What if the CSA had aggressivley pursued a Guerrilla Campaign against the Union?

[Elennsar]

Porter Alexander (commander of the 1st Corps's artillery, not all of Lee's, as I recall) did...but it was as a "we're out of any other possibility."

I'm reasonably sure that a guerilla war would have been ineffective...others have stated the whys.

It seems that a fair number of the "Partisan Ranger" units that did form were just a waste of men and horses. I don't see encouraging large numbers of them making that any better.

Regarding the Revolution and their effectiveness...

Briefly put, guerillas (in the Revolution) wreaked plenty of havoc, but take the Continentals away, and they wind up as purely brigands.

The same would happen in the Civil War.

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by Elennsar

Porter Alexander (commander of the 1st Corps's artillery, not all of Lee's, as I recall) did...but it was as a "we're out of any other possibility."

I'm reasonably sure that a guerilla war would have been ineffective...others have stated the whys.

It seems that a fair number of the "Partisan Ranger" units that did form were just a waste of men and horses. I don't see encouraging large numbers of them making that any better.

Regarding the Revolution and their effectiveness...

Briefly put, guerillas (in the Revolution) wreaked plenty of havoc, but take the Continentals away, and they wind up as purely brigands.

The same would happen in the Civil War.

Shows you how good my memory from two days ago is.

From what I remember, I think hunger had a bit to do with it. ...in all fairness, I guess we'll never know one way or the other. ...hence the 'what if' looms.

[Elennsar]

Too many memories, mental search engine too slow. Sucky feeling.

True in regards to it being unknowable. About all we can do with a what if is speculate on the most likely outcome, and failing that, what appears most likely with our perspective where we are now. Failing that, we're basically guessing. At best its an educated guess, but its still a guess.

But I don't see any clear sign that it would have been able to work, that's my main reason for believing it would have been ineffective. It might well have not done any worse, it might have done better, but I don't see it crossing the line into full success with what is assembled here.

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by Elennsar

Too many memories, mental search engine too slow. Sucky feeling.

True in regards to it being unknowable. About all we can do with a what if is speculate on the most likely outcome, and failing that, what appears most likely with our perspective where we are now. Failing that, we're basically guessing. At best its an educated guess, but its still a guess.

But I don't see any clear sign that it would have been able to work, that's my main reason for believing it would have been ineffective. It might well have not done any worse, it might have done better, but I don't see it crossing the line into full success with what is assembled here.

Guess my original thoughts remain - 'One issue that seemed to repeat itself - Sherman, Grant, and Lincoln, were very concerned that the South might resort to a guerilla war.'

I wonder what gave them cause for those concerns? ...if that be the real case.

[Elennsar]

If you'll pardon a touch of bluntness...

Lincoln was probably worried that he would be assassinated. Doesn't make it a good strategy for the Confederacy to do it.

Agreed, though. Was it a realistic fear (of the possibility of losing)? Or was it just thoughts of how horrible it would be (even if beaten)?

I lean towards the latter in the case of Grant and Lincoln, Sherman does not strike me (with due repect to him) as being particularly upset at war being uglier...after all, he thought war was pretty **** ugly without this.

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by Elennsar

If you'll pardon a touch of bluntness...

Lincoln was probably worried that he would be assassinated. Doesn't make it a good strategy for the Confederacy to do it.

Agreed, though. Was it a realistic fear (of the possibility of losing)? Or was it just thoughts of how horrible it would be (even if beaten)?

I lean towards the latter in the case of Grant and Lincoln, Sherman does not strike me (with due repect to him) as being particularly upset at war being uglier...after all, he thought war was pretty **** ugly without this.

I have to say I see Sherman as a paradox - fierce, but at the same time humble. Frankly I was only aware of his 'march to the sea' side. The History Channel series was an eye opener for me.

I'm not sure that I can buy off on Lincoln being afraid, though. Given politics, I have to say he probably had a lot more of courage than most of us - me in particular. I've never been much for politics - any kind.

[Elennsar]

Sherman...makes sense. But a man who would do that without any (apparent) qualms is not a man who would suddenly freak out at having to deal with swarms of brigands. Sherman was an odd guy in this regard, but that's my impression.

Aye. Afraid is probably not quite the right word. "Worried", yes. "Afraid"...not quite. Lincoln held on to his sanity through times that would crush a lesser man.

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by Elennsar

Sherman...makes sense. But a man who would do that without any (apparent) qualms is not a man who would suddenly freak out at having to deal with swarms of brigands. Sherman was an odd guy in this regard, but that's my impression.

Aye. Afraid is probably not quite the right word. "Worried", yes. "Afraid"...not quite. Lincoln held on to his sanity through times that would crush a lesser man.

Elennsar,

Agreed.

[johan_steele]

Gents as to a partisan Warfare, the US Army did a good enough job fighting Partisan warfare against a better motivated, better led and nastier opponent in the last half of the 19th Century and not only won but crushed the opposition. It isn't a particularly bright or glowing moment in our history but there can be no doubt what happened to the Native American of North America. The winner is patently obvious.

You think the Lost Cause screams now... imagine Confederate Reservations... or the Kiowa.

[timewalker]

The only successful guerilla struggles have relied on substantial outside (i.e. foreign) resources and support. Without this support, the guerilla movement quickly gets marginalized into border areas. While the guerilla bands could have carried on for some time, I think the United States experience in the Phillipines provides an example of a guerilla force without foreign support. Eventually the indigenous population grows tired of the deprivations and the guerillas lose their base of support.

If the South turned to guerilla warfare in a major way, the main losers would be the Southern people. There might be the occassional raid into the North to cause a little damage, but the majority of the activity would of necessity occur in the former Confederacy and the depridations would hit the Southern people. I think the majority of the Southern population would quickly have tired of these bandits who would end up preying on the Southern people as much as on Northern "carpetbaggers."