The War of the Three Presidents: A Timeline

[The sturm und drang years]

The War of the Three Presidents: A Timeline

(Source: Self-created mashup of images from Wikimedia Commons.)

January/June, 1801:

On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson was ready to be sworn in as President of the United States. In the previous year's election, he had edged out both President Adams and Aaron Burr, though he tied with Burr in the Electoral count and had to be awarded the Presidency by the House. Now, Jefferson would finally reap the rewards of that victory. Or so he thought. At 1:00 am, Jefferson was frantically woken by a courier who gave him the dire news: President Adams was preparing a statement in which he would refuse to give up the Presidency, and federal troops were now on their way to Jefferson's residence in order to arrest him. Hurriedly, Jefferson readied his coach and fled south into Virginia under the cover of darkness.

Meanwhile, troops had also been dispatched to Aaron Burr's residence, but he was nowhere to be found. So the morning turned to day, and Adams appeared in front of Congress, where he made a speech. In it, he announced that he would be holding onto the Presidency for the safety of the country, and that Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were traitors and fugitives. Adams also announced that the new Congress elected in 1800 would not be taking its seats, which caused outrage and dismay among the Congressmen, who began to roar in anger. They were only silenced by the musket points of federal troops, who surrounded President Adams and demanded that Congress dismiss itself. For the next several months, Congress was forbidden from summoning, and Adams took direct control of the government.

Within a couple months of his self-coup, word reached Adams and the rest of the country of events in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson, in the capital of Richmond, had declared himself President of the United States, and men from all over the country were flocking to his banner. All states run by Republican governors had recognized him as President, and offered their local militias to his cause. States with Federalist governors, however, continued to recognize Adams. The Federalist governors of the Northwest Territory and the Mississippi Territory also pledged themselves to Adams. Independent William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indiana Territory, professed loyalty to Adams out of gratitude for his appointment. Additionally, all governors across the country had independently come to the same conclusion that state elections would have to be canceled due to the tumultuous national situation, so all reigning governors would continue to rule indefinitely.

In response, Hamilton saw an opportunity to create a standing army, which he had always wanted. He convinced Adams to summon Congress in order to give the creation of the army some legitimacy, but first all Jeffersonian members of Congress were imprisoned, with only Federalists left remaining in the chamber. Then, Hamilton put forward a bill to create a standing army, which the enfeebled Congress passed unanimously. The bill also authorized the creation of a draft for the army, so without warning thousands of men suddenly became conscripted soldiers. As the cherry on top, Hamilton himself was appointed by Adams to lead the army. To the west, a land transfer between European powers also occurred. Spain and France signed the Treaty of Aranjuez, which transferred the Louisiana Territory from Spain back to France. However, the Territory remained undefended and largely unpopulated, as French and Spanish troops were busy in Europe fighting the War of the Second Coalition.

Orange states loyal to Adams, Green states loyal to Jefferson, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, Blue to France, and Yellow to Spain:


(Source: Used and Modified with permission from Harry S Truman)

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

John Adams, Speech to Congress, March 4, 1801

"It is with great reluctance that I come before you today. This is a course of action that I did not wish to take, but was forced upon by events outside of my control. Each of you is doubtless expecting Thomas Jefferson to be sworn in as President of the United States today. But after considering the many dangers that would befall our Republic if Mr. Jefferson were to lead it, I have decided that I will remain in the office of the Presidency for the present time being. I will also delay the sitting of the newly elected Congress, for in these times of uncertainty governmental continuity is of the utmost importance.

As you all know, Mr. Jefferson has stated upon multiple occasions that he wishes for the United States to enter France's war against the British monarchy. This would be an utterly disastrous decision that would be totally destructive for our republic. We have no army to speak of and a navy of no significance, so if we were to enter a war against Britain we would surely be destroyed. The Royal Navy is the most powerful fleet in the world, and unless you wish to see New York, Philadelphia, and all the other jewels of our republic turned into smouldering ruins, then it is clear that neutrality in the affairs of Europe is the only feasible course for our young nation. How will we explain to posterity, when we have been defeated and reconquered by Britain, that in a mad bluster of arrogance and folly we allowed our nation to be placed once more under the English yoke? In this future we would be rightfully abhorred by our descendants, recognized as disgraces who were unable to run our country independently for even 20 years. I ask you to remember the words of President Washington, who in his farewell address warned us of the perils of alliances, and of war, and how, for our own safety and prosperity, we must not involve ourselves in the conflicts and disputes of other nations.

In addition to this most primary and essential reason, there are divers other causes as to why Mr. Jefferson cannot be allowed to ascend to the seat of the Presidency. He is an avowed atheist, and it is not unreasonable to fear the actions he would take in regard to our churches. I dread the thought of having to hide my Bible, and having to attend underground conventicles to avoid state persecution. Mr. Jefferson is also a known Jacobin, and given the events in France, it is likely that he would pursue the same bloody and chaotic course if given the chance. Also worth noting is that I have been informed of the disappearance from the capital of Messrs. Jefferson and Burr. They are henceforth to be regarded as outlaws, and consequently will be hunted down and brought to justice.

It is thus that I present you with the current state of affairs, which has forced me to extend my time in office against my own preference. I would that I could return to my farm in Quincy, but for the sake of the country I cannot do so, else I would see our nation perish."

[The sturm und drang years]

Just an update, this timeline is by no means dead. I've decided upon a schedule where I'll do 2 updates per month, so expect the second half of 1801 later this month.

[The sturm und drang years]

July/December, 1801:

The second half of 1801 saw the first action of the war. In the North, there was debate about where Hamilton's army should attack first. Many in Congress called for the Army to move directly south from the capital, and on to Richmond. Hamilton, however, had other ideas. He proposed that before the Army could move south, it was necessary to evict the Jeffersonians from their northern stronghold of Pennsylvania. A few muted complaints were raised that Hamilton secretly sought to lengthen the war in order to justify the continued existence of his army, and some speculated that Hamilton simply wanted to wreak vengeance on the farmers of Pennsylvania, as his thirst for revenge had not been quenched by the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion ten years earlier. In any case, Hamilton's army set out northwest from Washington and occupied much of western Pennsylvania, passing through and occupying Pittsburgh along the way.

To the South, Aaron Burr unexpectedly revealed himself. Appearing in the territory of Spanish Florida, he declared that Adams was an tyrant, and that Jefferson owed his electoral victory only to a "corrupt bargain" with Hamilton and the Federalists. There was only one legitimate President of the United States, and it was him. Burr quickly raised an army of escaped slaves, Seminole Indians, and battle-hungry Spanish militiamen. Soon after crossing the Georgian border, word reached the state's governor of the approaching army, who fled north in terror to the city of Atlanta. Burr's army, raiding plantations and freeing slaves as they marched, reached Savannah and met little resistance. By the end of the year, most of the southern half of Georgia had surrendered. Burr, proclaiming Savannah as the provisional capital of the US government, moved into the governor's office to take up his position as President.

In Richmond, Jefferson's army took longer to assemble than Hamilton's due to it being volunteer-based rather than conscripted. Though there were many spirited volunteers, the army wasn't filled until the end of 1801. But what the army lacked in assembly time, it made up for in leadership. Jefferson had written to his old friend earlier in the year, the Marquis de Lafayette, offering him leadership of the army. It was later in 1801 that he arrived in a French warship in Chesapeake Bay, where he was warmly greeted by President Jefferson and given command of his troops. Lafayette soon began training, and informed Jefferson that the army would be ready to meet Hamilton in western Pennsylvania by next year. Lafayette also gave Jefferson the news that a French expedition was currently on its way to recapture the lost colony of Saint-Domingue, which greatly pleased the President.

Orange states loyal to Adams, Green states loyal to Jefferson, Pink states loyal to Burr, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, Blue to France, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Thomas Jefferson, Address to the Virginia House of Burgesses, July 4, 1801

"One quarter of a century ago, America took her place as one of the nations of the world. Tired of British tyranny, she declared her independence. All good men rejoiced on this happy day for freedom. I, too, would celebrate upon this joyful anniversary, except for the sorry state our nation is now in. Our government and institutions are scorned. The man sitting in the capitol mocks our liberties, by continuing to rule even after the voice of the people has asked him to leave. I can only imagine what President Washington would think if he saw how far we had fallen.

I have long known the man called John Adams, and once considered him a close friend. Despite our numerous disagreements, I always thought him at heart to be amenable to the cause of liberty. O, how I misjudged him. That devil Hamilton, by whispering calumnies and lies into his ear, has utterly changed his nature. We may now call Mr. Adams George the Fourth, for he is no more than a tyrant determined to rule over his with his crown and sceptre. But we, every one of us Americans, refuse to be ruled by a King. No, Mr. Adams, we will not give up so easily those rights and liberties we fought and died for. On this 25th year to the day of our founding, we shall declare our independence once more."

[The sturm und drang years]

January/June, 1802:

In early 1802 the Marquis de Lafayette ordered his army to march west from Richmond and then north into Western Pennsylvania, thus bypassing hostile territory in Maryland in order to meet Hamilton's occupying forces. After a long march, they finally met Hamilton's army in March near the town of Punxsutawney. In the ensuing battle, Hamilton's numerical superiority almost won the day. But Hamilton's troops, conscripted soldiers as they were, suffered from low morale. Lafayette's soldiers, on the other hand, were volunteers who firmly believed in the cause they were fighting for. So when the Marquis, fearing defeat and with nothing to lose, ordered a desperate charge of all his men, they attacked with such vigor that the Hamiltonian line broke and soon began to retreat in droves. Hamilton, enraged, did all he could to stop the rout, but he could not rally his dispirited men. The Battle of Punxsutawney resulted in a resounding victory for the forces of President Jefferson, who by the middle of 1802 had recaptured all of Pennsylvania and were ready to go onto the offensive in New York.

As Hamilton's army retreated north into New York, their leader ordered them to adopt scorched earth tactics, in order to slow down Lafayette's army and prevent them from gathering supplies as they chased Hamilton northward. Crops were burned, farms raided, and villages sacked by Hamilton's unruly troops. The strategy worked in slowing Lafayette's advance, but his troops were shocked by the scenes of devastation that had been left in the wake of Hamilton's army. The Jeffersonians were greeted as liberators by the populace, who told them appalling tales of the destruction they had just been subject to by the Hamiltonians. Reportedly, Lafayette wrote to Jefferson that in all his years of soldiering, he had never seen such brutality toward a civilian population.

Meanwhile, dramatic events were unfolding off the coast of Haiti. Napoleon's expedition of troops reached the island early in 1802 and were preparing to disembark their forces on the island, when they noticed that a British fleet had surrounded the island on all sides, effectively preventing any French landing. Seeing this, the commander of the French fleet sent a request to the commander of the Spanish fleet harbored in Cuba, asking him to join the French in a joint attack against the British squadron. The Spanish commander, however, declined, after receiving direct orders from King Charles IV to not help the French. The reason being, that since Burr's operations from Spanish Florida meant that the Spanish were de facto backing Burr in the American Civil War, the King of Spain saw no reason to assist the ally of Burr's enemy, Jefferson. Furthermore, the Spanish had reason to believe that if the French retook Saint-Domingue, they would then land an army in New Orleans to protect Louisiana from the Burrites. Enraged by the noncompliance of their nominal Spanish ally, the French naval commander nonetheless ordered an attack on the British fleet protecting Haiti in early May. Heavily outnumbered, they stood no chance, and were annihilated by the British squadron. The failure of the Saint-Domingue Expedition, and Spain's refusal to take part, will likely heavily damage Franco-Spanish relations.

In Georgia, Burr continued his advance against the Jeffersonians unabated. With all of Jefferson's troops concentrated in the north in the fight against Hamilton, Burr again met little to no resistance. When his men showed up outside the gates of Atlanta, the governor had little choice but to surrender the city, and thus the whole state of Georgia, to Burr. The governor was given 5 days of safe conduct to leave Georgia and, deeply humiliated, crossed the border into South Carolina. Word also reached Burr in June of the French naval defeat off Haiti, who supposedly responded by declaring "Louisiana is ours!"

Orange states loyal to Adams, Green states loyal to Jefferson, Pink states loyal to Burr, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, Blue to France, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Letter from Alexander Hamilton to Sir John Duckworth, June 21, 1802

"I have just heard the news, Sir, of your great victory against the French off Haiti. Last night, with my officers, I drank a toast to your person, and to the forces of His Britannic Majesty. It is wonderful news, not only for the glory of His Majesty, and the poor suffering negroes of Haiti, but also for the United States of America. The French Jacobins are friends of the traitor Jefferson, and if the rebel were to--God protect us--gain power, it is a certainty that he would commit the forces of America to their cause.

It is thus that I come to the true purpose of my writing. I have just been defeated by Lafayette in Pennsylvania and, while disappointing, is only a minor setback. But we must take all possible steps to prevent the possibility--even one so unlikely--of Jefferson taking over the government of the United States, which you and I both know would be utterly calamitous.

One of those steps, I believe, would involve the use of your fleet. Given your great success in the Caribbean, I think it not unlikely that you could reach similar victories elsewhere. If you were to leave that theater and, moving north along the American coast, reach the eastern seaboard and eventually the city of Philadelphia, you would find a vulnerable target. The Jeffersonians have no fleet of their own and, due to your glorious victory against the French, could not receive naval support from that quarter.

If you were to bombard Philadelphia, it is likely that Lafayette would be forced to move east, to protect that city, instead of continuing northward in his pursuit. Of course, such a venture would require approval from His Majesty, but I am sure he will recognize the utility and utter necessity of my proposal."

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Sorry for only commenting until now, but I've been loving this. The maps are great too!

[The sturm und drang years]

July/December, 1802:

In late 1802, the Marquis de Lafayette was finally ready to go on the offensive. Just as he was ready to cross the state border into New York, however, he received a most distressing letter. A large British fleet had surrounded Philadelphia, and the city had minimal defenses. There was believed to be a British army onboard the ships, ready to disembark and occupy the city. Lafayette, understanding the gravity of the situation, raced his men east and reached Philadelphia before the British had landed. Hearing of Lafayette's arrival, the commander of the British fleet, Sir John Duckworth, sent an emissary onshore to order his withdrawal from the city. Lafayette refused, and so the bombardments began.

That night, for the first time in a series of nightly bombardments that would continue for months, a rain of mortars, shells, and rockets were fired upon the city. Initially, Lafayette struggled to maintain order among the terrorized populace, who went into a panic whenever the nightly bombardments began. Gradually, though, Philadelphians became used to the destruction, and it became a normal, even expected, part of daily life. The most deadly incident of the siege occurred when a cannonball hit a barrel of gunpowder in the city's armory, causing an explosion that killed the soldiers who were on guard. Lafayette, however, refused to surrender the city to British occupation, even as his men were running out of supplies and gunpowder. Duckworth, who was outnumbered and thought an assault on the city would prove too risky, finally decided to end the siege, with his fleet departing after several months of blockade. Philadelphia had seen off the British, but had paid a heavy price for its defiance, and was now little more than a heap of rubble.

For Hamilton, the attack on Philadelphia had the intended effect of diverting Lafayette's troops. Hamilton's army spent the later part of 1802 wintering in Utica, where Hamilton had them trained according to von Steuben's Regulations. Utilizing harsh measures, Hamilton was able to transform his army into an orderly, disciplined force by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Aaron Burr had been busy, and had just acquired a new commanding general for his army: Francisco de Miranda. Apparently, Burr had been in contact with the Venezuelan renegade, who now agreed to lead his armies. Burr's backers in the Spanish government reacted with annoyance, but there was little they could do since they had no substantial force in the area. Led by Miranda, Burr now ordered his troops west, instead of continuing northward into South Carolina. Miranda marched with ease through the Mississippi Territory, which was even less defended than Georgia, and obtained the surrender of its Federalist governor. Then, Miranda entered New Orleans, which had been left undefended due to the failure of the Saint-Domingue Expedition. With little choice, the French Governor surrendered the city, and by extension the entire Louisiana Territory, to Burr. Upon hearing of this, Burr announced the creation of a settlement program, whereby German immigrants would be offered pieces of land to settle in the vast and sparsely populated territory.

Orange states loyal to Adams, Green states loyal to Jefferson, Pink states loyal to Burr, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

James Madison, Address to the Virginia House of Burgesses, September 18, 1802

"I, your Secretary of State, address this house today to inform you of the course and conduct of the present war. Doubtless you have heard rumors of a British bombardment of Philadelphia and, I am sorry to say, they are true. That magnificent city has, for nigh three months now, been subject to a most brutal cannonade from ships loyal to the King of Britain. It is a most horrible act to target innocents, whose only offence is to live in territory deemed hostile by the British King. When a tyrant controls the instrument of warmaking, with no checks upon his power, he is liable to misuse it.

Further, it must be remarked upon that Britain had made no declaration of war, before embarking on this violent course. Has England forgotten her traditional regard for liberties, and has her Parliament abdicated its power to check its King in the event of a warlike monarch? Most sadly, it appears she has. Today, England serves only the nobles and aristocrats of Europe, and has allowed the torch of liberty to be carried by her great enemy, France.

Regarding the depredations of the British toward Philadelphia, it is most likely that it was carried out in concert with, and perhaps at the insistence of, Messrs. Adams and Hamilton, to benefit their party in the civil conflict. It is indeed a most foul betrayal, that these gentlemen would choose the English, who not so long ago ruled us with abject partiality and cruelty, over their fellow countrymen. Remember you not 1776? Would you that we be brought back, in chains, groveling at the feet of our master, King George? You fathom not the strength of the American spirit, if you think we would so easily accept a return to our condition of servitude under England. No, we shall retain our liberty, or we will die fighting for it."

[The sturm und drang years]

January/June, 1803:

1803 began with an offensive by General Hamilton into Pennsylvania. Lafayette's army had scarcely begun the reconstruction of Philadelphia when they were informed by scouts that Hamilton's army was on a quick march toward the city and would arrive within days. Lafayette ordered his army to work on rebuilding the city's defenses as fast as possible, but there was only so much they could do before Hamilton appeared on the scene. On the night of February 12, one of the watchmen patrolling the city walls alerted Lafayette of suspicious noises he had heard while on duty. With no time to waste, Lafayette frantically rode around the city, spreading the word of the guard's discovery and ordering the army to prepare for battle.

Still, not all sections of the army were prepared when Hamilton's army burst through the darkness and began its charge toward the city. The Hamiltonians surged forward, immediately overwhelming the building crew that had been repairing the city's fortifications. Lafayette, seeing that Hamilton's army had broken through, ordered a retreat. The Marquis judged that fighting the Hamiltonians once they had already broken into the city would be a hopeless last stand, and would spell the end for his army. Not all of his soldiers were able to escape the city, however, while others chose to stay and fight to the last man.

Lafayette's army began a hurried flight south, while Hamilton stayed in Philadelphia to restore order. After suppressing the pro-Jeffersonian sentiment that remained in the city, Hamilton ordered a few army regiments west to Lancaster, in order to obtain the surrender of Pennsylvania's governor. Leaving a small garrison in the city to maintain stability, Hamilton finally left the city and began his pursuit of Lafayette. By the middle of the year Lafayette had reached Richmond, while Hamilton's army was slowed by celebrations of the surrender of Pennsylvania in the capital. Upon their arrival in Washington, Hamilton's army was given a hero's welcome by the populace, who attended in droves as the military paraded on the National Mall. Afterwards, Hamilton and his leading officers attended a more exclusive ceremony, where President Adams awarded his leading general with several medals recognizing his bravery and loyalty.

To the west, Aaron Burr continued the expansion of his domains. With the Jeffersonian forces concentrated further east in the fight against Hamilton, General Miranda marched north from New Orleans to capture Tennessee and Kentucky, encountering little resistance once again.

Orange states loyal to Adams, Green states loyal to Jefferson, Pink states loyal to Burr, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Thomas Jefferson, Address to the Virginia House of Burgesses, March 19, 1803

"It would not be honest of me, were I to say the present war goes in our favor. Pennsylvania sits in the hands of the Anglomen, and the west in the hands of Burr. It is certainly a most undesirable situation, but not one beyond saving. I ask these gentlemen to remember the darkest days of the Revolution, when General Washington's men retreated and left Long Island to the English. The Tories were convinced they had won, and even many Patriots thought the cause lost. When compared to that time of American Crisis, our position now is most advantageous. So I ask you, gentlemen, not to lose spirit. It is in times of great danger, that the fire of liberty burns brighter than ever."

[KaiserDave]

Cmon Jefferson comeback time

[The sturm und drang years]

The forum update seems to have ruined the thread maps. Oh well . Perhaps changing the url in them to Talk Elections rather than Atlas would work, so I'll try that. Also, if any of my history game players are reading this, know that I haven't forgotten about the turn update, only that I had this planned out for a while and thus felt the need to write it up before finishing the turn results.

July/December, 1803:

Soon after the celebrations in the capital had ended, Hamilton launched his offensive into Virginia aimed at ending the war. When his army reached Richmond, they discovered that the city's defenses had been sturdily built up by Lafayette. The city would have to undergo a siege, so Hamilton set about lining up his artillery and established a blockade around Richmond, cutting off its access to food and other supplies from the outside. After a week of bombardment, a breach was finally made in the city walls, so Hamilton's army stormed through. Lafayette, seeing that the end was near, determined to make a last stand with his army. After several hours of bloody street fighting and hand-to-hand combat, Hamilton's troops raised the US flag over the Virginia State Capitol, taking down the identical flag that had stood there previously. Thousands of soldiers and civilians alike lay dead in the streets as Hamilton's army rounded up the Delegates inside the State Capitol for imprisonment. While counting their prisoners, however, the Hamiltonians noticed that Lafayette was not among them. Neither could they find his body anywhere in the street, so it was presumed that he had escaped the city at the last moment, "like the coward he was" according to Hamilton.

Neither could President Jefferson be found among the Delegates, though Secretary of State Madison was present when Hamilton's army burst in to arrest them after winning the heated battle just outside the Capitol chambers on the city streets. There was only one place Jefferson could be, so Hamilton and his leading officers rode off to the northwest while leaving the majority of the army in Richmond. When they arrived at Monticello, they found the residence undefended. President Jefferson emerged to greet them, and offered to sit at tea, but this was declined by Hamilton, who immediately ordered his officers to seize the President. Instead of a civilized surrender agreed to over tea, Jefferson was forced to watch as Hamilton's officers, with torches in hand, set fire to his beloved residence. Nothing, from Monticello's elaborate furnishings to Jefferson's library, with its many thousands of books on every subject, was spared from the all-consuming flames. Next, Hamilton's army moved on to the plantation and burned its lengthy fields of cotton. The slaves were then possessed by Hamilton's officers, to be promptly shipped to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in South Carolina, a prominent Federalist who had defied the Jeffersonian authorities of his state by remaining loyal to President Adams. Only after forcing Jefferson to witness this total destruction of not just his home, but his life's work, was Hamilton ready to transport the prisoner to Washington.  

At their arrival in Washington, Hamilton was informed of the surrender of the Carolinas, who had lost the will to fight after the defeat at Richmond. Hamilton was pleased, but his work was not yet done. The General then set about attempting to obtain from President Adams permission to execute Jefferson for treason. The President refused, but after much hearty resistance was finally impressed upon by Hamilton to sign the warrant for the prisoner's execution. After signing, Adams was heard by servants weeping that night in his private quarters. Finally, after a week the appointed day of the execution came. A public gallows had been erected on the National Mall, and as Jefferson was pushed toward the rope he attempted to recite Richard Rumbold's speech on the scaffold, but was prevented from speaking. On the morning of September 22, 1803, Thomas Jefferson was hanged for treason against the United States of America.

As these dramatic events unfolded in Virginia and the capital, General Miranda continued his advance. The Indiana and Northwest territories were captured, with both governors surrendering to the authority of Aaron Burr. While in the Northwest Territory, Miranda's army was surprised when, shortly after taking possession of Chillicothe, a messenger arrived in the city. Purportedly coming from General Lafayette, he told them that the French General was within the borders of the Territory, and wished for permission to speak with Miranda. This was granted, and within a few days General Lafayette arrived in Chillicothe. He told Miranda of the defeat at Richmond and how President Jefferson was currently a captive in Washington D.C. (this being before his execution). Lafayette urged the Venezuelan to march against the Hamiltonians, but Miranda hesitated, saying that he first needed to receive permission from President Burr. Miranda summarily wrote to Burr asking for permission and, once Burr's reply arrived (which coming from Savannah took some time), the General was surprised. The President was currently undergoing peace negotiations with his rival President Adams, and so an offensive on Washington now would be unseemly. Lafayette was disappointed, but having heard by this point of the execution of Jefferson and the surrender of North and South Carolina, agreed to pledge loyalty to Burr and accepted Miranda's offer of becoming his second-in-command.

Orange states loyal to Adams, Pink states loyal to Burr, Red territories belong to the United Kingdom, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

John Adams, Letter to Alexander Hamilton, October 30, 1803

"I hope you deem it not presumptuous of me, that in recent weeks I have been in contact with Mr. Burr on the subject of agreeing to a general peace. You know how much I abhor bloodshed, and God knows we have had far too much of it in this present war. With the main enemy of the peace - Mr. Jefferson - having been defeated, I see no profit in pursuing this conflict further. With Mr. Burr, I have in principle agreed to a preliminary accord of peace, to be formalized next year. We shall recognize him as President of the Republic of Louisiana, a silly little title he is scheming for (which will doubtless offend the little Corsican), in exchange for him dropping his claim to the Presidency of this country. Mr. Burr will return to us the states he captured from the Jeffersonians, namely Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, but will be allowed to keep the Territories of Mississippi, Indiana, and the Northwest. These territories are of little value in any case, and in all the terms are most reasonable. We must always remember, that it is in the pursuit of peace for which we aim in all our endeavours."

[KaiserDave]

Please please kill Hamilton

[andjey]

Please please kill Hamilton

[America Needs R'hllor]

I love Hamilton as a historic character... but here he's a villain. President Madison!

[The sturm und drang years]

I love Hamilton as a historic character... but here he's a villain. President Madison!

I like Hamilton too, but I've chosen to exaggerate the flaws of the historical figures for the purposes of the story. I don't actually think Hamilton would've done all the awful things I've made him do here, and neither do I truly think Adams the impressionable pushover that has been portrayed.

[America Needs R'hllor]

I love Hamilton as a historic character... but here he's a villain. President Madison!

I like Hamilton too, but I've chosen to exaggerate the flaws of the historical figures for the purposes of the story. I don't actually think Hamilton would've done all the awful things I've made him do here, and neither do I truly think Adams the impressionable pushover that has been portrayed.

Great TL btw, enjoying it a lot!

[The sturm und drang years]

I love Hamilton as a historic character... but here he's a villain. President Madison!

I like Hamilton too, but I've chosen to exaggerate the flaws of the historical figures for the purposes of the story. I don't actually think Hamilton would've done all the awful things I've made him do here, and neither do I truly think Adams the impressionable pushover that has been portrayed.

Great TL btw, enjoying it a lot!

Thank you very much for the praise! I'm glad to know someone's enjoying it.

[The sturm und drang years]

January/June, 1804:

When Alexander Hamilton received President Adams's letter notifying him of the proposed peace terms with Aaron Burr, he was furious. He could not believe that Adams would so willingly part with the western territories of the United States, and was sure that if he pressed on with his army they would've been easily reconquered. So when the Treaty of New Orleans was ratified in January of 1804, Hamilton decided upon a fateful course of action. Privately, he assured Adams that he was satisfied with the peace treaty and would soon disband his army. But in reality he had something very different planned: a coup d'etat against the President. For several months Hamilton took no action, waiting until the wartime atmosphere had died down. On May 9, he finally struck. Hamilton and his army stormed the White House, and the General declared himself President after occupying the Oval Office. But to his surprise, the Adams family were nowhere to be found. It turned out that an informer from Hamilton's army had tipped off the President several weeks before, and by May 9 Adams and his family, who for over a week had ridden all day and all night over the unpaved frontier roads, were at the safety of Chillicothe, where they had been welcomed some days earlier by their former adversaries, Generals Miranda and Lafayette. An angry Hamilton, suspecting that Adams had fled west after being warned of the coup, wrote to Burr in New Orleans, demanding that the ousted President be given up as a fugitive. When Burr refused, Hamilton used this as a pretext to declare the resumption of war with Louisiana, and prepared his army for an invasion of the Northwest Territory later that year.

Orange states belong to the United States, Pink territories to Louisiana, Red to the United Kingdom, and Yellow to Spain:

[The sturm und drang years]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Aaron Burr, Speech to a large crowd on the Place d'Armes in New Orleans, June 19, 1804

"People of New Orleans, I speak here today to inform you that the United States of America has declared war on our young Republic. But it would not be proper to say it that the United States that declares war upon us, for the Presidency is held by a usurper. I am an American as well as a Louisianian, so I know from the heart that the country calling itself the United States is no such thing anymore. What was once a great Republic that inspired men around the globe to join together in the name of liberty, is now Alexander Hamilton's little fiefdom. He is no President, but a petty tyrant or chieftain like those that rule the Indian tribes. Everywhere he has gone, death and destruction has followed. He has left a trail of blood and terror, wreaking terrible depredations upon peaceful citizens whose only crime was to lie in his warpath. His most brutal instincts were kept in check by John Adams, but now that he is overthrown God only knows how Mr. Hamilton will abuse his newfound absolute power.

I was content to keep my possessions limited to Louisiana and the western territories, as shown by the peace agreed this year with Mr. Adams. But ambitious conquerors like Mr. Hamilton cannot be contained by mere treaties; men of that mold will continue their advances until they have the whole world under their thumb, else some brave soul should stand up to vanquish and drive them from the earth. We shall not only expel him from Louisiana, but we will march on into his country, all the way to Washington, and end him forever. I have resolved never to start an unjust war, but never to end a legitimate one except by defeating my enemies."

[Orwell]

This is brilliant and I love it!

[The sturm und drang years]

July/December, 1804:

Alexander Hamilton began the latter half of 1804 by moving west across Virginia toward his target, the Northwest Territory. But just as he neared the border, he was forced to halt when his men spotted a frantic courier riding whence they had come. The man reached Hamilton at the head of the troop and informed him of the tidings. Pro-Burrite riots had broken out in New York City, and by now nearly the whole populace of the city was in open revolt. Apparently, the commotion had started with a few dissident New York publishers. From their printing presses had come a pamphlet entitled An Address to the Peoples of Louisiana and America, a copy of a recent speech given by Burr in New Orleans. These seditious pamphlets, circulated in the thousands, were held responsible for inciting the city into a mood of rebellion. A dismayed Hamilton was forced to reverse course entirely, ordering his army on a furious sprint to the northeast. It was several weeks before they reached New York, but when they finally arrived at the city they were not to be stopped. Up against a well-trained professional army, the rioters stood no chance and were brutally massacred. Those who were seen to be leading instigators, such as the dissident publishers and members of the Tammany Hall society, were publicly hanged. Even so, it was nearly two months before order had been restored in the city - giving his enemies a chance to strike. Distraught, Hamilton received word that Aaron Burr's army had crossed over from the Northwest Territory and was heading due east. In response Hamilton and his men left the city in a frenzy, racing south toward Miranda's forces.

The two armies met on September 22 at Cumberland, a town in western Maryland very near the state borders with Pennsylvania and Virginia. Both forces were of about equal size; though initially much smaller, Burr's army had benefited from a large influx of recruits out of the southern states, which had surrendered to Hamilton only under duress. So when the battle began, it looked as if neither side had an advantage. Whenever the tide began to turn in favor of one side, the balance would quickly shift back, and then forth again. It looked as if the encounter were to end in a bloody stalemate, when suddenly Lafayette charged forward with a troop of cavalry, aiming directly for Alexander Hamilton. One of his mounted gunners, though it is unclear which, managed to lodge a bullet into Hamilton's horse. Hamilton and his horse were seen to go down in the commotion, and word quickly spread through the lines of both armies that Hamilton was dead. Accordingly, Miranda began to gain a clear advantage in the fight, and within an hour all that was left of Hamilton's army was in an utter rout. Burr's victorious troops scoured the battlefield, and it wasn't long before they found the mangled corpse of Alexander Hamilton, crushed under his own horse. The War of the Three Presidents was over.

When the news of Hamilton's death had spread through the country, each state duly surrendered to Burr, who was declared to be the interim President of the United States. The President began a progress via stagecoach from New Orleans to Washington, but his progress was slowed by the numerous celebrations that attended his every movement. No matter how small the town, at each and every nightly stop fetes were held in his honor. On October 31, he finally reached the capital and was inaugurated as President of the United States. His first act as President was to schedule new elections for the Presidency and Congress, to be held over the next two months. In the Presidential election that followed, with James Madison as his running mate, Burr ran unopposed and became the first man since George Washington to be chosen unanimously by the electoral college. The Congressional elections were also held successfully; as the Civil War had completely discredited the Federalists, the Republicans won an overwhelming majority. Burr, meanwhile, issued a general amnesty for the Hamiltonian leaders that survived, and on his advice Congress even granted a pension to John Adams. The broken man had retired to his farm in Quincy, haunted by his decision to authorize the execution of his old friend Thomas, and it was pity for the poor fellow, if nothing else, that moved the President. Congress also passed two notable acts regarding the western territories. The first, the Louisiana Act, abolished the Republic of Louisiana and reincorporated its constituent territories into the United States. The existence of the short-lived republic had been rendered irrelevant by Burr's ascension to the American Presidency. The second law passed by Congress was the Enabling Act, authorizing the dissolution of the Northwest Territory and the creation of the new state of Ohio, to take effect on March 1 of 1805.  

Pink states and territories belong to the United States, Red to the United Kingdom, and Yellow to Spain: