Wild North America 1846

Chapter 703 Pittsburgh in Action
on the same day

Maine, the northernmost state of the United States, passed a resolution to formally separate from the United States on January 1890, 1, establish the Democratic Republic of Maine, and seek to join the American League as an independent state.

As soon as the news came out, everyone was in an uproar.

No one expected that Maine was the first to start the process of secession. This northern state in the United States is adjacent to New Brunswick, Canada. The population of the state is only 131.4 million, accounting for 4.72% of the total population of the United States.It is a sparsely populated northern state.

The state capital is located in Portland, which is a famous port city in the north of the east coast and one of the northern export ports of the Appalachian coal field. The territory is full of forests and lakes, especially the traditional logging, fishing and shipbuilding industries. .

In recent years, due to the expansion of demand for newsprint, many wood pulp and paper mills have been developed in Maine, becoming one of the new economic pillars of the state.

never expected

It turned out that the unobtrusive northern state of Maine took the lead in firing the first shot of independence and secession. After the news came out, it shocked the entire North American continent.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense.

The remote state of Maine is one of the traditional states in New England. The white conservatives are strong, deeply influenced by the United Kingdom, and the sky is far away from the emperor.

Neither the federal government nor the French have the right to speak here, let alone have any sense of presence.

On the second day, January 2, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison of the United States made a public speech on the South Lawn of the White House, slamming the actions of the Maine government;
"An irresponsible deserter"

"Seriously hurt the feelings of the majority of Americans"

"All decisive measures will be taken to prevent Maine from going further and further down the wrong path..." Yunyun.

Actually

There was nothing he could do but verbally reprimand.

What the U.S. federal government can now use is the National Guard in Washington, D.C., which is less than 4200 people.The infantry weapons and artillery used during the Civil War were still used more than [-] years ago. The equipment was very poor, and there was no uniform uniform.

This armed force of the National Guard can undertake the task of maintaining law and order in the area, but if you want to conquer Portland, which is more than 2800 kilometers away, you might as well wash up and sleep.

Even the most imaginative politicians dare not imagine that this team has traveled more than 2800 kilometers.

Most of these National Guard members in Washington, D.C., are composed of small urban owners and farmers and workers in surrounding towns. The old and the small are completely a group of rabble.

Because the government has no money, all equipment is taken care of by itself. It can be said that it is an armed militia organized by the government.

There is no fixed salary to join the National Guard, only some meager stipends, and they are long in arrears.

The only benefit is tax relief.

Such a team was pulled out to Portland, 2800 kilometers away, and separated by Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, which were separated by waves of independence. Meat buns beat dogs... There is no return.

So can you go on an expedition by sea?
That would be even more impossible. The British who have been fanning the flames in the United States did not support it at first, and the Datang Empire Chinese consortium, which dominates more than 9% of the sea shipping and most ports in the United States, has an even more ambiguous attitude.

To put it bluntly, the White House can't even gather the ships for the expedition, and the treasury is even empty, and it has to issue IOUs to the shipping company for credit.

President Benjamin Harrison has neither money nor an army, and his only weapon is to control the legislative power of the Federal Assembly.It's a pity that this thing has almost lost most of its original power in the current turmoil and division.

The French Expeditionary Force Command in Baltimore also reacted strongly and told the White House;
"France is willing to support the unity and stability of the United States as always. This policy has not changed in the past 100 years, and it will remain unchanged in the next 100 years."

"The French army is ready to go on an expedition to the divided Maine, just like it fought side by side with the American government 100 years ago, resolutely combating the attempts of separatist forces and maintaining the traditional friendship between the two countries."

"Now, we just need a sincere invitation..."

The French Expeditionary Force has neither a military base nor a garrison in Maine. The closest military base to Maine is Dover, New Hampshire, where nearly 3100 French troops are stationed.

However, the French army has suffered enough from rash actions, and it is difficult to make a substantive response without the authorization and invitation of the US federal government.

If the name is not correct, the words will not go well, and there are complaints within the French army.

The cordial invitation the French had hoped to see did not come, and President Benjamin Harrison, while reluctant to see the United States divided, was not foolish enough to lure wolves into the house and bring the war to Maine.

This big family in the United States can't go on anymore, so let's get together and break up!Leave the last incense and love.

It seemed to understand the official attitude of the US federal government. Then on February 1890, 2, Connecticut rejected the merger proposal of New York State, drew Rhode Island together, and announced the establishment of the Connecticut Republic, becoming the second country to split.

On March 3, after a long period of overt and covert political games, they also received a promise of sole support from the Tang Empire.

After weighing again and again, Pennsylvania officially rejected New York State's enthusiasm to win over, and it was not prepared to live in partnership with Ohio State, and planned to be completely independent.

Just two days before it was about to declare independence, Governor Richard Manuel's carriage was suddenly assassinated by multiple gunmen as he was leaving the state assembly, and he died on the spot.

This "parliamentary assassination incident" immediately caused an uproar in the society, and then led to a series of serious consequences.

There is a lot of public opinion in the media, most of them point the finger at the French loan shark group whose interests have been seriously infringed, while a few people suspect that the federal government or New York State, which cannot be united for the sake of unity, is behind the scenes.

Mr. Richard Manuel, the victim of the "Parliamentary Suicide Incident", is the only Italian governor of each state in the United States. He comes from a traditional Italian family that has immigrated to the United States for more than a hundred years and is very influential locally.

His assassination caused Pittsburgh's ethnic groups to tear apart and mutual distrust deepened, triggering a large-scale urban war that lasted for a year and three months.

Pittsburgh

The evening of August 3

At this time, the sky was completely dark, and although the long and harsh winter had reached the beginning of spring, its power was still undiminished.

The cold wind howled across the street, and only a few scattered kerosene street lamps gave off faint light.

On the windy and bleak street, there were not many passers-by, and the few pedestrians shrank their necks and left quickly.

Outside a factory building with a wall, someone hurried over from time to time. After the three strong men at the door whispered a few times, they walked in quickly.

In the factory

Under the light of a few kerosene lamps, hundreds of excited men, ranging from teenagers to tens of years, were crowded in the factory building, wearing peaked caps or flat round caps on their heads, and wearing a pair of workers or low-level workers. Ordinary citizens' attire.

The difference is that each of them has weapons such as spears and short knives in their hands.

The one who organized these militias was Joe Broni, an Italian factory owner. At this moment, he was speaking emotionally to the assembled crowd and said loudly;

"Guys, we've got solid information that the plot to kill Governor Richard was an atrocity orchestrated by the French, and now we need vengeance.

This is not only for us, but also for Italy, for independence and freedom, for a more dignified life.

Governor Richard Manuel is the sole spokesperson for the interests of the people of Italian descent, he is affable, our brother and uncle, and his own people from Lombardy.

The French are trying to maintain the cruel squeeze on this state with despicable assassinations, and use our blood and sweat to feed the brains of those French loan sharks and turn this place into a North American colony.

We will take up arms to resist and avenge Governor Richard, and this is also for our children and grandchildren to live happily, so that they will no longer suffer oppression and pain..."

Joe Bloni's speech won bursts of cheers from the audience. They waved their weapons enthusiastically and shouted loudly: "We want revenge and kill those nasty Frenchmen!"

Beside Joe Bloni, there are dozens of strong white men guarding them. Without exception, they are equipped with two guns, one long and one short. There is also a short knife hanging on the leather bag at the waist. Ordinary militiamen are much better equipped.

Dozens of large boxes behind them were full of old-fashioned smoothbore rifles. Many men who braved the cold wind to come to the factory quickly received their rifles and bullets.

There's even some bread and water in large wooden barrels for those who haven't eaten.

As the crowd continued to gather, it was past nine o'clock, and thousands of people had gathered in the long factory building, which seemed extremely crowded.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Joe Bloni announced loudly; "Okay, guys, listen to me;
The attack on the French military base was an armed joint action initiated by the Pittsburgh Railroad Workers Union, the Chinese Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce, the Pittsburgh Transportation Union, the Leather Craftsmen Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.

Now for pre-war mobilization, guys please check your weapons and ammunition, and report in time if there are any missing ones.

before action

All men are asked to keep silent to ensure the suddenness of the start of the battle and prevent the exposure of the target, which is very important to the success of our operation.

If you are ready, please come to the door in an orderly manner, we will distribute a piece of cloth to everyone, please tie this piece of cloth around your left arm.

We prepared a total of 10 colors of cloth strips, namely red, yellow, green, blue, and white 5 single-color cloth strips, and red, yellow, green, blue, white and black two-color cloth strips, a total of 10 kinds of colors.

The monochrome team is the one that gets the monochrome cloth strip. There are 5 monochrome teams in total, and they are responsible for launching the first attack after the battle starts.

Those who get the two-color cloth strips are the two-color teams. There are also five two-color teams in total.

Every 80~90 people form a team, see these people behind me?They are all veterans with rich combat experience, and they serve as the captain and deputy captain, commanding the guys to fight.

Now everyone come to the door to get the cloth strips and form a team..."

Under the command of Joe Bloni, the armed militiamen lined up at the door to receive cloth strips. After forming a team, three experienced veterans led them away.

They will briefly familiarize themselves with the empty factory building next door for about 10 minutes, and then set off in the dark to rush to the designated location to launch an attack.

Around 11 o'clock at night
The French barracks in the western suburbs of Detroit was in darkness, most of the soldiers had fallen asleep, only a few patrols and sentries on duty hurried past in the night from time to time.

After a few short muffled bangs

A group of seven French soldiers was hidden in the dark corner of the wall. Suddenly, more than a dozen men in black came out and fell down. They all took their lives.

"Okay, all the patrols and sentries here have been dealt with, so hurry up and bring people over."

The voice just fell
A large number of black figures emerged from the darkness, accompanied by the sound of horseshoes.

Take a closer look, boy!
These militia armed forces actually launched more than a dozen 12-pound Napoleon field guns, zoomed in to a place about 30 meters away from the wall of the French barracks, and then stopped.

Then these artillerymen began to get busy, quickly loading gunpowder and shells, and they were ready in just two or three minutes.

"It's all there, guys, pay attention... After you blow down the wall, rush in and kill those Frenchmen!"

"Prepare... to fire!"

With an order, more than a dozen artillery guns fired at close range. Amid the loud "boom boom boom", the entire wall of the nearby thin masonry walls was blown apart.

The collapse of the wall set off a large cloud of smoke and dust, which was quickly blown away by the strong cold wind, revealing rows of neat barracks dormitories deep in the military base.

"Rush up and kill the French!"

Give an order

The black armed militiamen swarmed through the wall that opened the gap, spreading out like a flood, and the sound of shouting and killing was deafening.

Such a loud noise had already awakened the sleeping French soldiers, and many bewildered French officers and soldiers ran out of the house in their underwear.

Then, these French soldiers saw the black crowd coming in like a tide, and immediately shouted in panic;

"Oh, God, enemy attack, enemy attack..."

It's a pity that it was too late to react at this time. The armed militiamen in front had rushed to a close distance of tens of meters. While running, they hurriedly raised their guns and pointed them at the front, regardless of whether they hit or not.

Amidst the messy "cracking" gunshots, many French officers and soldiers were splashed with blood, pierced by hot bullets, and fell to the ground wailing.

The armed militiamen who finished firing a round did not continue to reload, but immediately drew out their bayonets and put them on the barrels, and began a bloody charge.

In the melee at night, the white-bladed charge is the kingly way.

Screams, shouts, and occasional volleys of gunfire filled the French barracks. It lasted intermittently for more than an hour before it gradually subsided.

At this time, the French military base was in flames, and many houses were set on fire, and the forage field where the military horses were kept in the rear was also set ablaze. The raging fire reflected the tragic scene after the war.

The paralysis of the French army caused this complete fiasco.And this also led to the final withdrawal of the French expeditionary force from the United States, ending the military intervention, which is a later story.

(End of this chapter)