American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

I just finished reading "Crucible of Command", a dual biography of Grant and Lee by William C. Davis. I learned a lot about the early years of both men I didn't know before. (I recommend the book, but if you're a fan of Lee - make sure you're sitting down when you read it! )

Anyway, near the end, I found this gem: "In 1862 the French invaded and occupied Mexico, and by 1863 controlled most of the country. The following year they installed their puppet Maximilian as emperor. Grant felt from the first that the French invasion was almost part of the Southern rebellion, for what he believed to be French aid to the Confederacy was 'little more than open war'."

This reminded me of an idea that once rattled around in the place I use to hang my hat.

The French supported the original 13 colonies during the Revolutionary War, providing the additional forces (primarily naval) that ended up tipping the scales in favor of the colonists. What if Grant's fears had been realized and the French had moved north from Mexico to aid the Confederacy? I'm thinking the French/Mexicans could have been enticed to support the Confederacy with the promise of getting back California and some of the other territories they lost to the U.S. in the Mexican War. (Of course, being allied with the Confederacy the French/Mexicans probably could not count on getting Texas back.)

Yes, I know the French were too unstable in Mexico to mount any sort of invasion into Texas, but wouldn't it be a fun "What if"?

These games don't model political situations (such as France recognizing the Confederacy), and representation of naval forces is far too simplistic (so having French fleets bust up the blockade wouldn't be feasible). Ground forces are the focus of these games. I'm thinking of just a few French/Mexican forces, added to such Western campaigns as Vicksburg, Shiloh, or Corinth (depending on the hypothetical time frame of the French intervention). Or maybe some new "Forgotten Campaigns" scenarios out west?

It seems to me that the French/Mexicans would focus primarily on what we refer to as the Trans-Mississippi theater, but I suppose there's no reason a French/Mexican division or two couldn't be added to the mix in Chickamauga or even to battles further east.

I just play the games - I haven't dabbled into editing/crating scenarios myself. But I wanted to toss this idea out there, to hopefully stir the creative juices of those who do.

_________________
General 'Dee Dubya' Mallory

David,

Sounds like something for a Harry Turtledove novel! Having just done a Chickamauga scenario, eh, I don't think so. With all those Germans in the Army of the Cumberland? You might launch a European war right there!

_________________
MG Robert Frost

It would be fun if WDS opened up more uniform/icon options to add European forces in some "what if" scenarios.

But the argument over "quality" ratings would be very interesting

Are the USA/CSA forces the best in the world by 1864? Beats me.

_________________
Gen. Blake Strickler
Confederate General-in-Chief
El Presidente 2010 - 2012

General Blake,

I didn't consider troop quality until after I had made my post. Would most of the French/Mexican army be made up of conscripts? Or would patriotic Hispanics eagerly sign up in order to reclaim some of the lands taken from their country 15 years earlier? How many veterans of that war would still be in the army, or at least willing to re-enlist for "the Cause" (their own, that is!)? Would they bring their own arms, or be equipped by the Confederacy? (If the French fleet were to break the blockade, arms shipments would probably be more plentiful. Otherwise, I don't know that the C.S.A. would have any extra arms to share with their allies.)

_________________
General 'Dee Dubya' Mallory

Were this even a possibility, I think that the parties would struggle to unite aims. I can't see fighting in Georgia as a priority. Mexican forces, as you alluded, would likely want to reclaim some of their lands. Would the French contingent be more interested in using Texas as a springboard to retake New Orleans? Without having any knowledge of the French navy at that time, would it be able to deal with Union ironclads?

_________________
MG Robert Frost

I can't see the French or the Mexicans ever having much involvement in the American Civil War, they were busy fighting each other. The French-Mexican War continued longer than the Civil War lasting until June 1867 (the USA supporting the Mexicans with guns and ammunition from 1865). It became a civil war from 1864 with some Mexicans fighting with the French (Empire units under Maximillian) and others (Republican units) fighting against the French and Maximillian.
Like Blake, I have little idea of the quality of the Mexican or French but I suspect it was not very high and unlikely to match the hardened veterans of the Civil War. The French were undoubtedly better as they essentially had half the numbers of the Mexicans but they also had the logistical nightmare of fighting a vast distance away from their main sources of supply in France.
The British weren't interested. Queen Victoria was busy consolidating the realm after the revolt the previous decade in India.

One game mentions the French-Mexican War, Strategic Command - Amercian Civil War but it has no impact on the actual game. It seems to be mentioned as historical flavour and you see some Mexican provinces change hands and are notified when Maximillian is declared Emperor. Other historical events also 'pop up', Australia even gets one mention, something to do with gold (it could have been the Lambing Flat riots against the Chinese in 1861 although I'm not sure as it is some time since I played that game).

_________________
Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia