GDG- Introduction

[Margaret D. Blough]

Tom,

Napoleon III also wanted the Americans, North and South, to be preoccupied with their own troubles as long as possible so that they would not turn their attention to his Mexican project with Maximilian and Carlotta and its violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tom Ryan" <pennmardel at mchsi.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> <> embassies in DC, and the word would probably be something like "if Jackson 
> has established himself in Philadelphia and doesn't look like being thrown 
> out in a hurry, then we will recognise the Confederacy". 
> 
> So, Jackson has to hold on for maybe six weeks for it to work. It's a big 
> ask.>> 
> 
> The British were more inclined to support the Confederacy early in the war 
> than it was later. The French would go along with whatever the British 
> decided. The British government was looking for evidence that the South 
> could sustain itself as an independent nation. Since Jackson had just 
> embarrassed the North by defeating three separate Union armies in the 
> Shenandoah Valley, and was prepared to move into the North at that point if 
> he received reinforcements and approval from Richmond, the capture of 
> Baltimore or Philadelphia may have been sufficient confirmation that the 
> North was unable to dominate the South. This would have been reinforced by 
> the fact that McClellan was bogged down on the east end of the Peninsula by 
> relatively minor forces -- further evidence that the Union army was not up 
> to the task. 
> 
> Given this scenario, where do the forces come from to intercept Jackson 
> within a relatively timely period? There were some available forces under 
> McDowell and those within the fortifications of Washington, but not 
> sufficient to stop Jackson I do not believe. Also, there was the question 
> of whether Lincoln would release his only protection around the capital. 
> 
> I can see the logic of Britain announcing at that point that it had decided 
> to recognize the Confederate government. That would have changed the entire 
> dynamic. 
> 
> Tom 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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