Civil War History - "What if..." DiscussionsWhat if they had attacked instead of digging in...? What if he was in charge of the army instead...? Did you ever have a "What if..." question, and you weren't sure where to post it? Here's the place to ask these speculative questions!
What may have happened if R. E. Lee sided with the Union? Maybe instead of Lee and Stonewall it'd be Lee and Grant? (Breath deeply and slowly you southerners,) Lee and Sherman (get out the cardiac paddles for the boys of the south!)
__________________ 'If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed,
if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.'
Mark Twain
Lee still would have been under the same political pressure from Washington. Being his first battle, on the offensive, and the questionable quality of the troops, who is to say the same result might not have happened? With that in mind, Lee might have never been heard from again.
Being that Lee was the first choice for Commander I don't think the pressure would have been as intense, but even given that pressure, things might have been better handled by Lee.
As for his never being heard of again, I don't think it can be said of any of the greats: Lee, Grant, Jackson,Sheridan,Sherman,Forrest,Longstreet, etc., that they would have gone down in history ignominously.
Along the way all men have feet of clay at some point; it's the making of their character if they overcome the deficiency.
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
Whoa now. Yes, Lee was a southerner of the first order, but he was also a seasoned US Army officer until months before the assumption of command of the CSA. Lee was a classmate, teacher and comrade in arms with many of those officers he opposed in the war. Grant was no stranger nor was Bad Bill Sherman. Lee would have been a respected officer fully capable of decisions and actions regardless of the format. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a leader of men and eventually earned a place in the hearts of us die-hard southerners. Was he the equal of Lee in terms of manner, education, appointment, military bearing and grace? No.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Huuuuuummmmm. Robert E. Lee as a Commander of the Union Army? How's about this...at what would be his first engagement with General Johnston, Marse Robert treats with him under a flag of truce. Marse Robert reasons with Johnston that he is out numbered, out gunned and generally in a hole. And that Johnston should return with this message to the Confederate congress.
Let's face it Robert E. Lee is a articulate soft spoken man, well respected (even before the war) and very pursausive. The Confederate Congress and
President Jefferson Davis are outraged. General Johnston is demoted and Jackson is promoted to Commamder. In anger and disgrace Johnston returns to Lee and the Union Army to request a commission. He recieves it. Lee meets Jackson in battle in Northern Virginia.
General Lee is incredible as a stradegest and beloved to his men. Jackson believes in his cause and fights with a tenacity so that he is compared as "being immovable as the Blue Ridge Mountains" and he is forever known as
"ole Blue Ridge Jackson".
The armies of the North and South fight to a standstill, a draw if you will.
President Linclon unhappy the war was not won immedately, removes Marse Robert from command.
In anger General Lee refuses to take this demotion lying down he resigns. As he retires to Arlington House he is approached by a group of men who wish to use his name and reputation to further their cause. Will he side with them
and their party and run on the Democratic ticket against Abe Lincoln in the next election?
Well Marse Robert runs is elected in a landslide with a fellow named McClelland
as his Vice President.
Sorry gentlemen this was just a mental exercise for me. I just wanted to run with this speculation Please forgive this nonsense.
i think that if lee had been in command of the union army i really dont think that the war would have lasted long i most defintly think that lee would have still been among the greats of the war i mean look at the company by the way iam new here
dadaken I would have to agree with your mental exercise. Lee against Jackson would be a prize fight worth watching. With Jackson in charge he wouldn't have been in position to receive the fatal injury, which could have left him in charge of the AONV till the final outcome of the war.
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