Early and Washington 1864

[coltshooter1]

A simple idea- What if no reenforcements had arrived in Washington and Early had actually gained entry onto the city? OK guys go for it on this one. I want to hear ideas. I got my popcorn and beverage ready for setting back and enjoying your ideas.

 

[whitworth]

The Problem -The Washington Forts

Nevertheless, when we reached the right of the enemy's fortifications
the men were almost completely exhausted and not in a condition to make an attack.
Skirmishers were thrown out and moved up to the vicinity of the
fortifications. These we found to be very strong and constructed
very scientifically. They consist of a circle of inclosed forts con-
nected by breast-works, with ditches, palisades, and abatis in front,
and every approach swept by a cross-fire of artillery, including some
heavy guns. I determined at first to make an assault, but before it
could be made it became apparent that the enemy had been strongly
re-enforced, and we knew that the Sixth Corps had arrived from
Grant's army, and after consultation with my division commanders
I became satisfied that the assault, even if successful, would be at-
tended with such great sacrifice as would insure the destruction of
my whole force before the victory could have been made available,
and, if unsuccessful, would necessarily have resulted in the loss of
the whole force. I, therefore, reluctantly determined to retire, and
as it was evident preparations were making to cut off my retreat,
and while troops were gathering around me I would find it difficult
to get sup p lies, I determined to retire across the Potomac to this
count before it became too late. I was led to this determination
by the conviction that the loss of my force would have had such a
depressing effect upon the country, and would so encourage the
enemy as to amount to a very serious, if not fatal, disaster to our
cause. My infantry force did not exceed 10,000, as Breckinridge's in-
fantry (nominally much larger) really did not exceed 2,300 muskets.
A considerable part of the cavalry has proved wholly inefficient.
Sigel was at Maryland Heights. Hunter was making his way to get
in my rear, and Couch was organizing a militia force in Pennsyl-
vania. If, therefore, I had met a disaster I could not have got off,
and if I had succeeded in the assault, yet my force would have been
so crippled that I could not have continued their active operations
so necessary in an expedition like mine.
All these considerations conduced to the determination to which
I came, and accordingly, after threatening the city all day of the
12th, I retired after night, and have moved to this place in entire
good order and without any loss whatever.

.Respectfully,
J.A. EARLY,
Lieutenant- General.

p348 Series 1 - Volume 37 (Part I)


While the reinforcing by Grant's troops help lead Early to retreat from Washington, the fact that Early knew how well the federal forts were prepared for an attack, would play a strong role in any attack decision by Confederates.


"These we found to be very strong and constructed
very scientifically. They consist of a circle of inclosed forts con-
nected by breast-works, with ditches, palisades, and abatis in front,
and every approach swept by a cross-fire of artillery, including some
heavy guns."

The artillery at Washington would have torn up Early's army better than what the federal artillery did to Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. The "cross-fire of artillery" would take a devastating toll of the Confederates and well understood by General Early. General Early knew great defenses when he saw them. Unlike many students of the Civil War, General Early went to West Point.



Observation on Lincoln at Fort Stevens
"Fort Stevens where the President watched as General Jubal A. Early's Confederate forces attempted to invade Washington."

"Lincoln rode out to Fort Stevens on both days of the encounter, July 11 and 12, to observe. Each time, someone had to tell him -- politely or otherwise -- to keep his fool head down."

If Early had been a serious threat to Washington, Lincoln would never have come to Fort Stevens to observe Early's Confederate force. Lincoln would have been on a steamer down the Potomac River and safety.

 

[coltshooter1]

I think maybe, just maybe they could have taken one or two weaker forts if no reenforcements arrive from Grant and there had been no delay or casulties caused by Butler (he actually was in the right place at the right time for a change). Then the Union would have been able to inflict a bigger disaster than Cedar Creek on Early. But it is interesting to read others opinions and ideas on ideas like this.

 

[ole]

Early's venture can only be called a diversion in force. There was no way he could have breached the defenses of Washington City.

But it was a good idea and a good effort. However, good enough doesn't rank high in the annals of war. Grant did send a division (the 6th?) But it didn't shower Lee with a fat lot of good.

 

[coltshooter1]

I wonder what the troops could have done as a diversion other than attacking towards Washington. What other actions may have forced Grant to sent more troops away.

 

[PvtClewell]

coltshooter1,

I'm trying hard to make your original 'what if' premise work — that Early actually gains access to Washington, DC — but it's really difficult.

The city is ringed by approximately 50-60 forts of varying sizes, and the city itself is garrisoned by about 20,000 troops (albeit mostly new recruits and heavy artillerists, I think, along with the recuperating invalids and wounded from other battles).

http://www.nps.gov/archive/rocr/ftcircle/

Early, meanwhile, approaches with about 10,000-13,000 troops and had already suffered a day's delay by Lew Wallace's dogged defense at the battle of Monocacy. That probably should have suggested something to Early.

Grant sends two regiments of the 6th Corps — about 5,000 veterans from the ongoing siege of Petersburg — as reinforcements.

Early's purpose was to draw troops away from Grant, and in that he succeeded. By the same token, I'm doubtful that Grant hardly missed those troops. And, I'm not convinced Early's primary objective was to actually take the city anyway as much as to threaten it.

Early taking 13,000 men to take the most heavily defended city on the planet at that time just does not compute.

But, to address your original 'what if', if by some happenstance Early does break through, I think it becomes the equivalent to Armistead's 'breakthrough' at the copse of trees or Gordon's attack at Fort Stedman — initially successful, but quickly swallowed up for lack of support.

And to address your second thought, I don't see where Early could have gone other than DC to provoke Grant to release more troops. To me, Early just wasn't strong enough to be anything more than an annoyance.

Besides, doesn't Early's presence result in the creation of the Army of the Shenandoah under Sheridan a month later? Early had no realistic chance, IMO.

 

[whitworth]

By this time

the Confederacy could not grasp victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Confederates gave it the "ole college try."

Early at Washington; Hood in Tennessee; Price in Missouri.

By 1863, the tide had turned against the Confederacy. It was more likely it could not survive with six or seven states. Long gone by 1864, was any chance of becoming a thirteen state nation.

The consequences of secession were well evident even two years after the war started.
By 1864, Grant had the Confederates in the tight grip of seige warfare; Sherman was skinning the Confederates out, in most of the remaining states left to the Confederacy.