While technically true, I decided to place them in New Orleans for map balance reasons

I understand what you had planned. In a remake you could consider it historically. Could make a more strategic game. Example : New France circled the 13 colonies by west. And England brought larger army and colons and invaded thru the Richelieu and St. Lawrence. Or Canada/US heading west. Or US/Mecico war. Or i have too much fun writing all this LOL. Good map btw haha