What if Burnsides

gary

Captain
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
and not Butler had commanded the first expedition to Fort Fisher? He didn't have any bridges to stop or slow him down as he did at Antietam or Fredericksburg.
 
But he'd have planted his HQ on the powder ship...

But seriously, the tactical decisions that boggled Butler's military mind would have been addressed by Burnside's. He had handled independent commands competently in the past; save for stone walls and bridges, had done well. He certainly would not have up and gone home without a determined effort at tackling the fort. And he had a history of cooperation with the navy. Porter wouldn't have had to worry about him and coddle him and ultimately save his tooshy like he had to do with Butler. Old Burny would have acquitted himself well, in my humble estimation. That's not to say he would have reduced the fort, which was really a tough egg to crack. But at least the Union would have realized just how much force would be required.

Would have deprived Grant and the army of one thing though, and they would have had to have waited for some other Butler- inspired disaster to rid themselves of this most worrisome general.
 
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