Chapter 338 Turning Point
The civil war lasted for a year, the federal government paid more than 200,000 casualties, and the brutal casualties made the soldiers feel war-weary.
This is just a civil war, not an invasion by an external enemy. The patriotism that was instigated has long since been consumed in blood.
It is not only the western states that have not completed the recruitment task, even the core states of the federal government are also facing the problem of difficult recruitment.
Up to now, the total strength of the federal government has exceeded 1.1 million, but it is still not enough.
The warring states, or the federal states that are close to the battlefield, give priority to ensuring their own safety. It is difficult to coordinate and cooperate on the battlefield, and it is difficult to play the role of military superiority.
These questions are unsolvable problems, and state officials are elected, and if they don't keep their state safe, voters can get them out of the way.
Looking at the big picture, it is people who have no real pain shouting slogans. When it comes to self-interest, whether it is capitalists, politicians, or the public, they all choose what is most beneficial to them.
Secretary of State Safar hurried into the President's Office and said, "Your Excellency, the situation is bad.
Illinois just sent a telegram for help, they declared that if the federal government did not send reinforcements, they would withdraw from the war. "
quit the war? Do not doubt, the federal state dares to be so willful. In order not to let the homeland turn into ruins, surrender is okay, let alone just withdraw from the war?
Anyway, this is a civil war, and there is no slaughter. As long as Illinois withdraws from the war, the South will not attack them again.
Only then, the federal government is doomed. Now as long as there is a leader, I am afraid it is easy to form a chain reaction.
It's true that capitalists want markets and cheap raw materials, provided they don't put themselves in it. If your own industry is on the front line and the enemy is attacking, then compromise is not a bad idea.
You can't accompany your family business for the sake of class interests, right? These losses, the federal government can not replenish them.
Hearing this news, Lincoln was so angry that he threw the document in his hand and cursed, "These bastards are threatening us!"
Then unfortunately found that he had to accept this threat.
Almost all of Maryland and Ohio were occupied, Indiana was left with only a few places, and Kansas lost a third. If Illinois were to withdraw from the war, then the manpower advantage of the northern government would no longer exist. Strategically also fall into a passive state.
After a moment of silence, Lincoln said slowly, "I have decided to immediately implement the Homestead Act to win over people who are eager to acquire land."
Secretary of State Safar said in a cold tone: "Are you sure you have already thought about it, not just on impulse? Take this step and you will never be able to look back."
Lincoln said firmly: "I've come to this point, if I can't win this war, I'm afraid my ending will be even worse!
In that case, why not take a gamble? Apart from implementing the Homestead Law, I can't think of any other way to solve the problem of insufficient troops.
Just look at the Austrians. In just one year, they have flicked away more than 200,000 immigrants from us, almost catching up with our annual immigration from Europe.
Of course, we can't do things absolutely, leaving them a back door, lest the dog jump over the wall. "
Secretary of State Safar nodded. He and Lincoln were already tied together, and neither could run away if they were unlucky. Of course, he's not the president, but the hatred value is lower.
Forced by the need of the war, Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 1, 1862, which solved the dilemma of the shortage of soldiers in the northern government.
The Homestead Act states: "Any head of household or a citizen of the United States who is 21 years of age or older and has never participated in a rebellion may register to receive a total of not more than 160 acres ( 1 acre = 0.40 hectares) homestead.
After the registrant has lived and cultivated the homestead for 5 years, he can obtain a land license and become the owner of the homestead.
The Homestead Act also provides for a compensatory provision that allows the registrant to purchase it after six months for $1.25 per acre if the registrant files an application to purchase it first. "
The above content is mainly to win over the people who want to acquire land. Although it is not explicitly stated, this is also a copy of the military merit.
Allegiance to the federal government requires military service. This also includes the meaning of the people of the southern states. It is very simple to prove that they have not betrayed the federal government. It is enough to fight the rebels on the battlefield.
The federal government's practice of using land to buy people to fight on the battlefield has undoubtedly harmed the interests of interest groups that operate land prices.
The following compensation clause is the back door left for them. It’s just that the difficulty of operation is increased due to the limitation of time and the number of registered land per person.
The "Homestead Law", which is known as a turning point in history, has a natural effect. The recruitment point that everyone could not avoid, now has long queues again.
...
Compared with the shortcomings of the army, the achievements of the federal government in the navy are much greater. Of course, there are hundreds of ports in the Confederate government-controlled area. With the federal government's naval strength, it is naturally impossible to block them all.
They did a great job, though, and in 1861 about ten percent of the ships heading for the Confederate government were caught.
Don't think that this number is small. In fact, it is very difficult to achieve this step with the strength of the US Navy.
The Royal Navy that pulls the side frame is often haunted, and many times cotton
Transport, the British fleet was not far away staring at the Commonwealth Navy.
The problem is not that you can't fight to win, it's that you can't fight at all. Britain, France, and Ossie have reached an agreement on the issue of intervening in the American Civil War. Once the war begins, it will be 1-4.
What countries lack now is a persuasive excuse for civil war. Against this background, it is not easy for the Federal Navy to achieve such achievements.
In order to break the blockade, the southern government also formed a navy. Because of the huge disparity in the number of warships between the two sides, the southern government secretly built ironclad ships, while the northern government was also building ironclad ships at this time.
In March 1862, the navies of the North and South launched a desperate struggle in Hampton, which opened the prelude to the Ironclad War.
It is a pity that the American naval artillery technology is not very good. The "Merrimack" of the Confederate Army and the "Monette" of the Union Army were shot against each other, and both sides achieved any results.
In this context, the Austrian ocean-going fleet visited the Confederate government at the end of May 1862.
Count Hummel and President Jefferson Davis had friendly exchanges and reached an agreement on strengthening bilateral trade cooperation, mainly labor exporting services.
On June 7, 1862, the two signed the "Labor Introduction Treaty", which stipulated that in the next ten years, the Confederate government would introduce three million laborers from the Austrian colonies, and the southern government would bear all the immigration costs and pay Austrians for each person. 60 Aegis immigration fee.
Make no mistake, this is big business. The premise is that the southern government wins the war before the treaty can be honored.
In order to win over Austria, the southern government also made a lot of money.
This was decided by fists. Don't look at the fact that the Austrian ocean fleet only has more than 70 warships, but there are five ironclad ships, which are currently the most powerful fleet on the east coast.
Count Hummel proposed: "Your Excellency, I think you need a strong navy to suppress the northern government's fleet and ensure the smooth flow of overseas trade."
Hummel is not the first to sell warships. The major naval powers in Europe have all sold warships to the southern government, and the Confederate government has also ordered a lot of them, but unfortunately they cannot quench their thirst.
Jefferson Davis replied indifferently: "Yes, Your Excellency, we have ordered a lot of warships in Europe, but they cannot arrive in a short time."
Count Hummel smiled and said: "Your Excellency, you need to be in stock, ordering warships is too slow. The battlefield is ever-changing, and time is life.
If it is your navy that has the upper hand now, then the war may be over. As long as you block the overseas trade of the New England states, the northern government will have to compromise. "
President Jefferson Davis' eyes lit up. He heard what Count Hummel meant and asked in disbelief: "Does your country intend to sell this fleet?"
Earl Hummel replied affirmatively: "Under normal circumstances, we will not sell active equipment, but we can make exceptions for friends."
After a little thought, President Jefferson Davis said cautiously: "Your Excellency Count, you can make an offer, we will not let our friends suffer!"
No way, even if he knew he was going to be slaughtered, he had to bring it up. No matter how expensive the price is, the ships that were intercepted by the northern government did not suffer as much loss.
On the surface, these ship losses are the capitalists, but in fact these losses are borne by the southern government. The blockade of the northern government has raised the prices of the southern states and restricted the export of goods.
The most typical example is that merchant ships have to leave a large number of empty positions in order to ensure sufficient speed to escape the pursuit of the Northern Navy. When encountering the Northern Navy, the cargo on the ship is often thrown into the sea to reduce weight and increase speed.
Count Hummel quoted: "46 million Aegis, the ocean-going fleet is packaged and sold, with ammunition that can carry out three world wars, and we provide free training services."
This is a sky-high price. 46 million Aegis is about 23 million pounds. If you only calculate the cost of shipbuilding, you can build a Royal Navy.
Of course, £23 million certainly won't buy a Royal Navy, and even doubling it won't be enough. To build a Royal Navy from scratch, 100 million pounds is not enough.
The Royal Navy dominates the world, not only relying on warships, but also a series of supporting facilities, a huge industrial chain, and well-trained soldiers.
None of these are available to the governments of the South, nor are the governments of the North. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, the number of the US Navy was less than 10,000, and the navy of the southern government was only composed of retired personnel and merchant sailors.
It can be said that the quality of the naval officers and soldiers of the North and the South is one of the best in the world, but the numbers are reversed.
Jefferson-Davis thought for a while and said, "Your Excellency Count, your quotation is too high. Otherwise, we will hire ocean-going fleets to fight. As long as the Northern Navy is suppressed in the port, we will pay a commission of 46 million Aegis."
Hummel shook his head, he would not dare to accept such a business. Don't look at how easy it is to suppress the northern navy in the short term, but in fact, the major shipyards of the northern government are making dumplings, and the scale of the northern fleet will increase in the later stage.
If the southern government cannot win the war within a year, the balance of power between the two sides will change. Even if it depends on the number of piles, the northern government will gain an advantage.
Don't dream of expecting to destroy the enemy in a naval battle. Can't win or run? After entering the port, there were shore artillery cover, so they were powerless.
Unless the southern government is willing to hand over the army to Austrian command, there is still some hope. The big deal is landing from Canada, thorn back the Great Lakes region.
It is estimated that the British don't mind being blind for a while, anyway, John Bull is thick-skinned and can be a rogue.
"Sorry, we are a neutral country and cannot participate in the war."
Jefferson Davis just rolled his eyes. Which neutral country sells arms with such fanfare? Except for not going to the battlefield in person, you have already done what you can and cannot do.
It's enough to think about these complaints. It's too emotional to say. Anyway, the Austrians still support them, and they are half allies.
"25 million Aegis, you can at least double the profit at this price."
This was estimated by Jefferson-Davis based on the ex-works prices of the southern shipyards, acquiesced in the profits of the capitalists, and added ocean-going expenses.
Hummel thought about it and said: "Your Excellency, in business, if it is a normal period, the price is not negotiable, but now is an extraordinary period. If there is no profit of more than 2 times, it is even a loss-making business."
...
On July 1, 1862, Austria signed an arms purchase agreement with Nicaragua, and the Vienna government sold the ocean-going fleet to the Nicaragua government at a price of 38 million Aegis.
When the news came to the Americas, there was an uproar, and many people were surprised. Nicaragua has the money to buy the ocean fleet?
Before everyone came back to their senses, on July 5, 1862, the Nicaraguan government transferred the giant fleet to the southern government at the same price.
Of course, being able to sell this sky-high price is still the result of Count Hummel agreeing to accept half of the bonds. In order to bind Austria, the southern government also went to great lengths.
The news has not yet reached Vienna, but the Austrian shipyards are already busy.
If the old ones don't go, the new ones won't come. Since they want to sell warships, it is impossible for Franz to let the Austrian Navy have no warships available. Naturally, they have to build new ships.
To intervene in the American Civil War in the future, it is still inseparable from the navy, and overseas colonization is also inseparable from the navy. It is estimated that by the time news of the deal reaches Europe, the new warship will soon be commissioned.