The Final Campaign

[damYankee]

Johnston face an impossible, defend the Carolina's from Sherman. He has been judged harshly by many, even at the time, He and Davis were barely on speaking terms. How strange that it would be Johnston's task to convince Davis the war was lost...I hope enjoy this, and it sparks some discussion about the plight of the Confederates that fought the Final Campaign

 

[PatW]

According to Lt. Gen. Richard Taylor, the war had been lost by, I think, Dec. 1864. He was Jeff Davis' brother in law. After Dec. 1864, It is hard to visualize any course of events where the CSA avoids collapse by mid 1865.

The obvious duty of the leadership is to recognize this. Any deaths after this point are wasted. The best course is to treat with Lincoln for terms while you still have a little bargaining power.

Obviously, the campaign in North Carolina in 1865 was doomed to failure.

 

[3rdIndianaCav]

The best course is to treat with Lincoln for terms while you still have a little bargaining power.

Would Lincoln have accepted any terms at that point? Would there be enough public/political pressure on both sides to accept slavery in the states it existed before the war with no further expansion? That's where Lincoln was at the beginning.
If so, what happens to those that would have been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation or escaped to freedom?

It's an interesting proposition but I wonder whether that opportunity had passed and it was going to be fought to conclusion regardless.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Would Lincoln have accepted any terms at that point?

I think Lincoln would have considered terms, so long as they included emancipation and reunification. The most obvious term to ask for being immunity from prosecution for treason.

 

[3rdIndianaCav]

I think Lincoln would have considered terms, so long as they included emancipation and reunification. The most obvious term to ask for being immunity from prosecution for treason.

I agree and it seems that was proposed at the Hampton Roads conference in early February '65. The confederacy was crumbling so fast at that point the only way for negotiations to work would be for the Union to cease offensive operations. Just too close to the end for the parties to reach an agreement, IMO.