Napoleon in 1812

18. Reversal of alliance – 2

“The history of friendship between the United States and France is also directly related to the federal government’s trust in the European powers. It means that it’s not something we can easily conclude or break… Even if we pay the price and distance ourselves from France, we can’t join hands with Britain right away. Have you already forgotten the history of oppression, persecution, and intimidation they inflicted on us? Citizens of the United States will be suspicious of the federal government.”

“I agree. A ‘reversal of alliance’ is easy to say. However, it took some time for France and Austria to achieve such a diplomatic reversal, starting with the marriage between the imperial families, when the heat between them subsided after the war. The United States and Britain are still enemies aiming guns at each other on the battlefield.”

The United States Secretary of War William H. Crawford[1] said it was acceptable to break ties with France if there was an overwhelming profit, but that joining hands with Britain was another matter.

Senator Charles Hindersson also voted against Harrison’s proposal, saying that such a radical diplomacy, in which a country joined hands with its direct enemy, had not existed so far.

With the joining of several lawmakers and Cabinet members, Harrison’s proposal seemed to be a fierce but unacceptable breakthrough of the stereotypes. Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins stepped up.

“Let me tell you what I felt when I met the British officials in Montreal. The longer the war is, the better it is for neighboring countries. They, too, expressed their longing for peace, with nothing to gain from this war.”

Just as spraying a handful of soil into the river could not trap the river, the territory of the United States was so wide and vast that no matter how many troops Britain dispatched from its home land, it was impossible to occupy it completely.

Even if it occupied a city or village, it was difficult to occupy it because community-level militias actively fought against the invaders, like shown by the history of resistance and conflicts in the United States.

Britain’s North American colonies boasted a very vast area, but most of them consisted of ice, mountains, plateaus and volcanic areas, so their industrial base and human resources were very weak.

In the end, the mainland had to bring the supplies needed to carry out the war, but bringing them through more than 3,000 miles by boat and distributing them to military units was harsh work, no matter how much Britain was a maritime nation.

There was a reason why Britain could not reliably lead the war, even though it had overwhelming land and sea power compared to the United States.

“About Harrison’s suggestion… I don’t think it should be rejected just because it’s regarded as inconsistent with the current diplomacy. I think it makes sense enough. This is because the United Kingdom is currently the country that feels the greatest fear from France’s rise.”

“That’s an undeniable fact.”

President James Monroe, who had heard from spies multiple reports about information circulating between Britain and France, agreed.

“Under the rule of the iron-blooded monarch named Napoleon Bonaparte, competitors are remarkably developing. In the meantime, the United Kingdom is pouring out its finances while continuing its worthless war with the United States. It’s time for the British to feel the seriousness of the situation. It’s an opportunity for them to break off one of the strongest allies of their enemy. Is there a reason why the clever British politicians would not welcome it?”

“In other words… if we clearly show that we can voluntarily sever ties with France, we may even receive a corresponding price.”

“You’re right, Sir. And I think that’s what we and the staff should do to ensure that the size of this price can converge to the ‘overwhelming’ profits claimed by the war minister.”

Now that James Monroe, who used to serve as secretary of state for the previous administration, was elected president, the position of secretary of state was still vacant.

His duties, in particular foreign affairs, had been taken over by Vice President Tompkins. This was the reason why Tompkins had a strong influence about the idea of changing the diplomatic line of the United States. Monroe began to worry.

He was the president of the United States. In a rapidly changing world, he was obligated to find the best way for the United States to move forward. After much consideration, an answer that could change the history of the United States came out of his mouth.

“This ‘reversal of alliance’… sounds good! Let’s proceed with it. However, everyone here should keep in mind that confidentiality is crucial.”

Although they were trying to reverse their alliance, if France knew about this fact first, there would be nothing to gain for the United States. It was best for the French not to know about it until the discussions with the United Kingdom were completed and until there was an official announce from the federal government.

If so, then even if they failed to reverse their alliance, they could still be on France’s side.

James Monroe and the senior members of the Cabinet were well aware of the importance and weight of this decision. They hoped that this would protect all of their national interests and values.

===

In the past, there were numerous native tribes in North America. Their civilization level was lower than the Middle Ages, inferior to other continents, and agriculture, hunting, and gathering were the only means of making a living.

Nevertheless, the lives of the tribesmen in the past, as told by the old elderly, looked peaceful, warm, and very happy.

There were disputes and quarrels among them, but peace could be maintained because they had the wisdom to overcome them.

‘What was given to us was a great divine punishment.’

The disaster began when people with pale faces appeared on the east coast by ships. According to stories descending from oral traditions and murals, the tribesmen who contacted them soon collapsed complaining of vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain.

Their skin cracked sharply like a stone wall, the ends of their bodies rotted black, and blood flowed from their eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Calling this kind of death, which they saw for the first time, a ‘divine punishment’ was not enough to express how tragic it was.

When they realized that this was a terrible epidemic, dozens of villages had already disappeared after all their inhabitants died, and the source of the disease spread throughout the continent.

The disaster brought by white people was so devastating that 9 out of 10 tribesmen were sent to the side of the God of Nature. Their territory, which was a fertile land of life for the tribesmen, became a burning hell and swallowed them.

However, this was not the end of the disaster inflicted on the American tribesmen. White people greedily expanded their territory. Tribal people, whose majority of the population was swept away by the plague, had to face indiscriminate attacks from white people armed with superior technology.

‘My beloved son, the little puma of the Shawnee tribe. We must protect the peace of the past, the future of the tribe, and the veneration of the God of Nature with our lives. Keep our noble duty, defeat those ruthless invaders and regain our lost homeland.’

Tecumseh[2], who was given an ‘irreversible fate’ by his father Puckshinwa, became the chief of the Shawnee tribe in recognition of his courage and leadership. From that moment on, Tecumseh swore to the God of Nature on his own soul.

‘I will devote all of my remaining life and even my afterlife to achieve this mission as the head of the tribe, and to protect the tribe, its daily life and its future. I will enter into a war without compromise with the white people who covet our homes and nature.’

Tecumseh actively embraced their advanced technologies, especially weapons and tactics, while actively opposing white people’s society.

After he defeated the invasion of white countries such as Britain and the United States several times by forming warriors who knew how to handle white weapons, he was able to build a high reputation in the indigenous tribal society.

As fame built up, comrades who shared his will also emerged. Indigenous tribes who could not forgive white people, such as the Creek and Cherokee, wanted to join Tecumseh.

As the number of tribesmen following him increased and their sphere of influence grew, Britain and the United States began to be wary.

Tecumseh was a wise and intelligent leader. He realized that it was suicide to fight both countries in this situation. After a time of deep thought, the country he chose to side with was none other than Britain.

Both countries were hostile to the natives, but at least Britain had set its own territory in the New World colonies and did not desire to expend it more.

However, the United States was pursuing an aggressive expansion policy even after it devoured a huge piece of land in the central part of the continent, so it was incomparable in terms of threat.

They would surely present hell to the natives of the continent. Tecumseh was sure of it. This was how the long and bad relationship between Tecumseh, his tribe, and the United States began.

When the war broke out between the United States and Britain, tribes supporting Tecumseh raised their guns at the U.S. with the support of the British. They fought well enough to be considered brave and outstanding warriors even in Britain.

There was also a time when he defeated Americans and won a battle. But in the end, Tecumseh and the other tribal warriors were only hounds.

The British command deliberately drove them into more dangerous battles and treated them thoroughly as consumables. The war became increasingly sluggish, and the more it lasted, the more damage Tecumseh and the tribes accumulated. By the time he was feeling great skepticism about this situation, Tecumseh made an encounter that would change his fate.

===

“Even when I think about it now, I must have been protected by the God of Nature. If we hadn’t met, my people would have to pay a wrong price with blood.”

“That’s too much. We are also very proud of walking the same path as a hero like you.”

The face of the man in front of Tecumseh was white. He had a face like the white people he had been fighting all his life. Nevertheless, no hostility or vigilance could be found on Tecumseh’s face as he dealt with the man.

Rather, he had a feeling of goodwill and comfort as if he had met a friend after a long time. The man he was facing was Auguste Ravez[3], the ambassador of the French Empire.

The man, who met with Red Cloud, the head of the Mohican tribe, gave a new hope to Tecumseh and the tribes following him.

The enemy of his enemy was his friend, and Tecumseh knew very well that France could be of great help in many ways in the complex relationships between countries. On the same day, Tecumseh broke off all relations with Britain and left the front line with the United States.

“I have received a clear answer from the Emperor of your country. Nevertheless, the critical crossroad of the current situation makes me nervous. Really… has your position not changed from then? Will you still support the project established by our tribes’ coalition of founding our nation?”

Tecumseh’s desire was to form a state of indigenous tribes that white countries in the Americas could not control.

And this was also what Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France, promised him. Tecumseh recalled the contents of the personal letter sent by the Emperor that shook the continent beyond the ocean.

‘The Empire does not want the North American continent to be under the leadership of a single force. There is a need for a third power that can balance power between Britain and the United States. I have selected the Native American Union as this power.’

The French Emperor did not offer a grand cause or suspicious candy. He was just honest with what role he wanted the native tribes to play in the board he led. Rather, Tecumseh was able to trust the French because of that.

The benefit that they could exchange when holding hands was clear. If so, it was possible to maintain this relationship at least until the line of interest was cut off.

“From now on, I, with the help of other dispatched officers and noncommissioned officers, will do my best to build a united state of Native Americans without compromising the interests of the Empire. His Majesty the Emperor has approved indirect support for this.”

Deal! As to show his affirmation, Tecumseh clenched his right hand strongly. The time when he could achieve his mission was near.

===

A dark room had always been a perfect place for secret discussions. It was in these places that plots bloomed and conspiracies were carried out. In such a room, Napoleon was facing a person who could not be seen publicly.

“Following the grand strategy you claimed, the Empire is encroaching on the Americas with its hands and feet. Now, it’s time to hear about the next step.”

In the dark room, Napoleon called the person’s name.

“Talleyrand-Périgord.”

He had become an old man with gray hair, and had a mysterious smile on his face.

TL notes

[1] William H. Crawford

[2] Tecumseh

[3] Auguste Ravez