Having recently seen this video from the History Guy about the New Madrid earthquakes in 1812 which showed how widespread the shocks were felt, see from about 3:10 in the video for details I couldn't help wondering what might be the impact if it happened at a later time. Thinking of two scenarios.
a) A year later with the quakes coming [now] in late 1812 and early 1813. In the early stages of the 1812 conflict initial American attacks on both Canada and the Indian tribes under Tecumseh who became de-facto allies as a result foundered badly and a fair chunk of the old NW region stayed in Indian lands with British forces also active in areas.
While the main attacks came from further east, via New York and Pennsylvanian if those quakes had happened a year later it would have disrupted US operations along the Mississippi and in neighbouring region so would have had some impact. Might it be enough that at least some of the old NW area stays in Indian hands? Probably as a British protectorate as the Americans refused to accept any Indian nation as an independent state.
b) If it occurred 50 years later in 1861-62. Its going to cause a lot more deaths and devastation simply because the central region of the impact is a lot more settled. While the overall damage might be more on the northern side they could have the edge in that they have more resources and also its going to impact southern defences more. Island 10 is only a little south of New Madrid so any CSA defences there are likely to be trashed - albeit that it only became a defensive point a year or so later I think.
One wildcard here, given how much more religious people in both north and south were then is could it be seen by enough people to make a difference as a sign of divine anger at the war?
Anyway, interested to see what people think as might develop in either scenario.
a) A year later with the quakes coming [now] in late 1812 and early 1813. In the early stages of the 1812 conflict initial American attacks on both Canada and the Indian tribes under Tecumseh who became de-facto allies as a result foundered badly and a fair chunk of the old NW region stayed in Indian lands with British forces also active in areas.
While the main attacks came from further east, via New York and Pennsylvanian if those quakes had happened a year later it would have disrupted US operations along the Mississippi and in neighbouring region so would have had some impact. Might it be enough that at least some of the old NW area stays in Indian hands? Probably as a British protectorate as the Americans refused to accept any Indian nation as an independent state.
b) If it occurred 50 years later in 1861-62. Its going to cause a lot more deaths and devastation simply because the central region of the impact is a lot more settled. While the overall damage might be more on the northern side they could have the edge in that they have more resources and also its going to impact southern defences more. Island 10 is only a little south of New Madrid so any CSA defences there are likely to be trashed - albeit that it only became a defensive point a year or so later I think.
One wildcard here, given how much more religious people in both north and south were then is could it be seen by enough people to make a difference as a sign of divine anger at the war?
Anyway, interested to see what people think as might develop in either scenario.