The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1890 Retreat

Robert E. Lee’s hesitation was seen as weakness, and the opinion that he should take the initiative prevailed.

However, as the supreme commander on the battlefield, he still forcibly ordered the troops to wait for Washington's orders.

Washington was in complete chaos at this point, and the American leadership had assumed that the British would back down after the matter was exposed.

How many supplies can we allocate now?

Franklin Pierce asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"No amount of supplies would be enough to feed a few million people."

Treasury Secretary James Guthrie gave a very blunt answer; in fact, he was against the bailout, even if it was for an important city like New York, which he felt would be a waste.

At this point, the United States' debt was already enormous, and the so-called bailout was undoubtedly a huge waste.

Franklin Pierce was somewhat unwilling to give up, and he still wanted to use this to clear his name. However, as his gaze swept over them, everyone else also avoided his eyes.

The United States, which had been engaged in wars for years, was simply incapable of handling such a situation. Not to mention the United States, the entire world, apart from the Austrian Empire, the Qing Dynasty, and the Ottoman Empire, had no experience in this regard.

Seeing that Franklin Pierce was still hesitating, Davis couldn't sit still any longer, because now was not the time to hesitate.

"Mr. President, give the order. We only have one option left: to defeat Britain. We simply cannot handle so many refugees."

On this point, Lincoln and Davis shared the same view: dwelling on pointless things is a waste of time.

"Mr. President, people will always find a way out. We just need to do our part."

Lincoln shouldn't have said such things from his position, but the situation in New York State was beyond saving even by a god, so it was better to reclaim the lost territory as soon as possible, since he didn't know what else the British might do.

The others shared similar sentiments; continuing the stalemate was pointless. The price had already been paid, and there was no reason not to fight.

Franklin Pierce cursed inwardly, "Damn it," but he seemed to have no other choice.

"We should send troops to Canada to set fires and exact a severe revenge on the British!"

"Yes! Why should they do whatever they want on our land? We'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"

The idea of ​​retaliation quickly became the mainstream opinion. However, these politicians clearly lacked military and geographical knowledge. But they couldn't be blamed, since knowledge was still a scarce resource at the time.

However, Davis, as the Secretary of the Army, looked very embarrassed, and there were some things he dared not say.

"What are we going to Canada to burn? To clear land for the British? And how are we going to get there? Are we going to walk across the Great Lakes and wait to be sunk by the British? Or are we going to take a detour? If that's the case, we shouldn't send troops, we should send an expedition."

However, these words would offend those politicians, and it would be awkward for everyone to save face, so he could only say it tactfully.

"We in the United States do not yet have that condition."

At that moment, a telegram arrived, not from the Trenton front, but from Baltimore.

"The British want to negotiate with us."

"What? Those beasts just did something like that and they want to surrender?"

Attorney General Caleb Cushing said indignantly.

Franklin Pierce shook his head and said with a serious expression.

"The British want the land north of Massachusetts, and they are willing to make peace if we give it to them."

"Dream on! What right do they have to negotiate with us!"

Justice Secretary William Massey, a staunch hardliner, had always disapproved of the British way of doing things, and now he had reached his breaking point.

"They want our land, and they want peace? What do they take us for? Orphans who can be bullied on the street?"

The crowd was immediately outraged, but Franklin Pierce's expression became even more serious.

"The British said they would take us down with them if we didn't accept peace."

A brief silence fell over the room.

"What a bunch of damn bastards! Let's fight them!"

Davis swore again.

"We absolutely cannot back down! Massachusetts, Fremont, Maine, and New Hampshire are all ours!"

Lincoln and other Northern politicians echoed this sentiment. They were also quite frustrated, wondering why the British were so fixated on the northern territories and didn't bother to seize the southern ones.

The idea of ​​continuing the war was passed almost unanimously, and Robert E. Lee, at the front, knew that the situation was irreversible and stopped worrying about it.

U.S. troops have officially departed, leaving behind only a land of homeless refugees.
Robert E. Lee did not encounter the ambush he had imagined, but the war could no longer continue.

The British scorched-earth policy made it difficult for the US military to maintain its supplies. However, what was even more terrible was that millions of starving people directly destroyed the infrastructure in the rear, and some even robbed supply convoys.

The rear was in such a state of disarray that the troops at the front could not concentrate on fighting.

On the other hand, the British army's combat effectiveness has significantly improved after it reduced its troop strength. After witnessing the brutality of the British army and the indifference of the American army, the resistance of the people has also weakened considerably. In fact, many people have begun to actively cooperate with the British army, hoping not to become expendable pawns.

Unable to break through with a strong attack and facing a shortage of supplies, Robert E. Lee decisively chose to retreat.

This cowardly behavior made him a target of public criticism once again, and Franklin Pierce naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to shift the blame.

Robert E. Lee was forced to step down, but his successors failed to change the situation and even caused the U.S. military to suffer several minor defeats.

However, what ultimately made the US leadership change their minds was the influx of a large number of refugees into Washington.

Franklin Pierce initially hoped to salvage his votes through relief efforts, but he soon discovered that the number of refugees was growing so rapidly that no amount of food could be provided each day.

These refugees generally harbor a great deal of resentment, and this resentment is growing stronger over time.

The people of Washington initially did their best to help the refugees who came from all directions. Although the war had been going on for several years, life in Washington was still better than elsewhere.

With the added propaganda from the US government, many people have genuinely made significant sacrifices.

However, at that time, the United States did not yet have the agricultural production capacity of later generations, and people, suffering from financial shortages and war, did not have much savings and soon could not hold on.

In addition, the Puritans at this time believed that wealth and poverty were predetermined by God, and even that poverty itself was a sin.

The wealthy, as God's chosen people, have no obligation to help the needy; on the contrary, they should use their wealth to create more wealth.

Unable to receive sufficient aid, refugees have gathered outside the White House, pleading for survival. Makeshift shelters have been erected around key locations like the White House and Capitol Hill, and numerous thefts and robberies have further exacerbated tensions between refugees and locals.

However, the protests did not last long. The friction between the two sides quickly escalated into continuous conflicts, and some people even set fire to houses near the White House and smashed shop windows to loot.

The entire city of Washington was in chaos. If it hadn't been for the comprehensive fortification that followed the outbreak of war, it would probably have been occupied by these refugees by now.

In fact, some people had suggested banning refugees from entering the city before they even entered, but Franklin Pierce was so focused on his reputation that he wouldn't listen to anyone's opinions.

As the number of refugees grew, Washington's garrison alone could no longer expel them, and even more violent refugees continued to enter.

President Franklin Pierce made the swift decision to recall troops from the front lines to fully defend Washington.

In fact, Franklin Pierce's presidential decree was to suppress the rebellion, and the soldiers who had just arrived from the front lines had suffered heavy losses at the hands of the British.

Coupled with the long-term lack of supplies, they were already full of resentment. Seeing the chaos in Washington, D.C., they naturally had no doubt about the president's order.

A large number of troops entered the city, and an officer took the lead, took out the newly issued White House document, the "Insurrection Act," and began to read it aloud.

"quiet!
The President of the Federal Republic hereby solemnly declares and orders:
All those gathered here, disperse immediately! Return peacefully to your respective homes or to engage in your legal business!

Those who violate this rule will be severely punished in accordance with the "Prevention of Riots and Riotous Assemblies Act," a crime equivalent to treason.
God bless America!

Before the officer could finish speaking, he was hit by a stone, and blood immediately flowed from his forehead.

Without saying a word, the officer drew his gun and shot the man who had just hit him with a rock. Still not satisfied, he emptied the magazine before waving his hand away.

"Expel them!"

Before people could recover from their shock, the cavalrymen drew their sabers and charged into the crowd. Blood splattered wherever the sabers passed, and the crowd fled in terror. People fell to the ground and were trampled to death by the crowd and horses behind them.

"Infantry, fix bayonets! Advance!"

The infantry, rifles at the ready, marched in orderly steps to the beat of drums, inching closer to the crowd. The refugees finally lost all courage to shout "bread and freedom."

In a panic, they fled to their makeshift home, believing that closing the door and hiding under the covers would allow them to escape the terror and return to normalcy.

However, they were wrong, terribly wrong.
"Congreve rocket, ignition, launch!"

Rockets hissed as they landed on makeshift metal frames, trailing orange-red plumes of flame as they flew toward the nearby shantytown.

Loud booming sounds echoed continuously in the makeshift shantytowns, and the explosions easily ignited the straw, wood, clothes, and even human bodies.

The refugees were forced to abandon their "homes" and continue their escape, while some stubbornly refused to leave, only to be met with flames and artillery fire.

"The expulsion operation is progressing very smoothly. Our soldiers have taken advantageous positions, and it's only a matter of time before the enemy is completely driven out."

Listening to Sherman's report, Franklin Pierce finally nodded in satisfaction.

"Well done, General."

The president was terrified by the previous frenzy of the refugees, and Washington has suffered even greater losses in recent days than when it was besieged by William Rodden.

Many high-ranking officials, including Franklin Pierce, were threatened, and his doghouse was even set on fire by refugees.

They are indeed a bunch of self-degrading outcasts; they don't deserve to be Americans.

"Mr. President, what is our next task?"

Franklin Pierce admired the young brigadier general before him, who was not as politically minded as Southern generals like Robert E. Lee and was very obedient.

"Brigadier General Sherman, you've worked hard. All you need to do is drive those degenerate rioters out of the city."

Go back and rest. America needs you.

"Yes, Mr. President."

Sherman gave a military salute and turned to leave.

A week later, the atmosphere in the White House chamber was unusually relaxed.

People talked about the soldiers' heroic bearing and the disheveled appearance of the deserters as they fled, but Franklin Pierce's expression was not very good.

"It is indeed something to celebrate that the filth has finally been cleared away, but we still have bigger problems to solve."

The joy on the faces of the others gradually faded.

"That's right, refugees are still pouring in, and they are destroying roads and fields along the way."

No city would accept this group of scoundrels.

In fact, these wandering refugees had become the biggest headache for the US government at this time. Cities and towns along the way were requesting assistance, as they did not want those dirty refugees to disturb their lives.

“We don’t have enough manpower to deal with them right now; those roving criminals are like an endless stream of buffalo.”

What should the British do?

Finally, someone asked this question that seemed to have been forgotten.

Franklin Pierce began to speak slowly.

"We are powerless now. Those filthy things will destroy our city before the British do."

This war has already inflicted too much trauma on this land. I propose accepting the British terms and ceding the four states of Massachusetts, Fremont, Maine, and New Hampshire in order to achieve peace.

"Massachusetts, Fremont, Maine, and New Hampshire are all sacred, inseparable territories of the United States. How can we give them up so easily?"

The Northern lawmakers were clearly extremely dissatisfied. New York State had already been burned to the ground, and if they lost the other four Northern states, what had they fought so hard for?
Southern lawmakers, on the other hand, were reluctant to fight. The costs of years of war were too high for them to bear, and what was even more frightening was that the flames of war had never reached the South.

The initial spirit of shared hatred against a common enemy has long been worn away by reality.

What does the Yankees' business have to do with us? What's even more hateful is that the Northern lawmakers have never given up their struggle for power, and the two sides are still tripping each other up as before.

The British Navy blockaded the ports in the south, so they could only do business with the German Confederation on land. The supplies they painstakingly acquired had to be sent north to support the fight against the British.

However, the officials in the north embezzled funds at every level, so less than half of the supplies actually reached the soldiers in the south.

As the war continued and various scandals surfaced, especially with letters from Confederate soldiers being sent home, the American will to continue the war was plummeting.

"How do we fight? Let alone our attack making no progress, even if we could win."

What if the British, in a fit of anger, burned down those four states as well?
What will we gain? And what will we do if millions more refugees arrive?