Could 15,000 CSA troops have made a meaningful difference in May 1863

MikeyB

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Sep 13, 2018
In this what-if, Lee decides not to invade North and continue to stay on the defensive. With the expiry of the Union enlistments, the ANV has very good relative numerical parity with the AoP, at least compared to the last few prior campaigns. On the defensive, and with relative strength being much more favorable, perhaps he can bog Hooker/Meade down in Virginia.

In this scenario, Davis and Lee decide that Lee can spare 2 divisions for other purposes. 15,000 men are available.

The question is - could 15,000 men redeployed in May 1863 make a difference anywhere in the Confederacy? Or is it too little? Or would those troops not be able to arrive in time. The obvious place everyone always asks about is Vicksburg. Is there any way 15,000 men could have saved it? If not Vicksburg, are there any other significant fronts these men could make a difference to the Confederate war effort? What were Bragg and Rosecrans up to at this point in the war?

mike
 
I would argue their biggest impact would have been where they were, with the ANV. The only reasons Longstreet's Corps was able to be detached for duty in the West later in 1863 was the fact that the Eastern front was basically silent, while both armies recovered from Gettysburg, coupled with the fact it was late enough to be considered the "off season" there, which doubly made an attack by Meade unlikely. If Gettysburg never happens, the ANV and AoP would still be duking it out, making reinforcing anyone else highly unlikely.

The Valley Campaign detachment in 1864 was a speial case brought on by necessity (no army was operating there) as well Petersburg being a siege rather than a pitched battle, allowed troops to be detached with less of a risk.
 
In this what-if, Lee decides not to invade North and continue to stay on the defensive. With the expiry of the Union enlistments, the ANV has very good relative numerical parity with the AoP, at least compared to the last few prior campaigns. On the defensive, and with relative strength being much more favorable, perhaps he can bog Hooker/Meade down in Virginia.

In this scenario, Davis and Lee decide that Lee can spare 2 divisions for other purposes. 15,000 men are available.

The question is - could 15,000 men redeployed in May 1863 make a difference anywhere in the Confederacy? Or is it too little? Or would those troops not be able to arrive in time. The obvious place everyone always asks about is Vicksburg. Is there any way 15,000 men could have saved it? If not Vicksburg, are there any other significant fronts these men could make a difference to the Confederate war effort? What were Bragg and Rosecrans up to at this point in the war?

mike

The 15,000 men would be good for Vicksburg but the problem lays in Joe Johnston not fighting Grant. So the 15,000 men would need to have a general, who could take over the army form Johnston.
 
If the 15,000 men were available for the battle of Chancellorsville, the Union defeat could have been castatrophic and Lee's invasion of the North could have obtained some staying power. Imagine those men attached to Early's command to defend the heights at Fredricksburg
aganst Sedgwick's attack. Sedgwick could have been stopped in his tracks and there would have been no need to transfer troops to deal with the breakthrough there. Lee could have pushed on and crushed the portion of the Union army that had been battered in his initial attack on Hooker's flank.
 
Longstreet's move west in later 1863 was without wagons, without horses and essentially without artillery. If you intend to move those additional items, the move would have been the largest move in the life of the Confederacy. Great care would have to be taken to prevent any disruption to Lee's provisions supply line (from southwestern GA) since he will not have the supplies accumulated during the PA raid. Richmond several times in this period held only 1-4 days supply for Lee, especially for the horses.

If something useful could be done in SE Tn, it might be worth the effort -- otherwise, keep the troops in northern VA and hope to rack up another victory.
 
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