"The Quasi-War: America's First Limited War, 1798-1801 " Topic

By Donald R. Hickey

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Amicalement
Armand

Thanks *again* Armand!!!

Really nice find!!!

Charlie R

I have the book. Fills a gap in Napoleonic history

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Should cross post to ace of sail.

This "war" took place not long after the US Army had chosen the eagle to be the emblem on the National Colour of each regiment (with the Regimental Colour following the facings/arm of service hue). Other animals considered were the turkey and the beaver, whilst the French, of course, adopted the cockerel for the armies of Revolutionary France (the French eagle being a Napoleonic totem).

In an alternative universe, had this war gone "hot" it could well have been fought between two armies marching into battle under a chicken and a turkey.

Or even a cock and a beaver……

Well that is news to me. I always thought of France and the US as les amis right up until Operation Torch in WWII. Strange old world that, no sooner has France aided in the AWI, they almost come to blows.

Mind you, we have had to live with only 28 miles of water separating us from them, for many a century……..

Deadhead – During the AWI, there was a great deal of mistrust of the French from the F&IW years. When they started sending aid officially in 1778, they had to promise not to re-claim Canada, as Congress feared what might happen if tehy re-established themselves on the N American continent. The first two or three attempts at military co-operation (with the rebel forces often led by F&IW veterans such as Sullivan) went very badly, leading to old enmities returning in the northern colonies (particularly those which had suffered Indian raids in the 1755-63 period).

At one point in the AWI, one of the southern colonies (SC, I think) offered to become neutral as far as the struggle for independence was concerned, and actually provide aid to the British if the French landed in the South, in return for being exempted from the proclamations about slaves of rebel leaders being forfeited.

After the surrender at Yorktown, the Americans got very miffed that the Anglo-German and French officers entertained each other repeatedly, considering each other to be fellow professionals, while Washington's officers were virtually ignored.

Finally, during the peace negotiations in Paris, the American delegation wrote back to Congress stating that both the Spanish and the French were trying to make separate peaces with the British behind the Americans' backs (in the French case, directly contrary to their 1778 treaty with the US) and that the British negotiators were the only ones they trusted!

Totally totally news to me. I have no claims to any expertise on anything pre 1815…..and very limited thence, but some hope. I imagined US vs British Empire, squabbling over Canada and many of us have read Harry Turtledove on the Wars of Intervention etc (indeed, Perrys do figures for the "British"!) during the ACW. Palmerston had more sense, but, in an alternative world…….

No, I imagined France vs Britain over Canada

US vs Britain over Canada

But never dreamt of US vs France over Canada. Louisiana maybe but……….

Absolutely fascinating. Point me towards a good read on this please!