What if ... help greatly needed

[Needy Writer]

Before I launch into my pleading, I want to give kudos to the engaging discussions going on! I began with an intention to skim, but ended up spending the last half hour reading entries.

Here's my predicament: While I very much enjoy Civil War history, I'm afraid I'm nowhere near Buff Status.

I'm working on a story which begins with a young man (eh, mid twenties, let's say) who is dropped into the middle of a Civil War battle. The plotline is highly implausible, and largely sketchy at present, but the just of the situation is he is plucked from modern times and inserted into a battle.

The man has no clear memory of what transpired -- neither to himself, nor in the battle.

The Sticky Issue: The beings responsible for transplanting him assume that everyone knows their history. So they feel the man would immediately surmise his surroundings, and act accordingly to change history for the better (by their standards). However, he's an average guy with only a vague knowledge of American history.

Pieces of the Puzzle: I was looking through the What If threads, but couldn't find an exact fit
-- There are so many Confederate what ifs... I was hoping for a Union-could've-won-sooner slant.
-- No frontline stalemate. He arrives in the midst of chaos (fog? forest? rain?).
-- Obviously, there has to be something a grunt could've made happen for the better (which he doesn't do). This could be either simple task, or slightly complex one.

And.. um.. then he dies.
But it's a very important piece of the story!
And any assistance given at all would be so greatly appreciated!
Thanks for reading all of this.

 

[Admiral_Porter]

What if Hooker hadn't marched back to Chancellorsville on May 1?

What if McClellan had attacked again at Antietam on September 18?

What if the hole at Chickamauga hadn't appeared?

 

[johan_steele]

Chancellorsville w/ the Gun crew that killed Lees horse and decapitated his aid a slight adjust would have had rather stunning consequences. Davis had noone of Lees caliber to replace him in the ANV.

What if Cleburnes trains had been on time and he wasn't present on the CS Right at Missionary Ridge... The total destruction of the CS AoT would have resulted.

Both rather dramatic and chiling What Ifs for the CS and both certainly would have stopped the War a lot sooner.

 

[gary]

How about if McClellan bypassed Magruder at Yorktown and marched on Richmond? He could have left 20,000 to surround and starve Magruder out (naval blockade) and with his remainder captured Richmond in a relatively bloodless battle.

How about Burnsides' Ninth Corps not stopping after their intial assault on Petersburg? Had they captured Petersburg, Richmond would have been abandoned in late 1864.

How about Burnsides' just storming across Antietam Creek instead of funnelling his men onto the bridge where they could be shot down? Had Burnsides thrown open the Confederate flank, Lee would have been compelled to surrender the field or be destroyed.

How about Burnsides' pontoon bridges arriving on time and Burnsides winning the race to Richmond.

How about Burnsides in command at Gettysburg. He would have found some place to build a bridge where a handful of Confederates would have held him off all day, allowing Lee to flank him. OK, being facetious.

How about Hooker not losing his nerve during his initial movement at Chancellorsville. He would have flanked Lee and compelled him to retreat?

Alternatively, after Jackson died, the flank of his corps was dangerously exposed to a flank attack. Hooker would not hear of it and ordered them to recross the river.

How about Early actually capturing Washington, D. C. because the VI Corps never got there in time to reinforce the invalids, postal clerks and Abe at Fort Stevens?

How about Porter's fleet being captured (scuttled first). Vicksburg would not have fallen and Grant would have been cashiered as just another losing general. Sherman would never have risen to promience and the war could have dragged on.

How about the Confederates actually cooperating with one another and defending Fort St. Philips and Fort Jackson so that New Orleans didn't fall? English & French recognition would have meant Southern freedom.

How about the colored troops leading the assault on the Crater instead of the drunken Ferraro. The Colored Troops (to use the period venacular) actual make a breakthrough & Petersburg falls? Burnsides finally redeems himself.

How about Lincoln personally ordering hundreds of Gatling guns in time for the '64 Overland Campaign or in time for Franklin?

How about that Confederate would be sharpshooter who was at the Bermuda Hundred waiting for a chance to pot Butler and claim the bounty? The war may have ended sooner since a more competent general would have led that corps.

How about McClellan actually counterattacking at Malvern Hill. Lee's army was exhausted from their tremendous losses?

How about Meade pursuing Lee more aggressively after Gettysburg?

How about stopping Rosecrans from creating a gap in his line that Longstreet exploited at Chickaumauga? The Siege of Chattanooga may never have taken place?

 

[Needy Writer]

Wow! Thank you guys soooo much!!

What a wealth of information. I'm looking up everything as I type!

The mention of the Crater ... I'd actually considered it, but ran into some difficulties. Atmosphere-wise, the battle stood out as horrible place to be dropped. Snapping to your senses, with a headful of amnesia, seeing the meyham in that hole... but if I dropped him in the middle of the action, it would be too late to feasibly do something (he doesn't do anything, but there were intentions behind his placement there).

The Chancellorsville incident with Lee is quite enticing.. but **** if I can find anything on it

The Chickamauga hole is also great -- so many of the suggestions are!

Thank you again, so much -- what a great group!

 

[blue_zouave]

Hey Needy, sounds like a time travel thing. I'm working on a Civil War novel myself, but it's a straight historical.

So is your guy going to turn the tide of the war? Maybe he ought to talk Lee into fighting for the Union.

Zou

 

[JohnW in E.TN]

While you're at it, be sure and tell Hood to set up a good road block at Spring Hill.



John W.

 

[gary]

How about if the Confederates continued their attack after the first day of Shiloh and before the reinforcements arrived to save Grant?

What if the Confederates after First Manassas actually did pursue the skedaddling Union Army to Washington?

What if Lee's order wasn't lost and McClellan didn't know to march there and catch Lee's army piecemeal?

What if the Confederate army did capture Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill after the first day of battle at Gettysburg? Or, what if the Confederates capturing Little Round Top and holding it after the 2nd day?

Here's a naval one. What if the CSS Louisana's engines were working and she could challenge Farragut and stop him from approaching New Orleans? What if the shell fired by the CSS Alabama's did work and she sailed away with another victory notch and continued her preying on Union shipping? Besides insurance rates increasing, would it have drawn off ships from the Union blockading fleet to find her?

What if Johnston wasn't sacked before Atlanta and did carry out his plan to counterattack when Sherman's Army was divided while crossing the river? Hardee certainly believed that Johnston would have attacked.

 

[samgrant]

Maybe he could coldcock General John Sedgewick about that 'elephant' comment at Spotsylvania (and take that bullet).

 

[gary]

Or yanked Reynold off his horse at Gettysburg before that bullet crashed into him.

 

[milhistbuff1]

Needy Writer,

Stephen Sears' book on Chancellorsville also mentions a few other possibilities. Lee had planned a direct assault on Hooker for the day after the Union withdrawl. After Hooker was incapacitated, suppose General Hancock was able to convince General Darius N. Couch to disobey orders and order the Army of the Potomac to hold its position to receive that attack.
As for Gettysburg, Ewell's artillery was perfectly places for enfilade fire, if Ewell's Artillery chief ordered it, Hancock's lines might have been chewed to pieces allowing picket to break through and meet up with General Stuart in the rear of the AOP. Just a few thoughts that might help you and any other authors on this forum.