To take a short break from my current
timeline, I'd like to revive a scenario I've started pondering on (and abandoned) several times in the near future and put the rough timeline up for debate here: A prolonged Civil War starting with a divergence after the Battle of Nashville. Please feel free to chime in at any point!
-Hood somehow convinces Forrest to attempt a desperate attempt of a stand at Columbia, mainly to "preserve the honor" of the Army of Tennessee (and much more important to himself personally) to safe his legacy.
-During the 2nd Battle of Columbia (21st December, 1864), Hood (leading from the front) is mortally wounded, but the Confederates manage to check Thomas' pursuit, inflicting nearly 3,500 casualties while suffering less than 1,100 losses.
-A. P. Stewart takes over command and orders a disciplined retreat not towards Alabama, but in the direction of Georgia, aiming to reach Augusta and to link up with the forces facing off against Sherman at Savannah. Much less desertions occur and no furloughs are handed out during the retreat.
-The Army of Tennessee reaches Augusta on the 17th of January, 1865 with nearly 22,700 effectives in the ranks (about equal to the historical numbers as of 18th/19th January 1865).
-Hood's death leads Lee and Breckinridge to aggressively push for Johnston to be placed in command of the defenses of the Carolinas. Davis begrudgingly agrees and appoints him in mid-January 1865.
-In the end of January, 1865, the Army of Tennessee is reorganized in Augusta. Many depleted brigades from the western states are sent to Taylor's department (Granbury, Brantley, Deas, Sharp, Gibson, Featherston, Sears, Ector, Cockrell, and Reynolds as well as Forrest's cavalry). Other depleted formations are retained to guard Augusta (Maney, Strahl, Smith, Finley, Cumming, Stovall, Quarles). The remainder of the army, 11,700 effectives in three reorganized divisions under Cheatham, Bate, and Stevenson are sent to Branchville.
-The South Carolina Campaign includes battles at Pocotaligo (16th January), Rivers Bridge (4th February), and Columbia. Sherman is slowed down and finally repelled at the gates of Columbia, suffering total casualties of 13,300 men versus 4,300 on the Confederate side for the whole campaign. The Federals retire to Savannah and Sherman embarks the Army of Georgia in order to reinforce Grant at Petersburg (as Grant originally envisioned).
-The 2nd Battle of Fort Fisher on the 15th January results in a Federal defeat due to Conner's South Carolinians having joined the garrison (and not reinforcing McLaws in South Carolina due to the better shape of the Army of Tennessee). Terry's Provisional Corps is also sent back to Petersburg. Schofield's XXIII Corps is therefore not sent to North Carolina, but also assembles at Petersburg.
-On the 25th March, Grant throws his entire army group of 156,000 men against Lee's 58,400 defenders, breaking the defenses at the cost of more than 31,000 casualties. Lee's forces, having suffered over 9,000 losses, evacuate Richmond and Petersburg and head south to join Johnston. Grant orders the pursuit.
-The Mobile Campaign features the successfull defense of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley by a reinforced Confederate garrison. Canby has to abort the siege eventually after the outbreak of diseases.
-Forrest and two divisions of Wilson's corps fight a prolonged battle near Tuscaloosa on the 4th April, resulting in a draw. Meanwhile, Thomas advances with the IV Corps and another division of Wilson's cavalry on Selma.
-Walthall in command of the Selma defenses fights Thomas to a standstill on the 6th April, utilizing six depleted brigades formerly belonging to the Army of Tennessee as well as local militia and cavalry under Roddey.
My goal (if this were to be somewhat realistic) would be a final showdown between Grant/Sherman and Lee/Johnston in North Carolina where Lee's army is split and a large portion is forced to surrender, while Johnston, accompanied by Jefferson Davis, leads the survivors towards the west, ultimately hoping to ferry enough men across the Mississippi River and to prolong the struggle in the Trans-Mississippi-Theater.
Does this sound too ludicrous or might this result in an interesting and at least slightly plausible read?
Bringing the