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It was always going to happen eventually. Meagher was no longer quick or able enough to stand up to a young-blood, a revitalized party that knew exactly what they wanted. A pity for Thomas, I suppose, but now Ireland has a new face to take it into a new age.
General Daniel 'Blue Dan' O'Brien, Governor of Patagonia
The Patagonian Problem
(1875 - 1890)
(1875 - 1890)
In the great events that had shaken Ireland over the years Patagonia had played little part. A representative council had been established in Viedma, but power largely remained in the hands of the appointed governor. Immigration had slowed greatly after the initial rush, but by the late 1880's the population had grown to around 900,000. The great majority of the population, outside Viedma at least, was made up of farmers and ranchers of modest means. A small number were engaged in mining and other pursuits but while Patagonia had few settlers who could be called poor it had even fewer who could be called truly rich.
The Irish of Patagonia had acquired a reputation for toughness and independence; frontiersmen who rode hard and drank hard, though unlike their counterparts in the United States they towards Irish garrulousness and wit. The arid countryside of Patagonia was home to Irish cowboys, Argentine gauchos and isolated tribes of Tehuelche (native Patagonians), but in the 1880's this romantic way of life was disappearing. Railways spread across the country, linking the small towns with the ports and threatening to spread civilisation. After only a generation or so the frontier was threatening to fade away.
For nearly twenty years (from 1867 to 1886) the ruler of Patagonia had been General Daniel 'Blue Dan' O'Brien, veteran of the Russian War and father of the modern Irish Army. He was by no means the obvious choice to be governor being a career soldier rather than an administrator and an aristocrat with little patience for the men of commerce who ran things in the colonial office, but he was tremendously respected and admired by the public. More importantly he was a through nuisance in Dublin and the Government had jumped at the chance to ship him off abroad.
Surprisingly O'Brien flourished in Patagonia. So long as the colonists paid their taxes and didn't break the law too often he was prepared to leave them mostly alone. The governors palace in Viedma, an impressive if not especially pretty edifice in Spanish colonial style, played host to visiting grandees and foreign diplomats from across South America. O'Brien, aristocrat that he was was especially happy to entertain the Brazilian delegates. He was all too aware that if Irish Patagonia was to survive it could not do so in the face of universal South American hostility. The Irish needed friends.
One place that was definitely not going to be friendly was Argentina.
Members of the Royal Patagonian Constabulary
Ever since the end of the Argentinean war the Patagonian Irish had been concerned about the possibility of a renewed conflict. Yet despite this ever present threat Patagonia had no full time soldiers at all; officially defence would be in the hands of the 4,000 strong Royal Patagonian Constabulary who could hardly hope to keep a modern army at bay for very long.
Time and again O'Brien had pressed for a full time military force to guard against Argentinean (or less likely Chilean) aggression. A division of dragoons alone might have worked to secure the colony, at least until reinforcements arrived. The Dublin Government refused to send the troops; it was too costly they declared, or it would inflame international opinion. There was some talk in the early 80's about establishing a naval squadron at Viedma, but it came to nothing.
The Patagonians were fiercely patriotic. In April 1887 every town and village across the colony celebrated the coronation of King Patrick II with an enthusiasm that far exceeded even those in Ireland itself. The harp flag flew proudly over town hall and police barracks in the colony. There was no doubt that the Patagonians lacked nothing in Irishness.
Still by the 1880's there was serious talk about gaining more autonomy. The Patagonians were an independent sort by nature and the idea of 'Home Rule' - a local Patagonian parliament was gaining widespread (though not universal) support. Patrick Joseph Dillon's Southern Cross Party campaigned for autonomy during the 1881 and 1886 elections. That year (1886) O'Brien finally retired due to ill health and old age and Dillon called for the establishment of a Patagonian parliament. The Dublin Government, while not promising anything did at least say they would undertake a study - then promptly forgot about it.
The new Governor, Thomas Clarke Luby, was an elderly politician and several Patagonians suspected the colony was being used as a retirement home for ex-cabinet ministers. In early 1890 Dillon called a conference in Viedma to discuss the future of the Patagonian autonomist movement.
The delegates had scarcely seated when sensational news arrived. The long feared moment of Argentinean revenge had arrived...
12 April 1890
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Ivan Rogov: Thank's. I'm glad you like it. 
KanaX: I suppose he does actually. Strange that, difficult to think of more disimilar people.
demokratickid: Well, for a given value of fun.
robou: True and well put.
KanaX: I suppose he does actually. Strange that, difficult to think of more disimilar people.
demokratickid: Well, for a given value of fun.
robou: True and well put.
Oh Dear! Ireland must be efficient in getting troops to Patagonia or Argentinean revenge will go unanswered. With so few provinces, one suspects when troops arrive it will be very easy to defend; reasonably good terrain too. And when going on the offensives, Buenos Aries is very very close to the sea.
A most excellent update, Blue Dan seems to be quite a figure. He's a bit too old to run for the PM post back in Ireland, though?
However, "There was no doubt that the Patagonians lacked in Irishness" does sound a bit odd.
However, "There was no doubt that the Patagonians lacked in Irishness" does sound a bit odd.
Oh dear, war with Argentina!
Can Ireland handle such a faraway war?
Or will the Patagonians be able to defend themselves?
Still, if they do successfully defend themselves, that could strengthen the independence movement.....
so many questions!
Can Ireland handle such a faraway war?
Or will the Patagonians be able to defend themselves?
Still, if they do successfully defend themselves, that could strengthen the independence movement.....
so many questions!
With no troops at all in Patagonia besides the constabulary it would be impossible to defend it. But with a few divisions (2 corps consisting of an egnineer and an artillery division) it would be quite easy to fight the argentines to a standstill.
I would be shocked if you loose this war in the long run and predict that the argentines will have initial success but as soon as you deploy troops to south america you will turn the tide.
I would be shocked if you loose this war in the long run and predict that the argentines will have initial success but as soon as you deploy troops to south america you will turn the tide.
So the strain of maintaining a far flung global empire finally takes its toll. Dublin had better get its act together quickly. Even then the fact that a relative minnow like Argentina feels free to challenge the Irish does not bode well for the future
RIS Deirdre
The Conquest of the Pampas
(1890 - 1891)
"If it moves, shoot it. If it doesn't, loot it."
- Popular Irish Army saying.
In Dublin reaction to the Argentinean attack was one of shock, followed by swiftly mounting anger. There were demonstrations in the streets, thunderous denunciations of 'Latin perfidy' in the newspapers and calls in Parliament for the destruction of Argentina. After the briefest of audiences with the King, Parnell announced at once set about organising a task force to deliver Patagonia.
Floating at anchor in Lough Swilly were six of the most powerful battleships in the world; Deirdre, Emer, Eithne, Clíona, Meabh and Mucha. Launched between 1886 and 1890 they were the brainchild of the Meagher Government, built to replace the now obsolete ironclads. Built in case of colonial war with France, Spain or the Netherlands they were a match for any warships the other Great Powers fielded (with the obvious exception of Britain). Admiral Joseph O'Neill, the bold if ruthless commander had been about to set off on a diplomatic visit to the Ottoman Empire was hastily issued new orders and raised his flag on the Deirdre. On 19 April he set sail for Argentina, taking all six vessels with him.
Given the limited nature of the enemy navy one battleship would probably have been quite sufficient, but Parnell decided a show of strength was needed. The rest of the world was watching after all.
The battleships primary role was to support the Army; the Marquess of Tyrone was going to land four divisions - a total of 44,000 men in Argentina and needed to land unopposed. The decision had been made to land on the Argentinean coast directly and march on Buenos Aries. It was felt that a direct invasion would force the Argentineans to withdraw their troops from Patagonia rather than lose their capital.
Irish cavalry preparing to embark
The Irish were not expecting major opposition from the Argentineans at the landings themselves. So it proved. When the fleet anchored off the Argentinean capital on 3 May they experienced little more than sporadic and inaccurate fire from the few coastal defence batteries that guarded Buenos Aries. O'Neill calmly ordered his battleships, with their mighty 12 inch guns to bombard the city. After three salvos, the guns fell silent as the transports steamed past to land the advance parties of soldiers.
There was no resistance; the Marquess had been correct and the enemy thrown nearly all his resources into the invasion of Patagonia. Leaving the city under a light occupying force (and the shadow of the Royal Irish Navy), the Marquess marched his four divisions into the hinterland.
Over the next four months Tyrone occupied Azul, Juarez and La Plata. Having secured the bulk of the Argentinean coast he turned to the south-west and marched for Patagonia proper, taking the time to defeat an Argentinean relief force attempting to liberate Buenos Aries. Courageously the Patagonians had held on for five months, but now their rescue was at hand. In early December Tyrone crossed the Rio Negro into the colony and inflicted a humiliating defeat on General Peña and his far inferior force. Irish Patagonia was saved.
Of course that did not mean the war was over; at the beginning of the New Year Tyrone divided his forces in two, sending the 1st Cavalry Division under Major General Michael O'Sullivan to reinforce Buenos Aries. O'Neill himself, with the three infantry divisions, advanced on Puelen. It proved a wise choice: O'Sullivan arrived at Buenos Aries in time to meet General Gómez, and the 1st Argentinean Cavalry. On 13 February 1891 one of the very last all cavalry battles in history took place in the outskirts of Buenos Aries. It was the most brutal battle of the war, but when the dust cleared Irish sabres and Irish carbines had won the day. Gómez fled, taking the hopes of Argentina with him.
Despite these victories Tyrone counciled that the war could take months if the Argentineans went to Earth. It was therefore something of a shock when on 29 March, the Argentine Government sent a peace offer to Dublin through their Minister in London:
The March 1891 Argentinean peace offer
It was a superb offer. A minority in the Cabinet wanted to press on to permanently hobble Argentina, lest she regain strength and attack again but both Parnell and the King agreed that not accepting such a generous peace would fatally undermine international sympathy for the Irish cause. So it was that the Second Argentinean War ended nearly a year to the day after it had begun. The Irish had suffered perhaps 5,000 casualties in the field, the Argentineans maybe twice that.
Now came the truly difficult part: the aftermath.
The post-war borders
Eight replies! I feel so loved!
robou: Good thinking. Luckily Argentina had very little navy, though in a way that is a shame because I wanted to try out my new Predreadnaughts.
Enewald: Heh, well quite!
hyme: Alas! Argentina again.
Eams: I see what you mean.o Proofreading is not my strength I'm afraid...
asd21593: Keep reading.
demokratickid: Well I mauled them. Not quite crushing, but same basic idea.
Treppe: I was very lucky I was not bogged down abroad I have to admit. I might need to increase the size of my army to handle local threats like this.
ComradeOm: Indeed. The Empire is overstretched, and this won't be the last symptom I fear.
I feel so loved! robou: Good thinking.
Luckily Argentina had very little navy, though in a way that is a shame because I wanted to try out my new Predreadnaughts.Enewald: Heh, well quite!
hyme: Alas! Argentina again.
Eams: I see what you mean.
o Proofreading is not my strength I'm afraid...asd21593: Keep reading.
demokratickid: Well I mauled them. Not quite crushing, but same basic idea.
Treppe: I was very lucky I was not bogged down abroad I have to admit. I might need to increase the size of my army to handle local threats like this.
ComradeOm: Indeed. The Empire is overstretched, and this won't be the last symptom I fear.
Oh wow, an Irish Empire.
So Argentina is literally reduced to La Plata and nothing else? Heh.
So Argentina is literally reduced to La Plata and nothing else? Heh.
A great peace. Ireland stands tall. Bravo!
Though it doesn't equal the offer Russia gave me today, when waging war as Japan: All of Russia from the Bering Strait to modernday Kashakstan.
Ireland stands tall. Bravo!Though it doesn't equal the offer Russia gave me today, when waging war as Japan: All of Russia from the Bering Strait to modernday Kashakstan.
International respect on the one hand. badboy on the other. A belligerent Ireland taking over half of Argentina will get noticed, but perhaps for the wrong reasons. Even so, a fine victory; for all thd oom and gloom of badboy, it is good to flex the military muscles once in a while. Good to see the navy getting some of the show this time as well. Bravo!
A very nice victory! Though I imagine the newly conquered territories will not take kindly to Irish occupation. You're probably in for a decade or so of gaucho uprisings that'll cost far more than the war itself.
Oooor... Will you grant dominion status to Patagonia, now that it's bigger?
Oooor... Will you grant dominion status to Patagonia, now that it's bigger?
Deirdre is hardly a name that strikes terror in the hearts of your opposition.
What are your relations like with Chile? And how will the Americans and the Brits react?
What are your relations like with Chile? And how will the Americans and the Brits react?