Napoleon in 1812 -
Chapter 100:
18. Reversalofalliance– 2
“Thehistory of friendship betweenthe United Statesand France is also directly relatedtothe federalgovernment’s trust in the European powers. It means thatit’s notsomething we can easilyconcludeorbreak… Even if we paythe price and distance ourselvesfrom France, we can’t joinhandswith Britain right away. Haveyou alreadyforgotten the history of oppression, persecution, andintimidation theyinflicted on us? Citizens of theUnited States will be suspiciousofthe federalgovernment.”
“I agree. A ‘reversalofalliance’ is easytosay. However, it took sometime forFrance and Austria to achievesuch a diplomaticreversal, starting withthe marriage betweenthe imperial families, when the heat betweenthem subsided after thewar. TheUnited States andBritain arestillenemies aimingguns at each other on the battlefield.”
TheUnited States SecretaryofWar WilliamH. Crawford[1]said it wasacceptable to break ties withFrance if there was an overwhelmingprofit, butthat joining hands withBritain wasanother matter.
Senator CharlesHindersson also voted againstHarrison’s proposal, saying thatsuch a radicaldiplomacy, in which a countryjoined hands withits direct enemy, had not existed so far.
Withthe joiningofseveral lawmakersand Cabinetmembers, Harrison’s proposal seemedtobea fiercebut unacceptable breakthroughofthe stereotypes. Vice President DanielD. Tompkinsstepped up.
“Letmetell youwhat I feltwhen I met theBritish officialsinMontreal. The longerthe war is, the better it is forneighboringcountries. They, too, expressed their longing for peace, with nothing to gainfrom this war.”
Just as spraying ahandful of soil intothe river could not trap the river, the territory of theUnited States wassowide andvast that no matter howmany troopsBritain dispatched fromits homeland, itwas impossibletooccupy it completely.
Even if it occupied acity or village, it wasdifficult to occupy it because community-level militias actively foughtagainst theinvaders, likeshownbythe historyofresistance andconflicts in the UnitedStates.
Britain’s North American colonies boasteda very vastarea, but mostofthem consistedofice, mountains, plateaus and volcanic areas, sotheirindustrial base and human resourceswere very weak.
In theend, themainlandhad to bring the supplies neededtocarryout the war, but bringing them throughmore than 3,000 miles by boatand distributing them to military units was harsh work, no matterhow muchBritain wasa maritime nation.
There wasa reasonwhy Britaincouldnot reliably leadthe war, even thoughithad overwhelming land and seapowercomparedtothe United States.
“AboutHarrison’s suggestion… I don’tthinkitshould be rejected justbecause it’s regarded as inconsistent with the current diplomacy. I think it makes sense enough. Thisisbecause theUnited Kingdomiscurrently the country thatfeelsthe greatest fearfrom France’s rise.”
“That’sanundeniable fact.”
President James Monroe, who hadheardfrom spies multiple reports about information circulating betweenBritain andFrance, agreed.
“Underthe ruleofthe iron-blooded monarch named Napoleon Bonaparte, competitorsare remarkablydeveloping. Inthe meantime, theUnited Kingdomispouring outits finances while continuingits worthless warwith theUnited States. It’s time for theBritish to feel the seriousness of thesituation. It’s an opportunity for them to break off oneofthe strongest alliesoftheirenemy. Is there areason why theclever Britishpoliticianswouldnot welcomeit?”
“In other words… if we clearlyshow that we can voluntarily sever ties withFrance, we mayeven receive acorresponding price.”
“You’re right, Sir. And I think that’s what we and thestaffshould do to ensure that the size of thispricecan converge to the ‘overwhelming’ profits claimedbythe war minister.”
Nowthat James Monroe, who used to serve as secretary of state forthe previous administration, waselected president, the position of secretaryofstatewas still vacant.
His duties, in particularforeign affairs, hadbeen taken over by VicePresident Tompkins. This was thereason why Tompkins hada stronginfluence about the idea of changing the diplomatic lineofthe United States. Monroe began to worry.
He was thepresident of the UnitedStates. In a rapidlychangingworld, he was obligatedtofind thebest wayfor the UnitedStates to moveforward. Aftermuch consideration, an answerthat could changethe historyofthe United Statescame outofhis mouth.
“This‘reversal of alliance’… soundsgood! Let’sproceed with it. However, everyone here should keep in mindthat confidentialityiscrucial.”
Although they weretrying to reversetheiralliance, if France knew about thisfact first, therewouldbenothing to gain for theUnited States. Itwas bestfor the Frenchnot to knowaboutituntilthe discussions withthe United Kingdom werecompleted and until there wasanofficialannouncefrom thefederal government.
Ifso, theneven if they failed to reverse their alliance, they could still be on France’s side.
James Monroeand the seniormembers of theCabinet were wellawareofthe importanceand weight of this decision. They hoped thatthis would protect all of their national interestsand values.
===
In thepast, therewere numerous nativetribes in North America. Their civilization level waslowerthan theMiddle Ages, inferior to other continents, and agriculture, hunting, and gathering were the only means of making a living.
Nevertheless, the lives of the tribesmeninthe past, as toldbythe old elderly, lookedpeaceful, warm, and very happy.
Therewere disputes andquarrelsamongthem, but peace could be maintainedbecause they had thewisdom to overcome them.
‘What wasgiventouswas agreatdivine punishment.’
The disaster began whenpeople withpale faces appeared on theeast coast by ships. According to storiesdescending from oraltraditions andmurals, thetribesmen who contactedthem soon collapsed complaining of vomiting, fever, and abdominalpain.
Their skincracked sharply likea stone wall, theends of their bodiesrotted black, andbloodflowed fromtheireyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Calling thiskind of death, whichthey sawfor the first time, a ‘divinepunishment’ was not enoughtoexpress howtragic it was.
Whenthey realized that thiswas aterribleepidemic, dozens of villages hadalready disappeared after alltheirinhabitantsdied, and the sourceofthe diseasespread throughoutthe continent.
The disaster brought by white people wassodevastatingthat 9 out of 10 tribesmenwere sent to the side of the GodofNature. Their territory, which was a fertileland of life for thetribesmen, becamea burning helland swallowed them.
However, this wasnot the endofthe disaster inflicted on theAmericantribesmen. White peoplegreedilyexpandedtheirterritory. Tribalpeople, whose majority of thepopulation wassweptaway by theplague, hadtoface indiscriminate attacks fromwhitepeople armed withsuperiortechnology.
‘My beloved son, the little puma of the Shawnee tribe. We must protectthe peace of the past, thefuture of the tribe, and the veneration of the GodofNature withour lives. Keep our noble duty, defeatthoseruthlessinvadersand regain ourlost homeland.’
Tecumseh[2], who was given an ‘irreversible fate’ by his fatherPuckshinwa, became the chief of theShawnee tribe in recognition of hiscourage andleadership. From that moment on, Tecumsehsworetothe God of Natureonhis own soul.
‘I will devoteall of my remaining life and even my afterlife to achieve thismission as thehead of thetribe, and to protect the tribe, its daily lifeand its future. I will enter into awar withoutcompromise with the white peoplewho covet our homes andnature.’
Tecumseh actively embraced their advanced technologies, especially weapons and tactics, while actively opposing white people’s society.
Afterhedefeatedthe invasion of white countries such as Britainand the UnitedStates severaltimesbyforming warriors whoknew howtohandle white weapons, he was able to build ahigh reputation in the indigenous tribal society.
Asfame built up, comradeswho shared hiswill also emerged. Indigenoustribes who could notforgive white people, suchasthe Creek and Cherokee, wanted to joinTecumseh.
As thenumber of tribesmen followinghim increased andtheirsphere of influence grew, Britain and theUnited States began to be wary.
Tecumsehwas awise andintelligentleader. He realized that it was suicide to fight bothcountries in thissituation. After a timeofdeep thought, thecountry he chose to side withwas noneotherthan Britain.
Both countrieswere hostile to the natives, butatleastBritain hadset its ownterritory in the NewWorldcoloniesand did notdesire to expend it more.
However, the United Stateswas pursuing an aggressiveexpansion policy even after it devoured ahuge piece of land in the central partofthe continent, soitwas incomparable in terms of threat.
They would surely present helltothe nativesofthe continent. Tecumsehwas sureofit. Thiswas how thelong andbad relationship between Tecumseh, histribe, and theUnited States began.
Whenthe war broke outbetween theUnited States andBritain, tribes supportingTecumsehraised their gunsatthe U.S. with thesupport of theBritish. They foughtwell enoughtobeconsidered brave andoutstandingwarriorseven in Britain.
Therewas alsoa time whenhedefeatedAmericans and wona battle. But in theend, Tecumseh andthe other tribal warriors were onlyhounds.
The Britishcommand deliberatelydrovethem into moredangerous battlesand treatedthem thoroughly as consumables. Thewar became increasinglysluggish, and themore it lasted, the more damage Tecumseh andthe tribes accumulated. Bythe timehewas feelinggreatskepticism about this situation, Tecumsehmade an encounterthat would changehis fate.
===
“Evenwhen I think about it now, I must havebeen protectedbythe God of Nature. If we hadn’t met, my people would have to pay a wrong price withblood.”
“That’s toomuch. Weare alsovery proud of walking the same pathasa hero likeyou.”
The face of the maninfrontofTecumsehwas white. He hada face likethe white people he hadbeen fighting allhis life. Nevertheless, nohostility or vigilance could be found on Tecumseh’s faceashedealtwith theman.
Rather, he hada feeling of goodwill and comfort as if he had meta friendaftera long time. The manhewas facing wasAuguste Ravez[3], the ambassadorofthe French Empire.
Theman, whomet withRed Cloud, thehead of theMohican tribe, gave a new hope to Tecumseh and thetribes following him.
Theenemyofhis enemy was hisfriend, andTecumsehknew very wellthat Francecouldbeofgreathelp in many waysinthe complexrelationships between countries. Onthe sameday, Tecumseh broke offall relations with Britainand leftthe front linewith theUnited States.
“I havereceiveda clear answerfrom theEmperor of your country. Nevertheless, the critical crossroad of thecurrent situationmakesmenervous. Really… has your position not changed fromthen? Will youstillsupport theproject established by ourtribes’ coalitionoffoundingour nation?”
Tecumseh’s desire wastoform a state of indigenoustribes thatwhitecountries in the Americas could notcontrol.
And this was also whatNapoleonBonaparte, theEmperor of France, promised him. Tecumsehrecalledthe contents of the personal lettersent by theEmperor that shook the continentbeyond the ocean.
‘TheEmpire doesnot wantthe North American continent to be under theleadership of a single force. Thereisa need for a third power thatcan balancepowerbetween Britain and theUnited States. I have selected the NativeAmericanUnionasthis power.’
TheFrench Emperordid not offer a grand cause or suspiciouscandy. He was just honest with whatrole he wantedthe native tribestoplay in theboardheled. Rather, Tecumseh was able to trust the Frenchbecause of that.
The benefitthat they could exchange whenholding hands wasclear. If so, it waspossibletomaintainthis relationshipatleastuntilthe lineofinterestwas cut off.
“From nowon, I, withthe helpofotherdispatched officers andnoncommissioned officers, will do my besttobuilda unitedstateofNative Americans without compromising theinterests of the Empire. His Majesty the Emperor has approved indirect support for this.”
Deal! As to showhis affirmation, Tecumseh clenched hisrighthand strongly. The timewhen he could achieve his mission was near.
===
A dark room had alwaysbeen a perfectplacefor secret discussions. Itwas in these places that plots bloomedand conspiracies were carriedout. In such aroom, Napoleonwas facing a person whocouldnot be seenpublicly.
“Following the grand strategy youclaimed, the Empire is encroaching on theAmericaswith itshandsand feet. Now, it’s time to hearaboutthe nextstep.”
In thedark room, Napoleon calledthe person’s name.
“Talleyrand-Périgord.”
Hehad become an oldman withgray hair, andhad amysterious smile on hisface.
TL notes
[1]WilliamH. Crawford
[2]Tecumseh
[3]Auguste Ravez
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