Glad to see the Transcontinental RR making an appearence here... 
And, it seems the new 'volunteers' have given the army the fresh blood it needs...
And, it seems the new 'volunteers' have given the army the fresh blood it needs... -
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Horaay For Update!!!
On a serious note, I'm happy to see that Platinea has begun her full mobilization and that the Army has at least been able to hold their ground at this point.
I also liked your little nod to the ethics and conduct of naval warfare in the period. Events such as those where opposing sides would allow the other to conduct rescue operations were not uncommon.
And I agree with the other readers in congratulating you for successfully connecting your west and east coasts.
On a serious note, I'm happy to see that Platinea has begun her full mobilization and that the Army has at least been able to hold their ground at this point.
I also liked your little nod to the ethics and conduct of naval warfare in the period. Events such as those where opposing sides would allow the other to conduct rescue operations were not uncommon.
And I agree with the other readers in congratulating you for successfully connecting your west and east coasts.
Viden: War exhaustion Platinea: 8,6% Peru: 19,3%
demokratickid: It's a pitty that there are no events covering those tremendous railway lines of the 19th century (like transcontinental, transsib and orient-express). But there's afaik no way to trigger them correctly.
I hope the fresh blood is enough to turn the tide.
asd21953: We will see...
Quanto: Holding the ground is pretty much anything I can do everything else would end in a carnage. I agree that the ceasefire during the rescue would add a bit chivalrous flavour which is so typical for the 19th century, *sigh* in the past everything was better. I was pretty much surprised that my capitalists build the transcontinental railway so quickly. They did it more than ten years earlier as the us-americans in our timeline. And my capitalists build like crazy as if there would be a grand prize for every new railway.
demokratickid: It's a pitty that there are no events covering those tremendous railway lines of the 19th century (like transcontinental, transsib and orient-express). But there's afaik no way to trigger them correctly.
I hope the fresh blood is enough to turn the tide.
asd21953: We will see...
Quanto: Holding the ground is pretty much anything I can do everything else would end in a carnage. I agree that the ceasefire during the rescue would add a bit chivalrous flavour which is so typical for the 19th century, *sigh* in the past everything was better
. I was pretty much surprised that my capitalists build the transcontinental railway so quickly. They did it more than ten years earlier as the us-americans in our timeline. And my capitalists build like crazy as if there would be a grand prize for every new railway.
An update is never late, my dear readers. Nor is it early. It arrives precisely when it means to. But it will be more tasty with some cream on top.
An update is never late, my dear readers. Nor is it early. It arrives precisely when it means to. But it will be more tasty with some cream on top.
Awesome!
Libertad o Muerte! Pt. XXXIII - 1857
The Second Battle of La Paz
After a very cold and quiet winter the troops were nearly in the same place as in autumn of 1856 (map). Though the troops haven't moved all winter long they were everything but well rested or well nurished. The long months in cold and muddy trenches and foxholes caused many casualties among platinean and peruvian soldiers.
But with the snowmelt the peruvian troops stuck there noses out of the soil again and began their spring offensive. By the first days of march peruvian forces began their march onto La Paz. For this purpose the peruvian prime commander General Dionisio had forged an enourmous army out of three former corps with heavy artillery support.
News of the imminent assault reached General Urquiza's headquarter and the Army of the Andes very quickly and the efforts to fortify the city were increased again. The town major requested all civilians unfit to defend the city to leave in order to minimize civilian casualties. Many civilians were panicking as they were informed about the upcoming peruvian assault. Stories about peruvian atrocities in the occupied territory were told all around the city now. And numerous civilianze primary women and children would have left the city but the snowmelt transformed almost all roads in the region into impassable dirt pits and the nights were still freezing cold. So way too many civilians stayed, choosing the threats of misleaded canonballs and atrocites instead of the threats of an illprepared flight over several hundred miles.
On April 4th Dionisio's army, 34,000 men strong, took position in sight of the city. The peruvian troops build up their camp but didn't attack the city. General Dionisio tried to provoke his counterpart to some kind of reaction so he could attack the platineans outside their fortified positions. After to days of waiting General Dionisio sent a letter to General Urquiza and the inhabitants of La Paz in which he expressed his wish to minimize casualties among the civilians and asked General Urquiza to declare La Paz an open city. If the platinean command accepts his offer he promised uncontested withdrawal for the platinean troops. He gave Urquiza twentyfour hours time for consideration.
The ultimatum phased out without a reply of Urquiza or the town major and this the siege began with heavy bombardement in the evening of April 7th.
In the first days of the siege everything the peruvians did was shelling the city from the surrounding hills and their makeshift positions. Due to the heavily advanced artillery pieces which were introduced only two years early in the peruvian army the peruvians had both an higher rate of fire and a greater range. Platinean counter-fire was meager at best and those few hits that were made seemed to be nothing but lucky shots. Due to the need of good lighting conditions the artillery bombardment was limited from dawn to dusk in these first days.
But with the arrival of more peruvian troops the bombardement was also continued during the night using several fires which were burning throughout the city to aim. The peruvians were soften up the defenses. On April 19th the city seemed to be ripe for attack. And the peruvian assault indeed went smoothly at first. But then they got stuck in the streets of La Paz due to heavy resistance of regular troops and civilians which made every street, every house and every garden to a battlefield. The peruvian rifles were not superior to the platinean ones as their artillery pieces had been and thus the battle became more even. Technology was now less important, moral and supplies became more important every day.
But the defenders had neither in such a manner like the peruvian soldiers. While the defenders had to fight every day in the smoldering ruins the city of La Paz had become the attackers had enough troops to withdraw whole regiments to give receive some rest and reorganization. Furthermore were the defenders slowly running out of ammunition due to a artillery hit to the armory.
Moral crumbled and the dead piled up in the streets. General Urquiza, who had given the order to shoot every man who was fleeing, now had to recognize that the city could no longer be held. Inthe early hours of May 7th he ordered to blast the last remaining fortifications and to withdraw from the city immediately. Many civilians especially the drafted men who had fought alongside the regular troops were begging to join the retreat of the regulars, fearing they could be treated badly by the peruvians, but were turned away by General Urquiza as this would have slowed down the withdrawal.
The fears of the irregular troops were legitimate as the following days had proven. Many irregulars were shot on sight as the peruvians entered the city uncontested others were executed in the following days. But this was by far not the worst the civilian population had to endure. In the first hours after the city had been fallen the peruvian troops went on a rampage. In a murderous frenzy the troops plundered, raped and burned.
After the platinean troops had been driven out of the city after weeks of vicious street fighting, the peruvians commited countless atrocities among the citizens of La Paz.
After the fall of La Paz on May 7th the situation of the platinean army was as worse as it could probably be. The most important and populated city in the whole region had fallen into enemy hands, the same city which General Urquiza, platinean high commander, declared the lynchpin of the whole war.
With La Paz lost there wasn't only a wide unprotected gap in the platinean line of defense which could easily be used by the peruvians to march uncontested into the platinean hinterland but also the supply lines to the troops in the northern theatre were cut off.
While Dionisio's army was still taking control of La Paz he ordered the 3rd and 4th peruvian corps, on his left wing, to attack Ixiamas in order to cut off Urquizas retreat lines.
After the long siege of La Paz the city had to be surrendered to the peruvians in early may. Urquizas troops retreated northwards while peruvian General Dionisio led his troops into the exposed gap between General Mitre's army in the north and General Arteagas force at the pacific coast. The map shows troop movements around May 15th.
The Second Battle of La Paz
After a very cold and quiet winter the troops were nearly in the same place as in autumn of 1856 (map). Though the troops haven't moved all winter long they were everything but well rested or well nurished. The long months in cold and muddy trenches and foxholes caused many casualties among platinean and peruvian soldiers.
But with the snowmelt the peruvian troops stuck there noses out of the soil again and began their spring offensive. By the first days of march peruvian forces began their march onto La Paz. For this purpose the peruvian prime commander General Dionisio had forged an enourmous army out of three former corps with heavy artillery support.
News of the imminent assault reached General Urquiza's headquarter and the Army of the Andes very quickly and the efforts to fortify the city were increased again. The town major requested all civilians unfit to defend the city to leave in order to minimize civilian casualties. Many civilians were panicking as they were informed about the upcoming peruvian assault. Stories about peruvian atrocities in the occupied territory were told all around the city now. And numerous civilianze primary women and children would have left the city but the snowmelt transformed almost all roads in the region into impassable dirt pits and the nights were still freezing cold. So way too many civilians stayed, choosing the threats of misleaded canonballs and atrocites instead of the threats of an illprepared flight over several hundred miles.
On April 4th Dionisio's army, 34,000 men strong, took position in sight of the city. The peruvian troops build up their camp but didn't attack the city. General Dionisio tried to provoke his counterpart to some kind of reaction so he could attack the platineans outside their fortified positions. After to days of waiting General Dionisio sent a letter to General Urquiza and the inhabitants of La Paz in which he expressed his wish to minimize casualties among the civilians and asked General Urquiza to declare La Paz an open city. If the platinean command accepts his offer he promised uncontested withdrawal for the platinean troops. He gave Urquiza twentyfour hours time for consideration.
The ultimatum phased out without a reply of Urquiza or the town major and this the siege began with heavy bombardement in the evening of April 7th.
In the first days of the siege everything the peruvians did was shelling the city from the surrounding hills and their makeshift positions. Due to the heavily advanced artillery pieces which were introduced only two years early in the peruvian army the peruvians had both an higher rate of fire and a greater range. Platinean counter-fire was meager at best and those few hits that were made seemed to be nothing but lucky shots. Due to the need of good lighting conditions the artillery bombardment was limited from dawn to dusk in these first days.
But with the arrival of more peruvian troops the bombardement was also continued during the night using several fires which were burning throughout the city to aim. The peruvians were soften up the defenses. On April 19th the city seemed to be ripe for attack. And the peruvian assault indeed went smoothly at first. But then they got stuck in the streets of La Paz due to heavy resistance of regular troops and civilians which made every street, every house and every garden to a battlefield. The peruvian rifles were not superior to the platinean ones as their artillery pieces had been and thus the battle became more even. Technology was now less important, moral and supplies became more important every day.
But the defenders had neither in such a manner like the peruvian soldiers. While the defenders had to fight every day in the smoldering ruins the city of La Paz had become the attackers had enough troops to withdraw whole regiments to give receive some rest and reorganization. Furthermore were the defenders slowly running out of ammunition due to a artillery hit to the armory.
Moral crumbled and the dead piled up in the streets. General Urquiza, who had given the order to shoot every man who was fleeing, now had to recognize that the city could no longer be held. Inthe early hours of May 7th he ordered to blast the last remaining fortifications and to withdraw from the city immediately. Many civilians especially the drafted men who had fought alongside the regular troops were begging to join the retreat of the regulars, fearing they could be treated badly by the peruvians, but were turned away by General Urquiza as this would have slowed down the withdrawal.
The fears of the irregular troops were legitimate as the following days had proven. Many irregulars were shot on sight as the peruvians entered the city uncontested others were executed in the following days. But this was by far not the worst the civilian population had to endure. In the first hours after the city had been fallen the peruvian troops went on a rampage. In a murderous frenzy the troops plundered, raped and burned.
After the platinean troops had been driven out of the city after weeks of vicious street fighting, the peruvians commited countless atrocities among the citizens of La Paz.
After the fall of La Paz on May 7th the situation of the platinean army was as worse as it could probably be. The most important and populated city in the whole region had fallen into enemy hands, the same city which General Urquiza, platinean high commander, declared the lynchpin of the whole war.
With La Paz lost there wasn't only a wide unprotected gap in the platinean line of defense which could easily be used by the peruvians to march uncontested into the platinean hinterland but also the supply lines to the troops in the northern theatre were cut off.
While Dionisio's army was still taking control of La Paz he ordered the 3rd and 4th peruvian corps, on his left wing, to attack Ixiamas in order to cut off Urquizas retreat lines.
After the long siege of La Paz the city had to be surrendered to the peruvians in early may. Urquizas troops retreated northwards while peruvian General Dionisio led his troops into the exposed gap between General Mitre's army in the north and General Arteagas force at the pacific coast. The map shows troop movements around May 15th.
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Thank you all for your patience and continuous support. I apologize for the lack of updates recently and for the short time span the last update covers. I simply do not have the necessary time at hands to write more often or larger updates.
Hellcat: Welcome on board. The emergency exits are... noooo just kidding. I hope you will enjoy our little trip.
Why do you play Argentina in all your games?
Demokratickid, Viden: Well what shall I say? It's no rosegarden over here, the peruvians are really tough enemies. But, as a saying goes over here: Poland is not lost yet,
mad general: Thank you, sir!
asd21593: Somehow I knew you would like it. You are cheering for the wrong team dude.
Hellcat: Welcome on board. The emergency exits are... noooo just kidding. I hope you will enjoy our little trip.
Why do you play Argentina in all your games?
Demokratickid, Viden: Well what shall I say? It's no rosegarden over here, the peruvians are really tough enemies. But, as a saying goes over here: Poland is not lost yet,
mad general: Thank you, sir!
asd21593: Somehow I knew you would like it. You are cheering for the wrong team dude
.
Libertad o Muerte! Pt. XXXIV - 1857
While Urquiza and the whole 'Army of the Andes' was on the retreat the news of his defeat at La Paz reached the capital. King Juan I. gave orders to dismiss Urquiza not from his duty as platinean high commander alone but from all of his duties. The king put General Mitre in charge of high command without any consultation with the parliament or the cabinet. This enraged several Members of Parliament from both factions as they saw it as a sign of monarchial arbitrariness and a possible violation of the constitution. While this may be true for some liberals the conservatives were enraged that there partisan was replaced by a liberal. But on another level this conflict between king and parliament was about who should be in power of the military, and by a lesser extend of the defense policy and foreign affairs. The Constitution of 1849 put the monarch in charge of the military and grants him special rights in the areas of security and foreign policies but without explainin these special rights in detail. The replacement of Urquiza as Head of the Army became critical, even though the king was in charge of the military, as this office was brought automatically the appointment to 'Secretary of War' with it. And thus the king didn't only change platinean high command but the platinean cabinet as well. The debate went on for some time and even the king had to hold a speech in parliament, which was published in all large newspapers nationwide, to justify his decision. After two weeks the debate ebbed out as popular attention went back to the war against Peru. Even though there was no clear winner and there weren't passed any laws to strengthen the position of one side or the other it seemed that King Juan I. was becoming a more decisive factor in foreign and security policies.
The new high commander, General Mitre, immediately ordered all troops except for General Mora's corps, to take part in a coordinated attack against the recently lost city of La Paz. While Mora was ordered to stay in Ixiamas to ensure General Urquiza's retreat. It was a daring move to send all available units to attack La Paz, thus leaving the remaining frontline without troops. An attack that could only succeed if Mora's division and the retreating 'Army of the Andes' could fend off the peruvians at Ixiamas (see Map: Troop Movements around May 10th). Should they fail, the northern theatre would completely break away, giving the peruvians the the opportunity to send reinforcements to La Paz, to encircle the city and make huge territorial gains in Alto Platinea (former Bolivia).
On May 21st the 'Army of La Plata' and the cavalry 'Army of the Pampas' arrived at La Paz and engaged the defenders outside the city. During this initial attack the peruvian General Dionisio was wounded and his aide Colonel Alvaradi had to take over command. The peruvian troops soon recovered from this shock and fought back hard. Platinean losses were twice as high as the peruvian ones, it became clear that Mitre would not win this battle by sheer numbers. Furthermore the Gauchos became of little use after the initial attack. But on June 1st the platinean foreign legion arrived on the spot to turn the tide of the battle. Well rested and highly motivated they marched on to the battlefield and took the key artillery positions, behind makeshift earthworks, by their first assault with only minmal losses. The loss of most of their artillery stroke a harsh blow to peruvian morale and defense efforts. With no outstanding leader, like Dionisio, in command the peruvians broke away and retreated. On June 2nd La Paz was once again retaken by the platinean forces.
During the initial stages General Dionisio was severely wounded he was replaced by one of his aide's Colonel Alvarado. The peruvians recovered fast from the following disorganization. They held their position until the platinean foreign legion arrived and turned the battle in favor of the platineans. The pictures shows the final infantry assault against the fortified artillery positions.
Informed how the battle of Ixiamas was going, and informed that a third peruvian division was on it's way to turn the tide at Ixiamas, Mitre decided to send the Gauchos to relief the platinean defenders. While the foreign legion was to defend La Paz against future attacks Mitre and his 'Army of La Plata' were finally exceeding his original plan: attack Puno and trap the peruvian 6th Corps in Arica (see Map: Troop Movements around June 2nd).
On the very same day the 3rd Battle of La Paz began, the retreating platinean force led by Urquiza and the peruvian attackers (3rd and 4th Corps) commanded by Hernandez arrived at Ixiamas. General Mora who had prepared the defenses and waited for Uquiza's arrival informed him about his dismissal and took command of all platinean forces at Ixiamas. With the numbers on his side and very well prepared defensive positions the battle soon turned out to become a slaughter. Only the battered morale of the 'Army of the Andes' made it questionable if the platineans could fend of the attackers. On June 6th the peruvian 5th Corps joined the battle almost evening out the numbers. But the positions were defended time after time and one day later the Gauchos arrived and turned the battle in favor of the platinean defenders again. Not knowing about the platinean victory at La Paz the peruvian troops fought it out to the bitter end. On June 15th the morale of the common peruvian soldier was on the bottom and many units simply broke away. During the next three days the peruvian troops retreated, some orderly and some completely headless.
The 2nd Battle of Ixiamas which was launched as a side offensive by the peruvians to take La Paz became decisive for the platineans to retake La Paz and stabilize the northern theatre. General Mora distinguished himself in this bloody battle where many peruvians lost their lives.
The strategic situation seems to turn in favour of Platinea in June 1857. The large spring offensive could be denied by retaking La Paz and defending Ixiamas. During the spring offensive the platineans lost more men (21,330 vs. 18760) but the peruvians lost the more important man, General Dioniso. Who was severely wounded in the 3rd Battle of La Paz. With the disembarkation of the Royal Guard at Calama at May 28th the platinean army was now using all its potential to throw back the peruvians. And while the whole peruvian army was retreating offensive moves were made to use the momentum.
In June the peruvians could be drove off La Paz and fended off at Ixiamas. With General Mitre now in charge the platinean army now was going to take offensive steps.
While Urquiza and the whole 'Army of the Andes' was on the retreat the news of his defeat at La Paz reached the capital. King Juan I. gave orders to dismiss Urquiza not from his duty as platinean high commander alone but from all of his duties. The king put General Mitre in charge of high command without any consultation with the parliament or the cabinet. This enraged several Members of Parliament from both factions as they saw it as a sign of monarchial arbitrariness and a possible violation of the constitution. While this may be true for some liberals the conservatives were enraged that there partisan was replaced by a liberal. But on another level this conflict between king and parliament was about who should be in power of the military, and by a lesser extend of the defense policy and foreign affairs. The Constitution of 1849 put the monarch in charge of the military and grants him special rights in the areas of security and foreign policies but without explainin these special rights in detail. The replacement of Urquiza as Head of the Army became critical, even though the king was in charge of the military, as this office was brought automatically the appointment to 'Secretary of War' with it. And thus the king didn't only change platinean high command but the platinean cabinet as well. The debate went on for some time and even the king had to hold a speech in parliament, which was published in all large newspapers nationwide, to justify his decision. After two weeks the debate ebbed out as popular attention went back to the war against Peru. Even though there was no clear winner and there weren't passed any laws to strengthen the position of one side or the other it seemed that King Juan I. was becoming a more decisive factor in foreign and security policies.
The new high commander, General Mitre, immediately ordered all troops except for General Mora's corps, to take part in a coordinated attack against the recently lost city of La Paz. While Mora was ordered to stay in Ixiamas to ensure General Urquiza's retreat. It was a daring move to send all available units to attack La Paz, thus leaving the remaining frontline without troops. An attack that could only succeed if Mora's division and the retreating 'Army of the Andes' could fend off the peruvians at Ixiamas (see Map: Troop Movements around May 10th). Should they fail, the northern theatre would completely break away, giving the peruvians the the opportunity to send reinforcements to La Paz, to encircle the city and make huge territorial gains in Alto Platinea (former Bolivia).
On May 21st the 'Army of La Plata' and the cavalry 'Army of the Pampas' arrived at La Paz and engaged the defenders outside the city. During this initial attack the peruvian General Dionisio was wounded and his aide Colonel Alvaradi had to take over command. The peruvian troops soon recovered from this shock and fought back hard. Platinean losses were twice as high as the peruvian ones, it became clear that Mitre would not win this battle by sheer numbers. Furthermore the Gauchos became of little use after the initial attack. But on June 1st the platinean foreign legion arrived on the spot to turn the tide of the battle. Well rested and highly motivated they marched on to the battlefield and took the key artillery positions, behind makeshift earthworks, by their first assault with only minmal losses. The loss of most of their artillery stroke a harsh blow to peruvian morale and defense efforts. With no outstanding leader, like Dionisio, in command the peruvians broke away and retreated. On June 2nd La Paz was once again retaken by the platinean forces.
During the initial stages General Dionisio was severely wounded he was replaced by one of his aide's Colonel Alvarado. The peruvians recovered fast from the following disorganization. They held their position until the platinean foreign legion arrived and turned the battle in favor of the platineans. The pictures shows the final infantry assault against the fortified artillery positions.
Informed how the battle of Ixiamas was going, and informed that a third peruvian division was on it's way to turn the tide at Ixiamas, Mitre decided to send the Gauchos to relief the platinean defenders. While the foreign legion was to defend La Paz against future attacks Mitre and his 'Army of La Plata' were finally exceeding his original plan: attack Puno and trap the peruvian 6th Corps in Arica (see Map: Troop Movements around June 2nd).
On the very same day the 3rd Battle of La Paz began, the retreating platinean force led by Urquiza and the peruvian attackers (3rd and 4th Corps) commanded by Hernandez arrived at Ixiamas. General Mora who had prepared the defenses and waited for Uquiza's arrival informed him about his dismissal and took command of all platinean forces at Ixiamas. With the numbers on his side and very well prepared defensive positions the battle soon turned out to become a slaughter. Only the battered morale of the 'Army of the Andes' made it questionable if the platineans could fend of the attackers. On June 6th the peruvian 5th Corps joined the battle almost evening out the numbers. But the positions were defended time after time and one day later the Gauchos arrived and turned the battle in favor of the platinean defenders again. Not knowing about the platinean victory at La Paz the peruvian troops fought it out to the bitter end. On June 15th the morale of the common peruvian soldier was on the bottom and many units simply broke away. During the next three days the peruvian troops retreated, some orderly and some completely headless.
The 2nd Battle of Ixiamas which was launched as a side offensive by the peruvians to take La Paz became decisive for the platineans to retake La Paz and stabilize the northern theatre. General Mora distinguished himself in this bloody battle where many peruvians lost their lives.
The strategic situation seems to turn in favour of Platinea in June 1857. The large spring offensive could be denied by retaking La Paz and defending Ixiamas. During the spring offensive the platineans lost more men (21,330 vs. 18760) but the peruvians lost the more important man, General Dioniso. Who was severely wounded in the 3rd Battle of La Paz. With the disembarkation of the Royal Guard at Calama at May 28th the platinean army was now using all its potential to throw back the peruvians. And while the whole peruvian army was retreating offensive moves were made to use the momentum.
In June the peruvians could be drove off La Paz and fended off at Ixiamas. With General Mitre now in charge the platinean army now was going to take offensive steps.
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