- Joined
- Jun 20, 2012
- Location
- Pacific Northwest
Why yes- yes it is...
Suppose that Stonewall survived his wound at Chancellorsville and returned to active service in time for Gettysburg; further suppose Lee doesn't divide the army into three corps, but keeps it in two corps; further suppose the timelines are still the same.
Jackson, weary from his injury and stressed from the sustained operations tempo, pushes his men into Pennsylvania, but then suffers the same mental lapse he incurred on the Peninsula, falling into inaction and failing to follow up on reports of Federal troops in the town. Feuding with AP Hill, who is again under arrest, and with Ewell, who is now on a short leash, his corps is scattered to the west and north; Early isn't able to rush south to flank the Federals, who are able to maintain their defensive positions against desultory attacks by parts of Jackson corps- Heth's division is pushed back, Hill's division suffers from poor command and control, and Ewell's division is too far from the action to return in time to engage. The Union I and XI Corps are not routed, and maintain good order as they withdraw to holding positions on Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill due to the superior numbers of engaged troops. Day 1 ends with the two corps in good condition on excellent ground, with numerous Federal corps arriving throughout the night.
Lee begins Day 2 ignorant of Jackson's mental condition, and of the state of his corps. He issues orders to flank the Federal right around Culp's Hill while Longstreet makes his attack to their left. The attacks against Culp's Hill are poorly coordinated and face determined opposition from the strong positions, backed by well-placed and manned artillery. The lack of leadership is telling as the brigades are decimated; on the opposite side, Longstreet's men run into much stronger Federal forces due to the presence of the I and XI Corps intact on the other side of the battlefield; the results are more decisive, with the Confederates pushed back with heavy losses and the Federal lines damaged, but intact and not as scattered as in the real timeline. Command and control is more quickly restored, and Sedgwick's corps is left intact as a strategic reserve instead of being dispatched to plug holes in the line.
Day 3, Lee has realized Jackson is not able to command with his usual vigor, but has limited options- relieving him, even temporarily, would have a highly demoralizing impact on his men. He rides over to make an inspirational speech, the horse is spooked by a bird, throws him, and Lee is killed.
Okay- maybe not that, but I've never seen those purely random chances that history turns upon show up in one of these, so why not...
Lee opts to roll the dice in the middle, figuring that the lack of leadership on Jackson's end of the field doesn't really matter. Jackson joins Longstreet in protesting, but Lee- feeling pressure to assert himself with his subordinates- overrules them and orders the charge. He has few options and he knows it, but he also lacks solid information on the Federal lines; to him, this isn't as risky as it truly is. The charge is thrown back, with higher casualties due to the increased cohesion of the Federal lines, but Meade doesn't counter-attack; he knows Lee still has plenty of artillery and he has only the VI Corps to deploy as an attacking force, so he waits. Lee moves out the next day, but Meade has scouts out and pursues aggressively with Sedgwick, counting on him to deal with the bulk of Lee's army. The aggressive pursuit by the AOP succeeds in trapping the ANV on the banks of the Rappahanock, where a large portion of the army is destroyed. Lee escapes with one corps and remnants of a second, but loses most of his artillery and wagons to the pursuit. Returning to Virginia, he attempts to rebuild the army but news of the defeat, coupled with the loss of Vicksburg, has a chilling effect on the Confederacy. Meanwhile, Meade takes the army south in pursuit of Lee and takes up position opposite him, well-armed and supplied and flush with reinforcements. Confident now because of their victory, the AOP pushes Lee aggressively...
Suppose that Stonewall survived his wound at Chancellorsville and returned to active service in time for Gettysburg; further suppose Lee doesn't divide the army into three corps, but keeps it in two corps; further suppose the timelines are still the same.
Jackson, weary from his injury and stressed from the sustained operations tempo, pushes his men into Pennsylvania, but then suffers the same mental lapse he incurred on the Peninsula, falling into inaction and failing to follow up on reports of Federal troops in the town. Feuding with AP Hill, who is again under arrest, and with Ewell, who is now on a short leash, his corps is scattered to the west and north; Early isn't able to rush south to flank the Federals, who are able to maintain their defensive positions against desultory attacks by parts of Jackson corps- Heth's division is pushed back, Hill's division suffers from poor command and control, and Ewell's division is too far from the action to return in time to engage. The Union I and XI Corps are not routed, and maintain good order as they withdraw to holding positions on Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill due to the superior numbers of engaged troops. Day 1 ends with the two corps in good condition on excellent ground, with numerous Federal corps arriving throughout the night.
Lee begins Day 2 ignorant of Jackson's mental condition, and of the state of his corps. He issues orders to flank the Federal right around Culp's Hill while Longstreet makes his attack to their left. The attacks against Culp's Hill are poorly coordinated and face determined opposition from the strong positions, backed by well-placed and manned artillery. The lack of leadership is telling as the brigades are decimated; on the opposite side, Longstreet's men run into much stronger Federal forces due to the presence of the I and XI Corps intact on the other side of the battlefield; the results are more decisive, with the Confederates pushed back with heavy losses and the Federal lines damaged, but intact and not as scattered as in the real timeline. Command and control is more quickly restored, and Sedgwick's corps is left intact as a strategic reserve instead of being dispatched to plug holes in the line.
Day 3, Lee has realized Jackson is not able to command with his usual vigor, but has limited options- relieving him, even temporarily, would have a highly demoralizing impact on his men. He rides over to make an inspirational speech, the horse is spooked by a bird, throws him, and Lee is killed.
Okay- maybe not that, but I've never seen those purely random chances that history turns upon show up in one of these, so why not...
Lee opts to roll the dice in the middle, figuring that the lack of leadership on Jackson's end of the field doesn't really matter. Jackson joins Longstreet in protesting, but Lee- feeling pressure to assert himself with his subordinates- overrules them and orders the charge. He has few options and he knows it, but he also lacks solid information on the Federal lines; to him, this isn't as risky as it truly is. The charge is thrown back, with higher casualties due to the increased cohesion of the Federal lines, but Meade doesn't counter-attack; he knows Lee still has plenty of artillery and he has only the VI Corps to deploy as an attacking force, so he waits. Lee moves out the next day, but Meade has scouts out and pursues aggressively with Sedgwick, counting on him to deal with the bulk of Lee's army. The aggressive pursuit by the AOP succeeds in trapping the ANV on the banks of the Rappahanock, where a large portion of the army is destroyed. Lee escapes with one corps and remnants of a second, but loses most of his artillery and wagons to the pursuit. Returning to Virginia, he attempts to rebuild the army but news of the defeat, coupled with the loss of Vicksburg, has a chilling effect on the Confederacy. Meanwhile, Meade takes the army south in pursuit of Lee and takes up position opposite him, well-armed and supplied and flush with reinforcements. Confident now because of their victory, the AOP pushes Lee aggressively...
I'd still like to see an honestly worded "what if" like Elennsar suggests, but this was just right for watching the Duke-UNC game on Saturday night!
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If the History Channel has a show on some of these ideas is their going to be a lawsuit. 
Bringing the