IBTCPOTME Novel - Chapter 133
**Chapter 133**
**The Mexican-American War (6)**
“Retreat north, not to the city!”
“Give up. If we delay any longer, the Mexicans will come.”
“Damn it!”
It was already too late, and darkness had fallen. If we delayed any longer, we might be caught by the Mexican army in the darkness. The main force was already far away.
Major General Winfield Scott and the US command, who had been directing the army from the city, ordered a retreat north, relaying the order to the left and right flanks as well. However, there was confusion, and many troops entered the city.
Such confusion could happen on the battlefield, but with the Mexican army advancing rapidly, there was no time to rectify it.
The US army retreated, abandoning the soldiers left in the city.
It was too dark to see clearly, but the Mexican army had a vague understanding of the situation.
“It seems there was confusion in their orders.”
“Whether it was confusion or they just ran to the city because it seemed safer, I don’t know.”
Those who had been promoted to general mocked the US army in excited voices.
“Haha, do those fools think we’ll engage in urban warfare?”
General Antonio also rejoiced. They should have retreated north.
The goal of the Mexican Empire is the Mississippi River. The city of New Orleans is just a secondary objective. There’s no way they’d engage in urban warfare, which would inevitably result in heavy casualties, even with their superior firepower.
“Have the engineers surround the city with barbed wire, and have the artillery deploy their cannons and establish a siege. The rest will attend to the injured and prepare camp.”
“Yes!”
The imperial fleet had successfully subdued the coastal guns and defenses, and they could bombard the city at any time.
The Mexican Imperial Army established camp, encircling the city.
The night, filled with the stench of blood, passed, and the Mexican army began clearing the battlefield.
*Click*
The adjutant, who had saluted, reported the results of clearing the battlefield.
“General, the battle from the previous day resulted in 1,811 deaths, 1,500 seriously injured, and 2,100 lightly injured.”
“···I see.”
In just one day, there were 5,400 casualties.
“Have you determined the size of the US army that retreated north?”
“Not yet. I will report as soon as it is known.”
“Do so.”
The cost was high, but about 75,000 troops had crossed to the north of the Mississippi River.
‘The 2nd Army Corps will soon arrive, manage the occupied territories, and carry out supply and combat operations from the south. So, we’ve achieved our first objective.’
While General Antonio was trying to soothe his aching heart over the greater-than-expected loss of troops, a sense of despair permeated New Orleans.
“Shouldn’t we leave, even now?”
The troops who had fought in the center of the city retreated, gathering supplies. They hadn’t been able to recover all the city’s resources, but the remaining food was far too little for the 30,000 troops here.
“···The Mexicans have spent the night setting up barbed wire and aiming their cannons. How do you propose we leave? Will you be leading the charge?”
Colonel Peter Jones, the most senior officer remaining in the city, responded irritably.
He wanted to find whoever had ordered the retreat to the city and shoot them.
*Huuu-*
The officers in the meeting room, mostly junior officers, tensed as he sighed, suppressing his anger.
“We’re short on troops, supplies, and officers. Fighting in this situation is suicide, nothing more, nothing less.”
“It seems like we have no choice but to wait for reinforcements.”
Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was next in seniority after Colonel Jones.
“That’s right. We have to hold out until reinforcements arrive, so we need to reduce food consumption. We’ll be eating one meal a day for now.”
He looked around at the officers and added,
“This applies to all officers, including myself. Understand?”
“Yes!”
Colonel Jones, who had issued a standard order, was skeptical about whether reinforcements would arrive before they ran out of food.
This disaster hadn’t happened without hastily mobilizing even those who hadn’t even received a day of training.
America was a country with ambition but woefully lacking in preparation, but it wasn’t a nation of fools. They had experienced it once, so they wouldn’t fight again until they were ready. Besides, they had already lost their strategic objective, the Mississippi River.
There was only a bleak future ahead.
***
February 25, 1846.
“···10,000 casualties? And 30,000 are trapped in New Orleans?”
President James Polk received the report on the results of the Battle of New Orleans, leaned back in his chair, and clasped his head with both hands.
He remained silent for a while, leaning back in his chair, before finally speaking.
“Yes. We sent them in a hurry, so the casualties are understandable, but what do you mean they’re trapped in New Orleans? 50,000 retreated, and 30,000 are trapped? Is that even possible?”
President James Polk, who had removed his hands from his head, glared at Secretary of War William Marcy.
“That is···.”
His gaze was piercing, but as Secretary of War, he had a duty to report to the President, who held the power of military command.
*Bang!*
“Confusion in their orders? What kind of nonsense!”
James Polk shouted that, but, upon reflection, it was understandable. Most of the officers hadn’t received formal military training, the soldiers hadn’t received even minimal training, and 20,000 out of 90,000 were militia.
“They said they brought most of the food with them, so they won’t be able to hold out for long. Shouldn’t we send reinforcements?”
It was a staggering 30,000 men. They couldn’t just abandon them.
“Mr. President, the military generals have agreed that sending additional troops to rescue them in the current situation would be suicide.”
“Then what do we do? Are you saying we abandon 30,000 men?”
“···Mexico is also a Christian country, so they won’t do anything cruel to the prisoners.”
It was a suggestion to abandon New Orleans.
Secretary of War William Marcy continued to persuade James Polk, who remained silent.
“The Mexican army has already crossed to the north of the Mississippi River. We need to see the bigger picture.”
For the Mexican army to send troops north of the Mississippi River, they would have to either cross the river or land on the northern coast of the Mississippi River. The primary goal was to use the advantageous terrain to prevent their crossing or landing, but they had failed, so they needed to think about the next move.
“Even if the enemy captures New Orleans, it’s still just the mouth of the Mississippi River. To truly control the Mississippi’s waterways, they’ll have to advance northward. We can stop them there.”
The United States still had a lot of territory, and the railroads they had built on a large scale, spurred by the Mexican threat, could transport supplies. The northeastern states, with the largest population, and the northern industrial zone were completely unaffected.
Even though New Orleans was a major southern city and the mouth of the Mississippi was blocked, it wasn’t fatal to the entire United States.
“We need to be patient now. We’ll gather more troops, train them, prepare supplies, and prevent the enemy from advancing to the middle reaches of the Mississippi River.”
Secretary of War William Marcy advised the President, who held the power of military command, based on the decision made in consultation with the generals.
Fortunately, the President didn’t insist.
“Do so.”
And so, New Orleans and 30,000 men were abandoned.
***
Just as the US Navy detected the Mexican fleet departing from Cuba, the Mexican Navy was also aware of the US Navy’s movements.
“They’re likely to come out soon.”
Admiral Salvador Martinez, leading the Atlantic Division, had realized that the US fleet had set sail to strike the main fleet, which had entered the Mississippi River, and was preparing an ambush.
He wasn’t interested in staying put, defending the harbor against the American scum, who had such a small fleet.
‘They dragged all their ships out so obviously, and they thought we wouldn’t notice?’
“They’re coming out!”
Early in the morning, a US fleet, clearly in bad shape, was seen emerging from the Mississippi River.
“Now! Attack!”
*Boom!*
The steam-powered warship’s main guns, which had been loaded and aimed beforehand, fired at the admiral’s command.
The steam-powered warship initiated the attack, and the Mexican Imperial fleet unleashed a barrage of bombardment.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
“Ambush!”
Someone shouted, but everyone had already figured it out.
*Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-*
The US fleet frantically rang their bells, preparing for battle.
“Prepare for battle!”
“Return fire!”
While officers scurried around preparing for battle, Admiral David Conner was conflicted.
The enemy fleet was already rapidly approaching the US fleet from both sides. The difference in power was clear.
‘There’s no chance of winning a frontal assault.’
‘If we retreat with all our power, we can save some of the ironclads and monitor ships.’
‘But if we do that, we’ll lose all the sailing ships without steam engines.’
He would be branded a cowardly commander who abandoned his comrades.
He cursed Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, who had ordered him to bring along the ships of the line and frigates in case they might be of help.
Thanks to that old fogey, who had lived only in the age of sailing ships and retired from active duty, the US Navy was about to lose all its sailing warships.
‘Should I fight valiantly here and die?’
Admiral David Conner was tempted by the thought.
His mind was consumed by despair. The overwhelming difference in naval power between the two countries, and the defeat in the battle he had wagered everything on, were the causes.
If he died fighting here, he might lose his life, but at least he wouldn’t be called a coward.
“···All ships, retreat at full speed!”
But his choice was to retreat. What were the young men on board those ships guilty of? It was a decision to abandon almost half the fleet in terms of personnel, but he had to save the other half.
“Admiral Conner!”
As the order was relayed and the fleet began to accelerate, a shout erupted from behind.
It was the call of his subordinate, the captain of the ship of the line.
*Boom!*
*Weeeooooooooo!*
*Splash!*
The side of the US Navy ship of the line was pierced.
The ship of the line, once a symbol of overwhelming power, was being torn apart by enemy cannon fire.
It had revealed its inherent limitations in the face of more powerful cannon technology.
The Mexican fleet’s pursuit continued until the US fleet reached Pensacola, Florida.
They lost sailing ships and several steam warships in that relentless pursuit, but they saved the ironclads.
Six ironclads, 20 monitor ships.
That was all that remained of the US Navy.
***
“Our supply lines are being attacked?”
“Yes, it seems to be the work of organized militias in various occupied territories.”
The staff officer replied as the messenger delivered his report.
“This was expected. We rushed in without managing the occupied territories, so it’s natural that our rear is vulnerable.”
America was vast. It was just a small part of the map, but in reality, they had to manage over 300 km of supply lines and occupied territories.
“The 2nd Army Corps is almost ready, so we can leave it to them as planned, right?”
“Yes, they are scheduled to depart on March 2nd. We can also supply them by river, so there’s no need to respond urgently.”
I nodded.
“That’s settled, but we need to decide how to handle the overflowing prisoners.”
They had captured over 4,000 prisoners from the navy, and soon, they would receive the surrender of those trapped in New Orleans, though the exact number was unknown.
That meant over 10,000 prisoners.
“Make sure they’re put to work, create a thorough plan.”
There was a lot to do, like building basic roads for supply, trenches, and defensive fortifications.
Within two months of the start of the war, they had achieved victories in the Battle of New Orleans, captured the mouth of the Mississippi River, and struck a blow against the US fleet.
The first button of the war had been sewn well.