Civil War History - "What if..." Discussions | Forum profile

Quote: Originally Posted by Elennsar For purposes of whether or not the unit in question breaks the enemy lines overall? Yes. Then your definitions are wrong. Quote: I have yet to see any example of that. Nor is that what I feel would be good generalship. It is what Lincoln regarded as good Generalship. This is a man who regarded turning a position instead of attacking head on as cowardice. The undermining of Generals in the field is an...

Quote: Originally Posted by 67th Tigers Then your definitions are wrong. I would love to see someone show that Posey's brigade at Gettysburg had an impact on whether or not Cemetary Ridge was held by the Union or not. Looking at what it was doing solely on its own front, its engaged. So far as advancing the overall offense, its not a whole lot more involved than if it was in Virginia. Quote: It is what Lincoln regarded as good...

I believe that Lee would never have written his memoirs. He was much too self-effacing and reticent to think that anyone would be interested in what he had to say. Grant was much the same, but was pretty much forced to write his in order to provide for his soon-to-be widow. If he had, however, it wouldn't have been the wearisome apolgias penned by Davis and Stephens. I wonder if it would have been as well-done as Grant's....

Quote: Originally Posted by Elennsar I think so, but the way Sedgewick's division was slaughtered had to do with how Sumner deployed it - one brigade wide with little focus on the flanks. Still, without a map at hand at the moment, I'd expect that to work better on the other flank - the woods helped conceal the troops that took advantage of that as things historically worked. Agreed; Use of the canal as an obstical on the right...

I'm not sure that "smashed" would have changed things for Lincoln. I guess that is something we cannot know for sure, but I see no reason to think that a more decisve victory would have caused him to rethink his self-promise. Maybe such a victory could have made McClellan more powerful and Lincoln would have given in to that power by avoiding this measure McClellan opposed. I guess that's one scenario where he may...

Scribe, I assuming that the EP is issued in a shorter war scenario. Their status without USCTs and other gains? No 14 or 15 amendments(assuming there is even a 13th)? Not so good for freedpeople.

Quote: Originally Posted by Elennsar Lee sure has a lot more men when McClellan and his defenders are speaking than when anyone else is. I wonder why. Because you need to understand McClellan math. Anyway, in some odd sense, even if Lee's numbers have been underestimated (as some claim), McClellan didn't claim he was simply outnumbered. He believed he was about to be overwhelmed. Moreover, I think those estimates offered by...

Quote: Originally Posted by matthew mckeon I disagree with ole on this. Emancipation was bound to happen by Antietam, providing the North won. Slavery was identified as the root of secession and would not have survived, even if the CSA had collapsed. Lincoln abhorred slavery and wanted it to end, but his first goals were saving the Union and ending the war. Would he not have taken the effect that the EP might have on prolonging the war into...

What if Bobby Lee had lived long enough after the war to write his memoirs? At the time of Lee's death in 1870, he was collected information to write his memoirs but died before he could put his life on paper. If Lee had written his memoirs. what question or questions do you think it would have answered for you about war? If Lee had written his memoirs, what surprises do you think it would have with held within it? Lee'a...

Something that has been going around in my head lately: In regards to the development of the LC myth, espicially in regards to the reputation of Longstreet, do you think it would have changed anything if Pickett live another 10 or 15 years? He seemed to be resentful of Lee after gettysburg (as debated as some of those statements are) and my gut feeling says that Pickett probably would have defended Longstreet and his reputation. Not sure ho...