American Civil War what if? (2 Viewers)

[The Military Workshop]

Interesting thread.

However have another what if.

What if Washington had lost against the British. No ACW ? {sm4} Would have had a devastating effect on the book and TS industry.

Brett

 

[jazzeum]

I will defer to the American Revolutionary War experts but in wars for national independence the colonialist power will lose eventually. Once the local elites turn against you, it's hard to maintain your position.

There is no ACW if the problem of slavery is dealt with in the American Constitution. That and the invention of the cotton gin.

 

[Rob]

I must say the more I read the more I'm drawn into this conflict . Last night I read of the suffering of the troops as they marched towards Gettysburg, crossing rivers , in heavy rain and through deep mud. Hundreds fell by the way as having their shoes sucked off by the deep mud they marched barefoot causing hideous sores and blisters. I was also amazed at how much kit they threw away to lighten the load of a march that for some was I believe around 120 miles. Following one of these regiments on such a march must have been a souvenir hunters paradise! Pretty much everything but their rifle and food could be dumped to ease the burden. Some even threw their ammo away! The daily march was supposed to be done on a single canteen of water which was beyond impossible and as a result men fell by the roadside with dehydration. To march all that way and then go into action almost straight away was an act of admirable stamina and determination. I'm now reading of the ' foraging' (its suggested this is a loose term often bordering on theft and looting) that went on along the route.

Fascinating stuff.

Rob

 

[gettysburgbuff]

With reference to the importance of Little Round Top at Gettysburg:
1. That prominence was NEVER part of R.E. Lee's plan to attack the Federal left flank on July 2. The orders were for Hood's Division to attack in eschelon "along the Emmittsburg Road." As a result of the presence of the 2nd regiment of Berdan Sharpshooters and artillery from Smith's Battery at Devil's Den, portions of Law's Brigade were diverted from the attack plan and followed the sharpshooters toward LRT where they met Strong Vincent's Brigade which just arrived and NOT from any orders of Warren or General Barnes (See Oliver Norton's Attack and Defense of LRT).
2. Even if the Confederates were successful on LRT, their "orders" were not to remain there but continue north in eschelon. The only reason they followed Berdan's men was that they were not entirely sure where the left flank of the Federals was located in that sector and they didn't want to get outflanked.
3. LRT was a poor artillery platform for Confederates facing north. Just stand there today and see that only a few guns could be posted facing in that direction due to the slope of the summit. On July 3, only two guns from Rittenhouse's battery could fire on Pickett's Division facing northwest. Therefore, even if guns could be brought up to LRT at some point later in the afternoon after Law's men moved on, what would be the point?
4. Even if Confederates came down from LRT, they would have Sedgwick's 6th corps to contend with who were just arriving.
5. The real "key" to the Federal position was Culp's Hill. On the evening of July 2 after Federals abandoned the trenches on the lower portion, Confederates occupied them, being less than a half mile from the rear of the Federal wagons, ammo supplies, and the escape route (Baltimore Pike). The window of opportunity passed, however, when the Federals returned there and fighting began.
6. Longstreet was right: Lee should have left Gettysburg, went around the Federals and interposed his army between the Federals and Washington. Regarding the fight at Gettysburg, should Lee still decide to remain there for battle, Hood was right: The Confederates should have attacked around LRT and not gone up the Emmittsburg Road. Unfortunately, Lee was fixated with the apex of the Federal line on Cemetery Hill and choose to attack that position from south to north.
7. A much controversial issue: Sickles disobeyed orders but by advancing his corps, he acted as a breakwater to stop the Confederate jaggernaut before it reached Lee's objective, dissipating its strength, but certainly sacrificing a lot of Meade's men in the process to shore up the Federal position.
Gettysburgbuff