Chapter 500: Give the British a Boost

Seattle blew a whistle, asking the Indian riders to show their superb riding skills in front of Liang Yao.

Seattle, wearing bright eagle feathers, mounted his horse, pointed to a small mound not far away, and then accelerated towards the mound.

While galloping, Seattle kept changing his riding posture, his movements were very smooth, and finally showed Liang Yao his unique skills.

He stood on the saddle, letting the horse gallop, he was still able to stand steadily on the saddle and free one hand to take out the gun and shoot.

After the performance, Seattle jumped down lightly and sat back on the saddle easily.

Other Indian riders followed closely behind. Although not everyone had the unique skills like Seattle, they could all control the horses steadily.

They shouted loudly, galloped forward, and pulled out their long guns and short guns to shoot while galloping.

Liang Yao's arrival made it very easy for the Indians to obtain high-quality weapons. In recent years, the Indian tribes in the west coast, especially the pro-China Indian tribes, have gradually eliminated javelins and bows and arrows and popularized firearms. 笗

Horses are a rigid demand for Indians. Indians in the west widely use horses for hunting and transportation. Therefore, these Indians have good riding skills.

At least better than those cavalrymen in Liang Yao's cavalry camp.

As for the horizontal comparison with the regular cavalry regiment of the United States, there is definitely a gap.

The gap here does not simply refer to the gap in riding skills, but the gap in tactical literacy.

No matter how you say it, the American cavalry is a modern cavalry unit. It is unrealistic to expect a group of Indian riders who have changed their guns to compete with the regular cavalry units of the United States immediately.

Before the American Civil War, there were a total of 6 cavalry regiments (including standing cavalry regiments and volunteer cavalry regiments) in the American army, namely the First Cavalry Regiment, the Second Cavalry Regiment, the Third Cavalry Regiment, the Fourth Cavalry Regiment, the Fifth Cavalry Regiment and the Sixth Cavalry Regiment.

Without exception, these paid and semi-paid cavalry units belonged to the North.

Before the Civil War, the entire American state machinery, from the regular army to taxation and even the judicial department, was firmly in the hands of the North.

However, Liang Yao had never come into contact with these regular cavalry regiments in the North.

Liang Yao only came into contact with the cavalry units of the South during the Second Mexican-American War.

The Southern Army did not formally form a cavalry regiment, but each state in the South had its own guerrilla cavalry team. Therefore, when launching a war mobilization, the South could quickly form their cavalry units.

To be fair, in addition to weapons, the cavalry units of the South were far superior to Liang Yao's cavalry camp in terms of riding skills and combat effectiveness, not to mention these Indian riders.

During the Civil War, although the performance of the Northern Army was relatively poor, there was nothing to criticize about the performance of the Northern Cavalry Regiment.

The cavalry regiments in the north not only played a role in intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and pursuit, but also played a decisive role in some battles, such as the famous "Stonewall Jackson" attack and the famous "Gettysburg Battle" counterattack.

Showing their superb combat effectiveness and flexible tactical qualities.

After the performance, Liang Yao applauded the riding skills of these Indian riders.

"These riders have good riding skills. With more training, they will definitely become powerful cavalrymen who can compete with regular cavalry regiments." Liang Yao said to Seattle who was riding down.

"Seattle, you will be a lieutenant colonel of the cavalry regiment here first."

Lieutenant colonel is the highest military rank that Liang Yao can directly grant to Seattle.

Of course, Liang Yao can also give the rank of colonel, but it is more troublesome for the U.S. Army to appoint officers at the level of colonel, which requires the approval of the War Department and on-site inspection.

The resistance to appointing an Indian as a colonel of a cavalry regiment is too great.笗

Besides, Seattle has no military merits. The three colonels of the Western Brigade, whether Elvis, Kruger, or Deng Yan who is now in Nagasaki, all have military merits.

The old officers will also have opinions if an Indian chief is suddenly appointed as a colonel.

However, most of the soldiers in the cavalry regiment come from Indian tribes, and Liang Yao also needs a senior Indian officer to stabilize the morale of these Indian cavalry.

The rank of lieutenant colonel is the most suitable, high enough, and it is convenient to appoint, and it does not require the consent of the War Department.

"Thank you, Chief!" Seattle happily thanked Liang Yao.

"What about these soldiers?"

He knew that this rank was second only to Elvis and Kruger in Liang Yao's army, and he was very satisfied with this appointment. 笗

Having settled his position, Seattle asked about the treatment of these Indian riders he brought.

"Enjoy the same treatment as the new recruits of the Western Brigade. Each soldier receives an allowance of $18 per month during the recruit period. The old cavalry battalion is responsible for training. After training, they become regular soldiers of the Western Brigade and enjoy the treatment of regular soldiers, receiving a monthly allowance of $30." Liang Yao said.

Seattle and a group of Indian riders were very satisfied with this treatment.

Since the gold rush era, Indians and Chinese and other ethnic Californians in the West Coast have begun to use US dollars for transactions.

These Indians still have an idea of ​​the purchasing power of the US dollar.

That is to say, the allowance they received every month during the recruit period can buy a very good rifle, 5 pairs of high-quality leather shoes, and 9 pairs of jeans that are very popular in Indian tribes nowadays.

Liang Yao also laughed. Although these Indians lacked discipline and tactical literacy, they were good at riding. They had combat experience with white people and even brought their own horses into the army.笗

Horses are very expensive on the West Coast. A war horse that can meet combat requirements costs at least 150 US dollars to buy.

The old cavalry battalion includes cadet officers recruited by Liang Yao from military academies in the east. With a little training, these Indians can become qualified cavalry.

After watching the performance of these Indian riders, Liang Yao attended the evening party and got in touch with the Indian tribe.

After the party, Liang Yao and Ge Wen studied the "Oregon Treaty" signed by Britain and the United States in Washington, DC on July 15, 1846.

Of course, they were not studying the originals, but copies sent to them from Washington by the Fillmore administration.

The Treaty of 1818 signed in 1818 stipulated that Britain and the United States should be bounded by 49 degrees north latitude from Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains.

The western part of the Rocky Mountains was a disputed area, known as the Oregon Country to the Americans and the Hudson's Bay Company's District of Columbia to the British.笗

However, the state of joint control between the two parties became unstable over time. The then President of the United States, James Knox Polk, proposed to use the 1818 Treaty to demarcate 49°N as the boundary, but the then British Prime Minister rejected the proposal.

At that time, the expansion of the United States was very smooth, which led to the ambition of domestic expansionists. The expansionists in the United States clamored to annex all areas south of 54° north latitude to the United States. He also shouted the fanatical slogan of either 45° north latitude or war, and wanted to expand northward at all costs.

However, the U.S.-Mexican War in 1846 consumed most of the U.S. military, and the federal government owed huge war loans and was unable to start another war.

Furthermore, the United States has no precedent for expanding northward. But this is a failed precedent.

After the War of Independence, the struggle for sovereignty between Britain and the United States did not stop. As a British colony, the Canadian province was sparsely populated and poorly defended.

The United States believes that the advantage lies with us. Canadian residents have been exploited by the British colonial government and must be eager for freedom and liberation. Once the United States declared war on Britain, the British colonial government launched a northern expedition to Canada.

The people of Canada will definitely be cheering for the beauty, and all parts of Canada will also be watching.笗

Driven by this kind of thinking, in 1811, hawkish members of the House of Representatives advocated launching a war to liberate Canada, and won the support of the majority of members.

After President Madison addressed Congress in 1812, Congress voted to declare war. The United States officially declared war on Britain.

But the facts were contrary to what the Americans expected. The Canadians did not regard them as liberators. Instead, they actively joined the army to fight against the US invasion.

Canada's 5,000 British regular troops and a group of Canadian militiamen defeated the US military at that time. They once invaded Washington and burned the White House.

The American rulers at that time ignored one point. Their victory in the War of Independence was largely due to the assistance of Louis XVI. Without French assistance, it is unclear whether they could have won the War of Independence.

In 1812, France was fighting a fierce battle with the anti-French alliance and was preparing to invade Russia, and had no time to look west.

From October 1813 to March 1814, Britain defeated Napoleon in Europe and sent more troops to the North American battlefield. The British occupied northern states such as Maine.笗

In the end, the southern army, led by the famous southern general Andrew Jackson, defeated the British attack in the south on the Louisiana battlefield, successfully defended New Orleans, and killed the British commander Major General Edward Buckingham. . This re-boosted the morale of the US military.

The two sides then entered a stalemate stage and finally negotiated.

In view of this, both sides took a step back in 1846 and signed the "Oregon Treaty", which stipulated that 49° north latitude be the boundary.

However, this treaty did not completely resolve the border issue between Britain and the United States.

The United States advocates the strict enforcement of the 49° north latitude boundary line, and the sovereignty of the area south of 49° north latitude on Vancouver Island belongs to the United States.

But how can the UK be willing to shelve disputes and pursue joint development? It only agrees to implement the 49° north latitude boundary in the mainland area, and to follow the traditional customary boundary in the island area. The British colonial authorities enjoy absolute sovereignty over Vancouver Island and cannot be infringed by the United States.

Subsequently, the British built Victoria City, named after Queen Victoria, as a fortress port in the southeast of Vancouver Island. They controlled the San Juan Channel and extended their hands to the San Juan Islands, whose sovereignty was unclear.笗

The two sides once again entered into a stalemate over the Oregon border issue.

"In any case, according to the Oregon Treaty, it was the British who crossed the border first and illegally built a stronghold in Bellingham, violating the Oregon Treaty. Our dispatch of troops this time is justified."

Liang Yao carefully read the "Oregon Treaty" against the map and asked Ge Wen.

"What's the opinion from Washington?"

“What Washington means is that although there is no hope for Columbia Island, it still wants to take this opportunity to gain sovereignty over the San Juan Islands.

There is also the content of the treaty regarding waterways south of 59° north latitude. Washington hopes that this article will not only be written in the treaty, but can be implemented.

As you know, our power in this area was very weak before. Although the treaty stipulates that the United States and the British can jointly use the waterway south of 59° north latitude, but because the British actually control the waterway, our ships use this waterway. The waterway was blocked by the British many times. "痗

Ge Wen relayed Washington's attitude to Liang Yao, and he did not forget to add at the end.

"The most important thing is that Washington hopes to end the Oregon border dispute in a relatively peaceful way."

Washington's thoughts and attitudes coincided with Liang Yao's.

There is definitely no hope for Columbia Island. The British have stationed troops on the island and built a permanent military fortress. To capture Columbia Island, it cannot be solved by intimidation, but by actual use of force.

But the right to use the San Juan Islands and the waterway must be obtained. If this waterway is locked, Liangzhou will not be able to develop. It will be a coastal area without even an outlet to the sea.

Liang Yao's bottom line is to maintain the border between the United States and Canada in future generations. Above this bottom line, he can strive for as much as he can, and it won't be a loss anyway.

"I feel confident."

Liang Yao nodded, indicating that he knew what was going on, and asked Carnegie to call Sven and Strauss.

"Sir, are you looking for me?"

Soon, Sven and Strauss arrived at the old territorial governor's palace, which is Liang Yao's current temporary residence.

"The Arizona regiment has arrived at the border. We also need to take action at sea." Liang Yao asked Sven, "Where are the warships of the Umbrella fleet now?"

"They are all on the sea outside Bellingham, surrounding Bellingham tightly." Sven said, "If the siege continues for a few more months, Bellingham will become a dead port."

"The intensity is not enough, the British must continue to increase the intensity." Liang Yao pointed to Victoria Harbor on the map, "The main ships were sent to Victoria for live-fire exercises, and the shells were opened. I don't believe that the British will still If you remain indifferent, Yilu can still sit still."

The British navy is very powerful, but the British navy is spread all over the world. It is impossible to deploy a powerful fleet everywhere, especially in frontier and poor places like the Oregon region. It is not the core colony of the British. The British are on the sea in the Oregon region. The power is also very limited.笗

The British only have a few outdated sailing warships inherited from the Hudson's Bay Company here, and they are all small boats, not even a third-class ship.

Liang Yao still has the upper hand in terms of maritime power in the Northeast Pacific.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I'll do it right away." Sven said excitedly.

"Boss, what about me?" Strauss asked.

"Have you seen the San Juan Islands on the map?" Liang Yao pointed to the San Juan Islands, "Take immigrants and settle directly on the San Juan Islands. I want our immigrants to be on every island? Do you understand? ?”

"Understood." Strauss nodded.