The Trent Affair #3: Britain's War Plan

When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

Zack Twamley

Phd, International Relations, Korean War, European History, 17th Century, 18th Century, Politics, 20th Century, Thirty Years' War, History, 19th Century, War, First World War

4.8 • 773 Ratings

🗓️ 27 December 2021

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Welcome to our third episode of the Trent Affair, here we confront an important question!

Would the Americans choose peace, or would they choose war? The ultimatum had been sent on 2 December. The restrictions of communication meant that the British would be waiting a while for the answer - as much as a fortnight. But, in the meantime, what did the British government do? Incredibly, the British prepared for the unthinkable: the third Anglo-American war in under a century.

Indeed, the British devised a fascinating war plan. It involved a naval landing in the State of Maine, which would surely see sense and leave the American orbit once the redcoats landed. The defences of Canada would be strengthened, the Confederacy would be recognised and supported, and a wholescale blockade of the Union's ports would be implemented. This would turn the tables on the Yankees, and burn their candle at both ends.

While the British people and government awaited America's answer, these plans were developed, and even partially put into action. Reinforcements were sent to Canada; naval squadrons in North America received new vessels, and imports of war materiel to the US ceased. The British were deadly serious, and thanks to the demands of national honour, nothing less than satisfaction would do.

The Americans could submit, or they could have war. There could be no third way.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome history friends, patrons, patrons, to this little mini-series here,
0:10.4	looking at the Trent Affair of late 1861. This five-part series is designed to, well, be a kind of
0:18.6	present to you for being such a good listener for the last several years.
0:23.0	It's also designed to get you in the mood for Britain Goes to War, which should be launching
0:26.5	in the spring, and will be exclusive for five dollar patrons.
0:30.8	In the last episode, we looked at international law and national honour and how those two concepts
0:36.1	really fitted into this trend affair and made it such a big deal for the Americans and the British.
0:42.2	We saw that the British were really unable to compromise in this position. They had to do something, and that something was to develop a war plan.
0:52.1	I know I left you on a kind of cliffhanger, so in this episode here, we're going to look at that war plan.
0:57.6	I don't see any point in dragging this introduction out,
1:00.1	so let's get started.
1:02.4	I'll now take you to December 1861.
1:17.7	As we have seen, Britain sent limited reinforcements to its Canadian frontier,
1:23.0	and it also drew up plans for an invasion of the US state of Maine.
1:25.3	But were these plans truly realistic?
1:31.3	In particular, the main landing sounds like a piece of fiction straight out of an alternative history wargaming scenario.
1:33.3	Real though the main plan was, it wasn't long for this world.
1:37.3	One thing was certain though, any attack upon the United States would require Britain to defend
1:43.3	Canada, since an attack on those territories would surely be the easiest way for the United States would require Britain to defend Canada,
1:47.7	since an attack on those territories would surely be the easiest way for the United States to pressure Britain on land.
1:50.7	Furthermore, following the mobilisation of Union soldiers throughout 1861,
1:55.2	the United States was in a far better strategic position,
	...

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