McClellan become President, how does the war proceed?

[Luke Freet]

A lot of the alt history scenarios pertaining to a Confederate 1864 victory default to McClellan winning in November & all action just coming to an end. As has been elaborated often here & elsewhere, McClellan wasn't a Peace Democrat, & denounced the peace platform after his nomination. It is likely he would have continued the war, except with a more conservative tinge.

The question remains: How would McClellan as president affect the war effort? When he had the role of General-in-Chief in early 1862, he rarely if ever used his authority beyond the Army of the Potomac. I wonder how that would translate to his presidency, if he continued his hyper fixation on Virginia & his own personal army.

Also, there is the matter of slavery. From what I've been told, McClellan was more favorable to slavery & against emancipation. If true, would he undo the Emancipation Proclamation? Or would he realized doing so would only shoot himself in the foot? I can't imagine the repercussions it would have upon the colored troops; I imagine they'd be in open revolt if it went through. At the very least, a McClellan victory would probably mean no Civil Rights amendments.

Still, McClellan's chances of winning the war are still high. All possibility for the Confederates to force the north into voting out Lincoln would still require heavy Confederate losses; & even after he wins in November, Lincoln has until March to continue his policies.

 

[Irishtom29]

I think by the time McClellan was inaugurated the rebellion would've been crushed anyway by Lincoln and his military leadership. If not completely crushed then VERY close to it.

 

[Gentleman Johnny]

I think by the time McClellan was inaugurated the rebellion would've been crushed anyway by Lincoln and his military leadership. If not completely crushed then VERY close to it.

This is assuming McClellan would be elected with the situation exactly the same as historical. McClellan has the best chance of being elected if the war is going worse, which means the south wouldn't be essentially defeated by the time of McClellan's inauguration.

 

[infomanpa]

After he is elected, McClellan's concludes that the Confederates have twice as many soldiers as the does the Union Army, so he surrenders.

 

[Little Mac]

I've understood that McClellan was in favor of the gradual abolition of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation since it only applied to areas of the Confederacy currently in a state of rebellion (and not even to the loyal "border states" that remained in the Union); that is, it was not a national policy. Mac may have ended the war by negotiating with the South, offering a lax enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and/or a weaker version of the 13th Amendment.
The rest of his presidency would be similar to his term as Governor of New Jersey. He largely kept his own counsel, and in true Little Mac fashion did not go out of his way to make friends/network. He disappointed his own party, since he slapped down the Democrats' attempts to pass bills that would Gerrymander districts in the D's favor. The stubborn determination to have his own way or no way might have meant no patronage and consequently lead to a less corrupt term than Johnson and Grant.

 

[Little Mac]

After he is elected, McClellan's concludes that the Confederates have twice as many soldiers as the does the Union Army, so he surrenders.

Haha!

 

[JeffBrooks]

McClellan only repudiated the peace plank of the Democratic platform after the fall of Atlanta. Up to that point, he had been playing a waiting game. He had also formed close associations with the Peace Democrats. Had the war not turned in the Union's favor in the late summer of 1864, I doubt he would have acted in the same manner he did historically.

 

[leftyhunter]

A lot of the alt history scenarios pertaining to a Confederate 1864 victory default to McClellan winning in November & all action just coming to an end. As has been elaborated often here & elsewhere, McClellan wasn't a Peace Democrat, & denounced the peace platform after his nomination. It is likely he would have continued the war, except with a more conservative tinge.

The question remains: How would McClellan as president affect the war effort? When he had the role of General-in-Chief in early 1862, he rarely if ever used his authority beyond the Army of the Potomac. I wonder how that would translate to his presidency, if he continued his hyper fixation on Virginia & his own personal army.

Also, there is the matter of slavery. From what I've been told, McClellan was more favorable to slavery & against emancipation. If true, would he undo the Emancipation Proclamation? Or would he realized doing so would only shoot himself in the foot? I can't imagine the repercussions it would have upon the colored troops; I imagine they'd be in open revolt if it went through. At the very least, a McClellan victory would probably mean no Civil Rights amendments.

Still, McClellan's chances of winning the war are still high. All possibility for the Confederates to force the north into voting out Lincoln would still require heavy Confederate losses; & even after he wins in November, Lincoln has until March to continue his policies.

It would of made no difference at all. The Thirteenth Amendment passed on January 31st 1865 before a new president could be inaugurated which would be March 1865. By March of 1865 the Confederacy is essentially defeated as Lee is bottled up in Richmond and the Confedrate Army is falling apart from desertion.
McCellan would of had basically the same forgiveness policy has Johnson and Luke Johnson held African Americans in contempt.
Leftyhunter

 

[wausaubob]

Fun. McClellan agrees to mediation with the English and French as mediators. While McClellan is away in Paris, he is impeached and removed from office. So is his VP. The President Pro Tem, Wade of Ohio assumes the Presidency. Grant is reinstated as CinCh. Remember his rank was permanent, unless altered by Congress.
If you want to create a different outcome, you have to change more than the Presidential election. A few F-16s and A1M1 Abrams armor might be required.

 

[JeffBrooks]

A few F-16s and A1M1 Abrams armor might be required.

They would be useless, because there would be no way to provide fuel or munitions for them. Moreover, there would be no runway from which the F-16s could take off.

 

[wausaubob]

They would be useless, because there would be no way to provide fuel or munitions for them. Moreover, there would be no runway from which the F-16s could take off.

A non denial denial as I read your response. You inherently agree that McClellan and Pendleton would be impeached and removed from office.

 

[wausaubob]

To create the alt-history scenario, the US Navy would have to fail at Mobile Bay, so the fleet would not realign on Wilmington. Despite Sherman having another month to expel Hood's force from Atlanta before the voting began in places like Ohio, he would have to fail.
Despite Lee having only Hill's and Longstreet's corp available to protect Richmond and reclaim the Weldon RR, somehow that would have to be enough. I suppose one alt history the Kearsage sinking the Alabama the torpedoing of the Albermerle and the illegal capture of the Florida, but I think if one changes all of that, Grant does something a little bit different once Atlanta falls. He may bring Schofield east and insert him into North Carolina immediately.

 

[wausaubob]

They would be useless, because there would be no way to provide fuel or munitions for them. Moreover, there would be no runway from which the F-16s could take off.

Steam driven armor? The Confederates were very clever. And if you don't like fixed wing aircraft, maybe some attack helicopters?

 

[Tennessee Union Gal]

It would of made no difference at all. The Thirteenth Amendment passed on January 31st 1865 before a new president could be inaugurated which would be March 1865. By March of 1865 the Confederacy is essentially defeated as Lee is bottled up in Richmond and the Confedrate Army is falling apart from desertion.
McCellan would of had basically the same forgiveness policy has Johnson and Luke Johnson held African Americans in contempt.
Leftyhunter

But would the 13th Amendment have passed? I'm not sure Lincoln would have had the political capital as a lame duck to pull it off.

 

[Little Mac]

McClellan would have been the youngest president ever elected at 38.

 

[Luke Freet]

It would of made no difference at all. The Thirteenth Amendment passed on January 31st 1865 before a new president could be inaugurated which would be March 1865. By March of 1865 the Confederacy is essentially defeated as Lee is bottled up in Richmond and the Confedrate Army is falling apart from desertion.
McCellan would of had basically the same forgiveness policy has Johnson and Luke Johnson held African Americans in contempt.
Leftyhunter

I mean, Lincoln & the republican held congress theoretically could pass it...but considering in this scenario Lincoln & his administration are soon to be replaced, wouldn't there be pushback against trying to amend the constitution? I imagine it would not be a popular action, & I imagine many of the senators who historically voted for it would not out of this consideration.

 

[leftyhunter]

I mean, Lincoln & the republican held congress theoretically could pass it...but considering in this scenario Lincoln & his administration are soon to be replaced, wouldn't there be pushback against trying to amend the constitution? I imagine it would not be a popular action, & I imagine many of the senators who historically voted for it would not out of this consideration.

Maybe yes maybe no but by 1865 many slaves had already fled the South. We can't know what public opinion was because scientific polling was about eighty years into the future.
Leftyhunter

 

[wausaubob]

The point being that there may have been a peace party running the US for a few years. But eventually there would have been a war party elected in the US. The war most likely would have been renewed on much more severe terms.

 

[GwilymT]

By the time McClellan would have taken office the writing was already on the wall- the floor & the ceiling as well. McClellan being elected really doesn't change anything on the ground.

 

[wausaubob]

Changing the election doesn't keep Sherman out of Atlanta. It doesn't keep Grant on insisting that Butler be removed and that a competent US officer help Porter from capturing Fort Fisher on the first attempt. It also would not keep Grant from making quicker plans to transfer Schofield to east and create an Army of the Cape Fear.