1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 494 Give the British more strength

Author: fish nest

Chapter 494 Give the British more strength

Seattle blew a whistle, allowing these Indian riders to demonstrate their superb riding skills in front of Liang Yao.

Seattle, who was wearing bright eagle feathers, mounted his horse, pointed at a small mound not far away, and then accelerated towards the direction of the mound.

While galloping, Seattle kept changing his riding position with very smooth movements, and finally showed Liang Yao his unique skill.

He stood on the saddle and let the horse gallop, but he could still stand firmly on the saddle and free one hand to draw a 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 all of them had unique skills like Seattle, they could all control their horses steadily.

They shouted loudly and ran forward, drawing their long and short rifles and shooting as they galloped.

The arrival of Liang Yao made it very easy for the Indians to obtain high-quality weapons. The Indian tribes on the west coast, especially the pro-China Indian tribes, have gradually eliminated spear throwing, bows and arrows, and popularized firearms in recent years.

.

Horses are a necessity for Indians. Indians in the western region widely use horses for hunting and transportation. Therefore, these Indians have good riding skills.

At least their riding skills are better than those of the cavalry in Liang Yao's cavalry camp.

As for horizontal comparison with the American regular cavalry regiment, there is definitely still a gap.

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

After all, the American cavalry is a modern cavalry unit. It is unrealistic to expect a group of Indian riders with different weapons to compete with the regular American cavalry units immediately.

Before the American Civil War, there were a total of 6 organized cavalry regiments (including standing cavalry regiments and volunteer cavalry regiments) in the American army, namely the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and 4th Cavalry Regiment.

5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments.

Without exception, these paid and half-paid cavalry units belong to the north.

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

However, Liang Yao had never had contact with these regular cavalry regiments in the north.

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

The Southern Army did not formally establish a cavalry regiment, but the southern states had their own guerrilla cavalry teams. Therefore, when mobilizing for war, the South could quickly form their cavalry troops.

To be fair, except for weapons, the southern cavalry troops can surpass Liang Yao's cavalry battalion in terms of riding skills and combat effectiveness, let alone these Indian horsemen.

During the Civil War, although the Northern Army performed relatively poorly, the performance of the Northern Cavalry Regiment was nothing to criticize.

The Northern cavalry regiments 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" raid and the famous counterattack in the "Battle of Gettysburg"

action.

Showing their superb combat effectiveness and flexible tactical literacy.

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

"These riders have good riding skills. With more training, they will surely become powerful cavalrymen on par with regular cavalry regiments." Liang Yao said to Seattle who was jumping off the horse.

"Seattle, you will first become a lieutenant colonel of the cavalry regiment here with me."

Lieutenant Colonel is the highest military rank directly awarded to Seattle by Liang Yaoneng.

Of course, Colonel Liang Yao is not unable to give, but it is more troublesome for the American Army to appoint officers at the colonel level, which requires approval from the Department of War and on-site inspection.

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

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

If an Indian chief is suddenly appointed as a colonel, the veteran officers will also have objections.

However, most of the troops in the cavalry regiment came from Indian tribes, and Liang Yao also needed a senior Indian officer to stabilize the morale of these Indian cavalrymen.

Lieutenant colonel is the most suitable military rank. It is high enough and easy to appoint without the approval 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 among Liang Yaojun, and he was very satisfied with this appointment.

With his position secured, Seattle asked about the treatment of the Indian riders he brought.

"Enjoy the same treatment as recruits of the Western Brigade. During the recruitment period, each soldier receives a monthly allowance of US$18. The veteran cavalry battalion is responsible for training. After passing the training, after becoming a regular soldier of the Western Brigade, he will enjoy the treatment of a regular soldier, and he will receive a monthly allowance of US$18.

Receive a 30-dollar allowance." Liang Yao said.

Seattle and the Indian riders were very satisfied with this treatment.

Since the gold rush era, Indians and Chinese on the West Coast, as well as Californians of other ethnic groups, have begun to use U.S. dollars for transactions.

These Indians still have no concept of the purchasing power of the US dollar.

In other words, with the monthly allowance they received as recruits, they could buy a very good long gun, 5 pairs of high-quality leather shoes, and 9 pairs of jeans that are very popular among Indian tribes.

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.

Horses are very expensive in the West Coast region. A war horse that can meet combat requirements can be purchased for at least US$150.

In the old cavalry battalion, there were cadet officers recruited by Liang Yao from military academies in the east. With a little training, these Indians could become qualified cavalrymen.

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, what they studied was not the original, but the copy sent to them by the Fillmore administration from Washington.

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

The western part of the Rocky Mountains is a disputed area, known as the Oregon Country in the United States and the Hudson's Bay Company's District of Columbia in the United Kingdom.

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

this proposal.

At that time, the expansion of the United States was very smooth, which led to the explosion of ambitions of domestic expansionists. The expansionists in the United States clamored to annex all areas south of 54° north latitude into the United States territory. They also called for either 45° north latitude or 45° north latitude.

The fanatical slogan of the war was to expand northward at all costs.

However, the Mexican-American 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, it is not that the United States has no precedent for expanding northward. It is just that this is a failed precedent.

After the end of the Revolutionary War, the sovereignty dispute between Britain and the United States did not stop. As a British colony, the Canadian province was vast, sparsely populated, and poorly defended.

The United States believes that it has the advantage. Canadian residents have been exploited by the British colonial government and must be very eager for freedom and liberation. Once the United States declares war on Britain, it will launch a northern expedition against the British colonial government in Canada.

The people of Canada will definitely be shaking their hands to welcome the artist, and all parts of Canada will also be watching.

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.

On June 18, 1812, after President James Madison delivered a speech to Congress, Congress voted to declare war. The United States officially declared war on Britain.

But the reality was contrary to what the Americans expected. The Canadians did not regard them as liberators, but 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 U.S. military at that time and once invaded Washington, burning the White House.

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

In 1812, France was in a fierce battle with the anti-French alliance and was preparing to invade Russia, so it 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. Britain occupied the northern states of Maine and other states.

In the end, it was the southern army, led by the famous southern general Andrew Jackson, that 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 put aside 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, controlled the San Juan Channel, and extended its hands to the San Juan Islands, whose sovereignty was unclear.

The two sides have once again reached 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 has been blocked by the British many times."

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 real use of force.

However, 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 at all. 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 there will be no 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 must also 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.

The British only have a few outdated sailing battleships 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, sir, 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.

(End of chapter)