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What if Gen. Longstreet had gone West in the Spring of 1863?
Much is made of the Battle of Gettysburg. The High Water Mark of the Confederacy and all. Stuart's second ride around the Army of the Potomac and Pickett's Charge.
I read "Killer Angels" before the movie. It didn't have to happen.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet advocated an entirely different Course of Action. He was not pleased with Gen. Lee's decision to give battle and his actions during those fateful days in July have been discussed at great length.
What if Gen. Longstreet had gone West in the Spring of 1863?
I reckon we'd all be talkin' a might differently today.
Last edited by Ozark Iron John; 09-28-2007 at 02:13 PM.
Prior to Gettysburg the Confederacy is in a strategic conundrum so to speak. Prior to the battle, Lee goes to Richmond where a high level conference is held and votes are taken to decide whether to 'go west', ie. to help out at Vicksburg, or to 'go north', ie. to permit Lee to invade PA. We all know that they decide to 'go north' - Reagan being the only real objection to Lee's proposal, but what makes this an interesting what if is Chickamauga in September. After Gettysburg, Longstreet, in fact, does 'go west' and at Chickamauga, the South wins a pretty impressive victory (they don't follow up, but that is another matter), so really the question is whether Longstreet could've had an effect in relieving Vicksburg in conjunction with Johnston and Pemberton....does a victory at Vicksburg win the war for the South?
I wouldn't be too sure about that. Those Union boys out west were good fighters and they had good leadership.
Besides, what do you think would have happened at Chancellorsville if Longstreet's Corps was missing? I am not saying Hooker would have won but Lee would have had a lot less to work with.
Interesting thought. I am afraid I don't know enough about the war in the west at that time to say much on the subject. Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth.
After Chancellorsville, if Longstreet had been sent West. One must be aware that there was a direct rail link between Petersberg (and Richmond) and Chattanooga, that was to carry Longstreet and his Corps in relative comfort and speed. But this link was broken when Burnside took Knoxville, after Gettysburg and just before Longstreet was to move West. An earlier start would have been most advantageous.
At the time (between, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg) Lincoln was stymied by Roscrans refusal to attack Bragge 'Before' Vicksberg had been taken, so Longstreet would have reached Chattanoog with no difficulty.
The only fly in the ointment is that, most probably, the south would be reinforcing inevitable defeat, because Longstreet would come under the command of Johnston, who, I can confidently predict, would find Longstreets corps insufficient to relieve Vicksberg.
Well Sam, I think the first assumption to be made with regards to this "what if" is that Gen. Lee takes up a defensive posture somewhere between Washington and Richmond. Let's say somewhere around Fredricksburg. Perhaps overlookin' all them fresh Yankee graves. Hooker's stung real hard after Chancelorsville and he won't be too quick to cross the Rappahannock again. I reckon we can count on the Eastern Theater bein' a wait and see kinda thing for a while. Consequently, Getteysburg never happens.
Hmmm! Big difference already.
Now, Gen. Longstreet weren't no slouch. He know'd how to get 'em up and movin' and he weren't skeerd of a fight. My bet is he'd jump on that train in Richmond and go west lickedy-split. As far west as Chattanooga without any doubt. He done it after Gettysburg, he surely could do it before. But I don't reckon he'd stop there cause he saw things a might different and he'd spent time out west. He know'd Vicksburg was the Gibralter of the Confederacy. I reckon he'd gone straight to Jackson, Mississippi without stopping. When he stopped, I reckon he'd move off to the west in search of US Grant. He know'd Grant from West Point and Chapultepec. He know'd what he was capable of doing. He'd a pitched into his trains and made it impossible for old samgrant to last long without linkin' up with the freshwater navy boys in Cairo.
Hmmm! Pemberton's holed up on the bluffs blockin' the Mississippi. Bragg's guardin' the wheat fields of North Georgia and Alabama. Johnston and Longstreet are nippin' at their heels. I don't think Vicksburg capitulates boys. In fact, I think the Rebs hold out and samgrant is forced to retreat back north again.
Now, its the winter of 1863 and honest Abe's cronies are thinkin' this war ain't goin' so good. We can't get off ground zero and when we do, we end up with a field full of blue soldiers rotting in the southern sun.
Old Abe ain't going to get re-elected boys. The less than radical Republicans and the Peace Democrats are going to call for a change. His only course of action is to sue for peace.
I'm bettin' the war's over by the Spring of 1864 and all's forgiven. Slavery exists south of the Ohio and Missouri Rivers from sea to shinin' sea.
Some abolistionists will have to be lynched and some rabel rousers will have to be shot, but for all intents and purposes, we're all one big happy family again.
and we all speak a might differently today.
Last edited by Ozark Iron John; 09-28-2007 at 11:00 PM.
Ozark, And just where does Mr. J. Davis' decisions come into play under your unlikely scenario?
You seem to suggest that Johnston and Longstreet share command somehow. Now that is something we all know cannot happen.
Davis must have Longstreet relieve either Johnston, Pemberton, or Bragg.
Well, you are correct sir. Mr. Davis must be considered. He too was in favor of invading the north again. He too opposed Gen. Longstreet's plan. For the purposes of this "what if" let's say old Jeff Davis see's the true genious of Gen. Longstreet and puts him in command of the Western Theater. Promotes him ahead of Bragg, Johnston and Pemberton. Perhaps one or all of them would've quit, but I don't think so. They know'd Longstreet too.
I reckon he'd a done just exactly what I said he'd a done. I reckon he'd a gone to Jackson, Mississippi and took off after US Grant's trains. Pemberton would've set still and Bragg would've kept the door to the bread basket closed. Johnston might've fumbled around, but he might've moved them boys further west given the fact that old Pete was huntin' the elephant.
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What if Gen. Longstreet had gone West in the Spring of 1863? 
That's great! 
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