Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1385 - 1291: Raid
Chapter 1385: Chapter 1291: Raid
“As for New Orleans,” Napoleon continued, “after Wayne’s disastrous defeat, it will be at least a month before he can organize an effective attack.
“Before that, Lieutenant Blackfeather will launch harassment in the Ohio region. The Shawnee tribe will cooperate with him.”
Blackfeather is the son of the Clan Leader of the Chalakosa Tribe. Their tribe originally resided in northern Ohio and is very familiar with the terrain there.
“But he probably isn’t a match for the Lexington militia.”
Napoleon smiled and said, “He has brought over 700 soldiers, plus Shawnee warriors, enough to deal with the local Americans.”
Lexington has less than 10,000 Americans in total, and many militia members have been conscripted by Wayne, so there are at most two to three hundred troops there now.
Brass widened his eyes: “How does he have so many soldiers?”
Napoleon motioned for the attendant to open the wounded soldiers’ tent door, then turned back to Brass and said, “Where did you think the native soldiers who ’ran away’ during our retreat went?”
Initially, there were indeed a few Indian soldiers who fled — not only in North America, but even in Europe, the desertion rate is hard to be below 3% — and Napoleon thought to take advantage of this, deliberately allowing some elite Indian soldiers to leave the ranks, then assemble at a predetermined location.
Even Little Turtle’s ambush troops were gathered in half by this method.
In Wayne’s view, it was completely natural for Indians to leave the army, without the slightest suspicion.
Meanwhile, Napoleon’s army continued to shrink, increasing Wayne’s sense of complacency.
Brass finally stopped speaking, merely looking at Major Bonaparte’s back with admiration in his eyes.
Ohio was Wayne’s main supply line — Mississippi valley settlements couldn’t provide the logistics needed for thousands of American troops, especially ammunition and the like, which had to be transported from Maryland in the East to the West.
If Blackfeather could cut off Ohio’s supply route, Wayne would have to retreat.
However, he still felt the plan to penetrate the American heartland was too risky, considering their army, even with Indian soldiers, was only over 5,000 people…
Three days later, Napoleon embarked on his journey to Huntsville with his main force, leaving only 300 soldiers to defend New Orleans.
At the same time, in Hawkingville Town west of Lexington, hundreds of American townspeople were kneeling “devoutly” before a Long Flame priest adorned as a Catholic priest.
“Please, Holy Father, forgive the sins of these lambs; they once defected from the Holy Church, hence led astray…”
As Long Flame recited, an Assistant Priest was baptizing these Protestant believers anew.
Every time he reached a person, that person would recite, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” appearing very obedient and cooperative.
Well, because standing behind Long Flame was Blackfeather and over 300 soldiers armed with flintlock guns.
After completing the “conversion ceremony” for these heretics, Blackfeather ordered his subordinates to take most of the food from the town, leaving only enough for the townspeople to eat for three weeks.
Then he destroyed two defensive towers outside the town and immediately hurried to the next town.
Long Flame drew a cross in satisfaction on horseback, praising Blackfeather’s piety to Jesus and his contribution to the Church.
Yes, according to Blackfeather’s intent, he wanted to kill all the adult men in the town. However, Long Flame gave the townspeople a chance: as long as they swore to accept Holy Tradition, insisted on weekly participation in Masses, and obeyed the Vatican’s teachings, they could obtain “redemption.”
And the people of Hawkingville didn’t finally breathe a sigh of relief until the backs of these missionaries disappeared from their view, yet still feeling a lingering sense of unreality.
The town mayor immediately wrote a letter to report today’s ordeal to Lexington City and the Kentucky Congress, requesting aid.
A week later, the Kentucky Congress had received more than a dozen letters seeking help, mainly requesting allocation of food and dispatch of militia for protection.
But Kentucky is just a newly established state of a dozen years, unable to provide such ample material aid.
As for the militia, there was none to dispatch — the governor then wrote to General Wayne requesting help, as the state militia had been taken by him.
A few days later, a logistics convoy providing supplies to Wayne’s Legion passed through Kentucky, only to be attacked by three groups of food-lacking Americans before Blackfeather could intervene.
When Blackfeather finally confirmed the convoy’s location, he found only artillery shells and gunpowder left to loot.
…
American south-central, Chattanooga City.
This location sits between Cumberland Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountain, on the west side of the famous “Cumberland Gap.”
The Cumberland Gap is a vital passage between the southeastern and southwestern parts of the United States, dubbed the “Gateway of History” during the Westward Movement. Countless pioneers and explorers set off from the Eastern Coast, passing through here to the Western “Bluegrass Region.”
At this moment, Napoleon was taking his army contrary to the pioneers’ journey, heading straight east.
The area of Cumberland Gap is rather desolate, with few sizable towns along the way, so he encountered almost no obstruction, arriving at Tutelo in just over ten days.
During this period, Harjo brought a substantial number of people from the Creek Tribe as agreed, providing them with provisions.
Brass watched the winding line of troops, urging his horse to Napoleon’s side, and whispered, “Commander, are we truly going to continue eastward?”
The latter nodded confidently, “You are worried about what? Once we pass the south side of the Allegheny Mountain, we can obtain logistics supplies anywhere.”
He waved forcefully, “In half a month, Americans will be astonished to find that the French Army has reappeared in Virginia!”
Brass nearly blurted out “Are you crazy,” but then quickly remembered that this Major Bonaparte had once led troops racing hundreds of kilometers, crossing the Alps, and defeated the strong Austrian Army, forcing himself to suppress his doubts.
Ten or more days later, in the morning, when the residents of Richmond City by the James River were awakened by the thunderous sound of artillery, they initially thought it was the black slaves causing an uprising again.
Richmond’s militia never imagined they would engage in battle with a regular army of several thousand; they barely gathered before being hit by the French cavalry’s assault.
Soon, a few twelve-pounder artillery shells tore through the crude barricades outside the city, and Little Turtle led over a thousand Indian soldiers charging into the city first.
When the news reached Philadelphia, Washington had to confirm three times with the messenger before finally believing that an Eastern city had been attacked.
And Virginia, the second wealthiest area in the United States after Delaware, if damaged by the army, it would be a severe blow to the nation’s financial artery.
The Federal Congress responded with high efficiency, issuing a mobilization order by noon the next day, summoning 10,000 militia from Maryland, Delaware, New York, Conestoga, and other areas to rush to Virginia for reinforcement.
