Well, here goes. My first foray into the AAR world. This is based of my actual Second Mexican War in my recently completed campaign with the CSA in Age of Nationalism. Thanks to the AoN team for putting out such a badass mod, and for finally letting us all download and enjoy it. Now, onwards.
Oh, PS. Any characterizations, portrayals, outlooks, etc. of historical people are all my invention, and in no way reflect how the historical person felt about the issue/person/whatever.
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May 11, 1875 - Matamoros, Texas
The Confederate headquarters for the Department of the
Trans-Mississippi was a dusty sun bleached set of wooden and adobe buildings on the outskirts of the Texan town of Matamoros.Sentries in the newly approved butternut uniforms stood guard in the already blistering heat of spring. General James Longstreet sat with his back to a set of open windows, sweating in the heat as he read the latest news
from Montgomery.
Pulling idly at the ends of his grey mustache, he leaned forward, taking a long draught from a glass of iced tea. The glass was slippery in his hands as the condensation ran down its' sides.
The President had spoken to Congress assembled, and they had voted overwhelmingly for war with Mexico. That meant that soon Longstreet would be heading south.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of his adjutant, Major Peters.
"Afternoon General. Hot one today."
Longstreet glared at the younger man. He had made a bet with him when he had arrived from his post in Tennessee, that the weather here couldn't possibly be any hotter than Nashville in July. Peters was looking forward to collecting soon. Longstreet decided to jump straight to business.
"Hrmph. President Beauregard's spoken to Congress. It's war with Mexico."
Peters' eyebrow rose, then fell as he stepped forward, handing Longstreet a sheaf of papers. "You'll be wanting these then. Our troop strengths, as of this morning."
Longstreet looked down. Seventeen thousand infantry, sixty five hundred cavalry, and 10 field pieces.
"Also, this" Peters handed him a freshly decoded wire from Richmond.
"Braxton Bragg's coming out with another 20,000 men from New Orleans. Imagine that."
Peters shared a laugh with the general. The President and Bragg both hailed from Louisiana, and many of Beauregard's supporters in the election of '73 were already beginning to hitch their wagon to Bragg. Anywhere the Confederate army went, Braxton Bragg was sure to be, until he could get himself elected.
"In any case, he'll be camping in Pecos, waiting for some of the Texan regiments to be called up before he heads west. We're to attack south directly into Tampico. When can we march?"
Peters paused a moment, his eyes looking slight upward as he processed the information. "Six hours, give or take. The infantry can march within the hour, but we need supplies for the horses and limbers for the guns."
"We'll wait for them. Six hours it is, Major. Dismissed."
Peters saluted, and performed a smart about-face, macrhing quickly out of the office. Longstreet rose, walking out of the office himself and out into the hot sun. His hat provided good shade as he mounted his horse, a magnificent animal from Virginia, and rode towards the cavalry stables. He wanted to speak to Colonel Smith about getting some forward recoinnance across the border into Tampico tonight. He knew the Mexicans had troops
down there, but it had been months since he'd heard any concrete numbers.
The ride across the compund was short, as the headquarters was usually the least active in the Confederacy.
Dismounting in front of the cavalry division's headquarters, Longstreet returned the salutes of the two privates on
guard duty as he walked inside to discuss reconnoitering across the Rio Grande.
Oh, PS. Any characterizations, portrayals, outlooks, etc. of historical people are all my invention, and in no way reflect how the historical person felt about the issue/person/whatever.
------------------------------
May 11, 1875 - Matamoros, Texas
The Confederate headquarters for the Department of the
Trans-Mississippi was a dusty sun bleached set of wooden and adobe buildings on the outskirts of the Texan town of Matamoros.Sentries in the newly approved butternut uniforms stood guard in the already blistering heat of spring. General James Longstreet sat with his back to a set of open windows, sweating in the heat as he read the latest news
from Montgomery.
Pulling idly at the ends of his grey mustache, he leaned forward, taking a long draught from a glass of iced tea. The glass was slippery in his hands as the condensation ran down its' sides.
The President had spoken to Congress assembled, and they had voted overwhelmingly for war with Mexico. That meant that soon Longstreet would be heading south.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of his adjutant, Major Peters.
"Afternoon General. Hot one today."
Longstreet glared at the younger man. He had made a bet with him when he had arrived from his post in Tennessee, that the weather here couldn't possibly be any hotter than Nashville in July. Peters was looking forward to collecting soon. Longstreet decided to jump straight to business.
"Hrmph. President Beauregard's spoken to Congress. It's war with Mexico."
Peters' eyebrow rose, then fell as he stepped forward, handing Longstreet a sheaf of papers. "You'll be wanting these then. Our troop strengths, as of this morning."
Longstreet looked down. Seventeen thousand infantry, sixty five hundred cavalry, and 10 field pieces.
"Also, this" Peters handed him a freshly decoded wire from Richmond.
"Braxton Bragg's coming out with another 20,000 men from New Orleans. Imagine that."
Peters shared a laugh with the general. The President and Bragg both hailed from Louisiana, and many of Beauregard's supporters in the election of '73 were already beginning to hitch their wagon to Bragg. Anywhere the Confederate army went, Braxton Bragg was sure to be, until he could get himself elected.
"In any case, he'll be camping in Pecos, waiting for some of the Texan regiments to be called up before he heads west. We're to attack south directly into Tampico. When can we march?"
Peters paused a moment, his eyes looking slight upward as he processed the information. "Six hours, give or take. The infantry can march within the hour, but we need supplies for the horses and limbers for the guns."
"We'll wait for them. Six hours it is, Major. Dismissed."
Peters saluted, and performed a smart about-face, macrhing quickly out of the office. Longstreet rose, walking out of the office himself and out into the hot sun. His hat provided good shade as he mounted his horse, a magnificent animal from Virginia, and rode towards the cavalry stables. He wanted to speak to Colonel Smith about getting some forward recoinnance across the border into Tampico tonight. He knew the Mexicans had troops
down there, but it had been months since he'd heard any concrete numbers.
The ride across the compund was short, as the headquarters was usually the least active in the Confederacy.
Dismounting in front of the cavalry division's headquarters, Longstreet returned the salutes of the two privates on
guard duty as he walked inside to discuss reconnoitering across the Rio Grande.
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