Could The Union Have Won Second Manassas?

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Pope makes two major mistakes at Second Manassas.

1. Union attacks over a day and a half are uncoordinated. He squandered his numerical superiority over Jackson. The Confederate line was good but by no means unbreakable as the Union attacks came close at least once to piercing the line - close enough for some of Stonewall's men to literally throw rocks at the Yankees.

2. Pope has one of the worst cases of tunnel vision in military history. He is completely focused on attacking Jackson and dismissive of Longstreet's potential arrival.

Let us do a little armchair generaling. This isn't really a What If, but more a What Should Have Been.

If Pope successfully coordinates a large attack on the afternoon of Aug 29, what is the best part of Jackson's line to make and exploit a breakthrough?

Can Pope launch a dawn attack on Aug 30 anywhere with any chance of success, or does Longstreet's attack ensure even an optimal attack is rendered irrelevant by the end of the day?

If Pope recognizes Longstreet's arrival on Aug 29 - perhaps McDowell visits Porter, recognizes the threat, and persuades Pope it is a serious threat - what is the best course of action for the Union Army? Do they need to withdrawal across Bull Run during the night? Should Porter remain where he is off Longstreet's right flank and the rest of the Army shift southward to form a line connected to Porter?

 

[Noonanda]

So there were a couple breakthroughs on the 29th, the main one was under Hookers Division almost in the Center of the Line. If that Attack had actually been supported, the Battle may have gone differently. Same with the attack on Hills Division on the Confederate Left.

 

[repman66]

Pope needs to pin Jackson and allow the army of the potomac to arrive -- 2nd and 6th corps on the battlefield, attack to the southwest between Lee and his lines of communication. Lee's weakness is his RIGHT, not his LEFT. Jackson can fall back

 

[JerryD]

Pope has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He seems to have been a competent commander everywhere he went EXCEPT the eastern theatre, and he seems to have antagonized not only the CSA but also his own army. I have never understood how it was possible that he simply ignored the presence of the First Corps on his flank, or how he thought Jackson was retreating when his generals kept telling him Jackson was still manning his line. He does seem to have been somewhat delusional at this time.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Had Pope sent more troops to defend Thoroughfare Gap it would have made a strong defensive position to block Longstreet and given Pope time to deal with Jackson. Then deal with Longstreet. Although I don't know if Pope was capable of making good decisions.