Shattered Union

Warning-this timeline is ASB and no longer updated for the time beign. Perhaps in the future it will be redone.

TtWhat if the Confederacy had succeeded in annexing the northern Mexican provinces, allowing them access to the Pacific and more resources and manpower? Would it have been enough to win the war? And if so, what would the Confederacy look like, with a large Hispanic population and a chance to capture more land in the west? This timeline explores one scenario and goes through the decades, watching the changes of history resulting from a Shattered Union.

December 1860-April 1861

On December 20, 1860 the state of South Carolina seceded from the United States of America . This was done because Abraham Lincoln had won the elections, an anti-slavery and anti-states rights president who promised to stop the spread of slavery. soon other southern states seceded, and by February there were seven states had were independent. On February 8th thee states formed the Confederate States of America. As they states declared independence they forced out the Union forts and bases in their land. At first Abraham Lincoln didn't think they were serious. but on April 12th the Confederate army opened fire upon the FT. Sumter, capturing the union fort. This was considered the beginning of the War of Secession. Throughout the next few months more states would secede until by mid June 11 states had become full members of the CSA.

May-June 1861

The Confederacy sends John T. Pickett to Mexico, for the purpose of negotiating a treaty that will give Mexico's northern provinces to the newly-born CSA. There were several reasons why the Confederacy wanted this. First, of course, there were many resources there. The mines of Sonora and Chihuahua brought in tons of gold and silver, and if this were directed to the Confederacy's coffers it would make them a richer nation indeed. But of course this was useless at the time, as the CSA was blockaded by the Union on all sides, destroying its economy and making any money worthless.

Which is where the second and even more valuable reward comes in. Mexico's northern provinces bordered hundreds of miles of ocean, certainly next to impossible to blockade with the Union's small Pacific fleet, and contained Guaymas, one of the most impressive ports in the western hemisphere. With coastline shipping goods and gold to purchase it with, the newborn Confederacy would no longer have a material or technological disadvantage.

Before Pickett left, he was explicitly told not to cause any trouble. So when he reached Veracruz, he made sure not to stir up rebellion and appear like a honest and well-meaning person to the Mexicans. While obviously the northern provinces were valuable to the Confederacy, they weren't nearly as much so to Mexico. Mexico was in a state of chaos right now and the president had little, if any, control over the frontiers of his nation. So selling them would cost nothing and only boost his coffers to stabilize his remaining nation.

On June 23, 1861, the Treaty of Veracruz was signed between Mexico and the CSA. This treaty gave the Confederacy Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuilla, both Bajas, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas from Mexico for a total of seven million dollars. This was a great success for the CSA, as they now had even more land the Union would have to invade, more resources, a staging point to invade New Mexico and California, and a Pacific port free from American interference. They quickly made use of this.

Summer of 1861

With northern Mexico in their hands, any worries about food shortages or supply problems went away. Whatever the CSA. needed, they could simply ship in from Guaymas. And with an extra few hundred miles of coastline on the gulf, the Union blockade on the Atlantic was weaker anyways. So when the Union blockade was set up, the Confederacy was not as worried as in OTL. But meanwhile the CSA had other problems, as border states will still deciding their allegiance and clearing their state of Union bases and West Virginia was in open rebellion.

By July 15, 1861, the chaos died down and the sides were drawn. Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida were Confederate completely. Virginia was also Confederate, but West Virginia was rebelling against the CSA. Kentucky, California, and Maryland were Union but had men on both sides, and Missouri was Union but by mid-July much of southern Missouri was under the Confederacy. This was thanks to the governor Pierre, who tried to make Missouri confederate and who still had some of Missouri under that very nation. And finally the Indian territory had sided with the CSA.

The first major battle of the war was the Battle of 1st Manassas on July 21, 1861. At this battle just 15 miles from Washington DC many American congressman and civilians showed up to watch, as they thought it would be a humiliating defeat for the CSA. They quickly found out it was the other way around as the Confederate army routed the Union forces and won the battle. However both sides fought poorly, and the bloodiness of the battle showed sides this was going to be a long war.

Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley launched an invasion of New Mexico on July 23, 1861. Throughout the past month the CSA had been moving in tens of thousands of soldiers into Texas and the newly purchased provinces from Mexico. The invasion was launched by several armies from Texas, Chihuahua, and Sonora. As the CSA was never farther than a couple hundred miles, the supply lines were easily kept and after the Battles of Tucson and Mesilla the Union was forced to withdraw. By early September the CSA had control of all of New Mexico south of the 34th parallel.

Meanwhile in the rest of the war, Kentucky and Missouri were both being fought over, with the Confederacy attempting to hold south Missouri and capture Kentucky. The Union blockade was up but was difficult to manage, particularly due to the even longer coastline of the Confederacy. A US landing at Veracruz is attempted but at the Battle of Veracruz the attack fails and the US is forced to withdraw.

Fall of 1861-Winter of 1862

As September ended the war looked to favor the Confederacy. Much of southern Kentucky and Missouri were under their control, as was the southern half of New Mexico and a large handful of former Mexican provinces. Unfortunately for the CSA they had lost the Battle of Cheat Mountain, ensuring Union control over western Virginia. This lowered Confederate morale somewhat, so to recover it the war department planned a campaign in the west, as well as gain resources and expand their Pacific coastline.

The Union forces located here were few, as the USA regarded the west as largely unimportant compared to the border states being fought over east. They were mostly correct, as little west of the Mississippi River except for Missouri was worth fighting over with large forces. However the state of California contained many gold mines, which under Confederate hands would go one step further to a stable economy even under blockade.

On October 7th, Confederate armies in New Mexico and Baja, with support from forces in Texas and the other Mexican  provinces, launched an invasion of California and northern New Mexico. The 4th Baja Norte Brigade and 2nd Sonora Cavalry won the Battle of San Diego, and the 1st Sonora Regiment and the newly formed New Mexican Brigade won a decisive victory at the Battle of Blythe. When the California Brigade retreated farther west they won again at the Battle of Salton, although the 1st New Mexican Battalion was defeated by the 2nd Californian Infantry at the Battle of Indio. Despite this, the Californian Brigade withdrew to Los Angeles, hoping to better defend California from that position.

In New Mexico the Confederacy won the Battles of Pecos and Albuquerque but lost the 1st Battle of the Little Colorado, and well as a minor engagement near the Rio Grande. The Texas Brigade and Chihuahua Regiment pushed farther and captured Cerillos, less than a hundred miles from the New Mexico capital of Santa Fe. However, the USA was beginning to become competent in the west and sends more soldiers there, who win the Battle of Moriarty. The CSA then wins the Battle of Black Rock, the last major engagement of the western theater until the spring.

1862

With the winter at an end, the CSA launches another attack on Santa Fe and on March 16 captures it. In the west the CSA wins the Battles of Flagstaff and 2nd Little Colorado but loses the 1st Battle of Prescott and the 1st Battle of the Painted Desert. Later attacks win the 2nd Battle of Prescott, but loses yet again in the Painted Desert. Fortifying their position, they win the 3rd Battle of Little Colorado and push the Union onto the other side completely. This is a problem for the Union, as there are no cities north of the river in the western half to support more than a small battalion. Thus they are forced to station only a small force at Pinon while the rest head to Framingham and Coyote in the east.

Meanwhile in California the Confederacy wins the Siege of Los Angeles, killing many of the California Brigade and forcing over 600 to surrender. Combined with earlier casualties, only about 2500 remain in the Brigade and while recruitment raises this to 2700, it is still far from full size. The 4th Battalion is very undersized as a result. The Nevada 1st Cavalry and 1st Infantry are defeated at the Battle of Mohave, forced back to Vegas.

With Los Angeles fallen and the California Brigade in Nevada, the Confederacy quickly captures most of remaining California. At around this same time, Farmingham and Coyote fell after several failed attempts and retreats - forcing the Union to retreat from New Mexico. To celebrate their conquest of a Union territory and most of a state, the Confederacy announces the formation of the Arizona Territory. This land is all of New Mexico south of the 34th Parallel.

With California's gold and coastline in their hands, the tide of the war shifts heavily in the Confederacy's favor. Any attempts to blockade the Pacific are useless and the CSA imports anything they need. Better food and supplies, as well a superior weaponry, allows the CSA to win many battles they lost in real life, so less of the Confederacy is under Union control and more of Kentucky and Missouri under the Stars and Bars. Pubic morale in the north, and it is clear Lincoln must turn the tide soon or he would lose the south.

On August 12, the Confederacy launches a mass assault on Las Vegas, in hopes of driving the Union from their last major stronghold in the west. The Battle of Las Vegas, as it was called, was a complete failure. The CSA had grown used to outnumbering their counterparts in the west, and with the large of Union soldier stationed there they remembered they were outnumbered four to one. Although they gained minor lands in Nevada, and the rest of California later on, they couldn't advance. The Union however, launched a campaign in hopes of recapturing Los Angeles and with it their gold mines.

The Union invasion of California took both defeats and victories, but nevertheless marched further. In desperation the Confederacy launched mass conscription in the Mexican provinces and took Forrest to the west as General. They pushed the Union back in a lucky battle at Pasadena, but the USA was still stronger and launched again after regrouping. The final part of the campaign was the Battle of Death Valley. Here 30,000 Union soldiers faced 25,000 Confederate ones. The Battle of Death Valley was the bloodiest battle of the western campaigns, but it ended in a Confederate victory. 8,000 Union soldiers and 5000 Confederate troops lay dead at the end of the fighting when Sherman finally called for retreat. The south won again at a high cost, but Death Valley earned its name well that day.

The Confederacy recaptured all of California and with a weakened Union army - and a stronger Southern one - captured Las Vegas. The Union had lost its last stronghold west of St Louis, and they would remember that dearly. With Vegas went southern Nevada, and soon the northern army was taking refuge in Salt Lake City - of all places. With many of the same soldiers having been there four years before killing their menfolk during the Utah War, the Mormons were understandably less than hospitable. Many a fight broke out between the Union soldiers and the civilians during their stay.

First half of 1863

The Confederacy regroups and reinforces its ranks, mostly with soldiers in captured territories. Soldiers from the eastern front cannot be spared. After making a formidable force in the east, the CSA Army of the Far West launches an assault in Utah. The Mormons living there are offered a chance at independence or statehood within the CSA if they rebel, and many do. Others join the Army, and within a few months south Utah is captured after a series of bloody battles. The CSA continues into the north and assaults Salt Lake City. While the initial attack is a failure, the battle turns into a siege, with the Union forces trapped.

Farther south, the US army from Colorado launches an invasion of New Mexico. This campaign is a success and Santa Fe falls. Soon, most of northeastern New Mexico was back in the Union. In desperation the Confederacy launches a counter campaign, and the two armies meet on the banks of the Colorado. There the Confederacy is victorious in preventing the Union from crossing but fails to repel their assault. For months the CSA holds out while the north is trapped at Salt Lake.

Salt Lake falls first. Victorious, William Sherman is forced to surrender to the Confederacy, with his entire army becoming prisoners of war. They are marched in shame to Las Vegas, where they are then sent one regiment at a time back to Texas. Losing the west for the Union, Sherman goes down in history as one of the worst generals of the civil war. Once the last soldiers have been shipped, the Confederate army heads to New Mexico again. At around this time the CSA began hiring mercenaries, as they realized their limited troops. Luckily with abundant stocks they are able to find many.

With Union moral at an all time low, campaigns in Virginia and Tennessee adequate at best, the Mississippi still not closed off, and the west gone many US senators began considering letting the CSA get away. While they are not enough to override the president, it is a significant and growing section of congress. So it will come at a surprise the CSA was considering the same thing. They were low on man power, and Union opposition seemed unending. They needed a tie breaking, and there were two sources of this that arrived: Santa Fe, and Nashville.

In the summer of 1863, after being pulled from Virginia temporarily and given planning for months now, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee launch an attack upon Bristol to capture all of northern Tennessee on their way to Nashville. Bristol was lost after a long, bloody attack, but the Confederacy hadn't given their hopes up yet. Another campaign was launched, this time completely in CSA controlled lands. The combined efforts of two of the south's greatest general quickly turned the tide, and soon Nashville was upon the war front once again. The four day long Battle of Nashville was a "victory" for the Confederacy and they captured Nashville-at the price of more than 25,000 young men.

Last half of 1863

With the Union forces in Tennessee retreating to north of the Cumberland, the Mississippi, and Bristol, the south monopolizes their victory with another one at Santa Fe, where Union forces in New Mexico are captured and New Mexico and reunited under southern rule. With the far west ensured, the Confederate Army of the Far West-backed by a large number of mercenaries- continues on to the Mississippi, where a campaign by Grant-one of the last US generals who stood a chance against the Confederacies superior generals.

Here the two sides face off a long, bloody siege, but with reinforcements from the west as well as mercenaries the Confederacy managed to actually outnumber their opponents for once. With the added benefits of being on the defense and having Forrest, the Battle of Vicksburg was a decisive Confederate victory and recaptured much of the Mississippi, forcing the Union off of Tennessee's side completely. Heading south, Forrest chased the Union forces in Louisiana and Mississippi back to the ocean before finally ending his campaign at the victorious Battke of New Orleans, in time for fall to begin its end. Forrest's March Along The River was amongst the most impressive feats of southern strategy througout their entire existence.

Meanwhile on the other front, General Lee had by this point chased the Union out of the side of the Cumberland, before continuing on into the north. While progress was mostly Halted at several, Bowling Green was Confederate for the remainder of the war. With five major battles lost in the war, all in just a few months, most than 60% of all US citizens and congressman want peace. Which is why in November 1863, with the cold winter not doing anything to lighten the mood, Congress called for peace. With with one vote however, they fail. Still, this shows the Confederacy how just one battle can finally win peace.

In late November, Lee and Jackson begin a campaign into Kentucky. Union forces try to halt their advance, but Lee has the full power of the Confederacy behind him, and as he believes this is the CSA's last chance he refuses to retreat even in the the face of overwhelming casualties. Thus, once again Lee forgets it is he who is out numbered two to one. This time, however, it seems to work and he eventually arrives at the Kentucky River, overlooking Frankfort and Lexington. Rather than head for Lexington Lee crosses and marches straight towards Frankfort, were both sides prepare for full out war.

The Battle of Frankfort, from December 23-25, ends with more than 50,000 dead-but the Stars and Bars flies over them from the state capitol. This is widely agreed by historians to have been the point the south won. Indeed, soon peace would begin as the exhausted north finally ceased its campaigns. However, a few believed that would not come until Lexington. But for now, the Confederacy is by all right victorious, as news spreads of Lees Christmas gift to the south.

Early 1864-Peace is reached

With their war morale destroyed, Congress votes again on peace. As the president refuses to agree, they must achieve a two-thirds majority. While it is all but certain they will, one last battle will ground any opposition left to the ground. On January 10, Lee captures Lexington in order to drive his badly weakened opponent once again from Kentucky. This was also done to further cement Confederate control in Kentucky, and confirm Congress would make peace. And a success it was, despite losing over 10,000, because on January 17 Congress recognized the Confederacy and declared a ceasefire while negotiations were held. At last, the war had come to an end.

On February 12, the Treaty of Manassas was signed and ratified. This treaty recognized the Confederacy as an independent nation, free from the USA. All eleven seceded states were given independence, and both the Indian Territory, Arizona Territory, and New Mexico Territory were given to the CSA officially. The CSA dropped all claims to Maryland and Missouri, and West Virginia. Kentucky is given to the Confederacy, as is Nevada and California. The US recognizes the Confederate annexations. Finally, Utah is given independence as a Confederate vassal. While the US grieves its loss, the Confederacy cheers the end of the war, with the soldiers on both sides glad to return to their worried families. The war is finally over.