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Chapter 1291: Rapid Assault

"As for New Orleans," Napoleon continued, "after this disastrous defeat, Wayne won't be able to mount an effective offensive for at least another month.

"Before then, Lieutenant Black Feather will launch harassment attacks in the Ohio region. The Shawnee tribe will support him."

Black Feather was the son of the Zaragoza Tribe's chief. Their tribe originally resided in northern Ohio, making them intimately familiar with the terrain there.

"But he's probably no match for the Lexington militia."

Napoleon smiled slightly. "He has over 700 soldiers, plus the Shawnee warriors. That's enough to handle the local Americans."

Lexington itself had fewer than 10,000 Americans in total, and with many militiamen conscripted by Wayne, there were at most two to three hundred soldiers currently stationed there.

Blasset's eyes widened. "How does he have so many soldiers?"

Napoleon gestured for an attendant to open the flap of the wounded tent, then turned to Blasset. "Where do you think the 'runaway' Native American soldiers went during our retreat?"

Indeed, a small number of Indian soldiers had initially deserted—even in Europe, desertion rates rarely fell below three percent, let alone North America—but Napoleon had seen an opportunity to exploit this. He deliberately allowed some elite Indian soldiers to detach from the main force and then gather at predetermined locations.

In Wayne's eyes, Indians deserting the army was practically a given, and he harbored no suspicion whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Napoleon's constantly shrinking army further fueled Wayne's complacency.

Blasset finally fell silent, his eyes filled with admiration as he watched Major Bonaparte's retreating back.

Ohio served as Wayne's army's primary supply line. American settlements in the Mississippi basin simply couldn't provide the logistical needs for thousands of US soldiers, especially ammunition, which had to be transported west from Maryland in the east.

If Black Feather could cut off Ohio's supply routes, Wayne would be forced to retreat.

However, he still felt that the plan to penetrate deep into American territory was too risky. After all, even with the Indian soldiers, their army numbered just over 5,000 men...

Three days later, Napoleon set off with his main force on the march to Huntsville, leaving only 300 soldiers to defend New Orleans.

Meanwhile, in Hawkinsville, a town west of Lexington, hundreds of American townsfolk were "devoutly" kneeling before Priest Long Flame, who was dressed as a Catholic clergyman.

"Holy Father, please forgive the sins of these lambs; they once rebelled against the Holy See and have since strayed from the path..."

As Long Flame intoned his prayers, a Deacon began to re-baptize these Protestants.

As he approached each person, they would recite, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," appearing remarkably compliant and cooperative.

Well, that was because Black Feather and over 300 soldiers armed with flintlock muskets were standing right behind Long Flame.

After completing this "rite of inclusion" for the heretics, Black Feather ordered his men to take most of the town's grain, leaving only enough food for the townsfolk to eat for three weeks.

Then he destroyed two defensive towers outside the town and immediately rushed to the next settlement.

From horseback, Long Flame contentedly made the sign of the cross, commending Black Feather's piety towards the Lord and his contributions to the Church.

Indeed, Black Feather's original intent had been to kill all the adult men in the town. However, Long Flame offered the townsfolk a chance: if they swore to accept the Holy Tradition, commit to attending Mass weekly, and obey the teachings of the Roman Curia, they would receive "salvation."

The people of Hawkinsville finally breathed a sigh of relief only after the backs of these proselytizing Indians had completely vanished, though a sense of unreality still lingered in their hearts.

The mayor immediately wrote letters to Lexington and the Kentucky state legislature, reporting the day's events and requesting aid.

A week later, the Kentucky state legislature had received over a dozen pleas for help, but Kentucky was a new state, established barely a decade earlier, and simply couldn't provide such extensive material assistance.

As for militiamen, there were none left. The governor wrote again to General Wayne, requesting aid—the state militia had been taken by the latter.

A few more days passed, and a logistics convoy supplying Wayne's army traversed Kentucky. Before Black Feather could even act, three groups of food-deprived Americans attacked the convoy.

By the time Black Feather located the convoy, he found there was nothing left to seize but cannonballs and gunpowder.

...

In the south-central United States, Chattanooga.

It lay between the Cumberland Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, specifically, west of the famous "Cumberland Gap."

The Cumberland Gap was a vital passage between the southeastern and southwestern United States. During America's westward expansion, it was known as the "Gateway to History." Countless pioneers and explorers traveled from the East Coast, passing through here on their way to the "Bluegrass Region" in the west.

At this moment, Napoleon led his army eastward, against the tide of the pioneers' footsteps.

The Cumberland Gap region was quite desolate, with very few substantial towns along the way. Thus, he met almost no resistance, arriving in Tuttelo after only half a month.

During this time, Harjo, as promised, brought a large number of Creek tribesmen to deliver supplies.

Blasset watched the winding column advance, then spurred his horse to Napoleon's side and whispered, "Commander, are we truly continuing eastward?"

The latter nodded with certainty. "What are you worried about? Once we pass south of the Allegheny Mountains, we'll be able to acquire supplies wherever we go."

He waved his hand emphatically. "In another twenty days, the Americans will be surprised to find French troops appearing in Virginia once again!"

A "Are you insane?" almost escaped Blasset's lips, but then he recalled that Major Bonaparte had once led an army on a forced march of hundreds of kilometers, crossing the Alps and defeating the mighty Austrian army. He quickly suppressed his lingering doubts.

Over half a month later, in the early morning, when the residents of Charlottesville on the James River were awakened by thunderous cannon fire, they initially thought it was another slave uprising.

Charlottesville's militia had no expectation of engaging a regular army of several thousand men. Just as they had barely managed to assemble, they were caught by a surprise attack from French cavalry.

Immediately, several Twelve-Pounder Cannon shells tore through the crude fences outside the town, and Little Turtle, leading over a thousand Indian soldiers, was the first to charge inside.

When the news reached Philadelphia, John Adams made the messenger confirm it three times before finally believing that Charlottesville had actually been occupied by French forces.

Virginia was the second wealthiest region in the United States, second only to Delaware. If it were to be ravaged, it would be akin to striking a knife through America's financial artery.

The Federal Congress acted with exceptional efficiency, issuing a mobilization order by noon the following day, calling for 10,000 militiamen from Maryland, Delaware, New York, Conestoga, and other areas to rush to Virginia as reinforcements.