Muskets and Carbines

Chapter 8: The Crossing

Hannahsville, Pennsylvania. March 5th, 1861

The Winter had been long and soft on the camp. Snow never piled up past 6 inches, but never fully melted away. While the winds had kept the area chilly, the sun had been out many days and allowed the men to do what training they could.

While many of the Americans who came from the deserts of the west or the deep had some issues in the early parts, most had gotten used to the cool climate. The Army had issued greatcoats both to its own troops and those of its allies. Many families of the troops had begun settling in the areas around Hannahsville to be close with their relatives in uniform. While many knew they couldn't follow them across the Gate, that didn't stop them from wanting to support them before the crossing.

Two regiments of Pennsylvania infantry and a New York artillery battery had already crossed and had a camp in the new world, but few of the others had truly crossed yet. It seemed the seasons were similar on both sides of the gate as it snowed on the other side as well.

General Naylor had used the winter to organize and shape up his army. The regiments from the Battle of Deckards Run had been savaged. Replacements had filled their ranks and had to be made up to standard. These survivors had put the new faces through constant melee training in anticipation of the crossing. None were as hard with their training as the 8th Dragoons, the veterans of both Franklin and Deckards took to the melee practice with a steel will. Colonel Steigerwald and his officers were going to do everything in their power to get the men ready for any future fight.

Constant training also was done with the new repeaters that had been issued to many of the cavalry regiments. The troops loved the higher rate of fire the repeaters brought, of which many of the infantry were envious. Rumors had it a more standard issue version was in the works for the infantry, but none were yet to be seen. The Prussian troops with their needle guns had made good showing of what breechloader rifles could still be used in line warfare.

Other lessons were being exchanged by the combined coalition of troops. The British had a reputation for being the best with a bayonet and these guard regiments were the cream of the crop. Melee practices between the American and British troops had rubbed off many lessons. While the British had taught what tricks and advice on melee they could, the American troops repaid them in a different way. While only the officers and a portion of the lower enlisted British soldiers were literate, the vast majority of the Americans were. Many American and British lower enlisted shared time in their tents doing private lessons in writing and reading. Those who had been teachers before putting on the blue had a leading role in this. While those who couldn't teach shared presents from home.

While there had been some tensions early on between the Canadian and New England Americans, it had begun to dissipate little by little as time went on. Memories of the war of 1812 and the border disputes had been dampened by the time the troops spent together. What problems and issues that had arisen were dealt with quickly by General Wulfram.

General Wulfram had spent many years in Canada and vacationing in Michigan after his time dealing with the Great Mutiny in India. He understood and liked people from both countries and held them in high opinion, much higher than the French. He smoothed many ruffled feathers and kept a good relationship with Naylor. While he was technically to act as an ally, he had expressed to Naylor he had permission to act under Naylor's orders to keep cohesion of forces. He had even been a supporter of the combined practices and training of the troops.

While the British were here to uphold and avenge their sovereign's honor, the Prussians were different. They were only here because of the Alliance between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Their Konig had commanded and they would obey. Time in the American camp had started to also stir a sense of companionship as the Prussians met many of the immigrant Germans who now wore American blue. While many were from the other German states, some were from Prussia itself. The Prussian troops took well to the expressive Americans and kinship came easily. The Americans returned the favor by comparing their help similar to that of Clauswitz, who turned Washington's army into a real army with European drill. While some of the more Junker officers disliked the liberal views being showered on their men, General Wulfram had smoothed their feathers to keep order.