1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 689: Northern Army

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As the main force on the front line gained a foothold in the western suburbs of Omaha, the Northern Army's range of activities was further compressed. Liang Yao's headquarters also moved from Horn Village to Waterloo Railway Station, which was closer to the front line.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief Elvis thought that the name of the train station was unlucky, and that Liang Yao would be meeting with Emperor Napoleon III here soon, so he suggested that Liang Yao change the name of the train station.

Liang Yao himself doesn't care much about this. The Americas are deeply influenced by European colonial powers, and many place names are basically copied from European place names, with an alarmingly high repetition rate.

There are 28 places called London in North America and 41 places called Manchester. The same is true in Latin America, where there are 17 towns called Santa Fe.

It is no coincidence that the train station under Liang Yao's feet is called Waterloo. It is just the naming habit of the Yankees.

If he insists on changing his name, it will prove that he is guilty and will only have a counterproductive effect.

"Sir, we were unable to open the Platte and Missouri Channels. The Union Army sank the ships and blocked the channels."

As he was speaking, Kruger, with a guilty look on his face, reported to Liang Yao the naval battle that had taken place on the Platte River not long ago.

The Great Plains is a vast and sparsely populated area that looks like a very large area.

In fact, there were not many places that could become battlefields. The battles that broke out between them and McClellan's Northern Army on the Western Front were basically centered around the fight for control of transportation lines and hubs such as railways, waterways, and highways to ensure smooth logistics for their own side.

For example, the city of Omaha, which will be the focus of the next battle between the two sides, is the most important railway hub in the entire central frontier region and the intersection of the Platte Waterway and the Missouri Waterway. It is a battleground for military strategists in the central region.

"McClellan's response is quite quick and he is a man of courage."

McClellan's reaction made Liang Yao look at him with admiration, and he believed that there were still some capable generals among the Northern Army.

"Don't be too depressed. At least we now control the entire Platte Waterway and cut off the direct connection between the Maine Brigade, a detachment of the Union Army in northern Kansas, and Omaha."

Liang Yao turned his back and looked at the large-scale map hanging on the wall. The Maine Brigade, which was alone and deep in northern Kansas, could not establish direct contact with Omaha. If the Maine Brigade wanted to obtain supplies, it could only take the transportation line of Kansas City.

Although Kansas City was nominally under the control of the Union Army, the city, and indeed the entire Kansas region, had been engaged in an armed struggle against the federal government for six years.

The six-year Kansas Civil War had left the people of Kansas with a deep-seated hatred for the Union Army, and the Union Army stationed in Kansas City actually had very little control over Kansas City.

It was much more difficult for the Maine Brigade to get supplies from Kansas City than from Omaha.

"Your Excellency has foresight. As long as we cut off the connection between the Maine Brigade and Omaha, we can let the Mexican militia and the two infantry regiments of the 103rd Brigade reduce the Maine Brigade's space for movement until the Maine Brigade is completely surrounded and annihilated."

Elvis was extremely delighted to learn that the Western Army had completely gained control of the Platte Channel.

The Maine Brigade, which was alone and deep in northern Kansas, was like a sword of Damocles hanging over the Western Army's logistics line. Elvis was always worried that the Maine Brigade would suddenly rush into Nebraska and destroy the Pacific Railway.

Now the main force of the Western Army is gathering in Omaha. The food, clothing, and ammunition supplies of 60,000 to 70,000 people all rely on the Pacific Railway. If the Maine Brigade takes advantage of the empty rear to attack the Pacific Railway, the consequences will be disastrous.

"According to the intelligence sent back by our scouts in North Kansas, there are probably not just one but two Union brigades active in North Kansas." Speaking of the Union detachment that had penetrated deep into North Kansas, Kruger said with some concern.

"Our army's reserve is too weak. Sir, should we withdraw two regiments from the front to protect the Pacific Railway?"

"The war is imminent. Our military strength is already at a disadvantage compared to the Yankees. Moreover, if we send troops back at this time, it may have a negative impact on the morale of the soldiers on the front line."

Elvis disagreed with transferring troops from the front, believing that even if the Union detachment in Northern Kansas had two brigades, the Mexican militia brigade and the two regiments of the 103rd Brigade could handle it.

Suddenly withdrawing troops from the front line will cause the generals on the front line to mistakenly believe that there is a fire in the backyard, which is not a wise move.

"The military strength on the front line is already stretched thin, and it is indeed not appropriate to transfer troops from the front line now." Liang Yao himself did not agree with transferring troops from the front line.

Although his current reserve forces are weak, he still has two Guangxi regiments and a Marine Corps regiment brought by Sven from Texas.

The town of Norton, just 60 kilometers from Nebraska, is the largest village in northern Kansas.

Most of the villagers in Norton migrated from the more densely populated eastern Kansas during the Kansas Civil War to escape the war.

These villagers believed that as long as they stayed away from troubled places and did not get involved in the political struggles between the North, South and West, they could live a peaceful life in remote northern Kansas.

Adhering to this philosophy, Mayor Modrick not only did not organize the townspeople to participate in the American presidential election of 1860, but also did not accept the invitation when Liang Yao, the President of the American Republic, arrived in North Platte and invited fellow townspeople from nearby border areas to attend a banquet. When the conscription summons from the South was sent to Norton Town a month ago, Modrick even prevented the pro-Southern young people in the town from going to the South to join the army.

All that Modric did was to maintain absolute neutrality in order to avoid giving others a reason to criticize him and drag the town of Norton into the war.

Because of their neutral attitude and unimportant geographical location, the town of Norton did enjoy six years of peace in the troubled Kansas.

Norton was also one of the few Kansas towns that was not affected by the war during the Kansas Civil War.

Modric therefore enjoyed a high reputation in the town, and the townspeople also believed that it was their mayor's wise decision that brought them peace.

But the peace in Norton came to an abrupt end on July 12, 1861.

In mid-July, the sun was blazing on the Kansas border. The grassland near the town of Norton was scorched yellow, and heat waves rolled on the dirt road. The air was filled with the smell of hay and livestock, which was the unique smell of small towns in the central frontier region.

The town of Norton nestles quietly beside the Prairie Dog River, with hundreds of wooden houses scattered around and courtyards surrounded by white or gray fences.

The corn and wheat fields outside the town are green and yellow in the breeze. Most of the men in the town work in the town's breweries and flour mills. Women, the elderly and children take care of the farmland and livestock. Everything is so orderly, just like a paradise in North America.

At noon on July 12, the sound of iron hooves broke the peaceful life of the residents of Norton.

A group of Union cavalrymen wearing kepi hats, faded blue uniforms and dusty leather boots appeared outside the town of Norton. Following the cavalrymen were Union infantrymen armed with live ammunition. The bayonets on the muzzles of these Union soldiers flashed a chilling light under the scorching sun.