Western United States, Tennessee.
Outside the unremarkable Jackson Town, a group of Louisiana Colony officers looked at the battle map on the table, all with serious expressions.
According to what the Count of Baton Rouge just said, thousands of American troops will soon be coming from the east, forming a surrounding force around them.
Even more critical, however, is the logistics.
The Americans are likely to use the east and south lines to drag the battle into a prolonged stalemate.
This godforsaken place of Tennessee, you have to walk ten kilometers to encounter a settler, making it impossible to gather sufficient supplies.
The canned food they have in hand is less than half a month’s worth, and the Indian soldiers will have a hard time going out to find "wild game" due to enemy harassment.
This means they will have no choice but to surrender to the Americans after half a month.
Major Markar broke the silence first: "Commander, perhaps we should retreat to the west while we still control Memphis."
Memphis is an important ferry on the east bank of the Mississippi River, and although winter navigation on the Mississippi River is poor, if they hurry, they can likely return to Louisiana before the American army surrounds them.
Dalmagne immediately stood up and said, "No, that would mean completely abandoning Florida."
Little Turtle nodded in agreement: "Besides, Baton Rouge will soon be facing a rapid assault from tens of thousands of American troops. We simply won’t make it in time from Pakaha to provide assistance."
Major Markar clenched his fist, and loudly said, "Then we should launch a rapid assault south on Yazoo! Wayne’s forces also far exceeded ours before, yet were defeated by us."
Napoleon furrowed his brow.
If he had even half French or Spanish forces in hand, he would truly dare seek a decisive battle with Wilkinson’s main forces, even if the opponent’s troops were twice his size.
However, this legion of his included 4,400 native soldiers.
Their frontal combat capability is even slightly inferior to the American militia he despises.
Even relying on mobility to maneuver and split with the Americans is very dangerous. His supplies can only last for half a month, and if he can’t achieve decisive victory before then, he will still have to surrender.
He silently cursed Jourdan in his heart. If it weren’t for his incompetence, he wouldn’t be in such a dire situation.
Retreating is the most secure option indeed.
Napoleon immediately dismissed this idea. His future and prospects are all built on military victories. If he fails, he would instantly lose all value in the eyes of the Paris high-ups.
He refused to be a mere military leader forever in the barren North American colonies!
The voices of surrounding officers’ arguments grew louder, but he entered a state of high concentration.
Firstly, a rapid decisive battle is necessary. That means fully utilizing our advantages.
What is the advantage?
He looked at Huntsville on the map. Yes, that’s the biggest advantage he has.
Although it is an American city, due to a raid a few years back, he can use it to easily mobilize Wilkinson.
Messages from both sides emerged, and his mind quickly ran through various simulations.
A few minutes later, he looked up at Dalmagne and others, eyes full of sharpness: "I will personally lead 3 infantry regiments and 1 scattered soldier camp in a rapid raid on Huntsville..."
...
Capital of West Florida, Pensacola.
"My patience has run out!" American mounted rifles camp commander Major Johnston sat carelessly on a wooden stool, shouting at the Spanish envoy in front of him, "The flour has been given to you, yet Mr. Oliva is still staying in that damn bastion!"
"For those without credit, I can only ’persuade’ them with cannons."
The Spaniard immediately offered a wry smile: "You see, the Captain’s yellow fever hasn’t improved, and he still had a high fever last night. Undertaking such a journey now will certainly kill him."
Johnston gritted his teeth: "I can personally escort him to Baton Rouge."
The envoy shifted to an expression of difficulty: "For Jesus’ sake, at least wait until the Captain’s fever subsides..."
Yes, although the American army has occupied Pensacola City, the fort south of town has always been manned by 65 Spanish soldiers.
From the first day of Johnston’s siege, fort Commander Captain Oliva dispatched someone to negotiate, expressing willingness to surrender and withdraw from the fort, but requested some leniency.
Johnston’s cavalry forces did not bring cannons, so he agreed to all of Oliva’s conditions—from sending letters to the Governor of Florida to providing food and medicine to the soldiers in the fort, and now, waiting for him to recover from his fever.
Overall, it’s been delayed for nearly a month, and Pensacola Fort remains in Spanish hands.
Johnston impatiently stood up, extending three fingers: "Three days, if there’s still a castle lion flag on the fort, you can expect cannon fire..."
Several continuous cannon blasts in the distance interrupted his words.
Johnston paused for a moment, looking at the aide next to him: "What happened?"
The aide had no time to respond before a cavalry scout rushed over in a panic, shouting: "Commander, thousands of Spaniards have launched a surprise attack on us!"
The battle ended even before it began.
A third of Johnston’s soldiers were looking for runaway slaves elsewhere, while the rest waited for a surrender, and even the cavalry responsible for keeping watch slacked after walking less than a mile.
Of course, even if these 380 mounted riflemen were in battle ready condition, they would hardly stand a chance against Jourdan’s superior forces.
Jourdan ignored the dispersing American cavalry, instead moving swiftly towards Saint Augustine—in desolate Florida, staying far from town means a quick death by starvation.
Half a month later, thousands of French and Spanish allied forces surrounded the Augustine Fort.
Though there’s barely more than a hundred American soldiers within the fort, Jourdan didn’t launch a strong assault, but left three companies of Indian soldiers to continue the siege.
He then led the main forces northwards, heading straight for the wealthiest South Carolina state in the southeastern United States.
Along the way, his greatest enemies were the expansive swamps, and he encountered nearly no resistance from Americans.
Yes, as Jourdan began the surprise attack on Pensacola, Hampton’s corps had already reached Morristown at the eastern Appalachian foothills, accompanied by most of the southern militia.
Upon entering American borders, Jourdan’s troops all changed to Spanish castle and lion flags.
Indeed, as per the Regent’s instructions, this was a Spanish revenge war against the United States, and France should not steal Spain’s thunder.
Even the commander of the allied forces was nominally Governor White, and Jourdan was merely his military advisor.
November 27, 1801.
In a cotton plantation south of Savannah, U.S., a group of busy black slaves suddenly stood up, terrified, looking towards the distance.
For there the sound of thundering hooves was coming.