This day 150 years ago in Rebel Raiders’ History

-Dedicated to Civil War episodes, battles, people and ships that also appear in my game, GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas,  

May 14, 1863

            Historical Event:   Rebel raiders expelled from England!

Succumbing to growing popular pressure to curtail ties with the South in the wake of Lincoln’s issuing of The Emancipation Proclamation, construction of Confederate raiders in English ports is halted by order of Her Majesty’s Government.  The chief Confederate agent for those in England, Commander James D. Bullock, CSN, is told his ships will not be confiscated, as the Union has asked, but will be allowed to sail for France, where construction may continue, subject to the whim of Emperor Napoleon III.

            Game Connection:  No game of the Civil War would be complete without a nod to The Emancipation Proclamation.  The Union player can enact it starting in 1863 upon capture of a Confederate city or port.  Among the many benefits the Union obtains from this act is the enhanced abilities noted on USN Card 55 (Diplomatic Pressure).   As noted on the card, the Union selects one of the two European port boxes and places a marker there, not only closing it to the South for the duration of the game, but also allowing him to roll a die for each Rebel ship in that port which will result in either it being seized or forced out to sea.