Battle of Rafts (1840s)
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The Battle of Rafts was a series of small-scale engagements between the Themiclesian Marines and Camian militias between 1841 and 1849, mostly over control of the Isle of Liang. From time to time, lightly-armed Camian militias have hired small boats (the eponymous rafts) and crossed over to Liang and contested Themiclesian control of the island.
The Isle of Liang has been a constant subject of strain for Themi-Camian relations. It was used as a naval port for the Themiclesian Navy for centuries and had few residents on it. After the fleet burnt down in 1791, Themiclesia decided to fortify the island so that troops could be stationed on it permanently, and a rebuilt fleet could safely (i.e. not getting burnt down like in 1791) dock there in case of future operations on the subcontinent. While Themiclesia was not currently aggressive against Camia in the 19th century, the island's geographic position, much closer to Camia than Themiclesia, made it a thorn in the side for Camia's national security. The fact that the island was heavily fortified and four regiments of troops were always present on it only made it seem much more threatening to Camia, and many political figures have made "do something about Liang" a device to arouse public support for them in the 1820s and 30s. Elected on that premise, President Bird faced pressure from the Camian legislature to mount some sort of offensive on the island; however, he procrastinated and told them Camia had not the necessary resources to mount a water-borne invasion.
Then a provincial governor, Richard Acker II, son of President Richard Acker (in office 1801 – 1813), decided in 1841 against Bird's advice and called the local militia to action. Without the support of the Camian Navy, he seized merchant ships and commanded the militias of the county to take the island, with a force of about 300 armed with muskets. The Themiclesian forces on the island consisted of 4,890 regular soldiers plus artillery pieces in five fortifications. Sources differ between what happened during the battle. Camian accounts suggests that entire force did battle at Northwest Fort, bursting into its gates but not able to overcome the sheer quantity of defensive troops. Themiclesian ones suggest that the 300 Camian militiamen attacked more than one fortification and adopted more of a hit-and-run tactic, luring the defenders out in chase and then ambushing them from various positions. At any rate, the operation was not successful, and the Camians repaired to their shores with about 200 surviving.
Acker made political gains for his decisive action and willingness to deliver on his electoral promises. He proceeded to use this battle as an excuse to disparage against Bird's more conciliatory foreign policy and unwillingness to take action against Liang, which he called a "serious threat". When Bird was up for re-election in 1842, Themiclesia disseminated in Camia the view that the four regiments simply did not have the ability to invade Camia, noting that "their artillery pieces are implantd into the citadels." Acker then publicly accused Themiclesia of attemting to numb the electorate and having ulterior motives in Camia, as well as secretly doubling the quantity of troops on the island. Bird won the election, and Acker persisted in sending militiamen to contest the island until the next election in 1848, which he won. The Camian military was not convinced that constantly "pestering Themiclesia" was a militarily sound idea, even though neither was Themiclesia bothered by the raids. Acker in 1847 created Camia's Balloon Corps to spy on Themiclesian positions on the island while remaining out of range, flying them off ships docking just beyond firing range of the island's artillery.
Banned by the Supreme Court
In 1849, the Solicitor-general of Camia landed in Themiclesia and sued the Themiclesian Navy at the Supreme Court for allegedly shooting at its balloons. The Supreme Court ordered the plaintiff to produce the balloon to examine if there were any holes in it, but the Camians refused, on the grounds that Themiclesians might thus learn about various details in balloon construction and flight. The jury found the Navy innocent for lack of evidence. Gah J, one of the puisne justices, refused to believe that "anything will allow a man to fly through the air in manner stated by the plaintiffs." The Themiclesian Air Force's informal motto, "banned by the Supreme Court", references this skeptical statement. It is believed to indicate the (then uncommon) belief that even the civil service (broadly speaking) has moments of failure and ignorance.
List of battles
The following is a list of instances Camia has sent militias to Liang, with estimated strength, if known, in parentheses; if not, the Themiclesian estimate is supplied.
- 1841 (300)
- Jan. 1843 (482)
- Feb. 1843 (est. 400)
- 1845 (224)
- 1846 (280)
- Jul. 1848 (est. 500)
- Dec. 1848 (345)