Banks at Vicksburg

gary

Captain
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
In reading about Port Hudson, had Banks captured it earlier, he could have marched north to join Grant at Vicksburg. As senior major general, Banks could have taken command and gotten victory for capturing Vicksburg which would have eventually fallen. This would propel Banks to the limelight and force Grant into the shadow of obscurity. No Grant to rescue Chattanooga or defeat Lee and the war would have been prolonged.
 
Interesting theory especially if you take into consideration the egos of the yankees generals
 
The biggest problem with this theory is Banks didn't drink the same whiskey as Grant.
 
Banks would have failed as he was incapable of being a winner.
Regards
David
 
Indeed.

This question may be more at home in the 'What if" forum.

Sorry. It should be moved.
Banks would have failed as he was incapable of being a winner.
Regards
David
Unless Banks kept throwing his men at Pemberton's defenses ala May 19 and May 22, all Banks had to do was to continue the siege and starve Pemberton out. Banks would have been a national hero and Grant shuffled off to a side show supporting cast member.
 
If Banks had been the kind of general who could capture Port Hudson promptly and move on to take Vicksburg, maybe he would have deserved the higher command :wink:
 
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