I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1292 The Duchy of Iroquois

The large-scale mobilization of the U.S. military is simply impossible to keep secret.

A week later, the news reached Virginia, and some newspapers even published government recruitment notices.

To Napoleon, this was like someone revealing their hand and playing poker with him.

"Commander, the grain we've requisitioned from Orange, Waynesborough, and other places is enough to last two and a half months," Brasser said to Napoleon, looking at the statistics in his hand. "We also have quite a few mules and horses. However, although we emptied the ammunition depot in Charlottesville, we haven't been able to get much gunpowder replenishment."

"There may be a shortage of ammunition after the next large-scale operation."

“That’s enough.” Napoleon nodded nonchalantly, then waved the James News in his hand. “Send word that we are preparing to burn down Norfolk Harbor in retaliation for Wayne’s invasion of Louisiana.”

Norfolk is Virginia’s most important port, backed by the natural deep-water Chesapeake Bay, and is a distribution center for goods such as tobacco, wheat, and cotton in the southeastern United States.

If something goes wrong here, America’s overseas trade could be cut by a third.

For the next ten days or so, Napoleon led his army south with great momentum, but in reality, they only advanced three to five kilometers each day.

When he arrived in Richmond, he set up cannons as if to attack the city, but instead led his main force to turn north.

After a week of forced march, Makar's cavalry finally returned to report that they had spotted the main force of the American army south of Woodbridge.

The last message General Morgan, the U.S. commander, received was that the French were bombarding Richmond. He immediately urged his soldiers to speed up and try to get there before the French occupied it.

But at noon that day, his right flank was suddenly bombarded by artillery, and the long marching column immediately began to scatter and flee.

Napoleon's artillery positions were cleverly chosen, covering almost the entire American column of more than two kilometers, while also utilizing the woods on both sides to defend against enemy cavalry attacks.

In reality, the Americans immediately fell into chaos and did not send anyone to interfere with the French artillery from beginning to end.

Immediately afterwards, the main French forces launched an attack from both the northeast and southwest flanks.

At 2 p.m. that day, less than 5,000 French troops surrounded Morgan's main force of more than 7,000 men.

The U.S. Militia Act has only been in effect for six years, and the U.S. Army has only 4,000 regular soldiers, more than 1,000 of whom were taken away by Wayne. Therefore, a large portion of the troops sent to reinforce Virginia this time are temporary contingents of state militias.

These armies each had their own command system, and when they were suddenly ambushed, they all reacted with remarkable speed and efficiency.

At 4 p.m., facing French troops surrounding him from three sides, Morgan had no choice but to have his men raise the white flag.

……

Port of Brest, western France.

Paul Thiéborough, head of the French General Staff's intelligence department, excitedly opened the carriage door for Baron Leottard and Major Macartney: "Paris has been waiting for your good news. This victory in North America will completely shatter the Austrians' hopes of continuing their resistance." Once the three were seated, Major Thiéborough asked impatiently, "I bet Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte will then launch an attack on Philadelphia, won't he?"

After disembarking, Leotar recounted the course of the North American campaign to him. In his view, heading north from Woodbridge to Philadelphia in about ten days was a perfect opportunity to teach the Americans a lesson.

Major Mackar's hoarse voice rang out: "No, by then our supply lines had been stretched too long. We caught the Americans off guard, but once they reacted, the militias in various places were likely to cut off our logistical support. So the commander ordered the troops to immediately return west to Ohio."

Thiebor nodded: "That is indeed the safest option."

"Safety first?" Leotar gave a strange smile and shook his head. "Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte is not a man who likes stability."

Major Mackar continued, "We encountered Wayne's army in Winchester and defeated them once again."

Thierry Bolton exclaimed, "Yes, Wayne will definitely drive away the Native Americans who are harassing the Ohio region in order to protect his supply lines..."

Leotar corrected in a low voice: "It's 'native,' Major."

Makar continued, "Poor General Wayne was hit by a twelve-pound cannon and then his army surrendered. More than 3000 men in total."

Leotar said, "The angry Northwestern tribes' native soldiers wanted to execute the prisoners, but fortunately the governor sent me with His Highness the Crown Prince's orders, which saved their lives."

Thiebor paused for a moment, then quickly made the sign of the cross on his chest: "Praise be to the merciful Son of God."

Leotar smiled and said, "His Highness requires these Americans to swear allegiance to the Principality of Iroquois and convert to Catholicism."

"Of course, there were a few stubborn individuals who refused these demands, and they were burned at the stake by angry indigenous priests in the name of the Vatican."

It took Thiebor several seconds to process the information, and then he asked in confusion, "You seemed to have mentioned the 'Duchy of Iroquois' just now?"

“Yes,” Baron Leotar nodded, “these are the terms of the truce proposed by His Highness the Crown Prince at the request of the Governor. A principality will be established in Ohio and northern Kentucky, and His Majesty the King will then bestow a dukeship upon it.”

"Oh, negotiations were still ongoing when we left New Orleans, but I believe the Americans will agree. After all, it was originally Native American land, and it's time to abolish the Greenville Treaty."

Five years ago, Wayne's army drove the Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Ottawa and other Native American tribes out of Ohio. Joseph wanted to take advantage of the fact that the ownership of these places was still disputed and reclaim them to establish a Native American nation.

As for why it wasn't directly incorporated into Louisiana, firstly, the cost of governance would be too high, and there would be little revenue, making effective rule difficult. Secondly, it would create a buffer zone between the United States and the Louisiana colony. Furthermore, Ohio's proximity to the Great Lakes region would allow it to exert some restraint on Canada in the future.

In reality, given the Iroquois Confederation's Indian production and management capabilities, they would inevitably become dependent on the Louisiana Governor's Office in the future.

Major Thiebor hesitated for a moment before saying, "But this would cause the Indigenous people of Louisiana... ah, Native Americans to choose to go to Ohio, leading to a shortage of population in the colonies?"

“You need not worry about that,” said Baron Leotar. “Just as few Parisians would want to live in Gascoigne. The west bank of the Mississippi is now the richest region there.”

(End of this chapter)