The British Military Response to the Trent Crisis 1861-2 By Bryn Monnery (aka 67th Tigers) Introduction The

Trent Crisis was a major breach in Anglo-Federal relations during the American Civil War. It was precipitated by a Federal Cruiser firing on and boarding a British Government ship in the Caribbean Sea, and brought the British to the brink of declaring war on the Federal States. Fortunately, the Federal government backed down during the crisis, and war was averted. However, the British had made serious plans and preparations for the war with the Federal States, a war that was not to finally be ruled out until September 1863. This article will cover the military preparations made by the British, and their plans for the war. The sources consulted in this article include (but are not limited to): Warren's "Fountain of Discontent", a deeply flawed book which the academic journals criticise heavily, but is often people first point of call on the subject. Indeed, when the wikipedia article on the matter was rewritten, the material was almost entire cribbed from this book, and even primary evidence of the type the journals criticise Warren for missing were expunged in favour of Warrens hypothesis. Bourne's "Britain and the Balance of Power in North America 1815-1908" and "British Preparations for War with the North 1861-2" are almost seminal works in the field of the British operations and planning for war in North America in the Victorian Age. The latter is available via an Athens login online, and some US universities can read the former online. For primary sources, I consulted the Illustrated London News, the Times (the original one) and the New York Times' coverage of events, which threw up a lot of interesting data, since the latter two tended to cover troop movements etc. in great detail. All three are online (although you need Athens for The Times): http://beck.library.emory.edu/iln/index.html http://www.galeuk.com/times/ http://www.nytimes.com/ Some data came from the Official Records of the war, retreived from: http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/moa_browse.html Of course theres the Canadian Military History Directorate publications. I also read the contemporary RUSI journals (at Oxford University), and a few other bits which Ive likely forgot. Timeline

8th November 1861: RMS Trent is boarded by USS San Jacinto 27th November 1861: News of the seizure reaches the UK 29th-30th November 1861: Special War Cabinet sits, UK ultimatum sent to the Federal States 4th December 1861: Mobilisation is ordered. 7th December 1861: The Melbourne, carrying large quantities of munitions and the first British reinforcements departs. The Orpheus, 21 escorted her from Plymouth. 9th December 1861: 25,000 men are ordered to Canada 10th December: Correspondents at Malta report the Mediterranian squadron has been ordered to dispatch all disposable ships to North America 16th December: RAdm Dacres appointed second in command to VAdm Milne, his flag is the Edgar, 89 19th December 1861: The first two battalions of Lord Frederick Paulets 1st Guards Brigade embarks for Canada (having had 6 days notice), the 3rd battalion (2nd Coldstreamers) is not embarked before the crisis abates. 20th December 1861: Williams issues General Militia Order No. 1, embodying a company of 84 offrs and men from each battalion of the Service Militia (roughly 38,000 men, exc/ offrs and Bn staffs), to be ready to march 14 days after recipt of the order. 21st December 1861: The gunboat reserve is activated 31st December 1861: Britains third large ironclad, HMS Defence begins fitting out for service in North America (estimates reckoned 4-5 weeks). HMSRinaldo embarked Mason and Sidell. Ca. 15th-20th January 1862: Estimated date the British planned to declare War on the USA. TBC The British Regular Army The British Army has in a considerably better state than during the start of the Crimean War 8 years earlier. Exclusive of Indian Establishment, the Army of 1853 had only 89,000 effectives, and was seriously lacking in logistics and ordnance. In fact, the ordnance was still using Napoleonic era cannon, and it wasnt until 1853 that the estimates allowed the Ordnance to reequip by buying 300 modern 9 pdrs. In 1856, the British had roughly 300,000 effective infantry in service, but in the drawdown of 1856/7 this was reduced to 100,000 infantry (again exclusive of India), with roughly half in the UK, half in the colonies. The force at home was organised into 7 fully combat ready infantry divisions. The force abroad was organised in brigades and divisions as well. This state of affairs was quickly disrupted by the Indian Mutiny. India contained a garrison of roughly 31,000 of HM Army (Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery etc.), with roughly 8,000 HEIC Europeans, 170,000 of HM Indian Army (regular) and 57,000 Indian irregulars. (This latter force was essentially Indian officered, while the regular Indian force had British officers down to company commanders). The regular forces were organised into 7 Divisions, which were in reality Corps dArmee (being ca. 30,000 strong each).

In 1857, large parts of the Meerut Division mutinied, starting a military campaign, which required the dispatch of considerable additional forces to India. However, British strength at home did not weaken as, at the Queens insistence, each battalion sent to India was replaced by a newly raised battalion. Thus even with in increased post-war presence in India, the British Army at home remained considerable. The 1857 stations of the army are on this site: http://www.oocities.com/littlegreenmen.geo/Brit1857.htm In 1861, the British Infantry was 156,816 strong, of whom 48,898 were in Indian Establishment, . The total regular British Army within the United Kingdom in February 1861 was 105,000 men (including roughly 5,000 embodied militia who had been disembodied between the Army Estimates and Trent Affair). Indeed, Gothas Almanac for 1861 reports the major European Powers Armies are: UK: 100,000 (exclusive of 50,000 in the colonies or 70,000 in India, note that the HEIC Europeans have not yet been absorbed, and wont until Feb 62) France: 316,000 (exclusive of 70,000 troops in Algeria) Austria: 298,000 Prussia: 212,000 Russia: 578,000 Spain: 233,000 (note: although not mentioned, this includes colonial forces) Belgium: 74,000 It also notes that the British have 290,000 auxiliary force members (Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers) in the UK. It does not mention the Royal Marines, who have a larger force that the regular United States Army at their disposal. It is thus with a force of 100,000 men in the UK, plus the ability to recall at least another 25,000 from the colonies and India, plus an expectation of maybe 33-50% of the auxiliary forces transferring to regular service (as historically happened in all British wars until the Boer War, where they were simply deployed instead), with the remainder forming a home defence army that the Trent Affair begins. It should be noted that a quick search of various webpages will show this 100,000 figure, but in nearly every case the assumption is that this is the total force (which would leave the UK with 20,000 troops at home). Contemporary organisations are available in the following link (dated 1858, it should be noted that between 1858 and 1861 there was a minor change in the organisation of the Artillery, with battalions of 8 batteries redesignated brigades of 10 batteries, and a new brigade (15th) was raised): http://www.google.co.uk/books?id=nQYLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1

This book explains the basic structure of brigades and divisions, and notes that the normal effective strength of a brigade of 3 battalions (i.e. excluding officers, sergeants, staff, logistics detachments etc.) is 2,500 bayonets. Before the Trent Affair, the British Garrison consisted of a brigade in Canada, a brigade in Nova Scotia (meaning Nova Scotia Command, including a battalion forward at the New Brunswick/ Maine border), and another brigade sent in July 1861 as a reinforcement. As the Trent Affair broke, the British ordered another 6 brigades to Canada and Nova Scotia, plus a cavalry brigade and a siege train The forces in Canada over Winter 1861/2 were to be organised as 3 full infantry divisions (each of 6 battalions of infantry, 2 batteries of field artillery, a company of engineers and their service elements), mainly concentrated at Montreal, with the remaining brigade broken up creating three smaller forces, one at London (ON) which was squarely aimed at counterattacking a US intrusion from Detroit to Windsor or could move east to the Niagara frontier. Another was at Toronto, which was intended to counterattack an intrusion across the Niagara frontier (joining the Militias defensive line along the Welland Canal), or move East to Kingston. The third was on the New Brunswick/ Maine border, and slated for an immediate advance to seize Portland in the event of war. Meanwhile, the remaining forces acted to garrison Halifax etc. At home, another 50,000 men were to prepare to ship out to Canada in March 1862. However, only 40,000 of these men were regulars. The remaining 10,000 were to be found from volunteers from the auxiliary forces, and take over garrison duties at Halifax, Bermuda etc., releasing regular forces for offensive duties. The 40,000 regulars included 2 fully formed Corps dArmee, and the remaining elements of the 2 Corps dArmee already deployed to British North America, bring the British field army to 4 Corps dArmee (16 Infantry and 4 Cavalry Brigades, with artillery etc.). Thus the British would have deployed 65,000 regular soldiers from the 100,000 in the British Isles, and roughly 75,000 British regulars would have been available to campaign in BNA. In addition to this, a decision had been made to use Bermuda as a depot in the same manner that Malta was used for the Crimean Army. The 39th foot was the advanced garrison, along with considerable heavy artillery, and engineers to build accommodation and defences for this base of operations. The Canadian Militia The Canadian government had not exactly been zealous in providing for their own defence, but they were not exactly defenceless either. Canada had last defended her borders from filibustering US militia 20 years earlier, and Canadian Militia had won every engagement with the US, during this period they (Canada and the Maritimes) placed roughly 65,000 men on active service. It was these conflicts (the Patriote Rebellion, and Aroostook War) that informed British estimates of Canadian capability.

While there has been a Canadian Militia since Europeans first settled that part of America, the modern Canadian Militia was redefined by the 1846 and 1855 Militia Acts. The first act turned the Sedentary Militia into a more usable organisation, by slimming it down and no longer fining lack of attendance at militia drill. The objective of this act was to create a force of 40,000 men ready for immediate use. The 1855 Act created an Active Militia. These were paid for upto 28 days a year, and were limited to 5,000 men (ORs), although more men enlisted than was allowed for, leading to the creation of the unpaid class B units. The Active Militia initially comprised 16 Troops of Cavalry (3 offrs, 50 men and 53 horses ea), 10 field artillery batteries (4 offrs, 71 men and 58 horses, equipped with 4 guns), and 77 companies of infantry or foot artillery (3 offrs and 70 men). It had been slightly augmented. The class B was increased by the vast numbers of volunteers raised during the Trent Crisis. The Sedentary Militia in 1858 comprised ca 250,000 men:
1st Class 31157 51086 82243 2nd Class 51435 56062 107497 Reserve 33340 33298 66638

UC LC Total

Despite its name, the Sedentary Militia was a volunteer force, and had been since the 1846 Militia Act (when all compulsion to join the militia was dropped). The 1st class represented unmarried men under 40, the 2nd class married men and men with dependents under 40, and the Reserve Militia being the over 40s. Battalions were purely based on geography, and on mobilisation, each militia regiment (100 thereof) were expected to provide a service battalion (or in the case of the very small regiments contribute coys to neighbouring county Bns). The service battalions were based on the flank companies, who unlike the bulk of the militia (who were only required to train 1 day a year) trained 6 days a month. The flank companies were approximately 20% of the militia, or approximately 38,000 men. A further reorganisation occurred in 1864, separating the flank coys as the Non-Permanent Active Militia, who were amalgamated in 1866 with the remainder of the Volunteer Militia. On 20th December 1861, GOC North America ordered a limited mobilisation of 38,000 rank and file (i.e. the flank coys), to be found from volunteers only for field service, to be ready to march within 14 days, the Trent Crisis abated before this period was up, but over 14,000 Militia (about 190 coys) had mustered into service within 6 days, when the order was recinded. This mobilisation was roughly half the force the Canadian government expected to be able to field. The arming and equipping of the militia was done post haste. Over 100,000 stands of modern rifles were shipped to the Canadian Militia during December 1861, along with 15 million rounds of ammunition, 18 Armstrong Rifles, and considerable quantities of older ordnance (9 pdrs withdrawn from Regular service etc.), and their attendant equipment and ammunition. More was

due every day (a typical British vessel used as a trooper would usually carry a few tens of thousands stand of arms, ammunition, a battery or two of guns etc. for the militia) The flank companies, active militia, and a small portion of the volunteer militia were expected to form part of a field army, along with the British regulars, this force totalled maybe 50,000 ORs. The remaining volunteers (about 25,000 in late Dec 61), and the remaining militiamen (who were never called out, and so numbers are difficult to estimate, but based on history maybe 30,000 would mobilise) were expected to man defensive works etc. The remaining militiamen and the reserve militia were to form Home Guards, based on the Franc-Tireur concept. They would stay home, but be supplied weapons by the government and expected to skirmish with any invading detachments etc. The men mentioned above to not include the militias of the Maritime Provinces. At their last mobilisation, 20 years earlier (Aroostook Crisis), New Brunswick put 8,000 into the field and Nova Scotia put 25,000 into the field. Despite increases in populations, the size of the militia had remained about the same (although in the two years after the Trent crisis the size of the militia (who like Canada were volunteers) doubled). In addition there was a small active militia force, but unlike Canada these were directly integrated into the militia at large. The Maritime experience was that they could (and had) call up the entire militia and expect it to turn out and fight. British Deployments, Spring 1862 TBC Appendix 1: Units in Canada, that reinforced Canada and that were under orders This is not an exhaustive list, just a list of those whose orders were published in the Times etc. Existing Garrison 1/17th Foot 62nd Foot 63rd Foot 5 batteries of RA Reinforcements of Summer 1861 30th Foot 47th Foot 4/60th Rifles D/4 Brigade RA Reinforcements ordered to Canada Those in italics had not embarked for the Canada by the settlement, and were not sent. Cavalry

The Lancer Brigade: 9th Lancers 12th Lancers 16th Lancers (plus an unnamed RHA Bty I'd assume) another cavalry brigade Military Train 1st Bn, Military Train 3rd Bn, Military Train Infantry 1/ Grenadier Gds 2/ Coldstream Gds 2/ Scots Fus Gds 1/10th Foot 1/11th Foot 2/12th Foot 1/15th Foot 1/16th Foot 2/16th Foot 2/17th Foot 2/20th Foot 1/36th Foot 1/45th Foot 1/55th Foot 1/58th Foot 1/76th Foot 1/96th Foot 1/ Rifle Brigade Artillery A Bty, 4RA B Bty, 4RA E Bty, 4RA F Bty, 4RA G Bty, 4RA H Bty, 4RA A Bty, 8RA 1 Bty, 10RA 2 Bty, 10RA 3 Bty, 10RA 4 Bty, 10RA 5 Bty, 10RA 6 Bty, 10RA (for New Brunswick)

7 Bty, 10RA 8 Bty, 10RA 2 Bty, 15RA (for Bermuda) 3 Bty, 15RA (for Bermuda) (The lettered Btys of 4 and 8RA are field btys with 6x 12pdr Armstrong Rifles, the numbered Btys of 10 and 15RA are Garrison and Heavy Btys) Engineers 2nd Coy, RE 4th Coy, RE 5th Coy, RE 7th Coy, RE 15th Coy, RE 18th Coy, RE 34th Coy, RE Appendix 2: British Corps dArmee 12 Infantry Battalions (organised as 2 divisions of 2 brigades) 3 Cavalry Regiments (organised as a brigade) 6 batteries of field artillery (organised as a brigade) 2 batteries of horse artillery 3 companies of engineers 1 battalion of the military train ca 16,000 rank and file
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