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| Prise de la Bastille et arrestation du gouverneur M. de Launay, le 14 juillet 1789. (Source) |
Well, if you've been following along lately, that's where we're at here at the Chant du Départ. The story is intentionally vague as to the when, where, who, and how. There are elements of the French Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, the American Civil War, (damned near any civil war, really), the Thirty Years War, and maybe a bit of the American Indian Wars thrown in for good measure.
My goal was to look at how people act (and react) in times of chaos and social upheaval (war in other words) and perhaps provide a bit of perspective on those conflicts of the past. Anyway, that's the goal.
Most of you seem to be enjoying it so far. If it gets to be uninteresting, then I'll wrap it up. This started as one of those two or three episode posts and has kind of grown from there. I'm absolutely fascinated by what's going on and the Muse is trying to keep me guessing at every turn. (I swear, stuff just leaps into my brain while I'm writing. I mean, I have a rough outline, but the details? All rather spontaneous. Sometimes I'm as surprised as y'all when something seems to come out of the blue.)
While I do have another episode in the hopper, it's going to take maybe another day to flesh it out and get it posted. Time waits for no man and the paying gig has been busy as of late.
Bear with me ...
Oh, just one more thing ...
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| (Source) |
Until next time ...
Mr. Falk played a character on the other side of his Columbo part in Murder, Inc. Both sides of the coin so to speak, maybe like Regulars and Militia. Never disappointed visiting here Sarge........ :)
ReplyDelete😁
DeleteOn this day 10/19 in history
ReplyDeleteHopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution.
Worth a read for more details: https://www.theburningplatform.com/2023/10/19/this-day-in-history-americans-defeat-the-british-at-yorktown-1781-2/
While I'm quite sure you AF Sarg know this so many fail to realize it was the French Assistance in our Revolution that destroyed the British. Their navy prevented Cornwallis's communications and supplies. There on the ground forces actually out massed ours here. Our Military Forces were trained and partly led by the Frenchman named Lafayette (as in Lafayette we are here WW1 fame).
Our Revolution was a Proxy War between England and France. Oddly 9 years later the French Revolution happened. Was it the over extension of French economics to support "Our Revolution"?
One needs to consider the loss of revenue from the former French territories in North America, lost to the British in the French and Indian War (which was known as the Seven Years War in Europe). French finances were in deep trouble for many reasons, helping our Revolution succeed was just one, though a rather big one. France didn't help us for altruistic reasons, it was, as you say, a proxy war between England and France. Great comment, Michael.
DeleteThe French and Indian/seven year war, that is the one that George Washington started isn't it?
DeleteThat's the one.
DeleteAnd it was the Bourbons and other aristocrats that aided us in the Revolutionary War. In 20 years, we'll be fighting the French Republic on the High Seas. And then in the early 1800's we'll be buying a goodly portion of North America from the new Imperial French, and then accepting a lot of ImpFrench refugees after Nappy's first and second defeats.
DeleteWeird history with the French we have.
If you think about it, the French have rather a strange history with a number of countries.
DeleteMy confusion (it is mine..) is that I'm "used to" your historical fiction and this is closer to science fiction (an alternate history kinda thing). The story is good, the emotions are real but it was not what I was expecting.
ReplyDeletePlease carry on, I can adjust my expectations!
It is very much alternate history, but I left it vague in the beginning to get people thinking. I guess that worked.
DeleteAs to the US VS. THEM story, remember the French girls who lured German soldiers into what they thought was going to be fun, but turned out to be death instead.
ReplyDeleteThat happened in a few places during that war.
DeleteAnd remember the French girls who went along in order to survive, only to be shaved and stoned and killed by other French who went along not so far in order to survive.
DeleteVarying degrees of treason I suppose.
Delete"J'accuse!" has been a real thing in France for a long long long time. And pretty much everywhere else during a 'civil' war. Sigh. He who tosses the other under the bus first survives, for now...
DeleteIf you and someone else are running from a bear, you don't need to be faster than the bear ...
DeleteSo…something along this line, https://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2023/10/19, then?
ReplyDeletejuvat
Spot on.
DeleteSarge, I am enjoying this as much as anything you have writing (okay, guilty pleasure: perhaps a little more). The vagueness of the setting makes me constantly try not to make immediate historical relationships and focus more on the storyline. It also has the benefit of not knowing how this is going to end (as opposed to historical fiction, in which generally the ending is known).
ReplyDeleteI think it is also valuable because a great many people throw around the idea of "War" and "Mountains of Blood and Rivers of Skulls" with abandon these days. Having never seen combat, I cannot comment on the impact to the individual solider/sailor/airman. As a historian, I am well aware of what it does to the society as a whole. I wish those people who wish to "Cry Havoc" were truly conscious of all they are calling down on us all.
My general response to the "Cry Havoc" crowd is generally, "You first." Depends on how justified the cause might be, of course, but these days there are far too many keyboard warriors living in their Mom's basement screaming for blood. Little realizing that it might be their blood!
Delete"there are far too many keyboard warriors working in the FBI's basement screaming for blood."
DeleteThere, fixed it for you. I think the number of Mom's Basement dwellers are far exceeded by agents provocateur of FBI, HSI, BATFE, DEA, Postal Police, USSS, USCP and other .gov entities.
I never thought I'd see the day when actual US Government Types would actively formant rebellion and strife so as to bust the heads of people with legitimate claims of grievance.
Yup, them too.
DeleteMaybe Beans - although depending on the websites or blogs I frequent, it seems to be a bit beyond just government baiting (which, I concur, seems far out of proportion to actual national threats).
Delete👍
DeleteThanks for the full disclosure and transparency. This latests saga reads as if Heinlein and Turtledove got married and had a story.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff! Muse needs a prime rib dinner with all the trimmings, creme brulee, and Cafe Royale.
😁
DeleteSarge, I hope you maintain your inspiration both for this thread and the WWII series... it's your gift, and we thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteI second Joe's motion: the Muse must be rewarded!
The WWII saga will continue after this interlude into alternate history. I enjoy working on both.
DeleteAnd thanks!
The only thing in the story that struck me a bit is I wonder if the militias would have stood for the level of casualties that they suffered in that last battle. The untrained don't often stick in the heavy work in the history I have studied.
ReplyDeleteIt's not about training, it's more about motivation. As the story unfolds, we'll see that most of the militia have had some training. Some have battle experience, some don't. These aren't, for the most part, untrained civilians picking up a fowling piece and charging into battle.
DeleteMilitias composed of family groups and close civil organizations, like fraternal orders or small towns that are close, will stand for heavy casualties, to a point. Gotta stay in the fight to protect brother, sister, cousin, friend, lodge member, that guy who I lent my lawnmower to, well, maybe not that guy who I lent my lawnmower to as he brought it back broken, dirty and out of gas the rat bastid...
Delete🤣
DeleteSpot on, Beans. Gotta die of something.
DeleteBG
True dat.
DeleteThing is, this could be 10 years in the future. The way our current 'betters' are leading us, I can see actual horses being used by officers like in the old days as gas and industry falls apart. Ain't that a pisser?
ReplyDeleteGood storyline, and good way to keep us guessing. A nice little horror show just in time for Halloween, eh?
It keeps me awake some nights. I'm old, but if necessary I can always do the Samuel Whittemore thing.
DeleteAs we all should be prepared to do.
DeleteBG
👍
DeleteNot to interrupt Sarge's vague fantasy skirmishes, but I should get busy and throw some serendipity history out, since history is often stranger than fiction.
ReplyDeleteWhile not a civil war, there were decidedly uncivil proceedings in Louisiana during reconstruction days, with very diverse participants, and some rather vicious and ugly events. Racial divides were strong, carpetbaggers vs locals were another flash point, and as always in politics there were the spoils of patronage and power and opportunities for corruption.
Details are a bit confused because sources all have their own biases to support, and the other guys are always the bad guys. But, players include the mostly black Louisiana State Militia, a prominent former Confederate general, a metropolitan police, not one, but TWO legislative bodies, each claiming to be the legitimately elected one. Add loosely affiliated groups of engaged and enraged citizenry, more like angry mobs than anything else. Stage the opposing parties in downtown N'awlins, with Gatling guns and 12 pounder cannon in addition to small arms. Repeat with some variations over four years.
John Blackshoe
Pray tell. (And soon.)
DeleteOh. Nothings changed in N'awlins since 1864, has it?
DeleteHeh.
DeleteAbsolutely enthralled. Ten years ... I'm too old for this now. It was difficult to find either the seven or three volume collected letters of the "anti-Federalists"[sic].
ReplyDeleteGhandi is fascinating to read, especially if you read his actual writing. He wrote in English, as well as other languages, neither tranlators nor editors needed. Thht's where I really learned what editors could make someone say.
Editors can be a Godsend, or a direct minion of Satan. Just look at the MSM.
Delete"That makes me think of" thoughts struck me several times while reading. As you say, just about every civil war. You bring the people "at the sharp end" to life very successfully. Am harboring good thoughts for the muse and hoping she keeps visiting.
DeleteThank you kindly.
DeleteThis can apply to editor and any translator:
Delete"The gulf of meaning between the terms "horse play" and "pony play" - illustrates why expecting your culture's translation of another's ancient texts to be 100% true to their original intent is dangerous and probably not a good idea."
Language has formal terms and everyday usage, idioms if you will. Google Translate tends to play havoc with both at times.
DeleteI've been watching lots of Instagram recipe videos in Russian. I've learned that "torture" is "flour" that baking powder can be "splinter," pork shank is "steering wheel" or "handlebar."
DeleteAt least according to the translation program that Instagram uses.
Now that right there is funny. I've seen that for other languages as well. With Korean it will sometimes take a word and just use the Korean alphabet to spell it phonetically. It's wild sometimes.
DeletePS: The "just won't leave us be" was a nice touch. I suspect a great many people are feeling that way about now.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
Delete"Just leave us be" is, I think, the basis for classical Liberal thought. As long as one isn't harming another the State should not have call to tell one way to do.
DeleteThese days both the press and all too many politicians on all sides say that's right wing extremist thinking.
Live and let live, it makes sense. The State tends to grow more intrusive over time. The hunger for power knows no century, no culture, no bounds. It's very human I suspect. And rather sad.
DeleteThe state does grow more intrusive; I suspect that's where the "tree of Liberty" quote comes from.
DeleteBG
That very thought crossed my mind as I wrote that comment above.
DeleteEnjoying it Sarge! I was expecting (hoping for) a winter assault by the Milita like Washington at Trenton. Your story brings to mind S.M. Stirling and David Drake "The General" series. Although set in the far future, they bring in eerily similar events to actual history (and they knew well their Kipling). Keep going!
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the tale myself, can't see stopping it for a while.
DeleteOf course, the Muse gets a vote. 😉
The Bastille picture reminds me of the June Rebellion in France. Apparently that isn't all that noteworthy and was easily suppressed, but is known due to its inclusion in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. That's on my mind as the music from the play is currently an earworm after we saw it last Sunday afternoon. Have you had the pleasure?
ReplyDeleteNo, not a real big fan of musicals, or plays for that matter. Also Victor Hugo added a number of myths to the story of Waterloo which have lived on, corrupting actual history. So not a huge fan of Hugo either.
DeleteI thought I wasn't either until my wife dragged me to one, and they aren't so bad. Spamalot should be your first!
DeleteHhmm, grumble, grumble, anti-social cuss that I am, maybe ...
Delete