention
-government-led effort for railroad construction to the west, with rapid land speculation emerging
-wins re-election despite party split of "moderate" faction that joins up with certain populists, forms unionist party
-further corruption scandals occur but fights against them hard, issues civil service reforms
-scandal over war profiteering by Secretary of the Treasury
-sees Emmet fire him
-but sotr is powerful figure and brings his people within party against Emmet
-states get readmitted into the union with unprecedented black involvement in them
-also many northerners who move southward with southerners having vacated their plantations into exile
-bahia links get established, due in part to german unification war weakening bahia's european links
-endorsement of money untethered to specie (civil war, without california and with having to create govt w/o wash, leads to gold standard dying) leads goldbugs to break from party in disgust
-major slowdown in immigration caused by French Wars > Fourth French War (1880-4)
-helps cause commercial slowdown
-as well as increasing wages which comes on to consumers
-run for president in 1884, despite too many enemies made due to his prosecution of justicialist corruption he runs and wins
-white supremacist violence continues to intensify, 1884 election unprecedentedly violent affair but republicans win convincingly
-with Constitution of the United States (1885) , term cut by two years
-in a compromise to get it through
Later Reconstruction (1885-1899)
1887-1891: John A. Logan (Justice) †
1886 def. Stephen Decatur Hancock (Hancock Republican) , John St. John (Prohibition) , Jacob D. Cox (Redemption)
-despite illinois being slave state, logan is not some big slaveholder, is part of yeoman farmer class
-serves for most of his life as a mild supporter of the slave power, but as with otl is not fully on board that
-serves as a Populist, but one who joins up with Menefee
-because the Slave Power is too much for him in its sheer extremism
-upon the Liberty and Union War (1868-76) , his opposition to state government makes him a Constitutionalist, and he becomes a political general
-a very very successful one
-with end, serves as Commandant-General of the Order of the Comunero
-also firmly supports black suffrage
-eventually, volunteers and joins the US military with the Antillian War
-with the end, returns with the air of martial glory
-selected as Justicialist nominee on basis of him being fairly successful general
-who has been aloof from grand fights of Emmet era
-end of Antillean War (1880-4) sees an influx of Colored immigrants from slave trade from Cuba coming
-many of them move to the North in unprecedented wave
-they get integrated into existing Colored Justicialist machines
-despite revulsion of existing Northern Coloreds to these "semi-savage" and semi-Catholicized people
-results in racist backlash including in the North, with riots
-reacts by sending Civil Guard northwards
-successfully portrays the riots as driven by a conspiracy of White Knights
-Logan decides to instead direct them southwards through ships to and from the South
-particularly Charleston
-which begins general trend towards urbanization
-when many of them bring with them yellow fever causes major push towards looking for treatment
-white supremacist violence results in movement to strengthen election laws
-issues force act making it federal responsibility to enforce free and fair elections
-results in army being divided into two, with one with civilian responsibility like a gendarmerie - "Civil Guard"
-however, force act gets struck down by supreme court
-results in amendment authorizing the federal government to ensure security of elections
-violence settles down as biracial system gets established
-drought emerges west of 100th meridian, many homesteaders give up land, railroads lose profits, resulting in panic of 1891
-worsened by existing problems of specie leaving the us
-results in "closing of the west" in the eyes of many as lands east of meridian gets largely settled and it seems the us is to be an urban country
-establishes links with newly independent mexico, philippines, much closer links established with mexico
-at the same time strikes grow in scale, along with union activity
-won re-election by large margin, white supremacist terrorism in stark decline
-launches intervention in new granadine civil war to secure panama for canal route in contrast to spanish-british project in nicaragua
-passes antitrust act, in practice it does fuck all
-dies of rheumatism
1891-1893: John W. Foster (Justice)
-served as Secretary of State
-as a career bureaucrat
-sponsors formation of missouri valley authority to manage water usage and - maybe - make the desert bloom
-bankrupt independent railroads bailed by federal govt (which buys stocks), and finally the further consolidation of these railroads into the Railroad Company of the United States, consolidating federal holdings in railroads into a singular company
1893-1899: Galusha Pennypacker (Justice)
1892 def. Felix Vaniman (Aeronautic) , John M. Palmer (Independent Justice) , xxxxx (Prohibition) , Charles F. Adams Jr. (Redemption)
-despite new constitution nominating convention still held
-large section of Justicialists support an independent ticket
-section breaks off, but some return
-eventual union of sections
-additionally the first man who crossed the Atlantic in Aeronautics > Lighter than air aircraft gets drafted and does pretty well
-Justicialists still win overwhelming majority in election
-sees most astonishing event of Supreme Court entirely dismissed under new constitution and replaced
-despite some bickering widely viewed as a legitimate affair
-leads charge in International Interventions > Intervention in Grao-Para (1897-8) after atrocities unveiled, troops take over
-ends up with it mostly taken over and internationalized, us gets to appoint councillors to its council of administration
-congress over the water (already effectively turning into a social club) collapses, arrests of members
-people who flee to portuguese pernambuco get turned over
-at home, marks decisive end of reconstruction insurgency as groups lose morale, collapse
-with drought in far west not ending, rising movement for opening north-west indian territory for settlement
-Pennypacker is reluctant to do it, results in rising movement for opening it in west which makes itself known in form of oppositionism
-also rising movement for its statehood emerges
-in 1898 election an independent admiral campaign happens to take advantage of war effort
-but loses, Justicialists are high on war victory
War Governors
Wisconsan
-Daniel Webster Turner (1869-1875)
-alt version of Andrew Jackson Turner
-essentially leads war effort in western front because Wisconsan is undisputedly biggest center of Constitutionalist west
-and is highly effective at it
-successfully defends Chicago from early Richmond Government attack heralded as a great victory in the early days of the war
-organizes regiments with blank commissions from Philly and hands them out to trusted figures
-turning his small force into something much bigger
-suffers assassination
-conspiracy theories of this being a move to stop independent-minded governor
-but not much proof of this, rather it's an early White Knight
-idk (1875-1876)
-tries to continue Turner's very large influence
-however, does not have it
Juniper
-idk
-small and sparsely populated state
-highly linked to Wisconsan
-during prelude, served as safe zone for free staters from Kances and Nibrasca
Kances
-Frank Townes (1867-82)
-veteran of Buenaventura's Wars > Buenaventuran War of Independence (1864-7) and later settles in Kances during slavery conflict
-essentially acclaimed governor of Kances in 1867 in prelude to war in Comunero counter-government
-deeply distrusted as he's viewed as the "King of the Ruffians" with his army and leads quasi-independent policy
-takes Independence, Missouri in very brave and daring push that somehow succeeds
-by taking ahold of train, sending telegrams calling it in Richmondite hands, at every stop threatening telegram transmitters to say as much, and then taking the train right past security into Independence
-engages in 40 Acres and a Mule policy essentially independently of government
-some people call for him to achieve higher office but he can't cuz British (despite moved at age of 4)
-(sorta like Pancho Villa incl. name)
New York
-Charles J. Folger (1869-76)
Ohio
Michigan
Connecticut
-William W. Eaton (1869)
-this guy
-incumbent governor coming in with 1868 state election
-strong supporter of the South and a Populist
-New Haven in particular supportive of Populists
-when 1868 gubernatorial election happens, declares victory despite clear signs of fraud and voters shipped from New York
-as part of general breakdown of institutions of the era, this results in a dual inauguration and division of the General Assembly into two bodies
-which continues on and on as standoff
-with some violence
-as well as dual submissions of electoral votes from state in 1868 election
-with opening of war ends up getting swept by regiments from rest of New England
-with the Battle of New Haven furthest north section of war
-in the end flees southwards
-William T. Minor (1869-71)
-declared victor by Justicialists
-holds own inauguration and convenes militias to protect him
-standoff only sees both sides slowly preparing for some sort of combat
-with outbreak of War regiments from rest of New England crush his enemies and he wins the ensuing Battle of New Haven
-rules Connecticut with a strong fist and army regiments on hand for rest of his tenure
-till forced to retire
-Alfred A. Burnham (1871-4)
-Benjamin Douglas (1874-6)
New Jersey
Capitals
1869-1870: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-Extraordinary Congress convened in Congress Hall
-which is a little too small for this purpose and is very cramped
-Bancroft has to be sworn in outside because Congress Hall is just too small
-in the end the government departs for Washington when it falls
1870-1876: Washington, District of Columbia
-Congress and other buildings badly damaged by cannon shot
-with the dome of Congress itself damaged by cannons
-thus, when Congress goes in session in there, it has to cover holes in tarp
-and building, rotunda is essentially emptied by ransacking
-celebration over its retaking cut short by Bancroft's assassination
Railroads
-highly connected to government
-government directly takes ahold of many railroads
-and with many wealthy having lost all their money because of downfall of Bank of the United States > Second Bank of the United States (1828-1868) and requisitioning of gold and silver by army
-many wealthy unable to repay their debts
-government agrees to waive them in return for transfer of railroad shares
-resulting in many railroads also partially owned by government
-additionally, railroads within lands that got conquered also get administered by railroad
-results in quite powerful army-led railroad administration
-and a lot of army administration of railroads
-at least for wartime
-culminates in this government owned (partial) railroads becoming permanent
Constitutional Army
Army of Kances
-headed by Frank Townes
-is essentially independent and more Comunero than US Army as he was given commissions by Bancroft
-troops among the first to take in Colored regiments as part of quasi-independent policy
-also has some women take up arms just in chaos of fighting
-though Townes considers it highly improper, he accepts it just because he has to
-greatest success is taking Independence, Missouri in 1872
-but afterwards beaten to Lowndes
-later makes pretty significant charge towards Cimarron and takes it
-leads some charges towards Arkansaw before final victory, most famously [Fayetteville]
-postwar a lot of it becomes state militia
Army of the West
-around Wisconsan
-formed from the very Northern regiments which faced off against Indigenous
-as well as militiamen who also did so
-the two unite to create what is a pretty effective division
-but does have to be supplemented with quite a few new volunteers
-headed by Field Marshal James B. McPherson and also includes the great Giuseppe Garibaldi
-defend against invasion of Chicago
-it ends up a massive battle just outside city but with large amounts of dead
-in no small part because of Richmondites camped outside many die of cholera
-takes St. Louis in 1872
-and that's the greatest victory of the war
-in short succession, takes over Lowndes [Jefferson City]
-and then from there takes Memphis
Army of the Ohio
-created from some strange union of national army, state militia, Comuneros, and volunteers
-because of broadly divided interests
-in early stages has to deflect raids from Kentucky
-and defend Cincinnati from Butternut invaders from agrarian areas and successfully saves the necks of the Cincinnati militia
-with Cincinnati militia swiftly becoming part of the Army
-soon afterwards crosses the Ohio River
-largest in 1871 being a takeover of Louisville
-and afterwards strikes southwards intensify
-greatest victory is in Memphis
Army of the Southwest
-created to lead initiative in taking Arkansaw and Orleans
-and to prevent Townes from doing his own initiative here
-led by centrally-appointed general
-successful in this regard and sweeps into New Orleans
-finally meets Army of the East with the Fall of Appalachicola
Army of Appalachia
-created in 1871
-after government sends officer to hand out commissions and guns to rebellious Appalachians who don't want to die for rich slave lords
-ends up being pretty brutal affair but the rebellious Appalachians succeed
-even if defeated in campaigns in Twickenham [Huntsville]and in Appalachian North Carolina
-brutal internecine affair cutting through families in elaborate fratricide reminiscent of Revolutionary War
-to extent of cutting new states of Alleghania and Franklin
Army of the East
-by far most professional army of the revolution
-with army units having received volunteers and all
-headed by northern generals who swear loyalty to the Constitutionalist authority
-slow campaign
-early on the Constitutionalists sweep and take Baltimore (heavily damaged) and Washington (less damaged) from Richmondites reaching end of their supply lines
-marked by brutal trench warfare between Washington and Richmond for most of the war
-but eventually trenches move southwards
-and Richmond gets shelled and taken over rather late
Leaders of the Constitutional Army
-command the entire army
-aside from commander-in-chief who is ofc the president
-fear that Frank Townes and others will make themselves autonomous fiefs is part of this effort of centralization
Commanding Generals of the Constitutional Army
1869-1871: Henry W. Halleck
-highest ranking and most experienced general who puts his lot in with Constitutionalists
-ineffectual and eventually forced into retirement
Field Marshals of the Constitutional Army
1871-1894: James B. McPherson
-given higher title as part of modernization of army
-and to ensure authority now that the East and West are well-connected
-in the end succeeds in war
-gives "Shermanesque" refusal to overtures to political office
-serves in office till his death
1894-1905: Cromwell Hutton
Constitutional Navy
-a majority of the US Navy goes with the Richmondite side
-this is because the navy's previous buildup was led by the South and so most trained naval officers happened to be southerners
-and also because it has been deliberately arranged by the outgoing government that most ship leaders are Richmondites
-not a tremendous majority though because of New Englanders, and also because many ships get destroyed
-this in turn forces the Constitutionalists to offer letters of marque, enact shipbuilding, to build up a navy
-in short term, this results in a blockade of the Constitutional side by Richmondites
-a very loose blockade, however, and half of Constitutional ships go through
-also there's quite a lot of trade that happens with British North America which is proudly pro-Constitutionalist in general
-this blockade eventually breaks in 1871 with the Second Battle of Washington and the shattering of Richmondite lines
-from 1871 onwards the newly built Union fleet is increasingly successful
-especially inland where it's very important in rising Constitutional advance
-and also goes on attack against Richmondite ships