Stars And Stripes Forever
Harry Harrison makes the bold claim in his afterword to this alternative history novel that it is a true story*. It is true that in 1861 an American warship boarded the British vessel the Trent and took prisoner the Confederate commissioners heading to Britain and France. The British government (and nation) was outraged by this piracy on the high seas. In our history Prince Albert toned down the diplomatic correspondence and the American Civil War went on. In this one Albert takes sick and dies slightly ahead of schedule and rather than calming things, the dispute gets out of hand.
As things spiral out of control the British declare war on the Union and invade from Canada. They also attempt to attack Union naval bases off the Gulf Coast. Unfortunately they make a mistake and attack Biloxi, Mississippi, a Confederate city. The British soldiers get out of hand, and drunk, and sack the place.
General Beauregard, facing General Sherman in a standoff after both armies were exhausted by the battle of Shiloh, asks for a truce to drive the British out. Sherman boldly offers to take a regiment of his own to help. The Civil War goes on hold as Americans unite to fight off the British invasion.
The book is extremely interested in the evolving technology of the war, railroads used to transport troops swiftly from one theatres to another, breach-loading and repeating rifles, and most of all ironclad warships. If you want to see armoured ships hammering at each other with enormous guns at close range this is the novel for you.
Read This: For an exciting military alternate history novel that has a slightly new twist on the American Civil War theme
Don’t Read This: If Americans being noble and rewarding merit while the British being pig-headed and caught up in the cult of birth and nobility at every turn will put you off.
* He has the Duke of Wellington survive an extra nine years for once scene in which he offers advice to Lord Palmerstone, which is ignored, so maybe not that true.
