The narrative pauses over a possible Anglo-American crisis after Confederate representatives were removed from a British mail ship in the Caribbean. Britain considered sending modern ironclad frigates to show that interference with its vessels had consequences, while avoiding entry into the Civil War. New Ironsides would likely have been the Union ship sent to answer that display. Her purpose in such a confrontation would have been to show American resolve and prevent the United States from appearing cowed. The counterfactual presents a powerful warship as a tool of deterrence and diplomatic signalling even when neither side wanted a battle.
Notable Point · 20:49-22:07
New Ironsides in an Anglo-American naval crisis
A counterfactual crisis explains why the Union needed a powerful ironclad even when Britain and the United States wanted to avoid a wider war.