The Texan Saga - IC

[TexanCowboy]

Placeholder for me to keep track of everything I've posted so far. Please make comments somewhere else, start a new thread, whatever, please?

[TexanCowboy]

The Texan Armada (or Marine, depending on which side of the Sabine you come from) had its humble beginnings during the Texan Revolution, when the Texan government, located in New Bordeaux at this point in Texan history, bought 4 schooners in order to protect the sea routes to Galveston, which was the only effective way to speedily resupply Sam Houston's valient forces in the Washington-on-the-Brazos region. Of those four schooners, the TMS Independence (1x9 lb, 6x6 lb) was purchased from the Confederate Navy, where it was formally the Ingram, and the TMS Brutus (1x18 lb, 9x6 lb), the TMS Liberty (6x6 lb), and the TMS Invincible (2x18 lb, 2x9 lb, 4x6 lb) were purchased from private owners from places as varied as Acadia, the CSA, Iberia, even Britian. These ships served with honor and distinction during the Texan Revolution, keeping open the sealanes that allowed for several cannon and the equivelent of a regiment of volunteers to flow to Sam Houston, supplies that were essential for his eventual victory at San Jacinto.

Post war, under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur, "The Father of the Armada du la Texas", several ships were ordered to expand the Texan navy. The sloop-of-war TMS Austin (16x24 lb, 4x18 lb), and the brigs TMS Wharton, TMS Potomac, and TMS Archer (15x18 lb, 1x9 lb) were ordered from a shipyard in Baltimore in 1825, immediantely following the end of the war. and the schooners TMS San Jacinto, TMS San Bernard, and TMS San Antonio (4x12 lb, 1x9 lb) were built in New Orleans in 1827. The Texan Navy was also quick to innovate, becoming one of the first navies to operate a steam-propelled schooner in the TMS Zavela (4x12 lb, 1x9 lb), an ex-passanger liner, in 1827.

In 1834, the 2nd Texican War began. During this war, the Texan navy had many major successes, although their exploits in the war were overshadowed by (insert foreign navy here)'s role in capturing Vera Cruz from the Mexican Army. The Texan navy made many raids on coastal towns during this war, levelling the combined sum of $150,000 from several towns as a ransom not to level the town. In addition, the Armada du la Texas' maintanance was also paid for by certain Mexican rebel groups, to the tune of $8,000 a month for 6 months. A notable accomplishment during this war was the Battle of Campeche, which was perhaps the only time in history a sail-propelled vessel defeated a steam-propelled vessel. The TMS Austin, accompanied by the TMS Wharton, TMS Archer, and TMS San Antonio, attacked the Mexican vessels Guadalupe and Montezuma in an attempt to break a blockade on the city, which was controlled by Mexican rebels. The TMS Austin fought the Guadalupe to a draw, while the TMS Wharton, TMS Archer, and TMS San Antonio sunk the Montezuma; resulting in the first and only victory of sail over steam.

At the conclusion of the war, the Texan Navy was given a considerable budget to expand from by the Texan Congress, which was added to the over $210,000 captured by the Texan navy from ransoms, prize ships, and more (although only about $130,000 could be used, with prize shares and all, which was offset some by the Mexican rebel groups payments to the Texan Navy). Using some of this money, in 1838 the Armada du la Texas ordered two ships of the line from Baltimore, the TMS Campeche and the TMS Alamo (64x32 lb, 8x24 lb, 2x9 lb). In addition, four sail frigates were ordered from Texan yards, the TMS Baton Rouge and the TMS Galveston (48x24 lb, 6x18 lb, 2x9 lb) in 1842 from New Bordeaux, and the TMS Shreveport and the TMS Dallas (36x24 lb, 4x18 lb, 2x9 lb) in 1844 from Galveston. Although the Battle of Campeche caused many reactionary minds within the Armada du la Texas to wish to stick to sail power, claiming that it was superior for discipline, a cleanly ship, and fighting ability, now Admiral Edwin Moore ordered that two steam frigates be laid down in the new harbor of Corpus Christi in 1846, the TMS Mississippi and the TMS Colorado (2x10'', 8x8'', 2x9 lb).

In 1849, as the world's attention was drawn to the gold rush occuring in California, Texas and Mexico went to war over supposed violations of each others borders in the Nueces-Rio Grande river valley; starting the Third Texican War. This war started on a disasterous note for the Armada du la Texas, with the single most devestation defeat in Texan naval history, the Battle of Tampico. The Texan Navy was escorting a regiment of primarily Indian calvary troopers to invade south of Tampico and spread into the enemy rear, causing chaos as communications and supplies were interrupted. The fleet, in the process of unloading, was met by a superior Mexican force, composing at least 5 ships-of-the-line, as well as 4 frigates and numorous other small ships. The Texan Navy was caught in the classic T-situation; and was utterly defeating; losing 4 of its 6 frigates (the TMS Colorado and TMS Shreveport escaping) and the TMS Alamo, along with a large number of small schooners and brigs, although the TMS Austin survived. The Indian troops were all safety landed, but the merchant transports, trying to escape afterwards, were mauled. The Texan Navy was forced to sit the rest of the war out, besides the occasional raiding expedition and river defense, such as in the Battle of Laredo, where requisitioned Texas Naval craft helped hold the town against an attacking Mexican division.

The Texan navy was dealt a devestating thrust by this war, and was forced to rebuild afterwards, beginning in 1852, when funds finally became available after the final retirement of Sam Houston from the Presidency. Then, the four ships of the Waco class were ordered, each featuring 82 guns (56x32 lb, 16x8'', 8x10'', 2x9 lb)  and being powered by steam, bring the revolution of the steam battleship to America. Following this, in 1861, the Texan navy, in an attempt to gain an edge over the Mexican Navy, laid down the first iron-hulled vessels ever to grace the waters of the Gulf, the New Bordeaux class...

The New Bordeaux class was laid down to much fanfare in New Bordeaux proper in 1861, with much good reason. Although not as large as other designs being launched on the Atlantic, such as the Byzantium BB-1859, it still served as a very powerful image of the power of the Texas Navy. Fully constructed out of iron, and longer than anything in the Texan Navy by over 100 feet, this was the defining pinnacle of its era, evident by the conversion into a museum the TMS New Bordeaux underwent in 1907, as a new revolutionary ship by the same name took sail. There were three ships of the class, the TMS New Bordeaux, the TMS Lafayette and the TMS Corpus Christi (see appendix). In a less noticed, but still crucial moment to the Armada du la Texas' eventual success at the Battle of South Padre, the 3rd class frigates TMS Natchitoches, the TMS Nacogdoches, TMS Little Rock, and TMS Sante Fe were laid down at various shipyards across the Gulf in 1862, showing the dedication of the Armada du la Texas to the as of yet unproved in battle ironclad ship.

As another sign of the Armada du la Texas' continued interest in the potential of as of yet unproven craft, resulting from the Battle of Tampico to a more technologly advanced foe, was the purchase of two submarine of the mechanically propelled "Plongeur" (4 kts, 210 tons, 1 spar torpedo, 5 nmi) class from France, and the building of four human-propelled Comanche class (4 knots, 8 tons, 1 spar torpedo) locally in Galveston. Although the Comanche class turned out to be an utter failure, from which three of the four of the class sunk from accidental pressure placed on the diving planes within the first week, causing the fourth to be retired for fear of the same occuring to it, the Plongeur class, quickly renamed to the Cheyenne class, turned out to be remarkable successes, as was seen during the fourth Texican war.

The 4th Texican war caused all hell to break out in the Texan admiralty, as the first iron ship-of-the-lines were about to be laid down by the Texan admiralty. They were promptly cancelled, as the iron was needed vitally by the army, which was already losing ground near Tamaulipas. Although the Republic of Texas lost this war, due mainly in fault to the army, the Armada du la Texas had one of the most remarkable victories in its history, one that was to shape the face of naval designing for the next 40 years. This victory was the Battle of Brazos Island.

The Mexican Armada decided to land troops on Brazos Island, in order to secure that island, from which distracting assaults could be launched against the Rio Grande delta, streching an already overstretched, in retreat Texan Army. Rear Admiral Sebastiano Venier, a recent immigrant from Venice, had other plans, and set off in the TMS New Bordeaux as his flag from New Orleans, with the other ships of the New Bordeaux and Natchitoches classes accompanying, as well as those of the Waco class and the TMS Colorado.

The Mexican Armada was composed of a considerable force on this day of April 21st, 1865, with double the number of 2nd class frigates compared to the Texan squadron, as well as the pride of the Mexican fleet, a new turret ship straight outta Compton. They, in addition, had small boats laying mines, found to be so useful in (insert other conflict here, Asia?) as a way to secure a flank against an enemy. The merchants carrying the troops were heading towards Brazos Island when suspicious activity was reported to the right, that suspicious activity being Admiral Venier coming in 2 "Vs", the first V being composed of his iron ships, and the second V being composed of his wooden ships. The Mexican Admiral in command cancelled the landing, then formed his ships into a line abreast, with the turret ship remaining behind as a reserve. Remarkably, at this stage in the battle, he decided to change his flag to the turret ship, ordering the ships in the line to halt steaming. This proved to be his crucial flaw, for the ships in front of his flag did not recieve the message, and instead continued steaming, opening up a hole in the Mexican line which Admiral Venier would exploit.

Admiral Venier had his ships steam full ahead, straight into the gap created by the breaking of the Mexican line, with the wooden ships peeling off to assault the Mexican merchants watching from the left flank. At one point, a patchy line of mines was observed, but Admiral Venier ordered the fleet to continue, with his famous words "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" Remarkably, no ship was hit by torpedoes mines, which was viewed to be less remarkable in view of the later records of the numbers of mines laid.

The Mexican line was confused by the presence of a full 7 Texan ships smashing straight through the hole in their line firing full broadsides on both sides, and bunched up, with some ships stopping, some turning broadside to assault the Texan ships, some ships not reacting, and even a few in the fan going straight in reverse, at some points causing minor collisions, and in one Mexican frigates case having its stern nearly knocked off. Seeing this confusion, the Mexican admiral decided to take his ship into action, leading with his turret ship, and causing the other ships to turn in towards the Texan fleet. Meanwhile, on the western flank, Captain Riboty, commanding the wooden wing, decided to turn in towards the Mexican flank, to relieve pressure upon the Texan center. Although the manuever caused heavy damage to the wooden ships (although nothing mortal), and decapitated Captain Riboty, it succeeded in sinking that unfortunate Mexican frigate whose stern had been laid open by one of its own number, by having the TMS Waco firing straight through that part and raking the gun decks until the frigate was forced to lower its colors, another unique event in naval history, as it may have been the only time a wooden ship defeated a iron ship in combat.

Meanwhile, in the center of the melee, the TMS Nacogdoches and the TMS Lafyette simultaneously rammed a Mexican frigate from opposite sides, sinking it, while the TMS Corpus Christi and the TMS New Bordeaux were in a close range knife fight with the Mexican turret ship. A confused stage of events occured for the next half hour of so, both navies in a massive mess, with no orginzation, firing blindly at each other, until the TMS Sante Fe got lucky, very lucky. A stray shot fired from a 7'' gun managed to hit a open gun port on a Mexican frigate, not an uncommon event in this battle to both sides. However, this shot knocked out the gun, which, collasping, yanked the gunner, who was about fire, forward, sparking the flint which lit a fire in the gunpowder bucket next to the gun. This fire quickly spread throughout the gun deck and down to the engineering spaces, where, igniting some coal, caused a boiler explosion, which quickly sank the already flaming ship. Simultaniously, another Mexican frigate, two or three miles away, hit a drifting mine, ironically one of the ones used to prevent the Texan navy from attacking the Mexican fleet, and sunk with all hands

At this point, the TMS Natchitoches rammed a Mexican frigate, heavily damaging the frigate as well as itsself. This frigate, the Mexican admiral's flagship before the battle commenced, and still having his colors aboard, quickly lowered its flaggs, an odd event, since it wasn't damaged enough to keep it from forward motion. Nonetheless, the captain of the Natchitoches came aboard, accepting the Mexican captains sword and transferring her crew belowdecks on the Natchitoches, and grabbing the Mexican flag and the admiral's pennent, scurried aboard, allowing the Natchitoches to slowly limp away from battle.

The Mexican admiral, having lost four first line vessels in little more than an hour, ordered his ships to retreat, an order seen and gleefully obeyed by all ships. The Texan squadron, for the most part, did not follow the enemy force, although the New Bordeaux kept up an ineffective firing at the retreating turret ship, which responded. Although many of the ships in the Texan navy were heavily damaged, the Texan fleet had won a miraculous victory, destroying 4 enemy vessels in exchange for no losses of its own while heavily outnumbered. This was expressed not only in the size of the crowd as the battered fleet returned to New Bordeaux with 4 green pennents on each ship to represent 4 sunken Mexican ships, it also was expressed in the promotion of Admiral Venier to Grand Admiral, the first and only grand admiral in Texan navy history.

The Mexican and Texan navies played little more role in the 4th Texican War, besides the usual commerce raiding and protection. This war, however, showed to Texan admirals that the future was in innovation, from ironclad ships, which had allowed that victory, to steam, which allowed for more tactical and even stragetic flexibility, to turret ships, which the sole member used in this war had saved the Mexican fleet from even greater losses than suffered. This war would shape the destinies of both navies in unique ways...

[TexanCowboy]

Please make your comments this proposed timeline in either PMs or a seperate thread.

The History of Texas

- 1564 - Fort Caroline formed in present day Jacksonville, Florida

- 1682 - René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle descended the Mississippi to its mouth

- 1686 - La Salle forms Fort Saint Louis on the site of present day Indianola, Texas. The St. Francois is not captured by pirates, allowing the colony to be fully supplied, and the L'Aimable is not sunk by Karankawa

- 1687 - In the 1st Treaty of Santo Domingo, France agrees to abandon it's colony at Fort Caroline in exchange for recognition of the colony of Fort Saint Louis. Quote from the proceedings: "Deal with those damn Karankawa yourself!" Many of the former Fort Caroline colonists immigrate to Ft. Saint Louis, increasing the population fivefold

- 1688-1690 - War of the Karankawa - The Karankawa are shattered in Southeast Texas, and flee to the north into the swamps, to be absorbed by other tribes such as the Caddo

- 1692 - The Longhorn is discovered, and many begin to form the first ranches in Texas; a discovery that would become the entire basis of the economy

- 1699 - Fort Maurepas formed in present day Old Biloxi, Mississippi

- 1701-1713 - War of the Spanish Succession - The colony of Fort Saint Louis expands massively as a price for support of the Spanish during the war; the entire department of Bexar is ceded to Fort Saint Louis, which is renamed to Tejas

- 1702 - Mobile formed, appointed capital of all French territory south of the Ohio

- 1714 - Natchitoches founded as an advanced trading post with the Caddo

- 1718 - New Bordeaux founded on the west bank of the Louisiana River (New Orleans replacement)

- 1722 - New Bordeaux becomes the official capital of all French territory south of the Ohio

- 1723 - Fort D'Orleans formed near present day Brunswick, Missouri (Note to the mods; although not included in my borders at game start, it is still in use; think something like Fort Lamaire)

- 1725 - The "German Coast" is formed to the west of New Bordeaux - one of the key factors in the survival of New Bordeaux was the presence of these hard-working German farmers, the absense of which lead to the failure of Fort Maurepas

- 1739 - War of the Chicksaw - The French colonies agree to give up all land to the east of the Mississippi in exchange for peace with the Chicksaw; in time, Tejas becomes a stauch defender of the five civilized tribes

- 1741 - The French colonies of America are reorganized into two seperate viceroys - Tejas, consisting of the Missisippi Basin except for the Ohio, and Quebec, consisting of everything else. Tejas is ruled by the Duke of Ventadour.

- 1763 - As a result of the Seven Year War, France officially gives up all colonies east of the Mississippi (This had been done unofficically to the Chicksaw 24 years ago). Many Acadian refugees from new British colonies fled south.

- 1763 - New Aquatine formed at the site of present day Napoleon, Arkansas

- 1785 - The town of Galveston is formed in the now booming auditorio of New Burgandy (Formally Ft. Saint Louis). The economy of the Viceroy of Tejas is comparable to that of Southern France, total

- 1789 - French Revolution - The Viceroy of Tejas remains loyal to the crown, rejecting republicanism and the later Napoleon, due to the greater freedoms inherent in the New World

- 1808 - In response to Napoleon's invasion of France, the Spanish army in Mexico invades the Viceroy of Tejas, capturing and subdueing it. The Duke of Ventadour is forced to flee to Acadia

- 1823 - Creole and German settlers in New Burgandy, New Aquatine, and New Orleans (The three major auditorios of Tejas) revolt, forcing the new Mexican governer to flee

- 1824 - Tejas Revolution - General Santa Anna invades the revolted nation, and is defeated by General Sam Houston

- 1825 - A new constitution is crafted. In effect, this causes an oligarchic democracy to be formed; all citizens have the right to vote, but many time the vote is manipulated

- 1828 - The Second Texican War - Mexico invades Tejas, again under the command of Santa Anna. The Mexicans are defeated, and agree to surrender Sante Fe to Tejas, captured by the heoric march of the Texas Rangers across the Comancheria; however, the Nueces Strip is still contended

- 1831 - Tejas opens it's doors to expelled Civilized Tribes; they eventually populate an aera focused around Waco, sharing land with the Witchita.

- 1835- Massive waves of immigration from Europe occur from fragmented nations such as Germany, Italy, and more, as well as subdued nations such as the Southern Slavs, Scotland, and Ireland, attracted by the promise of free land. For the first time, Tejas's population exceeds 500,000.

- 1848 - As the Year of Unrest occurs in Europe, an immensive wave of immigrants immigrates to Tejas, attracted again by the 640 acres minimum of free land. The cattle industry is booming, as Tejas becoms the major supplier of beef to nations around the world; cotton is also starting to make headway in the auditorio of New Aquatine.

- 1849 - Third Texican War - Mexico cedes control of the Nueces Strip to Tejas, as well as the territory of Tampaulis

- 1855 - The first CSA settlers arrive in Southern Illinois. Tejas, as well as the 10,000 or so Upper Louisianians, which control their own mini-nation in the style of "Franklin"; protest, but to no avail. Relations continue to be cool because of this sparking point for the next generation

- 1859 - Tejas lowers its ban on North African immigrants as the Berber Coast signs the Treaty of Tripoli with Tejas, after Tejas captures Tunis in an action similar to the OTL act of Decatur. Thousands of Berbers immigrant and begin to settle the wasteland of the southern part of the auditorio of Sante Fe, bringing along camels. Parts of the Berber navy mutiny, and in this way Tejas acquires a free frigate that sailed across the ocean escorting immigrants.

- 1861 - As more immigrants pour in from across the globe, from Byzantium to Poland, and escaped slaves from the CSA, Tejas' population exceeds 2,500,000.

- 1865-1868 - The Fourth Texican War - Tejas looses Tampaulis to Mexico in a crushing defeat - the exploits of the Foreign Legion are noted during the Battle of Cameron, and an entire division is routed by Mexico during the Battle of Puebla.

- 1869 - The Tejas plains are considered settled up to the point of OTL at this time, but more densely. A treaty is signed with the Comanche and Kiowa, granting them control of regions of Oklahoma, Kansas, and the Panhandle in exchange for recognition of Tejas sovereingty over them. The elite Comanche and Kiowa raider brigrade is raised.

- 1871 - War of the Apache - The Apache living in Tejas are effectively destroyed, as most flee to Mexico

- 1872 - First contact with the massive buffalo herds in Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Many Texans began to ranche these, and it becomes a common sight to see buffalo moving south with longhorns on the Chisholm or Loving trail.

- 1873 - Sheep are introduced to the southern part of Tejas by illegal immigrants (Note; sheep have existed, but on small mom-and-pop sort of farms, not ranches). They become eschewed by Texans, and much violence occurs  against sheep ranchers; however, they fulfill a niche market in Europe and across the world.

- 1874 - Violence erupts in Illinois as Upper Louisianans, controlling their own tiny nation, revolt against the encroaching CSA. Tejas shows tatic support of Upper Louisiana, but refrains from any overt display of force

- 1875 - In response to consistant Apache raids into Tejas, a raiding party formed of Comanche and Kiowa attacks into Mexico. This off and on simmering war will continue.

- 1877 - Tejas is noted as having a populating exceeding 4 million, due to consistant immigration.

- 1878 - The Auditorios of New Bordeaux, New Aquatine, and New Orleans are mostly considered civilized. The Auditorios of Sante Fe, San Antonio, and Waco, as well as land still not belonging to an auditorio (Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, West Texas, and Colorado) are not fully civilized yet.