IMAGI-NATIONS : PART 27

A BLOODY BATTLE WITH THE GERMANS IN THE WAR FOR THE FEDERATION.

By mid September 1875 UNION forces had moved to within 10 miles of the German positions south west of the border between Germany and the Federation. The Germans had moved 50,000 of their reserves to the front and now numbered 150,000. The UNION 4th, 7th and 2nd armies with a combined strength of 180,000 took up attack positions. At dawn on 19th September UNION artillery opened fire immediately answered by German counter fire. The artillery battle continued all day until dark. Both sides maintained intermittent harassing fire until the early hours of the next morning. At dawn next day the artillery battle recommenced in earnest. Both sides sought to silence the others batteries however the UNION heavy artillery began to prevail. During the course of the day German fire gradually but perceptibly began to weaken. 

At dawn on 21st September UNION infantry, under cover of a heavy rolling artillery barrage began to advance on German positions. German artillery fire , although noticeably reduced, caused heavy casualties among UNION troops but by mid morning they had reached the German positions and ferocious fighting took place for the rest of the day. As night fell both sides took stock, reinforced and resupplied their troops and prepared for fighting to continue next day. During the night UNION heavy artillery continued to fire on known and estimated German artillery positions. Again at dawn UNION infantry resumed their assault. The fighting raged all day. By dusk both sides were exhausted. Although UNION troops had penetrated far into the German defenses they kept coming upon fresh German positions.

UNION generals realised that the Germans were far more adept at construction of defensive positions than the Chinese. In that campaign Chinese troops had been satisfied with no more than a scrape in the ground whereas the Germans built deep trenches with dugouts in the sides of the trenches. This gave the Germans far greater protection from UNION artillery. On the 23rd both sides took a break from fighting to replenish supplies. At dusk UNION artillery opened a heavy bombardment which continued all night. At dawn UNION infantry resumed their assault. As the day progressed UNION forces gradually gained ground against a diminishing German defense. UNION attacks halted as darkness fell although the artillery fire continued throughout the night. Soon after dawn UNION forces resumed the attack. Within a few hours it became clear that German resistance was crumbling. By late afternoon German forces were falling back. Early on the morning of 26th UNION troops resumed their advance to find only German rearguards in action. The bulk of their forces were now in full scale retreat.

Next day UNION generals decided to hold their ground and give the exhausted troops some rest and an opportunity to restock supplies and absorb replacements now coming up from railhead. UNION casualties had been huge. Some 15,500 had been killed and wounded. German dead and wounded found on the battlefield numbered about 14,000 with no doubt more removed by German medical services. It was clear that the UNION forces needed additional troops to maintain the advance so the 5th army less one brigade on duty in Mexico was ordered north to reinforce the UNION army group.

On 1st October UNION forces resumed their advance. Over the next few days the march north continued with only occasional German rearguard actions. Early on the morning of 4th the Germans launched a heavy artillery bombardment on UNION forces. This was followed by a strong infantry assault on the UNION advance guards. The attack caught the UNION by surprise and heavy fighting continued for several hours before the Germans withdrew. Both sides had suffered heavy casualties. Next day the UNION advance continued but with far greater  caution. It was clear that although the Germans had been defeated they still had the ability to inflict damage on the UNION army. By late October UNION forces were almost parallel to Cologne. It was clear to the German high command that their forces around Seattle were in danger of being cut off from Germany. It was decided to withdraw immediately and abandon hopes of retaining Seattle and instead concentrate on the defense of the homeland.

As the UNION army group continued to move north German resistance gradually disappeared. Most of the UNION force turned west to approach the German border leaving only 5th army to continue the advance on Seattle. By the end of October UNION forces were entering Seattle and approaching the German border on a wide front. Messages were received from Germany via Britain that they would consider an armistice. The UNION had no desire to invade Germany and as all of the Federation was now under UNION control there was little benefit to continuing the war especially given the high level of casualties already incurred. Within a few days, using the British as intermediaries, a ceasefire was agreed to take effect on 11th November which respected the existing German border. Both sides now took stock and reflected on the events of the past months.