The Appalachian War (July 2037 – January 2038) was a six-month-long rebellion waged by the Appalachian Union against the (New) United States of America under President Kevin Thorne. This brutal conflict erupted as the fractured remnants of the Second American Civil War continued to shape North America’s geopolitical landscape. With backing from the Neo-Confederate States of North America (NC), the Appalachian Union—comprising West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina—sought to secede and join the Neo-Confederacy, rejecting the progressive policies of Kevin Thorne’s administration. What began as a series of strategic insurgent attacks soon escalated into a bloody guerrilla war in the Appalachian Mountains, culminating in a devastating crackdown by the (New) United States. The war left tens of thousands dead, resulted in widespread destruction, and directly triggered the First North American War as the NC used the conflict as justification for a full-scale invasion.
Background[]
Following the conclusion of the Second American Civil War, the newly reconstituted United States under President Kevin Thorne faced the immense challenge of rebuilding a war-torn nation. Thorne’s administration, formed through Liberty Underground and the Democratic Forces, sought to implement sweeping progressive reforms to stabilize the country. These policies included federally legalized abortion, a national healthcare system, and economic programs aimed at restoring infrastructure and employment. However, these efforts were met with staunch resistance in traditionally conservative states, particularly West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina—regions that had long harbored sympathies toward the American Legion and the Neo-Confederate movement.
As Thorne’s government aggressively cracked down on warlords and criminal enterprises that had flourished during the civil war, opposition grew in the Appalachian region. With funding and military support from the NC, these states formed the Appalachian Union, declaring their intent to secede from the (New) United States and join the NC in mid-2037. The Appalachian Union mobilized various far-right militias, former conservative military officers, and extremist paramilitary groups to launch an armed rebellion against Thorne’s government. Their first major attacks, targeting Richmond, Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland, escalated the conflict into a full-scale war.
The New US, wielding the full force of Liberty Underground and the Democratic Forces, responded with overwhelming military force. Despite early setbacks due to the Appalachian Union’s effective guerrilla warfare, the tide of the war shifted by October 2037, as federal forces encircled and isolated the rebels in the Appalachian Mountains. Both sides engaged in brutal tactics, including targeted bombings, mass executions, and the use of scorched-earth strategies. By January 2036, the Appalachian Union was crushed, its remaining forces forced into surrender or annihilated. The war’s atrocities and devastation, however, provided the Neo-Confederacy with the justification it needed to launch an invasion of the New US, sparking the First North American War.
Timeline of Events[]
- July 1, 2037 – The Appalachian Union declares secession from the (New) United States, formally allying with the Neo-Confederate States of North America.
- July 4, 2037 – Appalachian Union forces, supported by NC-backed militias, launch a surprise assault on Richmond, Virginia, killing over 2,000 civilians and military personnel.
- July 10, 2037 – A second attack is carried out on Hagerstown, Maryland, crippling supply lines and communication networks in the region.
- July 12, 2037 – President Kevin Thorne formally declares war on the Appalachian Union, mobilizing Liberty Underground and the Democratic Forces.
- August 2037 – Appalachian forces utilize guerrilla warfare tactics to achieve a series of victories in rural Kentucky and West Virginia, ambushing federal convoys and taking control of key mountain passes.
- September 2037 – The Golden Eagles, aligned with the Appalachian Union, launch terror attacks in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, causing mass casualties.
- October 2037 – The New US counteroffensive begins, with federal forces securing major cities and supply lines while pushing rebels into the Appalachian Mountains.
- November – December 2037 – The conflict turns into a brutal guerrilla war in the Appalachian Mountains. Federal forces employ indiscriminate bombing campaigns, targeting both military and civilian areas to flush out insurgents. Atrocities are committed by both sides.
- January 10, 2038 – The last major Appalachian Union stronghold is captured in the Battle of Boone, effectively ending the war.
- January 15, 2038 – The Appalachian Union surrenders. Remaining insurgents either flee, surrender, or are executed by federal forces.
- January 20, 2038 – The Neo-Confederate States use the brutal suppression of the rebellion as justification to declare war on the (New) United States, marking the beginning of the First North American War.
Casualties[]
- Appalachian Union: 60,000 killed, 30,000 wounded, 50,000 captured
- New United States: 40,000 killed, 70,000 wounded
- Civilians: 80,000+ killed (due to bombings, massacres, and urban combat)
- Total Estimated Casualties: 280,000+
Conclusion[]
The Appalachian War, though brief, was one of the most violent and consequential conflicts in post-Civil War America. The brutal tactics employed by both sides set a precedent for the escalating violence that would soon engulf North America in the First North American War.