The American Dream: An American Officer ISOTed to the Revolutionary War

[okmangeez]

"Congratulations, Major General Kim." General Washington shook the former colonel's hand firmly, "If I am not careful, you may overtake my rank in time."

Major General Kim grinned, "Thank you, sir. Although I was looking forward to fighting by your side, it seems as though this is the route we must take to ensure victory."

The two men were walking back to the marine camp after the meeting had adjourned for the day, with General Putnam staying behind to discuss matters with the Massachusetts representatives. After the meeting ended, he was pulled aside to speak with some of the more prominent statesmen in the room and reassured the representatives that had issues or concerns with the war and the future United States. The meeting was a relative success, despite the fact that the representatives from the Carolinas stormed out of the meeting. The remaining members of the Continental Congress were more receptive to the Asian man's ideas, even though several of them were controversial. The representatives of New York and Pennsylvania initially balked at the idea of conceding western territory but also recognized that the Six Nations could potentially be a staging point of invasion if they sided with the British. Additionally, General Kim's rather lucrative offer of money and promises of rapid industrialization after the war were convincing enough that the representatives were willing to negotiate the exact boundaries, should the Native Americans accept General Kim's offer. Afterward, they supported the marine general's two-front attack after seeing that they had the initiative against the British and recognizing that they would be able to avoid the mistakes of the other history.

General Washington volunteered to lead the main forces of the Continental Army to threaten Nova Scotia, striking at Fort Cumberland and moving forward towards the port town of Halifax. Since most of the British that managed to retreat from the Battle of Bunker Hill were in the area, it was decided that the core of the Continental Army was needed to push the British into the sea. And with the knowledge that there were numerous pro-patriot sympathizers in the area, General Washington was confident that the Continental Army would be able to seize Fort Cumberland at the very least and place pressure on the British so that the invasion of Quebec would have a higher chance of succeeding.

Meanwhile, General Kim's regiment was officially designated as an "Extra Continental Regiment," though it was agreed to allow the regiment to expand further in size. While he was an Extra Continental Regiment and still under the authority of General Washington, his unit was considered a "special" unit and he was to be fairly independent of the main chain of command. Additionally, the major general was given one additional regiment, the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, to seize the province of Quebec. The Continental Congress formally commissioned him as a major general and gave their approval to allow him to deal with the Six Nations and the French Canadians. Amusingly, his insignia on his uniform changed once more once the words were spoken, changing from an eagle to two stars. When the members of the Continental Congress saw this, they were mystified and shocked, much like General Putnam at Bunker Hill, and seemed more receptive to the newly minted general's plans. He was given the power to negotiate on behalf of the Continental Congress for both factions, appoint a military governor if he was successful in his invasion, and recruit further men if necessary. To show his appreciation, the newly commissioned general offered to pay for the pay and supplies of any men under his command to lighten the financial burdens of the Continental Congress, which they accepted gladly. In total, he was now the official leader of over one thousand men.

However, the two generals were planning to stay within the vicinity of Philadelphia for an additional month. During this time, they planned to recruit more men for their respective units and to train them for battle. Additionally, with the gold Major General Kim had at hand (he had given a majority of the gold he collected over the past 13 days to Congress), the two officers sought to gather supplies for the campaign ahead.

"I am sure we will fight together one day, General Kim, but we must carry out our duties for victory."

"Undoubtedly, sir. But for now, we will be able to train our unit together and ensure the men are somewhat capable before starting the invasion." Major General replied as they reached the entrance of the camp. Two marines standing at the front of the entrance saluted the two generals entering. The Asian general turned to them and saluted back, "Well, men, I have an important announcement to make. Tell the men to be battle-ready and assemble at the front of the camp within 5 minutes.."

The two marines looked stunned and scrambled into the camp to relay the command to the rest of the regiment. The regiment took some time to assemble, as some platoons were a distance away from camp for training. However, once the entire regiment was standing shoulder to shoulder in front of their commander (along with the rather disheveled non-marines), Major General Kim did not scold them and instead broke out into a wide smile. "The wait is over men of the 1st Marine Regiment. I have been officially commissioned as a Major General and you are all soldiers of the Continental Army."

Cheers broke out through the ranks as some tossed their caps in the air to celebrate. Major General Kim allowed them to continue their celebration for some time before continuing. "Additionally, we have been given permission to recruit more men for the regiment and we will have another regiment joining forces with us for a military campaign. Men of the 1st Marine Regiment! We have been given our first objective as an official unit under the Continental Army. We are to secure an alliance with the Six Nations and then invade the province of Quebec, liberating the French Canadians from the hands of the British! We will march to Montreal, and then to Quebec in order to show the British how much you have improved as a unit and to show them that we can take the war to them!"

"Oorah!"

The commanding officer of the marines' smile got wider as he heard their battle cry. "As such, we will continue training and preparing for the campaign for one month's time. During this time, you will be expected to train harder as we are now representatives of the Continental Congress itself! We are also to help the civilians in and around the city in our spare time to build their trust and win their hearts while recruiting more men for our regiment as well! After a single month, we will move forward to victory!"

"Oorah!"

"As your commanding officer, I will allow you to enjoy some time off for today. I will give your pay in advance so you may go to town and celebrate accordingly. If you wish to stay behind, you may do so and rest. If you are going into the city, remember the rules of our unit carefully: no excessive drinking, no harassing civilians, and remain respectful to all you come by. I encourage you to find individuals that may be willing to join our regiment as well. You are to return by 2200 hours and be ready to carry out your duties tomorrow morning as usual. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. Regiment dismissed."

After the marines excitedly took off, General Washington also gave a short speech to his own men and handed out pay accordingly. Thanks to the funds that Congress acquired through the major general, the Continental Army was able to at least get paid for the time being. He also allowed his men to take some time off for the day but warned them that they will begin training tomorrow morning alongside the marines. There were some grumbles about this, as the soldiers in Washington's army were more than aware of the rather grueling training the marines endured but went on their way accordingly.

General Washington excused himself for the time being as a messenger brought news that Thomas Jefferson sought to speak with him. Nodding respectfully, the tall commander trotted away on his horse towards the city.

Approximately five dozen marines stayed behind in the camp when General Kim entered the camp once more. All of them looked sharp and they were lined up neatly within the center of camp and looking at their officer stoically. The general inspected the faces of those that remained behind and saw that a majority of them were officers, including all three battalion leaders. He looked at them with a stern expression but smiled as they refused to be intimidated. "Well, then lads, is there a reason for lining up in the middle of camp even though I gave you the day off?"

"We would like to receive additional assignments, sir." Major McClary declared as he saluted.

"Very well. Major McClary, lead the remaining men and have them practice at the firing range, but with running included. It's the same drill that I taught the battalion leaders just two days ago. Additionally, assign a few of the men to guard the perimeter just in case. We do not want to let down our guard."

Major McClary nodded, "Yes, sir!"

The group sullied off, leaving the general to his own devices. However, not a minute had passed when one of the corporals approached him and saluted him, "Sir, you have visitors at the gate. They said they are Representatives William Hooper of North Carolina and Christopher Gadsen of South Carolina from the Continental Congress. They have asked me to let you know that they are here to negotiate on behalf of their colonies."

"Allow them to enter and escort them to my tent, private. You have my thanks."

General Kim walked to his tent and entered, setting up some refreshments for his guests. He was pouring out some cold coffee when the two representatives walked in and greeted the general. Representative Hooper stepped forward ahead of his counterpart and stuck out his hand, "I apologize for my actions earlier, General Kim, but I hope you understand that your proposal was radical for the representatives of the Carolinas. Our slave populations are quite large and many of us were intimidated at the prospect of being outnumbered by former slaves, especially since some of them will be hostile to us after their freedom. But discussing matters with other representatives, we have agreed to hear your exact proposal and send your words back to our colonies for a final decision."

"Please gentlemen, sit and we can discuss the issue at hand." General Kim pulled out several crates in front of the small table he used as his personal workspace. The men looked a bit offended but took their seats on the crates anyways. "I also must apologize for my aggressive tactics during the meeting, but do understand in the world that I come from, the people in my times were angry at the treatment of African Americans after the Revolutionary War. They were outraged at the fact that our country, founded on democratic principles and liberty, would maintain slavery for over a century, and oppressive any non-whites for two centuries."

Representative Gadsen winced, "Yes, well, I can understand general. I don't own any slaves myself and I can see that slavery would be contradictory to liberty and equality. But I'm afraid many in my colony will not see it that way unless they are guaranteed compensation and reassurance that the slaves won't revolt against them once they are free."

"Which is why I have a plan that may appeal to both of your colonies. We will gradually emancipate the slaves, with total emancipation set year happening in the year 1800. That will give some time for the slave owners to adjust and be compensated for their losses. During this time, if slave owners wish to emancipate their slaves early, they are free to do so. I will offer a chance for any slave owners to "sell" their slaves to me, and the freed slaves can then join my regiment to fight the British. I will also offer additional payments to the Carolinas and reveal technology from the future to help them increase production even with the loss of slaves. All I ask you, gentlemen, is to convince the members of your colonies that the slaves will not revolt after they are free, that they can still use African Americans as laborers provided that they are paid and have their rights, and that they will be able to make record profits even without slavery."

Both representatives looked at each other and nodded afterward. Representative Hooper cleared his throat, "Perhaps I was too hasty before, General. Your offer seems... valid. But it will take some time for the others to agree. I will ride with a few members of the delegation to North Carolina to make the case and if all is successful, we will officially become part of this "United States."

"As will I," Representative Gadsen affirmed.

Suddenly, a bright light filled up the tent, making all three men shield their eyes from the glow. Once the light disappeared, there were several additional crates inside the general's tent. General Kim also felt a burning sensation in his pocket, the pocket with the "magic messenger" inside. He pulled out a scrap of paper and read the content, while the representatives looked bewildered and frightened at the sudden appearance of seven crates.

"Check your storage later on also.

You have received the following for your successes so far:

1) Advance payment for the states of New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina to convince their delegations of your plan (each state will receive the content of one crate currently in your tent). Additionally, there will be three crates for the Continental Congress to utilize for the war.
2) 1000 Rifled muskets, along with plenty of additional ammunition and gunpowder.
3) Additional uniforms and packs.
4) A crap ton of more medical supplies.

Good luck!"

General Kim bolted from his seat and ran over to the crates. Each of the crates had a label on them and he inspected the ones that were labeled "North Carolina" and "South Carolina."

He opened the crates and came face to face with stacks of gold and silver bars, each of them 100 ounces. Each box contained 20 bars of each metal, and the general calculated the amount of money in the crates.

£112,000 in each crate.

"Gentlemen, I believe that I have something that may make your argument much more convincing."

 

[okmangeez]

General Kim sifted through the small pile of papers on his makeshift desk as he looked over some paperwork sent to him by Congress. It had been three weeks since his arrival in Philadelphia and there had been good and bad developments during his stay. For one, the Continental Congress was in favor of the Declaration of Independence, though they were planning to wait for the Carolinas to come to a final decision. With Boston and New York unoccupied and the northeastern colonies secured, for the time being, the delegates from the northeast were less reluctant to ratify the declaration. Unfortunately, as the rumors of abolishing slavery and establishing a free nation spread throughout the colonies, Georgia boycotted the Congress and was teetering on the verge of remaining loyal to Britain. Regardless, good progress was made between himself and the Continental Congress and he was now longer starstruck every time he saw Jefferson or Franklin.

During the three weeks, more and more men from nearby colonies arrived in Philadelphia, seeking enlistment under the 1st Marine Regiment. His show of goodwill to the locals and his aggressive enlistment campaign paid off and his unit was now 750 men strong, along with the soldiers of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. Instead of adding additional battalions, he expanded the currently existing chain of command, with the troops from Boston taking seniority in rank. Thankfully, General Kim was blessed due to his benefactor, as supplies, uniforms, and weapons never became a problem, and the benefactor was generous enough to provide a special uniform for the Pennsylvanian regiment as well. He also administered the vaccine to all the newcomers and administrated them to the members of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment as well.

The new rifled muskets (which was explained as an experimental weapon brought from overseas), along with the increased physical training and exercise, made the marines into a tough fighting force. After several weeks of training, the marines looked much more disciplined and trained before. The 1st Pennsylvania Regiment was also training alongside their fellow patriots but lagged behind in many aspects except marksmanship. While the Pennsylvanian regiment was lacking in terms of strength and hand to hand combat, the regiment was filled with excellent marksmen and snipers. And due to many of them being frontiersmen, they worked with the marines quite well as they also preferred unconventional warfare over line battles.

Even more excitedly, General Kim was now in possession of a dozen artillery pieces. Through General Putnam, he acquired the artillery that the British left behind and "lent" it to the 1st Marine Regiment for use, along with ammunition. As such, the marine regiment also had a small artillery corps consisting of 50 members. Additionally, with his future knowledge, assigned Major Knowlton a company of 100 marines to utilize as an independent, special company officially designated as the "Marine Recon Company." He was tasked with gathering intelligence and spying on the enemy activity as the invasion went underway. Due to the company's special status, they carried out their own private training along with their core marine training.

Meanwhile, the Continental Army under General Washington's command swelled in rank rapidly as continental regiments made their way to the commander to report for duty. General Washington had nearly 15,000 men under his command, many of them rough and unpolished militiamen or civilians. But with the assistance of General Kim and the marine regiment, the men were becoming a better fighting force and nearly all of them were vaccinated (when the benefactor said a lot of medical supplies, she meant it). Thankfully, due to the increased amount of funds available, almost all the men were clothed in uniform and were in possession of firearms and ammunition.

It was almost time to leave Philadelphia and General Kim felt prepared more than ever. He was just waiting for one more final piece to arrive in order to begin his advance.

"General Kim, your guest has arrived." A marine called out from outside his tent.

"Send him in."

An average height, well-dressed man walked into the tent silently, tilting his head downwards towards General Kim before rising back again to full heights, "General Kim, it's an honor to finally meet the hero of Bunker Hill. I am Colonel Benedict Arnold and I have been assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment."

General Kim rose from his seat and personally greeted the man, "Thank you, Colonel Arnold. And it's a pleasure to meet you. Please have a seat colonel, we have much to discuss."

Once the two settled into their seats, the general continued, "Colonel Arnold, I specifically requested your assignment into my regiment for a reason. What I am about to reveal to you must not be revealed to anyone, not even the men in the marine regiment. The Continental Congress is aware of what I am about to tell you, but do not mention that you have acquired this knowledge to them either."

"You can trust me, general. I will ensure that I will not discuss this matter without your presence," Colonel Arnold stated, straightening his posture.

"The truth is colonel, I am a man from the future; the year 2016 to be exact."

He then went on to support his claims through the use of his laptop and his futuristic equipment. Colonel Arnold looked startled, but he looked excited once he realized General Kim was speaking the truth. "Did you request my commission because I was considered a capable leader in the future? Does history see me as an officer worthy of commendation and praise?"

"Yes and no, colonel," General Kim typed in the name "Benedict Arnold" into Wikipedia and then turned the screen to the colonel, "I believe it is better for you to read it yourself, your history was... complicated to say the least."

The colonel took approximately five minutes to skim through his biography, his eyes darting back and forth. By the time he reached the end of his biography, Colonel Arnold's expression had changed from excitement to disbelief and horror, "I betrayed the colonies and my name was forever synonymous with the word "traitor." Why would I ever turn against my countrymen like this?"

"You were passed for promotions several times, unrecognized for your heroics despite placing your life on the line each time you fought. You were also heavily injured and were coaxed by a colonial loyalist during the time you were recovering from your wounds. While I could not condone your behavior in this history, I can understand the reasoning behind it."

Colonel Arnold looked at his superior nervously, "And did you ask for my presence to place an eye on me, general. Or even worse, kill me?"

General Kim frowned and shook his head, "No, colonel. In fact, I've called you here for another reason. I am hoping that you will serve under my command and oversee the leadership of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment."

The colonel's eyes widened, but General Kim continued to clarify, "The man in the other history is not you. You have not gone through the things the "other" Benedict Arnold has and you have not betrayed Congress in this history. I believe, and I hope, that the tragedy of the other history can be avoided and that you and your skills can be recognized and rewarded in this history. We need talented military leaders, and you were one of the best the patriots had before your defection."

"Is Congress aware of my history?"

"No, it is one of the few things I am keeping from them. I'm willing to give you a chance colonel so that you avoid what happened to you in the other history" General Kim leaned in with his hands folded, "Do you know the history of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, colonel?"

"I can't say I'm familiar with that name, general," Colonel Arnold answered.

"Well, he was similar to your other self in many ways. Admiral Yi was a man from a country called Joseon, also the place where my ancestors were born. He was a skilled and brilliant leader, able to seize victory even from the jaws of defeat. Like your other self, he was unrecognized and even mocked despite his abilities. In fact, he never lost a single battle during his entire life, yet he was demoted because of his rivals and his government. He went from the greatest admiral in the Joseon Navy to a lowly private in the army. Yet he was not discouraged from being unrecognized or demoted and kept on fighting, and eventually achieved the rank of admiral once again before dying in battle. In Joseon, he is considered one of the most legendary military leaders and his name is highly revered."

"I just want you to remember this," General Kim turned the laptop back towards him and closed it, "I will do my best to ensure that the others recognize you for your abilities, should you be able to achieve success in battle. However, even if you are unrecognized or mocked by others, remember that history will not forget your deeds. You may be treated harshly now, but you will go on to be recognized by future generations, for achievements such as money and rank are temporary. But your legend, your results are eternal. I will not treat you any differently than others under my command and ensure you are given a proper chance to prove yourself."

"I...I will take some time to think about this issue, general. If you don't mind," The once proud and excited colonel looked downtrodden. General Kim nodded and showed him the way to a private tent for him to go over his thoughts. After the general returned, he sighed and rubbed his temple.

The general knew that if he revealed Colonel Arnold's story to Congress, Congress would attempt to execute him for treason immediately. Especially so since General Washington apparently did not have a good relationship with Colonel Arnold. Even so, Colonel Arnold wasn't irredeemable, far from it actually. The man lost his wife while fighting for the colonial cause, suffered through various illnesses and diseases, always endured difficulties to achieve victory, and was loyal, at least initially. If anything, his story and his betrayal were a bit tragic, though the betrayal was still unacceptable. Nevertheless, he was going to give the man a chance.

Whether the colonel accepted it was up to his own devices...

 

[okmangeez]

General Kim was in the Iroquois town of Onondaga, one of the chief towns within the Six Nations. He and his men were stopped at the village of Chugnhult, a small village near the borders between the Six Nations and Pennsylvania. At the time, he had over two thousand men under his command, as he was given an additional regiment (3rd Connecticut Regiment) under his command and his 1st Marine Regiment expanded to include 800 men. In total, by the time he arrived at the borders of the Native American nation, he was leading a total of around 2,500 men. Thankfully, Colonel Arnold accepted his offer and was now leading the 3rd Connecticut Regiment. The colonel seemed to have lost some of his confidence after learning of his fate, but he led his regiment with a renowned vigor in his eyes, as if he had something to prove. A majority of the men under General Kim's command was now trained and ready for the campaign, though they still needed combat experience.

And they nearly got combat experience when they approached the border of Six Nations.

At first, some of the Iroquois units nearby believed that the colonial forces were invading, even though the three regiments under General Kim's command did not cross the border itself. It was only after General Kim personally approached some of the scouts under a white flag did they recognize that an invasion was not imminent. Afterward, General Kim and a small part consisting of hardy marines were brought to the town of Onondaga to negotiate with the representatives of the six native tribes. Colonel Arnold was placed as the temporary commander of the regiments in case the meeting went awry and he was instructed to march on to Fort Ticonderoga to prepare for the invasion of Quebec if he did not return within a month's time.

The journey to Onondaga took approximately 3 days on horseback and the meeting did not begin right away, so General Kim and his group were treated as guests for the time being. After waiting for about a week, the representatives were finally gathered to discuss terms with the colonial representative. They were gathered in the town's meeting hall to discuss matters privately, and each group had a collection of guards that were tensely waiting. While the meeting was supposed to be peaceful, there was always a chance the meeting would turn hostile.

"I apologize for the wait, Mr. Kim. My name is Montagu and I am here to represent my people, the Oneida," One of the Native American representatives stated as he gestured to the men around him, "These men are each from the five other tribes within our confederacy and we are very interested in what you have to offer."

"Thank you for meeting with me willingly, representatives. It is an honor to be in the presence of the representatives of the most powerful Native American tribes." General Kim bowed to each leader and then rose to meet them face to face, "I bring an offer from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia that will hopefully be of great benefit for the people of the colonies and the people of your respective tribes."

Desagondesta, the representative for the Mohawks tribe, looked at the general cooly, "The British have also offered us a deal to join their side in the war and they offered us much to fight by their side. The Continental Congress you claim to represent also represents the people that have pushed us out of our homeland and stole our native territory. Our people have much to gain from joining with the British than your "upstart British."

General Kim internally sighed and didn't reply right away. He knew the Mohawks would be the most hostile to his offer, as their chief was pro-British and was currently in London to negotiate for the Six Nations. Regardless, the other five tribes were more malleable and were unlikely to outright refuse his offer, "Which is why I have a very attractive proposal for the respective representatives of the Six Nations. The Continental Congress is aware of the grievances of the people of the six tribes and wishes to formally apologize for their transgressions into your homeland. To remedy the situation and assure your independence, if you agree to join on the side of the colonial cause, then the Continental Congress will abide by the following terms:

1) There will be no further cession of territories from the Six Nations to any of the colonies. Any of the current territories they occupy will be formally recognized, permanently, as the territories of the Iroquois Confederacy. The lone exception will be the eastern territory boundaries within the state of Pennsylvania, which will be adjusted to match the eastern boundary lines in the state of New York.
2) The Six Nations will be allowed to send a representative to the Continental Congress, one from each tribe. The current Continental Congress will formally declare independence from Britain within a year's time and will create a new nation called the "United States of America." Once this nation is formed, the Iroquois Confederacy will be given the opportunity to formally be accepted into the nation as a state, equal to any of the colonies currently represented in the Continental Congress.
3) If the Iroquois Confederacy accepts the offer to join the United States, they will be able to maintain their current way of life and maintain their tribal system. However, they will still abide by the laws of the United States, with guarantees that these laws will not discriminate or oppress any Native Americans or Native American tribes.
4) The Iroquois Confederacy will receive the strip of land between their current territory and the former Fort Rouille, should they wish to expand their territory against the British in Quebec. Their claim and annexation of the territory will be formally recognized by the Continental Congress.
5) As a show of goodwill, the Iroquois Confederacy will receive £60,000 in gold, along with 600 muskets and ammunition, split evenly amongst the tribes, should they choose to join the war against Great Britain.

That is what the Continental Congress, and myself personally, offer to your tribes. I will give you time to discuss these terms amongst yourselves. These terms are negotiable, and I promise on my own life and the honor of Congress that these terms will be followed through should the Six Nations choose to accept it."

All six representatives of the tribes looked shocked and then read the terms amongst themselves, with a copy of the treaty given to each representative. Sganyodaiyo, the representative of the Seneca people, cleared his throat and looked at the general with hunger in his eyes, "And these terms have been approved by your Congress?"

"Yes, I have received the approval of Congress to transmit these terms to your tribes. As of current, the representatives of New York and Pennsylvania have also agreed to abide by the territorial terms written in the treaty, and the materials listed in the treaty will also arrive within a short amount of time should the tribes agree to the terms."

"Very good. I will discuss these terms with the chief of my tribe and my tribe will begin a discussion regarding the terms at once." Sganyodaiyo exited the meeting hall in haste.

The other representatives followed one by one until only Desagondesta remained. He looked just as shocked as the other representatives, but he shook his head when his eyes met General Kim's eyes, "I will admit that these terms are far better than what the British have to offer, but I will be unable to come to a final decision until the chief returns. However, I will discuss these terms with the other elders and listen to their opinions about this treaty. Before I do, please tell me, Mr. Kim, will your colonies truly abide by these terms?"

General Kim slowly nodded, "They will, Representative Desagondesta. If they do not, I will ensure that the terms and your people are respected. Despite what people of the colonies may think about the Six Nations, you have my words that I will side with the Six Nations should the colonies attempt to break the terms of the agreement."

"But why go so far for our tribes? You are but a stranger to us."

"The colonies are fighting for liberty and freedom, Representative Desagondesta. If they refuse to offer the same to the people of the Iroquois Confederacy even after the agreement, then I will protect the people of your tribes. I do not fight just for the colonies, but also to the ideas of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."

"You are an interesting man, Mr. Kim," Desagondesta offered the man his hand and the two firmly shook hands, "Even if we do not agree to your Congress' proposal, let us hope for peace upon our lands."

+++++

AN: Just to make things clear, I (the author) am well aware that the Iroquois Confederacy was not a united entity or nation (unlike most of the colonies, which were united by an official state government). I am also aware that the six tribes were not the only native tribes in the area. However, like OTL, the tribes will act independently from each other and the tribes that will lean in favor of the patriots will act regardless of the opinions of the other tribes. This is historically accurate as seen IOTL, where the Mohawks supported the British, while two tribes supported the patriots. Regardless, the offer will be appealing to the tribes as it will clearly define their territorial borders, allow them to expand westward, give them needed money and supplies, and even offer them representation (which is a lot more than what the British had to offer in our history. Combined with the fact that Governor Carleton of Quebec was famously hostile to even pro-British Native Americans, the Americans have a real chance of securing support from the Native Americans).

Thus, even the Mohawks (who were pro British in our history chiefly due to their leader), will be intrigued and interested in what Congress has to offer. And if Quebec is successfully taken, the Iroquois Confederacy will have little choice but to work with the colonials (as Britain can not help them or supply them).

It doesn't mean that cooperation will suddenly materialize overnight. The two factions will be wary of each other (and in our history's Declaration of Independence, there was even a section calling the natives "savages" and condemning the British for allying with them). Regardless, Kim has opened up a potential path for the two sides to reconcile and work together. And with Congress being aware of the atrocities the natives faced (added with the fact that history will not look at the atrocities kindly), the colonial representatives will be much more open to negotiations (also helps that they're basically getting bribed to put up with the Iroquois).

The other major native group, the Cherokee, will be covered once Kim goes southward. Things will be different than OTL and once the Cherokee hears about the fair treatment of the Iroquois... They might not side with the British so eagerly...

 

[okmangeez]

Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light

For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.

We will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord
We will walk behind the plow-share
We will put away the sword
The chain will be broken
And all the men will have their reward!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!

Admittedly, it was a strange sight to behold. Nearly 2,700 men were marching and singing together over the border of Quebec as they approached the fort of St. Johns. The men were from various colonies and for a few of them, from Native American tribes. The negotiations with the Six Nations took several days to finish and by the time General Kim returned to his army, it was already August 22nd. However, the negotiations were fruitful and yielded positive results. Four of the six tribes accepted the proposals outlined by the treaty, though they desired to wait and speak with the Congress first before accepting "statehood" into the United States and agreeing to the remaining terms. The Oneida and Tuscarora, like the other history, threw in their support of the American colonies, along with the Seneca and Cayuga. The remaining two tribes, Onondaga and the Mohawks, stood firmly neutral for the time being, with the Onondaga tribe agreeing to adopt a "wait and see" approach. The Mohawks tribe was waiting for the return of their chief, but a few of the elders were already leaning towards accepting the colonial offer, as they would be able to gain territory and secure their sovereignty compared to the relatively vague offer made by the British. More and more elders of the two neutral tribes were also voicing their support for Congress since General Kim gave the supportive tribes the promised arms and gold, showing that the terms were being followed to an extent.

The four tribes that were sympathetic to the patriot cause agreed to send representatives to Philadephia immediately to agree upon the terms, with the Onondaga also sending a representative to meet the members of the Continental Congress. General Kim happily wrote a letter in support of the tribes and also wrote his personal regards to the members of Congress, stating that the representatives of the tribes were friendly and that they should be treated as equals. Before he left to rejoin his men, some of the warriors of the Iroquois Confederacy were already preparing to launch an invasion into Quebec to seize Niagara.

Three of the tribes, Oneida, Tuscarora, and Seneca, all offered 50 men each from each tribe for the invasion of Quebec, which General Kim accepted graciously. The men were all on horseback and were slated as the first "First Cavalry Company" of the marine regiment, the "hammer" to the main regiment forces' "anvil". There was a language barrier between many of the Native Americans and the men of the colonies, and an atmosphere of cautiousness as well. But General Kim was optimistic and made sure that the two groups mingled as much as possible, utilizing translators to help the two groups communicate. He personally began to learn the language of the three tribes to build a relationship with them, even though he struggled with pronunciations. By the time the group reached St. Johns, a crucial fort that stood in their way to Montreal, the men of the regiments were more accepting of their new Native American allies. General Kim noted that the men that had more exposure to African American soldiers (which made up about 15% of the 1st Marine Regiment regiment in total, after the mass recruitment in Philadelphia saw many freed slaves and free African Americans join) were more accepting of the Native Americans, though the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment and the 3rd Connecticut Regiment were more hostile and nervous around the Native Americans.

Yet the men of the Continental Army had arrived in their first objective of the campaign unscathed and relatively united on September 8th of 1775. Despite their attitudes to one another, the forces of General Kim's army were now focused on their common enemy and objective: Fort St. Johns and the forces within. Before they even reached the fort, several British skirmishers and Indian scouts attempted to harass them but were driven back with casualties due to the superior firepower of the colonial forces. Several of the Native Americans saw the Native Americans with the colonial forces and after some discussion, they retreated back to their villages without any penalties.

The Marine Recon Company, led by Major Knowlton, had successfully managed to scout out the fort and the general composition of the troops stationed within. General Kim received word from one of General Washington's messenger while his men were resting at Fort Ticonderoga and were told that the main bulk of the Continental Army was already moving into the Maritime province with the assistance of local patriot sympathizers. As such, some of the British forces in Quebec were already being withdrawn to defend Fort Cumberland and the surrounding areas. Fort St. Johns, which was situated near the border of New York, was manned by 600 British soldiers and a few members of the local militias. An additional 100 Native Americans were also within the fort, already stationed there before the word of the negotiations was spread to Quebec. General Kim tasked them with gathering further information and also meeting with locals to win over their support for the colonial cause, which Major Knowlton accepted without complaint.

Once he began the invasion, General Kim made sure to spread the word of the Continental Congress' guarantees to the locals using printed posters and messages. The guarantees were simple: the people of Quebec would not be taxed until the year 1785 if they chose to side with the Continental Congress, their language and religion would be respected and supported by local law, they would have representation in the Continental Congress, and they would be allowed to have local elections to choose their own leaders. He knew words mattered, but General Kim was aware that he needed to show the locals that the colonial forces could achieve victory and secure Quebec before they accepted any of the terms.

After reaching about 500 yards from the fort, General Kim ordered the artillery corps to unlimber and prepare for bombardment. Colonel William Thompson, the leader of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, was placed on the left flank while Colonel Arnold and his 3rd Connecticut Regiment were deployed to the right flank. Colonel Arnold was already receiving praises for seizing the schooner Royal Savage before it managed to depart from its shipyard just east of Fort St. Johns and for capturing valuable munitions and supplies in the ship that were originally meant for the defenders of the fort. The centerline was held by the 1st Marine Regiment, all 600 members that were part of the infantry. His troops were spread out and entrenched in pits and trenches dug with the entrenching tools of the 1st Marine Regiment. As trained, they were watching from their trenches carefully, making sure to remain hidden and entrenched. The Native American cavalry company was held in the rear, mainly to watch for any flanking actions and to flank the enemy forces should they attempt to leave their defenses in the fort.

"Fire!"

The twelve 12-pound howitzers roared to make their existence known. The crew of the howitzers was used to the sounds of the guns firing and moved calmly as they began to reload the guns to fire once more. From a distance, the general saw five of the shells striking the walls of the fort, enough to cause damage and startle the defenders. His artillery corps had plenty of ammunition and if the defenders wanted a siege, they would be battered by colonial artillery fire.

After about four rounds of artillery fire, the fort looked much battered compared to before and the British forces within the fort were returning fire. The few cannons on the fort walls were firing at the colonial positions, but only a few landed even close near the entrenched regiments. General Kim had taught the men how to build effective earthworks to limit the damage caused by artillery fire and the marines had taken the lessons seriously. The few artillery fires that struck the colonial positions caused relatively minimum damage. Even so, several of his men became casualties as some of the shots from the British barrage managed to land home directly. Even with a number of losses, it was clear that the twelve colonial howitzers were causing much more damage to the defenders than to his own men.

The Quebec campaign was expected to take anywhere from a month to four months and the last thing he wanted was to force his men to scale the walls and fight in close-quarter combat. Out of the three regiments under his command, only the 1st Marine Regiment was equipped and trained enough to prevail in hand to hand combat. The 1st Pennsylvania Regiment did not have bayonets, due to their own preferred rifles, and the 3rd Connecticut Regiment was not trained up to the same standards as the 1st Marine Regiment. If they were the win the fight with minimal losses, they needed to force the British out of the fort or at least have open space to push in and force the fight into the fort.

Seeing that the British weren't budging from the fort, General Kim ordered the artillery to seize fire and the men to set up a siege around the fort. Since each regiment outnumbered the enemy in total, a regiment was placed on the eastern, western, and northern parts surrounding the fort, with the artillery positioned in the east next to the river so they could be evacuated if their positions were overrun. However, in secret, 200 men from the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment and the 1st Marine Regiment (as the two regiments had 1,000 men and 750 men respectively) were detached from their forces in the middle of the night and positioned in the defenses already constructed in the southern side of the fort. The calvary company was also tasked with reinforcing the forces on the southern positions, watching for any breakouts and to flank the defenders if they attempted to retreat from the fort. Their siege works were positioned out of range of British small arms fire, though the British were still within range of the colonial howitzers and rifled muskets.

What followed was ten long days of siege, with the 400 men in the southern parts of the fort remaining hidden in the trenches and the artillery bombarding the walls of the fort erratically to prevent the defenders from getting any sleep. The 1st Pennsylvania Regiment also harassed any defenders attempting to man the walls with their superior range during the siege. They inflicted over a dozen casualties on the British forces for only one of their own.

Finally, after ten days of relentless harassment and artillery fire, action finally came upon the Continental Army. Approximately 300 men from Montreal, consisting of British regulars and Canadian militias, approached the northern siege works of the colonial forces on September 18th at noon. The northern section was guarded by the 1st Marine Regiment, and when the British reinforcements neared the marines, the northern gates of the fort opened to reveal one hundred Indians and several hundred British regulars marching out to support their allies. The remaining cannons in the fort focused their bombardment on the marine's positions. Their goal was apparent to General Kim: to breach the colonial forces in the north before the other flanks could properly reinforce the pressured lines and to allow the reinforcements to supply and to reinforce the British within St. Johns. He knew that the British within the fort were lacking in foodstuff as per the other history and with the early capture of the Royal Savage, this was even more so. The defenders were desperate, and he was going to use it against them.

"First Company, Second Company, focus on the enemy coming from the fort. Third Company! Focus your fire on the enemy forces coming from the north! Hold out for reinforcements and buy time for our forces to seize the fort!"

"Oorah!"

Deep in the trenches, General Kim looked to the sky and fired his flare gun. Each of the commanding officers of the flanks was in possession of a flare gun and they were only to fire the flare guns if they were under attack. General Kim created a plan for every potential route of British assault, and the colonial forces responded to the "North Assault Plan" accordingly. Colonel Arnold, whose men were better at close combat compared to the men of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, immediately began their attack on the fort itself and breached through the collapsed walls on the eastern portion, which had suffered heavy damage from the constant string of bombardment. The Pennsylvanians moved in to support the 1st Marine Regiment while the Native American cavalry company in the east flanked around to hit the reinforcements coming from the north. Finally, the men on the south side approached from their earthworks and scaled the southern walls with the hopes of catching the defenders by surprise.

For a span of ten minutes, General Kim and his men needed to hold on their own. But he was confident, no certain of his victory.

He pulled out his Garand and aimed towards the British forces streaming out of the fort. He waited for them to step into range and shouted out his command, "Fire!"

The superior rifled muskets of the colonials struck the British lines with deadly force, outside the range of the regular British muskets. General Kim also fired eight shots continuously, all aimed at any notable British officers and soldiers. By the time the British managed to form their lines and stepped within range, the marines managed to fire off two deadly volleys, whittling the British forces by a hundred men. Unfortunately for the British soldiers, their apparent reinforcements were faltering against the disciplined fire of the Third Company and the militiamen were already routing in face of losses.

Regardless of their losses, the remaining British forces returned fire in an effort to fight against the entrenched colonials, striking some of the marines that were exposed while firing. The bombardment from the fort continued upon their positions, throwing earth into the air and knocking additional marines out of the fight. General Kim showed no mercy to the British soldiers in front of him and slid in clips after clips into his rifle to fire upon the enemy.

When the reinforcements from Montreal broke and began to flee from the battlefield, the remaining British soldiers and Native Americans attempted to retreat back into the fort. However, before they could flee to safety, they were cut off by the Native Americans sided with the patriots, along with the riflemen of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. At the same time, the marines moved forward to assist the engaged units and moved forward while firing, only readying themselves for hand to hand combat when the Native American cavalry and British soldiers became too clustered together.

Many of the surviving British aligned Native Americans surrendered upon seeing the charging patriot aligned Native Americans. And after several minutes, the British soldiers surrendered as well.

The remaining defenders within the fort, all three hundred of them, also surrendered upon seeing the remaining colonial forces storming the fort and the other British soldiers surrendering.

Within ten days, General Kim managed to take Fort St. Johns, seized a British schooner and supplies, forced the surrender of 400 British soldiers, and inflicted 250 casualties for only 32 of his own.

The road to Montreal was now open, and by the end of the month, nearly the entirety of Quebec was aware of the Yellow Marshal, his message, and his military victory over the British.

 

[okmangeez]

When General Kim and his men marched into the city of Montreal, they weren't greeted with fanfare and celebration. Instead, they were welcomed to the sight of nervous French Canadians, with many of them whispering and pointing to the marching soldiers of the Continental Army as they took control of one of the largest cities in Quebec. The city was not defended and the three regiments under General Kim's command faced no resistance as they occupied Montreal on the morning of September 20th. It seemed as though Guy Carleton, the leader of the British forces in Quebec, chose to evacuate the city like in the other history due to the lack of preparations and the rapid collapse of the defenses at Fort St. Johns. While the general was a bit disappointed at the British retreat, particularly due to the fact that Quebec City was some distance away in the north, the occupation of Montreal was a huge morale victory. With the victory over the British at St. Johns and the occupation of Montreal, the Continental Army managed to achieve some legitimacy in the eyes of the locals.

Now was the time to rest his tired forces, spread propaganda, and establish a fair and noticeable government in Montreal in order to turn the French Canadians against the British and establish a patriot stronghold in the north.

The Native American cavalry company, along with two dozen marines on horseback (seized after the battle of Fort St. Johns within the fort itself), was on its way to Fort Ticonderoga with the captured British soldiers. They were ordered to deliver the prisoners to the garrison at the fort and to head back up to Montreal in order to prepare for another offensive. In the meanwhile, General Kim would busy himself with administrative work and would prepare his men for the inevitable march to Quebec City.

For the next five days, General Kim tasked his soldiers to establish defenses around Montreal and assist with any rebuilding and humanitarian efforts to help the locals. While the British did not damage the city much, they did ransack stores and any forms of ammunition to deny the advancing Continental Army of any supplies. General Kim also ensured to send scouts out to the north to watch for any potential British offensives and sent a detachment to the nearby countrysides to spread the word of Montreal's capture and the new government set up in Montreal.

For good measures, General Kim made a series of declarations as the temporary military governor of Quebec (until General Putnam, who was in Boston, arrived in Montreal to take on the role of military governor). Firstly, he declared that the French Canadians rights, beliefs, language, and culture to be respected. Catholics were allowed to freely practice their religion and the clergy was free to continue their practices and ways of life. Any soldiers of the Continental Army and any individuals from the colonies were to obey local laws and traditions. Secondly, he assured that the province would be free from any taxes and tariffs until the year 1785 and no property or goods of any Quebecois would be seized by force. This was a show of goodwill and guarantee to the locals that the Continental Army would not forcefully take their goods or possessions during their campaign. Thirdly, he proclaimed that no French Canadians would be forcefully drafted or recruited into the Continental Army. Instead, the French Canadians were offered a place in the Continental Army as equals to any other soldiers, with the same pay, supplies, and training. With this point, he made sure to point out that Governor Carleton was forcefully recruiting men into local militias to defend Quebec City and harassing locals in order to ensure British victory. Finally, General Kim declared that the people of Quebec were guaranteed the right to self-determination and were given a formal offer to elect a representative to participate in the Continental Congress once Quebec City was seized and liberated. While he was unsure how the Quebecois would respond to such an offer, he didn't want to force the people of Quebec to accept rule from the Continental Congress. They would need to decide how to proceed on their own and hopefully, with his gestures of goodwill, they would choose to at least ally with Congress in their struggle against the British. The declarations were printed through local presses and machines and spread through the city and the surrounding countryside.

To say the French Canadians were suspicious was an understatement. While some optimists celebrated their "liberation," most of the population remained cautious of the Continental Army. Even after several days have passed and with the declarations clearly being followed by the soldiers of the Continental Army, the populace remained leery of the Continental Army. While General Kim had offered much to the locals, the Quebecois were decently well off under the British (as General Kim knew the Quebec Act went a long way to win British support amongst the locals). Regardless, General Kim continued on and began actively meeting with local leaders through the use of a translator and making sure he and his regiments were seen throughout the city. Mainly as a way of showing the locals that the Continental Army was not an occupying force, but a liberating force.

After five days have passed, with small steps of progress being made, Major Knowlton marched into the city of Montreal with his Recon Company. And to the surprise of General Kim, he was also accompanied by hundreds of French Canadians and additional recruits from the colonies, along with loads of supplies and munitions. The leaders of the additional forces were (self-proclaimed) Colonel Ethan Allen, who apparently had entered Quebec on his own upon hearing of General Kim's advance and recruited locals for the patriot cause, James Livingston, a grain merchant from New York living in Quebec at the time of the invasion, and Major John Brown, a Continental Army officer that was sent from Fort Ticonderoga with three hundred militiamen from the Massachusetts militia to help with the invasion of Quebec upon Colonel Prescott's request. While the main forces of General Kim's army were attacking Fort St. Johns, the three men, along with their volunteers, had managed to seize the nearby Fort Chambly and take the supplies within. The brainchild of the plan was Major Brown, who saw that the British forces were distracted with the siege of Fort St. Johns and ordered an assault onto the undermanned Fort Chambly and force the defenders to surrender after a short siege and battle. The men were welcomed wholeheartedly by General Kim, explained the situation of the current campaign and administrative affairs, and tasked with assisting the other regiments as well. He guaranteed to the two hundred French Canadian volunteers (who were placed as the "First Canadian Regiment," another Extra Continental Regiment) and the Massachusetts militiamen that they would be just as well as the other soldiers for their service.

General Kim allowed the Marine Recon Company to rest within the city for several days before tasking with them to spread the word up north and to scout out the defenses of Quebec City with great caution, as he knew the city was the last stronghold of the British in the Quebec region. As for the French Canadian volunteers, they were tasked with helping mend the unease relationship between the Continental Army and the locals, serving as translators and negotiators between the two parties. Allen was officially granted a lieutenant colonel rank to lead the newly established Canadian regiment while Major John Brown was designated as the official commanding officer of the "1st Massachusetts Militia Regiment." Livingston was the official liaison between the colonial forces and the Quebecois, who often taught General Kim about the local culture and helped him with negotiations.

During this time, General Kim also came into contact with Christophe Pelissier, who owned an ironworks in Trois-Rivières, a town that was halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. A radical and a strong believer of liberty, Pelissier was already known to General Kim, who studied about the Invasion of Quebec in the other history. It was also a reason why General Kim planned to hold any elections after the capture of Quebec City, as the locals not only wanted autonomy, but also security in the face of British military might. Regardless, the two exchanged pleasantries and General Kim formally negotiated to utilize Pelissier's ironworks to supply his regiments with ammunition and cannonballs. Additionally, the general assured Pelissier that he and his army was in Quebec to help bring liberty to the province and to protect them from "British imperialism," with elections promised after Quebec City was formally secured. Pelissier often met with General Kim and was also a crucial proponent in promoting cooperation between the colonial forces and locals.

After eighteen days have passed after the occupation of Montreal, both General Putnam and the cavalry detachment that was sent to Fort Ticonderoga returned. Apparently the general and his militiamen from Connecuitcut were encountered by the marine cavalry company, who were warned of General Putnam's arrival and escorted the group to Montreal. Additionally, another group of one hundred Native American warriors joined with the group, several of them joining from local villages and others sent from the Iroquois Confederacy for the invasion. It was at this time that General Kim received two crucial pieces of information. The first was that the Iroquois, excluding the Mohawks and the Onondaga, had invaded Quebec through Niagara and was moving westward to pressure the British in the area. The second was that General Washington, along with 15,000 men of the Continental Army, successfully managed to force the defenders of Fort Cumberland (which was only manned by six hundred members of British regulars and local militiamen) to surrender after two weeks and was moving to cut off the British forces in Fort Edward. He was also marching the main core of the army to Fort Sackville, the last bastion before the city of Halifax.

The British were being pressured from all sides, and now was the time to strike.

General Putnam and his militiamen, all three hundred of them, were tasked with guarding Montreal while the other regiments of the Continental Army began their trek towards Quebec City. General Kim was reassured by General Putnam's promises of a light-handed approach to handling affairs with French Canadians and promises to abide by the Asian officer's previous declarations, which were already being supported by a number of locals. The general also made sure to remind his senior that he needed to win the hearts of both the lower classes, the merchants, and the clergy in order to earn the loyalty of the Queboics. By the time General Kim left, the locals were cautiously accepting of their new administrators.

On October 10th, nearly a full month after the invasion of Quebec began, General Kim began his march to the final British stronghold in Quebec. With him were 600 marines (a small detachment was left behind to protect Montreal), 800 men of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, 700 men of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment, 250 warriors of the "Marine Cavalry Company," 300 members of the 1st Canadian Regiment, and 300 men of the 1st Massachusetts Militia Regiment (for a total of 2,950 total men). Supporting these men were plenty of munition and supplies bought from locals and seized from the British forts, twelve howitzers, four twelve-pound cannons, and a firm conviction to seize the city before winter set in.

 

[okmangeez]

"Two days? And is Colonel Arnold certain about his estimates?"

"Yes, sir. He says he's confident he'll be ready within two days."

General Kim paced in front of a strategic map of Quebec City, a map he detailed and copied by hand using various sources from his laptop. The 4 western gates, along with the Quebec Citadel and redoubts, were clearly marked on the map while lines were drawn on the northern part of the city to outline the defenses overlooking a steep hill. Those were the points where the British were expecting the colonial forces to attack from. The eastern portions of the city were exposed, but it was directly facing the St. Lawrence River. Meanwhile, the southern defenses consisted of a steep cliff with a wall to boot. With the weapons and tools he had at hand, it was "technically impossible" for him to attack anywhere but the eastern and northern portions of the city.

The colonial forces arrived outside Quebec City on October 15th and immediately began a siege to wear down the defenders. General Kim was aware that the city needed to be taken preferably before December or he risked his soldiers and supplies being pelted and drenched from snowstorms. Thus, just hours after arriving outside the city limits, General Kim ordered his artillery to begin a constant barrage of bombardments on the western city walls and to begin implementing his plan against the city's defenders. Before leaving Montreal, General Kim shared his plan to the rest of the colonial officers and the plan was set into motion even before the army's arrival at Quebec City. Colonel Arnold and one hundred marines, along with Major Knowlton and his company, were sent ahead to carry out their part of the plan (possibly the most crucial part of the general's plan) which involved seizing Point Levis, a small village that was directly across from Quebec City. Colonel Arnold was chosen for the task due to his ability to improvise quickly and his excellent leadership abilities (not to mention, he was one of the few colonials to enter Quebec City in the other history).

While the bombardment was underway, the Continental Army made several feints towards the city to raise the alarm but General Kim pulled back his troops immediately after the colonial soldiers fired off a volley. Once the colonial soldiers withdrew, the bombardment halted and the guns did not fire against for exactly four hours. His troops took turns making feint attacks toward the city, both as a probing attack and as a distraction to tire out the British and make them less wary of an imminent attack. Already, seven days have passed and the British units were getting used to the scheduled artillery barrage followed by a feint attack, cautiously making General Kim hope that the real attack would catch the defenders off-guard. Even so, General Kim was acting carefully and making sure all his units were in place before the assault into the city. He was aware that Governor Carleton was not a stupid man and played to his strengths well, unfortunately for General Kim and his men. While his troops were better equipped and better motivated than the invading soldiers of the other history, the general needed additional reassurance in order to prevent his troops from being caught in a stalemate or being cut off within the city itself.

A portion of the western wall was already in disarray and broken, with the gap in the wall covered by logs and mismatched stones. The northern and western fronts were ready to push in on his mark, and now all he needed was Colonel Arnold to finish his preparations.

The cost of capturing the city would not be light, but it would be worth it.

+++++

Colonel Benedict Arnold, commanding officer of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment, Hero of the Battle of Fort St. Johns, and "daring" Continental officer, was not as courageous as his men thought he was.

Oh sure, he volunteered to lead this mission, due to his experiences in the navy and his own belief in his abilities. But he wasn't doing this so that some other poor bastard wouldn't be tasked with leading the assault.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. He was afraid of dying. Despite his "heroics," Colonel Arnold was a man that never took unnecessary risks and was only "daring" when he needed to be. He cared deeply for his men's health and his own health, for varying reasons. Just two months ago, he would not have given a damn about his own health or his own men as long as he achieved victory. Victory for himself, and for the colonial cause.

That was until his views and outlooks were shattered completely by General Kim.

At first, he was eager to learn of his own future. After all, General Kim specifically summoned him to his side and revealed his deepest secret to him. He was so sure that he was remembered as a hero in the future, a renowned patriot military leader whose name was passed down through the ages. The truth was much dimmer than he thought it would be.

The history of the other world, of his other-self, disgusted him. To see how far he would have fallen without General Kim's appearance and support was both painful and disgraceful. Even after learning of his fate in the other history, Colonel Arnold could not come to terms with the fact that he abandoned the patriot cause in the other history, the cause he believed in for years. And to think, his betrayal was because of his hunger for money and fame, which clouded his better judgment, and led to his own destruction. In a way, it was ironic; he always believed he was above ranks and fame until he was shown the "other history."

He came to his decision just a day after his first meeting with General Kim. Colonel Arnold accepted General Kim's offer of commission and formally became the leader of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment initially, and then transferred to the 3rd Connecticut Regiment upon the general's request. What the "other" Benedict Arnold in the "other" history was disgraceful and he himself was ashamed. And while General Kim was the only one to know of his "other" self, Colonel Arnold was going to do his damn best to ensure that he didn't disgrace his family name this time around.

Thankfully, when the general said he would be given a fair chance to prove his worth, he meant it. And Colonel Arnold's chance to prove himself came when he was tasked with seizing a British ship docked near Fort St. Johns in order to capture supplies and demoralize the defenders of the nearby fort. He led three dozen men to raid the lightly defended docks at dusk and seized the schooner before it could make its escape. The capture contributed significantly to the fort's fall and he was hailed as a hero.

But it wasn't enough. He needed to do more, achieve more, and win more for the patriot's cause. Ranks and money be damned, he was getting paid well enough by the general and he was high enough rank to lead nearly a thousand men by himself. No, he needed to achieve more and win more to get placed into the history books, this time as a hero, not a villain. And above all else, he needed to atone for what he had done in the other world.

Colonel Arnold couldn't die yet, he still had so much to do.

"Colonel, the general has sent the signal! The attack has commenced" One of the marines he was leading stated.

The colonel grinned as he looked at the marines around him. They were all skilled and disciplined men, some of the best the marine regiment had to offer. General Kim was loaning these men to him to cause chaos behind enemy lines. They all looked at him expectantly, as he was the first officer outside of the marine regiment to be given command of the marines. Regardless, he was going to win and to bring these men back home.

"Prepare the rafts and canoes!"

 

[okmangeez]

"For freedom!"

"Oorah!"

The skies were still dark when General Kim made his move. Several marines were killed by British fire as they approached the walls, but the main bulk of the colonial forces pushed on through the breach. The riflemen of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment picked off any defenders they could see on the walls and provided covering fire for the advancing soldiers. In addition to this, the marine artillery corps continued to fire at British positions on the walls and on the main citadel itself. Out of the 3,000 or so men that were taking part in the assault, a good majority of them were attacking through the western walls. The western walls were the most heavily fortified and heavily manned part of the city, but it was also the place where the Continental Army had a chance to entrench themselves. The northern and eastern defenses were directly next to the city itself and lacked open space for the units to freely move and establish themselves. Meanwhile, there were open fields and hills behind the western gates, the perfect terrain for the marines to dig in and organize themselves.

The plan of attack was complex, yet simple. The assault was to be carried out from three different directions: west, north, and east. Colonel Arnold and Major Knowlton, along with two hundred marines, were to attack from the river itself utilizing boats and rafts to seize the docks and place pressure on the British flanks. The 3rd Connecticut Regiment, along with the 1st Massachusetts, were tasked with striking the northern defenses using the cover of darkness and surprise. The main attacking force, consisting of the remaining units of General Kim's army, was ordered to breach the western defenses and secure the walls for the final push into the city proper. His goal was to divide the enemy forces so that one of the fronts could achieve a breakthrough, or at least disorient the enemy and pressure them from multiple sides.

General Kim fired several shots as he advanced forward, the marines streaming in first as the shock troops. Before he committed his men to the attack, he also directed the men to enter through the breach in waves. Each wave was tactically planned to utilize the strength of each unit under his command. The first wave was the marines, the elite troops that would establish a "beachhead" and push back the enemy. The second wave would consist of the 1st Canadian Regiment and the individuals in the regiment would shout for the defending Canadian militiamen to surrender and to fight for their freedom from the British. Even if the militiamen sided with the British did not defect or turn against the British regulars, the action was approved by General Kim to demonstrate that the attack was not merely a colonial effort to seize Quebec. It was also to make the defending militiamen hesitant to fire upon their own countrymen. Only time would tell if the tactic worked, but it was worth an effort.

The third wave would consist of the Native American cavalry units, which would enter through the breach and strike any British units attempting to resist the colonial advance in the open field. With fire support from the marines and the Canadian regiment, the cavalry would sweep any British defenders attempting to remain close to the western walls in order to fire upon the narrow entry point. Once the field was cleared and secured, the Pennsylvanians would move in and signal for the artillery to halt their fire. Afterward, the riflemen would man the remainders of the wall and nearby high points to harass the British forces near the outskirts of the city itself.

It was a solid plan in theory, but now the plan would be tried against hostile British soldiers.

As the Canadian regiment, shouting at the top of their lungs, followed the marines, he silently prayed to his "benefactor" for victory and success.

Hopefully, his prayers would be heard and the brave men on the other two fronts would succeed in their endeavors.

+++++

Major John Brown of the 1st Massachusetts Militia Regiment's respect towards General Kim and his men grew significantly during the time he spent with them. The marines were a fearsome bunch, as their superior weaponry and tactics made them extremely difficult to defeat in combat. And led by their inspiring and fearless leader, it was unsurprising that the marine regiment was undefeated in combat and prevailed in every battle. Major Brown greatly appreciated having the marines by his side, as they were a source of inspiration for his men and the other units under General Kim's command.

However, he did not appreciate the fact that he was now in charge of leading the assault on the northern defenses of Quebec City.

Despite the men of the 3rd Connecticut and the 1st Massachusetts Militia being isolated from their allies, the push into the northern parts of the city was initially a success. Some of the British regulars and militiamen that were manning the northern defenses were sent to the west to counter the main assault group. Additionally, the two regiments managed to catch the defenders off guard using the cover of darkness and managed to get an accurate volley of musket fire on the remaining soldiers on the defenses before the defenders were able to respond. As a result, the two colonial regiments managed to enter the city limits and seize the northern Dauphine Redoubt with few casualties.

Unfortunately, one of the casualties happened to be Colonel Justin Swift, who was shot in the leg by a frantic Quebecois militiaman while he was leading the 3rd Connecticut Regiment forward. The man was not in any mortal danger, but he was unable to continue leading the assault and was evacuated by two soldiers from his regiment despite his protests.

As the next highest-ranking officer, he was now the leader over a thousand men with the task of continuing the attack into the city. Major Brown knew that he was allowed to retreat or hold his ground if the situation looked bleak, as General Kim didn't want any of them being captured or killed pointlessly. Regardless, he knew he couldn't sit still or retreat. There were only two hundred marines involved in the river invasion and faced an uncertain amount of defenders. If Major Brown halted his attack now, it would allow the British to reposition themselves and repulse the marines fighting in the riverfront.

He ducked behind the stone redoubt as a bullet whizzed by him. The major gritted his teeth as he readied his musket and fired towards the origin of the bullet. He wanted to say that he managed to pick off the British soldier aiming at him, but both sides were firing upon each other continuously. The ground was littered with dozens of bodies on both sides and from his point of view, it was an even battle between the two forces.
The regiments needed to move forward and they needed someone to initiate it.

"Soldiers of the Continental Army and militia! We need to move forward! Fix bayonets and charge!"

+++++

"That's another one dead." A marine proudly announced as he moved away from the window to hide from British counterfire.

Major Thomas Knowlton didn't respond as he fired off a shot off his own towards a militiaman that was standing next to the British regulars. The bullet struck home and the militiaman went limp into the dirt. The marines had managed to secure a number of buildings in the vicinity of the docks and were utilizing them to harass any of the defenders that attempted to approach their position. Despite his own reservations of Colonel Arnold's abilities (and sometimes, sanity), Major Knowlton had to admit that the colonel pulled off a miracle in order to make the plan work. Colonel Arnold worked tirelessly for a period of ten days to acquire any canoes or boats from the locals. Once he realized he didn't have enough for all two hundred marines that were planned for the river crossing, he ordered the men under him to build canoes themselves. While the hastily built canoes were not entirely stable (indeed, nearly two dozen men fell into the river and were attempting to warm themselves up in the occupied buildings), the colonel managed to get all two hundred marines across the St. Lawrence River without any deaths. And now, the marines were safely secured within the buildings and were able to carry out their part of the plan.

While the marines near Major Knowlton were taking their time to aim their rifled muskets and pick off the enemy accurately, Colonel Arnold was looking through his binoculars and watching for any signs of friendly or hostile movements.

"Anything yet, colonel?"

Colonel Arnold shook his head, his tall and imposing figure leaning cautiously away from the window, "I'm seeing some activity in both the west and the north, but the other groups have not yet breached the inner parts of the city."

The major wasn't surprised, as the British response to their sudden appearance in the docks was rather lackluster. Most likely, it meant that the other two groups were facing the brunt of the British defenses, "Then will we continue to maintain our position?"

"You will maintain this position with your recon unit. I will lead the other remaining marines into battle," Colonel Arnold smirked as he placed his binoculars away into a small pouch. "The other fronts may need our assistance, but we still need to make sure that we have a point of escape if we are pushed back."

One of the first acts the marines carried out was to burn and wreck any transport ships or boats that were not theirs. This was a specific order that came from General Kim himself, mainly in order to prevent the British forces from escaping if they lost the battle.

While Major Knowlton wanted to object to the colonel's orders, he knew the colonel wasn't wrong. Just one hundred marines flanking an enemy position could turn the tide of battle in their favor. The major didn't want to split up his forces and risk the lives of the other marines, but attacking the British with a risky flanking maneuver was a better option than letting the other two groups be whittled down from British fire.

"I will provide covering fire for you, colonel. Which front will you assist?"

"That should be obvious, major," Colonel Arnold grabbed his musket and motioned for his men to follow, "It's definitely not the front that we know will prevail in the end."

 

[okmangeez]

Major Brown gritted his teeth as he narrowly dodged a bayonet and pushed his own bayonet forward. The bayonet gutted the British soldier in front of him and the Redcoat went down with a deep wound in his stomach.

The charge did not work as intended. The men of the 3rd Connecticut and the 1st Massachusetts were not fearless, nor were they trained in hand to hand to the same extent of the marines. The men were certainly brave and disciplined (thanks to the training they received under Colonel Arnold and General Kim), but they were still outmatched by the British in terms of individual skill. The initial charge caught the British off guard, but once they managed to equip bayonets of their own, the British seized the upper hand and forced the colonials to a standstill. It didn't help that a number of British soldiers were shooting from the buildings as well, keeping the battle even and tiring out the attackers.

While the colonials outnumbered the British, if the regiments continued taking heavy casualties, it was entirely possible that the men would begin to retreat from the battlefield. And Major Brown was not confident in his abilities to rally the men for another assault.

The front needed help, but General Kim's main forces were still bogged down in the western outskirts of the city. For the time being, the major and his units were isolated and alone.

That was until he heard a battle cry coming from behind the defenders.

"Oorah!"
The battle began to shift rapidly. A number of British soldiers turned to meet the soldiers flanking them but quickly found themselves pelted by bullets. The houses that previously housed British soldiers were now firing upon the defenders while a small group of individuals wearing black jackets and white pants hid behind crates and walls while firing on the Redcoats.

"Push forward!" Major Brown cried as he led his men with his musket raised above his head, "Come on men! Are we going to let the marines take all the credit?!"

The sight of allies flanking the British and forcing the British to split their attention rejuvenated the weary colonial forces and they pushed the British lines with greater vigor. More British soldiers and Québécois militiamen began to fall compared to the colonial soldiers, being harassed from two sides and hit with both bayonets and bullets.

It was the militiamen that threw their arms and surrendered first. Many of them looked angry and glared at the British regulars as they did. These soldiers stepped away from the chaos and allowed the colonial forces to fight the remaining British regulars without any resistance.

Soon, the British found themselves significantly outnumbered and outgunned. After a failed attempt to dislodge the marines from the nearby buildings and to retreat further into the city, the British soldiers also surrendered.

By the time the fighting died down, hundreds of bodies were dead or dying on the ground. Immediately, Major Brown ordered the medics within his ranks (a useful role that was created by General Kim to treat any wounded on the battlefield) to treat the injured on both sides. He also began to inspect the surviving men under his command in order to get a sense of his units' combat strength. As he was doing so, a man dressed in a fancy uniform that was similar to that of the marines uniform stepped forward to greet him, "Colonel Swift?"

"Unfortunately not, Colonel. I'm Major John Brown, 1st Massachusetts. Colonel Swift was injured while leading the initial attack and I was placed in command in his stead. Thank you for the assistance," Major Brown replied.

"It's a good thing we made it here on time. We took several casualties while coming here to help your men, but it looks like we made it just in time," Colonel Arnold said as he looked at the remainders of his 3rd Connecticut regiment calculatingly, "What is the condition of your regiment and my regiment, Major?"

Major Brown sighed, "Not too good sir. My own regiment suffered around sixty casualties and the 3rd Connecticut suffered approximately one hundred fifty casualties. The men are also exhausted from climbing and fighting for the last several hours."

Colonel Arnold frowned, "The defenders fought furiously, so I'm not entirely surprised. Regardless, I'll need any able-bodied men to come with me to help the general."

"Understood sir. I'll let the men know right away."

++++

Quebec City was now in General Kim's hand.

But General Kim wasn't celebrating. No, he was mourning and reflecting on the events that transpired during the Battle of Quebec. He was in a tavern that was temporarily set up as the HQ of the Continental Army with his officers and representatives of the city. The gathered individuals looked celebratory and grim at the same time. The city was now under colonial control, but the costs were heavier than estimated. It didn't help that a large number of dead defenders were locals as well.

The general severely underestimated Governor Carleton's capabilities and nearly two hundred men under his direct command were now casualties. It was apparent that the governor was somewhat aware of the marines' tactics and planned accordingly. While the weather was not cold enough to freeze the ground directly, the governor poured water over the fields beyond the western gates and placed a layer of gravel as well. As a result, his forces struggled to build trenches in the fields and took over five dozen casualties as they were caught in the open. The governor also placed artillery pieces directly near the outskirts of the city to deny any charges, which cost the general nearly twenty Native American fighters. His forces barely achieved a breakthrough just as Colonel Arnold and his men began their flanking attack on the remaining defenders. In total, the invading army suffered over four hundred casualties, which included forty two marines. In contrast, the defenders suffered around five hundred casualties with eight hundred captured. It was evident that the governor did not get any reinforcements as the other history and was left to make do with a smaller force of British regulars. And General Kim's spread of propaganda was somewhat effective, as the number of militiamen that answered the governor's call of arms was significantly less than the their history and many were reported to have been forcibly conscripted. Regardless, the defenders fought tooth and nail and inflicted many casualties on the Continental Army.

It was a victory, but a very pyrrhic victory for the Continental Army. As Governor Carleton stated as he was captured, "If your Army was any smaller, we would've prevailed in the end."

Like after the previous battle, General Kim called for a meeting with his officers to review the battle and implement improvements for future conflicts. The last battle was an overwhelming victory and the strategic meeting afterward was brief. This meeting was most definitely going to be longer.

But first, he needed to speak with the representatives of the Québécois first before he convened the post-battle meeting.

Colonel Moses Hazen, who was one of the commanding officers of the militiamen within the city, stepped forward to speak on the behalf of the gathered Quebecois. In another history, he would have defected to the Americans once the Invasion of Quebec was underway. In this world, he remained on the side of the British and defended Quebec City during the battle. However, he was not hostile to the Americans and was cooperative with the Continental Army. He cleared his throat as he respectfully tipped his hat to the commanding general, "Thank you for meeting with us civilly, general. I'm sure most of the gentlemen gathered here are aware of your guarantees and promises, and none of us have any objections to them. However, we are... worried about your plans for Quebec City. Especially since many of us fought in the battle against you."

"It's understandable, Mr. Hazen," General Kim responded as he looked at the French Canadian representatives, "Do not worry, the same guarantees and promises I made to the people of Montreal and the occupied parts of Quebec will apply to Quebec City as well. Additionally, you have my word that none of the militiamen will be held as prisoners for their participation in the battle. Any French Canadian militiamen that surrendered to our forces will be released immediately and be allowed to return to their homes in peace."

Hazen visibly relaxed at those words, "And we have heard rumors that you will convene an election in Quebec?"

General Kim nodded, "Once the situation in Quebec is settled and the remaining British prisoners are safely transported out of the province, I will allow the people of Quebec to hold an election in regards to their future. Of course, the choices will be between independence from both Britain and the Continental Congress, or participating in the Continental Congress and sending a representative to Philadelipha to discuss terms."

"And I'm sure you wish for our people to participate in your colonies' Continental Congress?"

"That would be correct, but I will leave it up for the people to decide. While I will guarantee that you will be able to enjoy autonomy and representation within the Continental Congress, it is ultimately up to the people of Quebec to decide on how to proceed from this point onwards. I do not wish to be like the British, gentlemen. We come as liberators and friends, not as conquerors."

"I see," Hazen replied as he looked at the general thoughtfully, "We will spread the word amongst the locals and to nearby towns as well. For the time being, I would like for your forces to remain in Quebec and help build up defenses in case of a potential British invasion. The election can also happen in due time."

The Korean-American officer bowed slightly, "Of course. Regardless of what Quebec's decision may be, we wish for the province to be free from any potential British aggression."

Once the representatives exited the tarven, General Kim turned to the remaining officers and sighed, "Alright gentlemen, let us review what happened today..."

 

[okmangeez]

On the evening of January 6th of 1776, General Kim paced in his makeshift office (a small room in a local inn) nervously as he waited for the result of the elections.

After a series of negotiations, it was agreed that January 2nd, 1776 would be the official date of the election regarding Quebec's future. It took several weeks for the province to be calmed and pacified, but by mid December, General Kim was confident that Quebec was totally free from British control. The few remaining strongholds in isolated parts of the province surrendered upon hearing the fall of Quebec City, as they were now within a hostile territory and isolated from the main British forces in North America. Additionally, the defenses in Quebec City were coming along nicely, with the former defenses being rebuilt and small warships being constructed to defend the city from any naval incursions. After it became clear that Quebec was free from British control, the locals embraced the colonials more openly and more Quebecois vocally supported the patriot cause. This was mainly due to the lack of British threat of retaliation, the forgiving attitude of General Kim and the policies carried out by General Putnam and General Kim, which allowed the Quebecois greater autonomy and respected the culture and rights of locals.

Even so, the general was greatly anticipating the results of the election. Upon his insistence, all Quebecois twenty years or above (including women) were allowed to vote for their province's future. Some of the representatives were hostile to the idea, but General Kim remained unfettered by their protests. He argued that the people of the province as a whole needed to decide on the future of Quebec, not a selective group of individuals. Additionally, he stated that many of the locals were affected by the British "occupation" and the colonial invasion. As such, in his opinion, they deserved the right to voice their opinion on the matter as well. Seeing that they were unable to change his mind, the representatives relented. January 2nd was declared the official election date and the day was declared a temporary holiday to allow the people to vote. Ten polling stations (most of them were in taverns that were within the largest towns and cities in the area) were opened throughout the province and all of them were under the watchful eyes of colonial soldiers to ensure that the election was carried out fairly. Once the polls closed, the results were carried by Native American cavalry units to Quebec City, where the votes were to be counted by both colonial and local representatives to ensure that there were no bias or rigging involved.

And now, General Kim waited for the votes to be finalized.

The total population of the province of Quebec was approximately 90,000, so he expected the votes to be counted fairly quickly. Some of the votes were already counted, but he requested that the votes to be only reported after all the votes were accounted for. The last thing he wanted was false hopes and early celebrations.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, there was a knock on his room's door.

When he opened it, he came face to face with Christophe Pelissier, who was one of the representatives that was in favor of joining the Continental Congress and the other colonies. Upon seeing General Kim, the French-Canadian man broke out into a wide smile, "You have done it, general! The votes were overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Continental Congress and fighting against the British. Many were not happy with Governor Carleton's policies during the invasion and your own policies and troops have won the people over."

"How close was the vote?"

"From the report I saw, it was 29,000 individuals in favor of joining the colonies and 9,000 in favor of independence," Pelissier answered, "A considerable margin, I would say. The people have spoken, and the other representatives will convene to decide on the individuals that will be sent to Philadelphia to represent Quebec."

General Kim let out a sigh of relief as he slumped into a chair, "If I can speak honestly, Mr. Pelissier, I think I need a break for some time. The Invasion of Quebec and the administrative work have drained me considerably."

The ironwork owner let out a small laugh, "By all means, I think you deserve a break for all the work you have done for the sake of Quebec. You have certainly done much to make sure the people remained happy and relatively unaffected from the invasion. I mean, if you look at the votes, I believe that the message of the people is very clear."

"Unfortunately, I have no time to rest for the immediate future," General Kim grumbled as he showed the representative a parchment, "The Continental Congress has requested me to travel to Philadelphia immediately, along with the Quebecois representatives if Quebec voted in favor of joining our cause. I assume Congress is eager to hear the news regarding Quebec and wishes to assign me elsewhere. I'm afraid the war goes on in other colonies, even with the capture of Halifax by General Washington. I will most likely be sent to the south, as the fighting is the heaviest there."

"I will let the others know immediately. Will your units withdraw from the province as well?" Pelissier asked with a worried expression.

The general stroked his chin, "I will remain for a few days for the other continental forces to arrive in Quebec City. For the time being, my men and I will remain here. Do not worry, I have received word that a contingent of 1,000 men will be permanently stationed in the city. General Putnam will continue to serve as the military governor until the relationship between Quebec and the Congress is officialized, but that matter will be settled soon enough."

Pelissier nodded understandingly, "That sounds workable. Well, I will allow you to celebrate in peace, general. I'm sure you are exhausted and desire some rest."

"Please," General Kim said as he smiled, "Thank you for the news, Mr. Pelissier. I can breathe a bit easier now."

After the French-Canadian man left, he laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling silently. He had been in the past for nearly half a year, and the changes he had made were already substantial. The British were not threatening the northeastern colonies and were forced to retreat to Georgia, where their main forces were now stationed. Quebec City was not under siege but was firmly under colonial control. The Maritime province was also occupied by the colonial forces and from what he understood, the Maritime province was already sympathetic to the patriot cause and was sending representatives to Philadelphia as well. The Native Americans were not hostile to the colonies, but actively cooperating with them and negotiating on their official status with the colonies in Philadelphia. The future of the United States looked bright, especially if the representatives agreed on the proposals for true equality and rights for all.

Of course, not everything was going smoothly. Georgia was actively hostile to the Continental Congress and was a staging point for the British forces. South Carolina was teetering on the brink of civil war due to the abolition proposal. The British were bombarding and raiding coastal cities, as General Kim recently received word that the British fired upon the city of Boston in revenge for their losses. And even with the promises and guarantees made by him and the Continental Congress, the United States was neither united or independent. It was a fluid situation, and one wrong move could cause the colonies to be divided even further.

Despite all the work he had managed so far, his work was far from over. Even if the United States achieved independence, he would need to help build the nation from the grounds up. If General Washington ran for the presidency once more, he would need serious help presiding and uniting a diverse and disjointed nation.

To say Samuel Kim was stressed and pressured was an understatement. When he told Pelissier that he needed a break, the general was not joking. General Kim really wanted a break, especially since he was saddled with much work and responsibilities. But duty called, and he was needed everywhere.

With a tired sigh, the leader of the marines slipped under his covers. The Asian officer was only asleep for several minutes before his door opened with a crash.

In the doorway was Colonel Arnold and several other officers celebrating with alcohol (which General Kim allowed temporarily to relieve the morale of the men), who were all in a jubilant mood due to the recent news. It took them several moments to realize that the room was strangely quiet and several moments more before they realized that their commanding officer was in bed.

General Kim glanced up from his position and groaned, "Colonel, I will give you five seconds to leave the room with the others. If all of you are not out of the room by then, I will make all of you run around the city until daylight."

Needless to say, the colonial officers excused themselves from the room faster than the British retreat from Montreal.

 

[okmangeez]

After General Kim finished his farewell speech, he was going to march his units back to Philadelphia along with the four individuals selected as representatives of Quebec (Livingston, Pelissier, and two other individuals). General Kim peered into the crowd of seven thousand individuals in front of him. Some of them were soldiers of the Continental Army, both from his own units and from other units that have recently arrived in Quebec City to relieve him and his men. Most of the people in the crowd were ordinary civilians who came out of their way to listen to the general's final speech before he returned to the Thirteen Colonies. General Kim didn't believe that he was a great speaker, but he was going to do his best to leave a good final impression and inspire the gathered individuals to continue the fight against the British.

It had been eight days since the vote across the province was finalized, and it had become vividly clear that most of the population was supportive of working with the Continental Congress. New flags of the province of Quebec were raised everywhere (The flag was similar to the "other" Quebec's flag, though the flag was gold instead of blue) and enlistment for the 1st Canadian Regiment and the new 2nd Canadian Regiment expanded the number of French Canadians in the Continental Army to nearly one thousand individuals. There were no protests or riots against the decision, but a general acceptance of the province's future. While a minority desired independence, even they recognized the potential for a British invasion and the protection they were offered under the Continental Congress. Added to the greater liberties they were beginning to enjoy, even the harshest critics of General Kim and the Continental Congress grudgingly realized that a relationship with the Congress preferable at least for the time being. The few remaining dissenters (mainly pro-British individuals that were from Britain or traced their ancestry backed to Britain) had already fled the province once the colonials took over.

The general himself was proclaimed as "Le Libérateur" in the province, which both humbled and surprised him. The title served as a reminder that while his work was "done" in Quebec, there were still thousands out there that sought the same relief and liberation that the Quebecois received.

"It seems like just yesterday, I was at the very southern edges of Quebec. I was peering into the unknown, a land that was untouched by the war and firmly in the hands of the British," General Kim said as he started his speech, "I can not say that everything went perfectly and that the lives of everyday people of this land were not affected. Even so, I do no regret fighting and liberating Quebec from the British. I do not regret giving the people of Quebec a chance to seize their own destiny."

"We must not forget this; freedom is not free. Freedom will always come with a cost, but it will be up for the people to determine if the costs are worth the outcome. Just over a week ago, the people of Quebec determined that the risks were worth the benefits and chose to join in our struggle against the British. For that, I thank you. While there is a difference in culture and beliefs between Quebec and the other colonies, I assure you that your voices and determination have been heard by those in the colonies. We may not be united now, but we will be united soon through our common future; a future free from British rule and liberty for all!"

The crowd stirred a bit but continued to listen as the general continued, "Which is why, to my greatest regret, I must leave the province and help finish the war elsewhere. There are still so many people waiting for liberation, waiting for a chance to voice their opinions like the people of Quebec have throughout the entirety of North America. I love the people of Quebec, they have been the most welcoming people despite my own shortcomings. It is truly a shame to depart from a land that has welcomed me and supported my hopes and dreams. But before my departure, I will like to leave this final message for the people."

"We must be free not because we proclaim freedom, but because we practice it. Quebec has become, quite possibly, the first place in the world where its future was decided by the population as a whole regardless of race and gender. It is a radical idea, an idea that is untested and untried. But we must remember that we can not make freedom exclusive to certain individuals and groups, but allow freedom to be practiced by all that are willing. I sincerely hope that Quebec will be a shining example to the other colonies and provinces that will serve as a reminder that the people are able to control their own destinies and that freedom can be guaranteed for all. It will not be an easy fight, but it is a cause worth fighting for. And even as I leave this wonderful province, I hope that these words are taken to heart and guide the brave people of Quebec in their future endeavors. Thank you, and may God bless all of you here today."

After he finished, the crowd clapped and cheered for the general. In front of the crowd, General Kim was relieved of his duties in Quebec by Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who had been recently promoted to the rank of general and was placed in command of the defenses in Canada. With a final wave, General Kim, "Le Libérateur" of Quebec, parted ways with the French Canadians and started his journey back to Philadelphia.

+++++

The journey back to the colonies was intentionally made longer so that General Kim and his men could rendezvous with General Washington and his own men. The two officers decided to meet in the city of New York, the same place where they had their first meeting together. With some coordination and effort, the two groups met together just outside New York City on January 27th of 1776 and began their trek together back to Philadelphia as victors. General Washington was also escorting the representatives of the Maritime province, which consisted of two representatives from Nova Scotia (as Prince Edward Island was still under nominal British control).

"It certainly seems like they were waiting for our return, General Kim," General Washington chuckled as the people of New York were cheering and welcoming the presence of the two most famous military leaders of the Continental Army. From the looks of it, it seemed as though the entire city was gathered to throw a welcoming celebration for General Washington and General Kim. The soldiers of the Continental Army proudly marched behind their respective leaders and smiled at the celebratory crowd.

General Kim failed to suppress a smile and grinned at the crowd, "The city seems a bit battered, but the people sure seem firey as ever."
New York City was one of the cities targetted by the British sea raids and was evidently recovering from a previous raid that destroyed parts of the docks and the city. Yet the people seemed lively and in good spirits, which was a welcoming sight to see for General Kim.

"Well, you have inspired the people after all. Your legacy is spreading throughout the colonies, even the southern ones. Many have heard of your leadership during the Battle of Bunker Hill and have been made aware of your victory over the British in Quebec. Some are calling you undefeatable, they see you as a symbol of hope."

"But you have also achieved much success as well, general. I can not take all the credit for all the victories so far, especially so since Colonel Arnold was the key reason why my forces won the Battle of Quebec in the first place," General Kim protested.

General Washington shook his head in response, "Oh, the people have been made aware of his successes as well. He will be formally promoted for his heroics once we arrive in Philadephia, but my successes pale in comparison to your own successes. You won an impossible battle at Bunker Hill and not only drove the British out of Quebec, but also secured the loyalty of the Quebecois to Congress as well."

The Asian officer adjusted his hat and looked at the adoring crowd, "It still feels strange, sir. Sometimes, it feels like I'm in a dream as if this was all too good to be true."

"If this is a dream, then it is certainly a wonderful dream. Let us hope we do not wake up from it." General Washington replied.

The "parade" continued until the Continental Army marched to the western outskirts of the city to begin their trek to Philadelphia. Once they left the city limits, some of the civilians followed suit. Some of them wanted to continue to watch the formations of soldiers heading to Philadelphia. Others wanted to enlist their services in the Continental Army.

A small boy, no older than the age of sixteen, ran up to General Kim as he was guiding his soldiers and smiled brightly, "Sir! My name is Kayden Cox and I would like to join your marines!"

"And may I ask how old you are, Mr. Cox?" General Kim asked as he inspected the young man up and down.

"Fifteen, sir! But I have written permission from my parents to enlist!"

"Er," The marine commander looked to General Washington for help, but was greeted to the sight of the man smiling and motioning for him to carry on, "While I have no doubt you are brave and eager to join the marines, I must say that you are far too young to join the marines as a soldier. But, if you are willing, I will allow you to serve as a drummer or flag bearer for my regiment. Especially since the marines do love to sing a song that needs some drumbeats."

Some of the nearby marines chuckled at the general's statement, but Cox's smile didn't falter, "Sure thing, sir! Will I get your uniform and everything?"

General Kim grinned, "I believe that can be arranged. Major Poor! Please see to it that this boy is properly in uniform and ready to join our ranks. He will be placed under your command for the time being."

The boy didn't seem intimidated or frightened at the sight of the tall African American man coming to greet him. Instead, the boy enthusiastically began to ask the recently promoted major about his military career and his stories during the campaign. Major Poor seemed surprised, but was also infected by the young man's smile and guided him to the back of the lines.

It was a tough choice, allowing children to join, but he knew they had a better chance of surviving and getting fed properly under his command. Especially since the general was going to place any children in non-combat roles. While he was most definitely against the usage of children in warfare, General Kim knew that if he turned down Cox or any other children like him, they would attempt to join other units or even local militias. And while General Washington was a good man, he most likely didn't have any qualms using children for battles. It was a choice he didn't like to make, but General Kim had to make them anyways.

The march continued for a few hours longer before the two generals were intercepted by a messenger coming from Philadelphia. The messenger seemed out of breath, but he walked up and saluted to the two officers, "General Washington, General Kim. I have been tasked with delivering this message from the Continental Congress to both of you."

After being handed the message, the two generals looked at the content of the message together. Immediately afterward, General Washington and General Kim ordered his men to pick up the pace and rapidly march to Philadelphia.

The message from Congress was short, yet powerful, "The Declaration has been finalized. Independence is near."