1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 494 Give the British a boost
Seattle blew a whistle, allowing these Indian riders to show their superb riding skills in front of Liang Yao.

Wearing bright eagle feathers, Seattle stepped on his horse, pointed to a small mound not far away, and then accelerated towards the small mound.

While galloping, Seattle kept changing his riding position, his movements were very smooth, and finally showed Liang Yao his unique skills.

He stood on the saddle and let the horse gallop, but he was still able to stand firmly on the saddle and draw a gun with one hand to shoot.

After the show, Seattle hopped off lightly and eased back into the saddle.

The rest of the Indian riders followed, not all of them as skilled as Seattle, but all of them were able to hold their horses steadily.

They shouted loudly and galloped forward, drawing their long guns and short guns as they galloped to shoot.

The arrival of Liang Yao made it very easy for the Indians to obtain high-quality weapons. The Indian tribes in the west coast, especially those who are pro-China, have gradually eliminated spear throwing and bows in recent years, and popularized firearms. .

Horses are just needed by Indians, and Indians in the western region use horses extensively for hunting and transportation.Therefore, the riding skills of these Indians are not bad.

At least it was better than those cavalry in Liang Yao cavalry battalion.

As for the horizontal and American regular cavalry regiments, there must still be a gap.

The gap here does not simply refer to the gap in riding skills, but the gap in tactical literacy.

The American cavalry is a modern cavalry unit anyway, and it is unrealistic to expect a group of Indian cavalrymen with guns to be able to compete with the regular American cavalry immediately.

Before the American Civil War, there were a total of 6 cavalry regiments (including standing cavalry regiments and volunteer cavalry regiments) in the American army, namely the first cavalry regiment, the second cavalry regiment, the third cavalry regiment, the fourth cavalry regiment, Fifth and Sixth Cavalry.

Without exception, these paid and half-paid cavalry units belong to the north.

Before the Civil War, the entire state apparatus of the United States, from the regular army to taxation and even the judiciary, was firmly in the hands of the North.

However, Liang Yao had never been in contact with these regular cavalry regiments in the north.

Liang Yao only had contact with the southern cavalry during the Second Mexican-American War,
The Southern Army did not formally organize cavalry regiments, but each southern state had its own guerrilla cavalry.Therefore, when mobilizing for war, the South can also quickly form their cavalry troops.

In all fairness, apart from weapons, the cavalry troops in the south can surpass Liang Yao's cavalry battalion in terms of riding skills and combat effectiveness, let alone these Indian cavalry.

During the Civil War, although the northern army performed relatively hip-stretched, the performance of the northern cavalry regiment was indeed nothing to criticize.

The northern cavalry regiment not only played a role in intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and pursuit, but also played a decisive role in some battles, such as the famous "Stonewall Jackson" attack and the counterattack in the famous "Battle of Gettysburg" action.

It shows their superb combat effectiveness and flexible tactical accomplishment.

After the performance, Liang Yao applauded the riding skills of these Indian riders.

"These riders have good riding skills. With more training, they will definitely become powerful cavalrymen comparable to regular cavalry regiments." Liang Yao said to Seattle, who was jumping off his horse.

"Seattle, you will be a lieutenant colonel of the cavalry regiment with me first."

Lieutenant Colonel is the highest military rank that Liang Yao can directly confer on Seattle.

Of course, it is not impossible for Colonel Liang Yao to give it, but the appointment of a colonel-level officer in the US Army is troublesome, and requires the approval of the Ministry of War and on-site inspection.

The resistance to appointing an Indian as colonel of cavalry was too great.

Furthermore, Seattle has no military merits, and the three colonels of the Western Brigade, whether it is Elvis, Kruger, or Deng Yan who is now in Nagasaki, all have military merits.

The sudden appointment of an Indian chief as a colonel would cause dissatisfaction among the veteran officers.

However, most of the cavalry regiment's troops come from Indian tribes, and Liang Yao also needs a senior Indian officer to stabilize the morale of these Indian cavalry.

The rank of lieutenant colonel is the most suitable, high enough, and easy to appoint, without the approval of the Ministry of War.

"Thank you Chief!" Seattle thanked Liang Yao happily.

"Then these soldiers?"

He knew that this rank was second only to Elvis and Kruger in Liang Yao's army, and he was very satisfied with this appointment.

With his position settled, Seattle asked about the treatment of the Indian riders he brought.

"Enjoy the same treatment as recruits of the Western Brigade. During the recruiting period, each soldier receives a monthly allowance of 18 dollars. The old cavalry battalion is responsible for training. After passing the training, after becoming a regular soldier of the Western Brigade, he will enjoy regular soldier treatment. Every month Receive a stipend of 30 dollars." Liang Yao said.

Seattle and a group of Indian riders were very satisfied with the treatment.

Indians and Chinese on the West Coast, as well as Californians of other ethnicities, have used dollars for transactions since the Gold Rush era.

These Indians still have a concept of the purchasing power of the dollar.

That is to say, the monthly stipend they received during the recruit period can buy a very good long gun, 5 pairs of high-quality leather shoes, and 9 pairs of jeans that are very popular among Indian tribes.

Liang Yao also went numb from laughter. Although these Indians were a bit lacking in discipline and tactical skills, they were good at riding. They had combat experience with white men, and they even brought their own horses into the army.

Horses on the west coast are very expensive. A war horse that can meet the combat requirements can only be bought at a minimum of 150 US dollars.

In the old cavalry battalion, there were cadet officers recruited by Liang Yao from the military academy in the east. These Indians could become qualified cavalry with a little training.

After watching the performances of these Indian riders, Liang Yao participated in the evening party and got in touch with the Indian tribe.

After the meeting, Liang Yao and Ge Wen studied the "Oregon Treaty" signed by Britain and the United States in Washington, D.C. on July 1846, 7.

Of course, they were not working on the original, but the Fillmore government had sent them a copy from Washington.

The Treaty of 1818, signed in 1818, established the boundary between Britain and the United States between Minnesota and the Rocky Mountains at 49 degrees north latitude.

The western part of the Rocky Mountains is a disputed area, which the United States calls the Oregon Country, and the United Kingdom calls the Hudson's Bay Company's District of Columbia.

However, the state of joint control by both parties has become unstable over time.The then US President James K. Polk proposed to use the 1818 treaty to delineate the 49° north latitude as the boundary, but the then British Prime Minister rejected this proposal.

At that time, the expansion of the United States was very smooth, which led to the expansionist ambitions in the United States. The expansionists in the United States clamored to incorporate all the areas south of the 54° north latitude into the US territory.And shouted the frantic slogan of either 45° north latitude or war, and expanded northward at all costs.

However, the Mexican-American War in 1846 consumed most of the American troops, and the federal government owed a huge war loan, unable to start another war.

Furthermore, it is not without precedent for the United States to expand northward.It's just that it's a precedent for failure.

After the Revolutionary War, the sovereignty struggle between Britain and the United States did not stop.As a British colony, the province of Canada is sparsely populated and loosely defended.

The United States believes that I have the advantage. Canadian residents have been exploited by the British colonial government and must be very eager for freedom and liberation.Once the United States declared war on Britain, the British colonial government in Canada went north.

The people of Canada must eat pots of milk to welcome the beauty teacher, and all parts of Canada will also look forward to it.

Under this kind of thinking, in 1811, the hawks in the House of Representatives advocated launching a war to liberate Canada, and won the support of most members.

After President James Madison addressed Congress on June 1812, 6, Congress voted to declare war.America formally declares war on Great Britain.

But the facts are contrary to what the Americans expected. The Canadians did not regard them as liberators, but actively joined the army to fight against the invasion of the US military.

Canada's 5000 British regular troops led a group of Canadian militiamen and beat the U.S. troops to the north. They once invaded Washington and burned the White House.

The rulers of the United States at that time ignored one point. Their victory in the War of Independence was largely due to the aid of Louis XVI. Without the aid of France, it is unclear whether they could win the War of Independence.

In 1812, France was fighting fiercely with the anti-French alliance, preparing to invade Russia, and had no time to look around.

From October 1813 to March 10, Britain defeated Napoleon in Europe and sent more troops to the North American battlefield.The British occupied the northern states such as Maine.

In the end, the southern army, led by the famous southern general Andrew Jackson, defeated the British army's offensive in the south on the Louisiana battlefield, successfully defended New Orleans, and killed the British commander Major General Edward Buckingham .This re-boosted the morale of the US military.

The two sides then entered a stalemate stage, and finally negotiated.

In view of this, in 1846, the two sides took a step back and signed the "Oregon Treaty", which stipulated that the boundary should be 49° north latitude.

However, this treaty did not completely resolve the border issue between Britain and the United States.

The United States advocates the strict implementation of the 49° north latitude boundary line, and the sovereignty of the area south of the 49° north latitude on Vancouver Island belongs to the United States.

However, how could the United Kingdom be willing to put aside the dispute and be the owner of joint development, only agreeing to implement the boundary of 49° north latitude in the mainland area, and follow the traditional and customary boundary in the island area. The British colonial authorities enjoy absolute sovereignty over Vancouver Island and cannot be invaded by the United States.

Subsequently, the British side built Victoria City named after Queen Victoria in the southeast of Vancouver Island as a fortress port, controlled the San Juan waterway, and extended its hand to the San Juan Islands with ambiguous sovereignty.

The two sides have thus once again reached a standoff over the Oregon border issue.

"In any case, according to the Treaty of Oregon, the British crossed the border first and illegally built a stronghold in Bellingham, which violated the Treaty of Oregon. Our sending troops this time is justified."

Liang Yao carefully read the "Oregon Treaty" against the map, and asked Ge Wen at the same time.

"What's the opinion in Washington?"

"Washington means that although Columbia Island is hopeless, it still wants to take this opportunity to win the sovereignty of the San Juan Islands.

There is also the content of the treaty on waterways south of 59° north latitude. Washington hopes that this article will not only be written in the treaty, but will be implemented.

As you know, our strength in this place was very weak before. Although the treaty stipulates that the United States and the United Kingdom can share the waterway south of 59° north latitude, since the United Kingdom actually controls the waterway, our ships use this waterway. The waterway has been obstructed by the British side many times. "

Ge Wen relayed Washington's attitude to Liang Yao, and he did not forget to add at the end.

"Most importantly, Washington hopes to end the Oregon border dispute in a relatively peaceful manner."

Washington's thinking and attitude coincided with Liang Yao's.

Columbia Island is definitely hopeless. Britain has already stationed troops on the island and built a permanent military fortress. To take Columbia Island cannot be solved by intimidation of force, but by real force.

But the right to use the San Juan Islands and the waterway must be obtained. If this waterway is locked, then Liangzhou will still develop a fart, and it will be a coastal area without even an outlet to the sea.

Liang Yao's bottom line is to maintain the borders of the United States and Canada in future generations. He can fight for as much as he can beyond this bottom line, and he won't lose anyway.

"I have a bottom line."

Liang Yao nodded, expressing that he knew it well, and asked Carnegie to call Sven and Strauss.

"Sir, are you looking for me?"

Soon, Sven and Strauss came to the Governor's Mansion of the old territory, which is Liang Yao's current temporary residence.

"The Arizona regiment has arrived at the border, and we have to take action at sea." Liang Yao asked Sven, "Where are the warships of the Umbrella fleet now?"

"It's all on the sea outside Bellingham, and Bellingham is completely surrounded." Sven said, "With a few more months of siege, Bellingham will become a dead port."

"The strength is not enough, and the British have to continue to increase their strength." Liang Yao pointed to Victoria Harbor on the map, "Send the main ship to the vicinity of Victoria for a live-fire drill. I don't believe that the British will continue to fire. If he remains indifferent, Elliot can still sit still."

The British navy is very powerful, but the British navy is spread all over the world. It is impossible to deploy a powerful fleet in every place, especially in a poor and poor place like the Oregon area. It is not the core colony of the British. The British are on the sea in the Oregon area. Strength is also very limited.

The British gathered here a few obsolete sailing warships inherited from the Hudson's Bay Company, and they were all small ships, not even a third-class ship.

In terms of sea power in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, Liang Yao still has the upper hand.

"Yes, sir, I'll do it now." Sven said excitedly.

"Boss, what about me?" Strauss asked.

"Have you seen the San Juan Islands on the map?" Liang Yao pointed to the San Juan Islands, "Take immigrants and settle directly on the San Juan Islands. I want our immigrants to be on every island? Do you understand? ?”

"Understood." Strauss nodded.

(End of this chapter)