An Englishman in New York

[Roger Neilson II]

Being the despatches of Colonel Arthur Lyon Fremantle. Coldstream Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

Sir, as directed I presented my credentials to the American Government in Washington and received accreditation as an official observer in this squabble between our ex-colonials.
In the first month of the conflict I have little of substance to report. You will doubtless be well informed about actual triumphs and reverses by the 'popular press' of which there is a large amount in this country.

I will attempt to disclose and provide an elucidation that goes underneath this in the hope that this will act as a small, but hopefully useful footnote for my betters.

In the border areas out west the Union forces have moved swiftly to secure territory west of the Mississippi, it would appear this was opposed by some half hearted militia who had rushed from their homes with whatever they had to hand. Likewise in West Virginia there have been unopposed moves to plant the Union flag. Aside from this there is much hooorahing, much bustle, and already there is a scent of money int he air for the factory owners who are gearing up to supply all and sundry items that the army will require, doubtless making a dollar or two in the process. There has been a draft declared and all over the country young men are rushing to enlist sometimes in most peculiar units. There is an air of amateurism around!

One significant issue is the appearance of a J.E.B Stuart, who led a cavalry foray into the environs of Washington, causing mush dis consternation, some panic, the destruction of some rail tracks and the burning of some supplies. The Rebels seem to have found a somewhat dashing and troublesome leader who has, in the first month show he can venture where he will and disrupt the peace of the country. It remains to be seen whether this cavalry raiding strategy is a sustained one or an opportunistic one - and whether the union will find a remedy for this.

My own humble opinion is that we shall see little serious campaigning this year, unless someone seizes an opportunistic moment, trounces the enemy and they sue for peace. More likely will be a time of training, equipping and moves after winter when the full campaigning season opens.

I shall endeavor to report on a monthly basis to your honorable person. I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Bo Rearguard]

Sounds like the beginnings of a fine AAR. [8D]

Don't forget to occasionally wander about the hot humid battlefield in an immaculate uniform with a fine china teacup. [;)]

[Roger Neilson II]

September 1861

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire.

Another month into the conflict, and as I predicted there is little action. The Rebel Cavalry have become more audacious and have raided Washington again but also Frederick, Baltimore and Harpers Ferry destroying rail tracks at their leisure.It is also rumoured the Rebels are purchasing commerce raiders: this sir may have implications for our trade and also for the security of our own shipping. Of the border territories occupied by Union forces there has been no riposte from the rebels to date.

I am well able to travel at will in the North, and wherever I go am made most welcome at Union Headquarters. They are a strange mix of deadly earnestness and unrestrained posturing. There is often some disquiet amongst Union Generals, and indeed one is rumoured to have resigned after an argument with another over some slight that was felt to have been caused.

There is a Confederate raider at sea, and the union navy is in pursuit.

I remain, as always, your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

October 1861

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire
Sir
Should any right minded member of Parliament ever think that the South should be sympathised with I would ask them to reflect upon the events of the month of October 1861. The principle, as I understand it, of the whole fight that is now taking place is a fight for the supremacy of State against a Federal Government. How then does the violation of Kentucky’s neutrality by rebel forces sit with that morality I wonder? They have been ‘persuaded’ into the Confederacy at bayonet point this month.
As in previous months the Union cavalry seem to be mounted on donkeys for all the good they do. Stuart and his fellows continue to run rings round them
At sea we hear news that a Union ship has been sunk by a rebel commerce raider.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[WarHunter]

Bacause of this AAR, i now know more about Col. Freemantle, than i ever did before. Thanks [&o]
 
Keep up the great AAR also [:)]

[Grotius]

I'm also enjoying this one.

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

Novermber 1861
Sir
It would appear that the Union has some cavalry able to raid as well. Van Dorn's cavalry raids into Kentucky, meets with some success. However rebel cavalry raid Cairo and Washington again also raiding into the Aleghenies and around that area. Some shore batteries have been established by the rebels along the Kentucky stretches of the Ohio River and this is denying movement to Union transport vessels.

No other activity to mention. Overall the month shows signs that winter is closing in fast now.

I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.
To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

[tocaff]

Jolly good.................[:)]

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire
December 1861
Sir,
I have to report that the privations our troops suffered in the Crimea are being visited upon the Union troops in their own territory. A bitter winter, with no preparedness for the troops to be properly quartered is making for an increasing toll on even the fittest young men. It is to be hoped that in the next conflict that we are involved in we have taken better care of our troop’s needs in winter, or that we engage against some native force in somewhere warm like the Sudan or South Africa! We should not war in winter. I must assume, though I have no evidence, that the armies of the Confederacy suffer the same privations.
Out West, where the weather is more tranquil the Union have advanced on and taken Fayetteville. Confederate militia melted away when faced with this incursion. Union forces now bathe in the Arkansas River.
Two more Union ships succumb to the piratical Confederate raiders.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[beevor_fan]

Another great AAR going! Keep it up! 

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire
January 1862
Sir

It is deep midwinter, any sane gentleman resides in front of a log fire and waits for the Spring. J.E.B Stuart is not a sane gentleman. Yet again his cavalry swoop out of Virginia and tear up railroad tracks around the large Union supply depot of Harpers Ferry. An emulator of his also raids and destroys supplies at Fort Monroe. A small Union ‘police action’ establishes Cape Charles as being part of the union. I do suspect that my despatches may grow in length within the next two months as the armies shake off their winter clothes and stretch-out for Spring. The winter has not been a hindrance to the Union training, recruitment and equipping effort – I am staggered by the ability of this country to grow their capacity for warmaking.


I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

February 1862

Sir

I risk becoming tedious in my repetition. I will be brief. We witness again the usual cavalry raids, though increasingly the Union forces are able to field their own cavalry who at least mitigate, to an extent, the damage and pillaging that occurs. There are the first signs of spring in the air, and with it may come great battles.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire
March 1862
Sir
It is tedious to report this War. It consists merely of skirmishes between cavalry. It seems that only men on horseback are prepared to do anything – they ride, they burn they tear up railroads tracks. The Union forces are becoming more skilled at intercepting these bands of raiders, but they are still proving of nuisance value.

The sick list continue to grow as the men wait out the weather in tent cities, with little field craft in terms of proper sanitation arrangements. I suspect that the rebel forces are doing little better.

If the intention of the Confederacy is to ride out any storm until the Union get bored and war weary they are doing well at present, they have hardly taken a blow, and every month that goes past shows them more skilled at maintaining their own affairs.

The one comfort for Mr Lincoln must be the continued thronging to the recruitment booths of young men eager for the adventure they perceive this war to be.

I do hear rumours that forces are on the move however, and that General Halleck has moved into the Ashland region of Kentucky unopposed.

News comes in of two more Union ships sunk by commerce raiders.

I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire
April 1862.

Sir

We have had a battle! Fayetteville, occupied shortly before the winter set in, and sitting on the North bank of the Arkansas River was attacked by troops under the command of General Van Dorn. General S Curtis faced off the invaders and routed them from the field. There are reports of 600 plus Rebel losses and ten artillery pieces destroyed. Union cavalry under General Sheridan pursued the beaten enemy to Fort Smith and then retired to Fayetteville.

Cavalry again raided Harpers Ferry and Franklin. It is confirmed that General R E Lee has been appointed as a Theatre Commander. Lee is a somewhat unknown General, and there are doubts as to his actual ability to fight as opposed to digging entrenchments.

The area of Pike, in Kentucky has been claimed by the Union troops under General Denver. General Stoneman’s cavalry reciprocate for the Rebel activity in a raid on Winchester and Manassas, tearing up tracks there.

In a new development I understand that Union forces have been landed at Roanoke Island off the North Carolina coast.

I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Roger Neilson II]

A week's pause in this.... action will resume around the 14th July....

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

May 1862

Other than the normal raiding scouting there is little happening. It would appear that the confederacy is inclined to play a waiting game, whereas the Union is not yet inclined to decisive action at this point. Significant supply damage has been caused by Stuart’s cavalry. To Washington’s outlying depots.

I gather that the Union flag is flying over Roanoake island. One assumes this is to act as a forward supply base. General Stuart’s cavalry will need wings to raid there!

From the Union side come half hints that General Grant is on the move, and that union cavalry out west is becoming more inclined to take the war to the rebel territory than sit and wait for activity to occur. The recently occupied Fayetteville is now significantly housing a large union force.

I also have been informed that General Wallace‘s force, lately at Lexington, were observed to break camp and move south, at the same time General Halleck’s forces at Ashland have crossed the Kentucky River.

I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.

[Treefrog]

Roger, going to the continent to enjoy Quatorze Juillet? Your war from the English point of view is inspiring.

[Roger Neilson II]

Trouble ahead......

Grins

Roger

[Roger Neilson II]

To Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister, British Empire

June 1862

Sir

The lands to the West of the Mississippi seem to be falling to the Union cause. General Grant has taken the west bank at New Madrid, Missouri and has now potential, it would seem, to unhinge the Confederate position at Paducah. Generals Halleck and Wallace have secured lodgements south of the Kentucky River . It has been a month of Union advances.
General Thomas advances from poplar Bluff into Newport Arizona and beats off any militia attempting to hold him back. We gather the general Curtis has advanced across the Arkansas and is facing a rebel force at Fort Smith.

A slashing raid by General Forrest causes mayhem in Cairo, Madison and Wabash, with supplies and rail tracks being consumed by the fast riding horsemen. The Union cavalry pursue, but with no discernible effect – it seems they chase shadows. Other Confederate cavalry raid Washington, Baltimore and Frederick. One wonders how long the Union’s population will stand in support of a government which cannot guarantee peace and prosperity in its own lands? The same could of course be said of the Rebels, who increasingly find their border areas are being treated to a ‘tit for tat’ action.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant.

A.L. Freemantle, Col, Guards.