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!
Ok, how long do you think Lee could theoretically have waited? He doesn't get across the Potomac on the way back until July 12th or July 13th....Can he wait another 3 to 4 days?
I don't think so. While awaiting an attack, opportunities to forage are limited. His inadequate supply line cannot reach him. He is, in effect, under siege. He must move before he can't move.
On the fourth day, he must surrender or his men surpass suffering and move into serious starvation.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
why aren't they surrendering at Williamsport with their backs to the Potomac....
If the attack was pressed Lee probably would have had no choice other than just that. Ever read The trilogy from Newt Gingrich about what happens if the Confederates win Gettysburg? In a scenario he has the AoP backed up against the Potomac and Lee pressing the attack. The AoP is destroyed as an efective fighting force. I figure it's an accurate picture of what might have happened to Lee had Meade pressed the attack.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
He might very well have lost it at Williamsport. But again we're discussing if Lee absolutely HAD to attack because his supply situation was grim. It seems to me that at the very least the army is able to sustain itself at least through July 12th (otherwise they would give it up right there and then, no?).....ultimately I don't think Lee has to attack or retreat July 1st, time might not be on his side, but I still think he could've stayed in the field at least another week and still mounted an attack.....he could maneuver (at least a little) and attack July 6th?
About the only answer I can offer to your excellent question, CW, has to do with initiative. Had Lee danced around the ring a bit in the 2nd round and moved in for the KO during the 6th, he leaves it to Meade to do a switch-up in the 3rd through 5th. When you have him back-pedalling, you keep him there. Give him a breather and there's no telling what he'll come back with. Grant never intended to let go of the initiative. Lee didn't either.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
While I agree that supplies and logistics are always an important element in any military campaign, I still think Lee's decision to fight it out at Gettysburg is as simple as the fact that the Army of the Potomac was there. He says this to Longstreet, something to the effect [in reply to Longstreet's request to slip around the right flank] 'the enemy is there and that is where we'll beat them' (or something like that)
Plus we have to remember that on Day 1, Lee's army is doing pretty well and at least at the beginning of Day 2 it is in fact Lee's army that is overlapping the Union left (until of course my main man Sickles comes to the rescue ) <----sorry ole, couldn't resist!
Although the exact reason(s) Lee was even in Pa. is hazy at best. I agree that, surely Lee did not really think he could invade Pa. and Not draw the AoP against him.
The transfer of Longstreet and his Corps, shortly after Chancellorsville, would almost certainly have disrupted Union operations in the West.
News of major units of the ANV arriving in Chattanooga, would almost certainly, have thrown Roscrans into a tizzy, making an attack from him any time soon, even more difficult than Lincoln and the War Dept. did in real life.
Longstreets original idea was saving (or relieving) the siege of Vicksburg. It is permissible to wonder, if Davis would have been able to resist the importunations of his trusted friend Braxton Bragg, to give him command of Longstreets command, rather that the weak sister Johnston.
With both Johnston AND Bragg crying for more men, IMO it would have been very difficult indeed for Davis to stick with the original plan. In which case, from what we know from the historical record, it can be logically predicted that there would, probably, be indecisive sparring between the pessimistic Bragg and the nervous Roscrans in Tn. while Vicksburg is lost, anyway. Leaving Grant to bring all his forces to Tn. to finish off Bragg.
IMO, at the end of the year, Bragg would be in Northern Ala. contemplating the defense of Atlanta. (probably without Chickamauga or the siege and Battle of Chattanooga) with Grant eventually being called East to end the stalemate in the East, while Sherman (or perhaps Thomas or Even, maybe, Roscrans) took on Bragg and AoT.
So, IMO, in the end, Longstreet in the West, would not effectively change the outcome of the war, except it would, IMO, probably have had a better chance of ending the war sooner, rather late later.
P.S. From the scenario above, after Bragg being forced out of Tn and before, the final push by the Union Forces against Bragg; would Lee have been able to finagle Davis into recalling Longstreet, to share Lee's denouement in the East rather Bragg's in the West?
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