Many months ago, when I was quite unexperienced in the workings of Vicky, I wrote and then abandoned a CSA AAR using Southern Revolutions. Now that I have discovered the joy of VIP, I am going to intend to try to get the CSA all the way to 1935. Up to the Civil War, I played as Austria fairly successfully, so I'll give a little overview of the world situation before I jump into the game.
Ordinary Times: 1861-1868
In North America, things got started on a different track almost immediately. The US and Britain went to war presumably over the 54 40 dispute, although I wasn't really paying attention to North America for the most part. The US handily won the war, and liberated Canada from Britain. The US seized Vancouver, and parts of the Maritime Provinces, leaving Britain with only some enclaves on the coasts. The US also got involved in the Mexican War early, seizing New Mexico, put Mexico was able to remain in control of Southern Arizona.
In Europe, my goal as Austria was ultimately to win the Seven Weeks War and to assume leadership over all of Germany, but by 1861 the war for leadership in Germany has not happened yet. As Austria I have defeated the 1848 rebellions, and I have defeated the Sardinian upstarts with their French allies. This has left Austria in possession of most of Northern Italy. A brief war against Russia precipated by their surprise declaration of war led me to reclaim Austria's borders after the Third Partition of Poland. The Austrian military is very advanced, supported by a large mobilization pool. (Note: The Austria game has continued, its presently up to 1913 with Austria in 3rd Place, controlling all of Southern Germany, Alsace Lorraine, Silesia, and several other French border provinces.)
I have not paid too much attention to South America, Africa, and Asia, but I do not think anything major has changed there.
The Civil War began with South Carolina's secession on June 27, 1860, precipitated by the election of a Republican President. The rest of the South soon followed suit, forming the Confederate States of America. Once Virginia seceded, there were thoughts of moving the capital away from Charleston, but the decision was made to keep the capital in Charleston, a more secure location.
Volunteer units were springing up all over the Confederacy, ready to fight for the South's independence. These forces were concentrated in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia. With the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the Civil War officially began with the Union declaration of war. Confederate forces dug in in western and northern Virginia, while in the West, Confederate forces poured into Missouri and Kentucky.
The lack of Union forces in the West allowed for quick victories initially, as Kentucky and most of Missouri were occupied. However, neither state governments could be coerced to secede. The Confederate government knew that the war would not be won in the West, and that ultimately, the war would be decided by seizing the major cities on the Eastern Seaboard.
This chance came in November of 1860. Union forces temporarily left Washington to redeploy to another point on the line, and an opportunity to attack Washington from Northern Virginia appeared. The 130,000 strong Army of Northern Virginia quickly marched to Washington, while some 20,000 men marched on Frederick. Confederate troops were able to reach Washington before Federal troops could, and so the Federals were forced to attack the hastily constructed Confederate works around the city. The battle escalated as more Federal troops poured in, but ultimately, the Federals never gained the upper hand. Thousands of Union troops died assaulting the Confederate positions in waves, before their morale finally broke, and the Union forces retreated.
West of Washington, a battle was developing around Sharpsburg. The defending Union forces numbered around 10,000 men, but they had not really dug into their positions yet. The Confederate secondary force of 20,000 men was able to stage a surprise attack, and catch the Union forces unawares. Union forces were routed, and the Confederates now had achieved two victories in Maryland. European nations began to take notice of this Southern military prowess, and Southern standing began to raise around the world.
However, another event was soon to sully this newfound prestige. This was the burning of Washington. No one knew who started it, but one way or another, the city of Washington was caught on fire, and it practically destroyed the city. Residents fled the city with whatever they had on their backs, and the scene was horrific. Rumours spread that the government had authorized the burning, but they were just rumours.
However, another major military development interrupted the investigations and rumors. A major Union field army of some 130,000 attacked the small Confederate garrison at Sharpsburg. The army in Washington had to move quickly to defeat this attack. The small garrision was able to hold out for a few days, taking horrendous casualties in the process. Then, the Army of Northern Virginia arrived, and the real battle was joined. These new troops attacked the Union flank north of the town, temporarily driving the Federals back, but not causing them to break. Reinforcements from western Virginia then arrived, and they were ordered to press down on the other flank of the Union force. Slowly but surely, the Union forces were pushed back. They were now taking very heavy casualties as they lacked the upper hand they held at the beginning of the battle. Union General U.S. Grant would not retreat his unit though, and the bloodbath continued. Federal units could not take the punishment, and units began to dissolve or surrender. The Sharpsburg campaign effectively continued until the last Union remants broke and retreated, only a few thousand men left from the once massive 130,000 strong force.
Now Philadelphia could be targeted by the Army of Northern Virginia, now around 95,000 men strong. Garrisons were left behind in Washington and Frederick, and the march on Philadelphia began. Union forces were especially stretched thin after the disaster at Sharpsburg, so Philadelphia was only defended by around 10,000 men. These troops were quickly routed after a brief engagement south of the city, and Philadelphia surrendered. President Lincoln saw the hopelessness of the situation, and he decided to offer peace. Confederate diplomats drove a hard bargain though, and the Confederacy was able to secure Kentucky and New Mexico out of the peace. The Civil War was over, but now the even harder process of rebuilding begun.
North America
Europe
South America
Asia
Africa
Contents
Changes in the World up to 1861/The Civil War Ordinary Times: 1861-1868
Changes in the World up to 1861
In North America, things got started on a different track almost immediately. The US and Britain went to war presumably over the 54 40 dispute, although I wasn't really paying attention to North America for the most part. The US handily won the war, and liberated Canada from Britain. The US seized Vancouver, and parts of the Maritime Provinces, leaving Britain with only some enclaves on the coasts. The US also got involved in the Mexican War early, seizing New Mexico, put Mexico was able to remain in control of Southern Arizona.
In Europe, my goal as Austria was ultimately to win the Seven Weeks War and to assume leadership over all of Germany, but by 1861 the war for leadership in Germany has not happened yet. As Austria I have defeated the 1848 rebellions, and I have defeated the Sardinian upstarts with their French allies. This has left Austria in possession of most of Northern Italy. A brief war against Russia precipated by their surprise declaration of war led me to reclaim Austria's borders after the Third Partition of Poland. The Austrian military is very advanced, supported by a large mobilization pool. (Note: The Austria game has continued, its presently up to 1913 with Austria in 3rd Place, controlling all of Southern Germany, Alsace Lorraine, Silesia, and several other French border provinces.)
I have not paid too much attention to South America, Africa, and Asia, but I do not think anything major has changed there.
The Civil War: June 1860-December 1860
The Civil War began with South Carolina's secession on June 27, 1860, precipitated by the election of a Republican President. The rest of the South soon followed suit, forming the Confederate States of America. Once Virginia seceded, there were thoughts of moving the capital away from Charleston, but the decision was made to keep the capital in Charleston, a more secure location.
Volunteer units were springing up all over the Confederacy, ready to fight for the South's independence. These forces were concentrated in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia. With the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the Civil War officially began with the Union declaration of war. Confederate forces dug in in western and northern Virginia, while in the West, Confederate forces poured into Missouri and Kentucky.
The lack of Union forces in the West allowed for quick victories initially, as Kentucky and most of Missouri were occupied. However, neither state governments could be coerced to secede. The Confederate government knew that the war would not be won in the West, and that ultimately, the war would be decided by seizing the major cities on the Eastern Seaboard.
This chance came in November of 1860. Union forces temporarily left Washington to redeploy to another point on the line, and an opportunity to attack Washington from Northern Virginia appeared. The 130,000 strong Army of Northern Virginia quickly marched to Washington, while some 20,000 men marched on Frederick. Confederate troops were able to reach Washington before Federal troops could, and so the Federals were forced to attack the hastily constructed Confederate works around the city. The battle escalated as more Federal troops poured in, but ultimately, the Federals never gained the upper hand. Thousands of Union troops died assaulting the Confederate positions in waves, before their morale finally broke, and the Union forces retreated.
West of Washington, a battle was developing around Sharpsburg. The defending Union forces numbered around 10,000 men, but they had not really dug into their positions yet. The Confederate secondary force of 20,000 men was able to stage a surprise attack, and catch the Union forces unawares. Union forces were routed, and the Confederates now had achieved two victories in Maryland. European nations began to take notice of this Southern military prowess, and Southern standing began to raise around the world.
However, another event was soon to sully this newfound prestige. This was the burning of Washington. No one knew who started it, but one way or another, the city of Washington was caught on fire, and it practically destroyed the city. Residents fled the city with whatever they had on their backs, and the scene was horrific. Rumours spread that the government had authorized the burning, but they were just rumours.
However, another major military development interrupted the investigations and rumors. A major Union field army of some 130,000 attacked the small Confederate garrison at Sharpsburg. The army in Washington had to move quickly to defeat this attack. The small garrision was able to hold out for a few days, taking horrendous casualties in the process. Then, the Army of Northern Virginia arrived, and the real battle was joined. These new troops attacked the Union flank north of the town, temporarily driving the Federals back, but not causing them to break. Reinforcements from western Virginia then arrived, and they were ordered to press down on the other flank of the Union force. Slowly but surely, the Union forces were pushed back. They were now taking very heavy casualties as they lacked the upper hand they held at the beginning of the battle. Union General U.S. Grant would not retreat his unit though, and the bloodbath continued. Federal units could not take the punishment, and units began to dissolve or surrender. The Sharpsburg campaign effectively continued until the last Union remants broke and retreated, only a few thousand men left from the once massive 130,000 strong force.
Now Philadelphia could be targeted by the Army of Northern Virginia, now around 95,000 men strong. Garrisons were left behind in Washington and Frederick, and the march on Philadelphia began. Union forces were especially stretched thin after the disaster at Sharpsburg, so Philadelphia was only defended by around 10,000 men. These troops were quickly routed after a brief engagement south of the city, and Philadelphia surrendered. President Lincoln saw the hopelessness of the situation, and he decided to offer peace. Confederate diplomats drove a hard bargain though, and the Confederacy was able to secure Kentucky and New Mexico out of the peace. The Civil War was over, but now the even harder process of rebuilding begun.
Maps of the World after the end of the Civil War, 1861
North America
Europe
South America
Asia
Africa
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