Britannia's Fist: From Civil War to World War: An Alternate History by Peter G. Tsouras Page A

country that has made such use of the Irish in the building of its empire could be a bit more charitable.”
    Wolseley brushed off the olive branch and went on, “They are a strange, illogical, inaccurate race, with the most amiable qualities, garnished with the dirt and squalor which they seem to love as dearly as their religion. I tell you, the Irishman soon takes his hat off when he finds a master who is not afraid of him and who is always ready to tackle him.” 20
    When Wolseley had decided that he had chewed on that scrap of bile long enough, he asked, “Well, Colonel, what is the feeling in the Army now that the South has been set back on both heels—Gettysburg and Vicksburg?”
    Sharpe considered that an honest answer would actually be the most useful. “It is only a matter of time. The South is exhausted and devouring itself to supply its armies just as the Union’s strength is redoubling. If it weren’t for blockade-runners bringing in British weapons and munitions, they would collapse in a month or two. All your country is doing is to prolong the struggle. Who knows what unforeseen incident could provoke another Trent Affair? Everyone knows that we came too close to war that time. It would serve no one’s interest to come that close again. I do not even mention the mutual catastrophe that a war would entail. British entry on the side of the Confederacy would only earn it the undying enmity of the United States but fail in the long run to secure independence for the South. Do you really want to create an enemy that for the next one hundred years searches out every enemy of the British Empire to make common cause?”
    Wolseley fixed him with that single, hard, blue eye as the waiter cleared the table, “But you can hardly hold the support of your own population to continue the war. I understand there is extremely powerful,popular opposition. How then could you add the burden of a war with a great power,” he paused to add, “such as France? Forgive me for my bluntness, but you would go to pieces at the first blow.”
    Sharpe just smiled, “A war with a,” he paused to emphasize the object of this preposition, “
major foreign power such as France
would kindle a fire that would weld our people into an implacable unity. Make no mistake of it.”
    Sharpe let his message sink in. He had not been empowered by the government to speak at this level, but there was no time to ask, and he did not think that Seward would mind. He would report to Dana tomorrow on their interesting conversation. The silence continued until the waiter returned with a box of cigars and brandy, which immediately deflected the conversation. The Ebbitt offered an excellent array of cigars. Sharpe did not remark on how such fine Southern tobacco was so readily available in the Union’s capital. It was an embarrassment how badly the blockade leaked, not to mention overland trade, something his companions were no doubt aware of.
    Sharpe coolly blew a ring across the table. “I must apologize for my bluntness, gentlemen. Please, forgive a simple colonel of infantry for a lack of subtly.” Perhaps that was laying it on too thick. Time to change the subject. “Tell me, Captain, what of the French? What does your government think of the French adventure in Mexico?”
    Hancock had taken little part in the conversation concerning Army matters, but now he had something to say. “I would say that the British government considers Napoleon’s ambitions to be a measure of Gallic excess. Mexico is no place to stay. You Americans were clever to win quickly, take what you wanted, and get out. Your example was lost on the French, I’m afraid.”
    “And you are not worried about the expansion of the French Navy?” That was fresh meat thrown to Hancock.
    “By God, sir, afraid of the French? You do have a strange, Yankee sense of humor.”
    “But the French
Gloire
class ironclads did steal a march on the Royal Navy in ’59, did it not?” Sharpe