The War of Southern Independence 1861-1864

It is a dark time for the fledgling Confederate States of America. Though disaster was averted after General George B McClellan failed to take Richmond in 1862, Lee failed to push north at Antietam. When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, it became clear to the Confederacy that they wouldn't get any foreign support. In December of 1862, the Confederates finally caught a break at Fredricksburg, halting a Union advance. Lee won again at Chancellorsville in early 1863, thanks to his top subordinate, Stonewall Jackson.

POD: Stonewall Jackson rides into camp at night after the battle. Suddenly, Confederate scouts fire at him, thinking he is the enemy. But his horse suddenly bucks up, shielding Jackson from the bullets. After realizing who it really is, the scouts stop firing. Stonewall Jackson lives, and meets with Lee to discuss upcoming strategy.

The Washington Campaign (1863)

On June 3rd, Lee wins Brandy Heights, then crosses the Potomac into Maryland. He enters Pennsylvania on June 24th. On July 1st, the Battle of Gettysburg breaks out, this battle lasts three days. With Stonewall Jackson's help, the Army of the Potomac is later surrounded while retreating toward Baltimore, they surrender on July 5th. Lee moves relatively unopposed and takes Baltimore July 19th. He then begins moving southward to Washington, DC. Major General George H Thomas arrives on July 29th with the Army of the Cumberland, Robert E Lee is convinced that he can not break the Union defenses, so he requests more men and more supplies from the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis himself authorizes the moving of Army of the Valley and the Army of the Northwest to Washington, the orders are given, and they arrive in late August. Abraham Lincoln is urged to move out before it's too late, but he refuses. But Hannibal Hamlin, William Seward, Salmon P Chase, and Edwin Stanton (the vice president, secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, and the secretary of war, respectively) all leave the city for Philadelphia. On August 31st, their convoy is attacked, and they are all captured, a photograph is taken of them in custody and sent to Lincoln, he gets it the next day. During the early hours of the day, he hears a long range shell hit a street in the distance. He looks out to see smoke rising from a building in the distance. The Siege of Washington begins at 7:30 AM, September 1st, 1863. Three Confederate Armies push against two Union Armies entrenched around the capital. After a grueling three-month siege, a union line at the south-west corner of the District of Columbia breaks. Taking the initiative, the Stonewall Brigade, led by Stonewall Jackson, crosses the Potomac and moves north-east toward the White House. Washington police, militia, retreating Union forces, reserve forces in the city, and simple citizens rush to stop the advancing rebels around the construction site of the Washington Monument. The Stonewall brigade pushes north, but is pushed west in a last ditch effort, General George Pickett, serving in an advancing Confederate Army, leads Pickett's Charge, clearing the way for Jackson to the White House. Jackson arrives there, and demands Lincoln surrender, or else the White House will be fired upon. Lincoln agrees to these terms, and meets them on a balcony, flanked by two union soldiers. Lincoln agrees to surrender the city. The next day, General Robert E Lee meets with Lincoln in the White House, Lee told Lincoln "For now, you and your government shall be placed under house arrest, and your capital under military lock-down. In a few days, Jefferson Davis, his Vice President Alexander Stephens, the Confederate Secretary of State Judah Benjamin, Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon along with myself, will arrive here with your Vice President, Secretary of State and Secretary of War, along with a general of your choice, to discuss terms of your surrender." Lee left, and Lincoln was escorted to his bedroom. A week later, the Confederate Government arrived along with their Union Cabinet prisoners. Lincoln called General Ulysses S Grant to Washington, putting General George Custer in charge of Grant's army. Grant arrives with a contingent of 100 US troops, all flying a white flag, and is let through by Lee. On December 9th, they meet in the family dining room, which had been converted into a conference room. Judah P Benjamin suggests they start with what land will go to the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis' first terms are as follows: All slave states in the United States, including the District of Columbia, will go to the Confederacy. In addition, the Indian Territories, the New Mexico Territory and the Arizona territory will be annexed by the Confederate States. William Seward proposed a counter term - The States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee will be allowed to break off the Union. Jefferson Davis said that the Confederacy has control of much of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the Arizona Territory, so they should get them. After some conferencing, Lincoln proposed that the if the Confederacy dropped all claim to West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, they will get the Indian Territory (which they were kind of happy to give up so they didn't have to deal with the natives living there), the Arizona Territory, and the New Mexico Territory. Missouri and Kentucky citizens would vote on what country they want to join. General Lee quickly asked, "What of Washington? Who will be granted it?" James Seddon said that because they have control of it, the Confederate States should own it, but Edwin Stanton said that he would not remove troops from the south if the United States did not get Washington. William Seward proposed that no one should get it, and that the District of Columbia would become a free city, an independent city-state, which would be protected by both the US and CS. Jefferson Davis agreed and signed the Land Ordinance of 1863 along with Lincoln. After another few days of compromise, Lincoln agrees to the treaty, but must assemble congress and have them ratify it. On Christmas 1863, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln invite Jefferson and Varina Davis to see a play at Ford's Theater starring the famous actor John Wilkes Booth.

On the road to peace (1863-1864)

Early in 1864, General Sherman began his advance into Georgia, Congress didn't meet to approve the Treaty of Washington until February 1st. Sherman rushed his troops into Atlanta on February 7th, this resulted in a high casualty rate among Union forces. General Johnston's forces stand between Sherman and Savannah, Georgia. Lincoln, along with Davis, ordered all troops to cease hostilities, but Sherman had sent his last telegraph message on February 10th, two days before the ceasefire was ordered. Davis authorized Johnston's army to defend Savannah at all costs. Sherman's March to the Sea turned into Sherman's Trudge to the Sea, as Johnston slowed and harassed his troops. Sherman managed to push Johnston back to Savannah, where he ordered them to attack on March 15th. The Battle of Savannah was a devastating loss for the Union. With his army obliterated, Sherman surrenders to Johnston. Grant leaves Washington overnight and reaches Vicksburg three days later. As Congress debates the treaty, George B McClellan runs against Lincoln on an anti-war platform, and is gaining support. The Republicans tell Lincoln they will renominate him if he also runs on an anti-war platform. Lincoln agrees. Lincoln convinces Congress to pass the treaty, and he wins the election. The War of Southern Independence ends on April 29th, 1864.

Reconstruction (1863-1867) As the summer of 1864 approached, the Union and Confederacy began moving back to their respective countries. On June 9th, Kentucky citizens narrowly voted to join the Confederacy, Lincoln was worried that Missouri would follow suit, but was relived on July 9th, when the German, Irish, and Polish immigrants decided almost unanimously, along with a 50-50 split of whites, to remain in the Union. Britain and France offered aid to the newly formed Confederate States of America, hoping to begin an alliance. Without the South stopping them, the United States passes the largest and most important amendment in US history. This amendment gives full citizenship to all minorities except Native Americans, among other things. The Confederate States does the opposite, and renames the Confederate Constitution the Articles of Confederation, along with passing the First Amendment, stripping all non-whites of their rights, and enslaving them. On May 1st, both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis left Washington. While Lincoln returned straight to New York City, the new capital, Jefferson Davis began a Victory Tour. After a week touring Confederate towns like Alexandria, Arlington, and the historical Manassas Junction, Davis and his Contingent of 1,000 soldiers, along with many other important Confederates, began the main part of the Victory Tour. Jefferson Davis moved south to Freidricksburg, then to Richmond, from there he took a detour to Norfolk, then turned back, going through Suffolk to Emporia. From there he went south to Raleigh, then arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 29th. From Charlotte, he moved south to Columbia, then to Charleston, then went along the coast to Savannah, then to Jacksonville, then to Tallahassee, then to Mobile, which he reached on June 29th. From Mobile, he went north to the original Confederate capital of Montgomery, from which he went to Atlanta, then moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, before going south along a railroad to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Davis took a boat ride to Corpus Christi, Texas. Then he went around Texas to Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and El Paso by June 29th. From June 29th to July 29th, Davis went in a loop from Messila to Tucson to Prescott to Santa Fe, as not to leave out the loyal Confederate Territories. Davis reluctantly made one stop at Oklahoma City, where he spoke to native chiefs and territorial governors. He signed the Treaty of Oklahoma, giving pro-confederate Indians immunity from slavery, and making them above other minorities, though still below whites. This treaty, signed August 12th, 1864, also moved pro-union Indians lower on the social scale, putting an apartheid system in the territory. From there he went east to Little rock, then moved up the Mississippi to Memphis Tennessee on August 29th. Over the course of the next month, Davis went to Nashville, but had to move his course into the newly confederate Kentucky. At that point, he moved to Louisville, along the Ohio River, arriving there on September 7th. Later that day, Davis made his famous "Why we fought" speech. After the speech, Davis retired to his hotel room, with his wife Varina. Late at night, shortly before Jefferson Davis went to sleep for the night, there was a knock on his door. A former slave from Tennessee, 24 year old John Wilkinson, was there with a .38 cal. Derringer pistol. As soon as Davis opened the door, Wilkinson put a bullet in his heart, Davis would die minutes later. Wilkinson was captured trying to cross the Ohio River into Indiana, and was taken to Fort Donelson, where he was hung for fleeing from his master, murder of the President, resisting arrest, carrying a weapon as an African American, and multiple other, smaller charges. Jefferson Davis's body was brought to Richmond for a mass viewing, Jefferson Davis Memorial Day was established, in memorial of the first Confederate President. Alexander H Stephens was inaugurated as second President of the Confederate States.Alexander Stephens had big shoes to fill, and promised the public in his inaugural speech he would continue running the country to Davis's design, which he would not, as he was openly critical of Davis. Under Stephens' Administration, A transcontinental railroad, spanning from New Orleans to Tucson would be constructed, along with another one from Little Rock to Oklahoma City. These Transportation Acts, along with the opening of jobs in the South, would complete reconstruction for the south by the end of his term in 1866. Their economy is booming. The North, on the other hand, is in a recession, caused by a war debt and other contributing factors that brought along by the lost war. Lincoln struggles to rehabilitate the economy. By early 1866, Lincoln comes up with a plan. After the War of Southern Independence ended with a Northern loss, many lost faith in the government, in order to regain that faith, they would have to re-instate national pride. Lincoln began a program known as "The Lincoln Plan." The Lincoln Plan began federal funding of railroads, steel and mining companies, and funded promising inventions and innovations. With these companies flourishing, and unemployment down very low, the economy began rising. Reconstruction was declared over on July 4th, 1867.

The Gilded Age (1870-1910)
In 1866, the first Confederate National Election was held, the Southern Democratic Party nominated John C Breckenridge for President and John Bell for Vice President. In summer 1866, Robert E Lee was nominated as the Northern Democrat candidate, running with Judah P Benjamin, Jefferson Davis' former Secretary of State and a Jew, as his running mate. Robert E Lee's popularity in the Confederacy won him a landslide victory over Breckenridge. In the US, as part of the Lincoln Plan, the first nickel is minted. In Germany, Alfred Nobel invents Dynamite, which is soon shipped to the US and CS for building railroads, for their respective militaries, and mining. Winfield Scott, former General-in-Chief, dies taking him with him first hand accounts of the early days of the United States of America. When 1867 arrived, much of the public began to put the war behind them, and began settling back into normal life. The economies of both the US and CS move from a war economy to a peacetime economy. In the new Free City of Washington, African Americans were granted the right to vote in elections. As railroads were being built to the west, many settlers began pouring into the great plains. Finally, Nebraska was admitted as a state, ending Kansas' isolation from other free states. In this year, William Seward buys the Alaska Territory from Russia, sparking an immediate controversy, as many said it was barren, desolate, and that the military would have to guard and control it. Though Seward took the heat, it was Lincoln who ordered him to do that ,because the Alaska Territory was almost as big as the Confederate States, and it gave the US enough land to be considered a North American Superpower again. This began the Age of Imperialism. The Confederate States wanted a title of that sorts to, and wanted to expand, but didn't want to give the US a reason to invade the Confederate States, though many were sure that if they could defend against the US once, they could do it again, and that they had allies in Britain and France. Lee though, would have no part in that, and as President, vetoed any attempts to begin a process of those sorts.Lincoln authorizes the US Navy to occupy Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean, many Americans call for a Pacific Empire. The Confederates displace pro-Union Tribes into the Arizona and New Mexico Territory. Yellow Fever breaks out in New Orleans, killing over 2,000, This results in the Confederate Disease Prevention Association (CDPA) to be formed. The Confederate Congress decides on a National Anthem, deciding between a shorter, slightly amended form of the popular folk song "Dixie", a new version of "The Bonnie Blue Flag", which accounts for Kentucky joining the Confederacy, and "God Save the South". Lincoln uses that idea and urges the US Congress to decide on one. The US Congress denies his request. The Declaration of a Confederate National Anthem Act is passed in December 1867, Dixie is declared the Anthem. On May 5th, 1868, US Congress passes the Soldiers' Memorial Day Act, starting Memorial Day in the US. The US splits the Wyoming Territory from the Dakota Territory. Ulysses S Grant defeats Horatio Seymour for President of the United States. Grant is inaugurated, and Lincoln announces he will practice Law in Springfield, Illinois. He is asked to serve as a judge, which he accepts. Lincoln attends the final construction of the COlumbian Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The first US Transcontinental Railroad is completed at Promontory Point, Utah, Abraham Lincoln drives in the Golden Spike to complete it. Congressmen and Senators from the Northern and Western Confederacy begin an emancipation movement, this is supported by Robert E Lee, who has always been a secret emancipator. The debate rages in Congress. The North supports the Emancipation Movement. The Cincinnati Red Stockings become the first fully professional Baseball team in the United States of America. The National Womens' Suffrage Association is founded in the United States. Virginia moves its capital from Richmond to Norfolk, and becoming a state, rather than a Commonwealth. The Steam Carriage is invented, it is slow and noneffective, but is the early predecessor to the Automobile. The Wyoming Territory gives Women the right to vote in Local and Territorial elections, being the first in the world to do so. Construction on the Brooklyn Bridge symbolizes the beginning of the Peak of the Gilded Age. The Utah Territory grants Women's Suffrage. Hiram Revels, an escaped slave from Mississippi is the first African-American elected to the United States Senate, and Congress. Abraham Lincoln is appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court. He is elected Chief Justice of the Illinois State Supreme Court. The US Department of Justice is created. The CS follows suit. The Franco-Prussian War begins in Europe. Abraham Lincoln is appointed to the United States Supreme Court by Ulysses S Grant, which he accepts. Robert E Lee dies in office, the Confederate States declares itself in a state of mourning, Judah P Benjamin is inaugurated as the fourth President of the Confederate States of America. Robert E Lee's death ends the debate for emancipation. Slaves stay enslaved. Many from the Deep South are outraged that a Jew had become President, Anti-Semites in the CS House of Representatives impeach Benjamin, led by Congressman Nathan Bedford Forrest. The KKK is formed in Tennessee and begin lynching Jews. Abraham Lincoln is sent to France to negotiate an end to the Franco-Prussian War, which he does, ending the war in September. During Hanukkah in 1870, Judah Benjamin escapes an assassination attempt by the KKK. He issues a military order, mobilizing internal forces to fight against the KKK. The German Confederation unifies into one, German Empire. The Free City of Washington sets up government in the the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Justice Building. Grant orders expeditions to China, Korea and Japan. The Great Chicago Fire takes place, leaving 100,000 homeless, The Federal Government sets up relief efforts for these people. Birmingham, Alabama is founded as a center for slave trade, as a railroad junction runs through it. Judah Benjamin ends his term and leaves the Confederate States for England with a few hundred Jews and their slaves, who they wish to free after they reach England. Abraham Lincoln's son Tad dies of TB, Mary Todd Lincoln tries to commit suicide, and is put in an asylum by Lincoln. Grant wins a second term on the promise he will expand into the Pacific. In the Confederate States, John C Breckenridge is elected over his former running mate John Bell. Breckenridge, within a month of his presidency, convinces congress to pass the Manifest Act. This act begins the expansion of the CS Army, Navy, and the re-founding of the CSMC. On a cultural note, a petition by CS citizens to change the Confederate flag from the bloodstained banner to a more "appealing and organized" flag. Proposed are the CS Battle Flag, a square with an X and stars on it, the Confederate Naval Ensign (the battle flag, but not a square), the Secession flag, and the Stars and Bars with 12 stars that are three by four. The Confederate Congress passes the Confederate Flag Amendment Act, changing the flag back to the Stars and Bars flag. The US declares Yellowstone a national park, making it the first in the world. Susan B Anthony illegally votes for the first time. Boston Massachusetts burns for two days, costing the US $60,000,000. The US Army engages more Native American Tribes in the west.

The Mexican-Confederate War (1872-1873)
In Mexico, many in the government remember the Mexico of the 1820s, and 30s, when they were an empire from Oregon to Panama. When they were the superpower of North America. After the US defeated them in the Mexican-American War, and much of Central America seceded, they were reduced to a defeated, weak nation. But leaders had their eyes on the Confederate Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and south to Central America. In the summer of 1872, Mexico annexed the Central Nations, all the way to South America. Mexico increased the size of their armies and navies, and employed new weapons like machine guns and Ironclad warships. In October, Imperial Mexico set its sights on the CS Territories. They hoped they could do it quickly, to keep any European powers out of the fight, along with the US. They hoped to free natives from reservations and spark slave rebellions in Texas. On October 27th, they declared war on the Confederate States, crossing the Rio Grande into Texas, and occupying El Paso, Texas. When word reached Richmond, President John C Breckenridge was outraged, he named Stonewall Jackson General-in-Chief and declared War on Mexico on October 29th. Under his command were the Army of the Rio Grande, the Army of the Southwest, the Army of the Rockies, and the Army of of Texas. General Jackson immediately leaves for Austin, Texas. The Mexican Navy attacks Corpus Christi, Houston, and begins a siege of Mobile and New Orleans. Jackson sends the Army of the Southwest to the Arizona Territory, the Army of the Rockies to the New Mexico Territory, the Army of Texas to EL Paso, and the Army of the Rio Grande to Houston and Corpus Christi. The CS Navy is sent to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and to Mobile Bay. After clashes in Mesilla, Tucson, El Paso, and Houston, the Mexican Army retreats to the Rio Grande, but the CS Navy sails up the Rio Grande, cutting them off. The Army of Texas passes over the Rio Grande and occupies Ciudad Juarez on December 13th. From December 15th to January 15th, the tide turned against Mexico. The Confederate States Army wins the Battle of Chihuahua, the Siege of Monterrey, the Battle of Alamos, The Battle of Nogales, and occupy even as far south as Real de Catorce. The CS Navy makes similar gains, winning at New Orleans, Mobile Bay, and defeating the main Mexican Navy at Cancun. The CSMC also landed at Matamoros, Tampico, Veracruz, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallaran, Acapulco, Tehuantepec, and several Mexican owned islands. On February 1st, the Yucatan Confederation seceded from Mexico. Guatemala began an invasion from the south the day after. Anti-war riots broke out in Mexico City, convincing the Mexican Government to ask for an Armistice. Breckenridge calls a ceasefire. In mid-February, the leaders met in Tucson, Arizona Territory. On March 1st, 1873, the Mexican-Confederate War was declared over. The Treaty of Tucson gave the CSA all Mexican land north of the Tropic of Cancer, excluding the Baja Peninsula, and several islands and the city of Cancun. This includes all of  the Mexican provinces of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, and most of the Mexican Provinces of  Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, and Durrango. This land also includes parts of the Mexican Provinces of San Luis Patasi and Zacatecas. The Yucatan Confederation would gain its independence, and contain the Provinces of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan. The Capitla of the Yucatan Confederation would be at Villa Hermosa, in the Province of Tabasco. On April 1st, 1873, the Mexican Government sells the Baja Peninsula, which had been cut off by the Confederate States, to the United States to help pay off war debts. Around this time, the Rio Grande Territory is organized as a Confederate Territory of all former Mexican land south of the Rio Grande. The US organizes the Baja Territory over the Summer of 1873.

Age of Imperialism (1867-1907)
The purchase of Alaska in 1867, along with a lust for more land, began the Age of Imperialism in the United States. The US passed the Hometead Act, and began a new campaign against Native Americans in the west. But, overall, the US Navy set its sights on the Pacific. The US annexed islands like the Palmyra Atoll, Midway Island, and Wake Island. In the Confederate States, they sought coastline on the Pacific, but were blocked by the US and Mexico. They settled for a few Caribbean Islands, until Mexico invaded them, giving them a reason to annex the north half and many Mexican controlled islands in the Caribbean and Pacific. With a renewed Manifest Destiny, the CSA begins plans to conquer all of Central America. Confederate President John C Breckenridge was interested in expanding, but decided it wouldn't wise to do so at this time. Instead, he focused on incorporating the acquired Unorganized Territory into the Confederate States. By 1875, the Territories are organized, and then split into the Sonora Territory and the Rio Grande Territory. In 1876, Thomas A Hendricks is elected President of the Confederate States over Charles J Jenkins. In the United States, Rutherford B Hayes is elected president over Samuel J Tilden.