1) UNION
Let's take the aftermaths of the Peninsula Campaign.
Beyond the numerous Division Commanders promoted to MG by McClellan in July 1862, many were future Corps Commanders :
- MG John Sedgwick (2nd Div./2nd Corps)
- MG Joseph Hooker (2nd Div./3rd Corps)
- MG Darius N. Couch (1st Div./4th Corps)
- MG Henry W. Slocum (1st Div./6th Corps)
- MG William F. Smith (2d Div./6th Corps), even if this first promotion to Major-Generalcy ended in 1863
Beyond the others, two are frequently presented as good-to-excellent leaders :
- MG Israel B. Richardson (1st Div./2nd Corps)
- MG Philip Kearny (1st-3rd Div./3rd Corps)
The remaining officers are :
- MG John J. Peck (2nd Div./4th Corps)
- MG George W. Morell (1st Div./5th Corps)
Two Division commanders operating in the Peninsula weren't promoted to MG :
- BG George Sykes (2nd Div./5th Corps)
- BG George A. McCall (PA Res./5th Corps), captured during Seven Days Battles
Based on this situation, and considering McClellan's lack of confidence in some Corps Commanders,
we can at least imagine some options:
- Richardson becomes the 2nd Corps Commander (replaces Sumner)
- Hooker or Kearny becomes the 3rd Corps Commander (replaces Heintzelman)
- Kearny becomes the Cavalry Commander (replaces Cooke)
- Couch or Peck becomes the 4th Corps Commander (replaces Keyes)
But the one I would really enjoy to promote in the East would be Rosecrans at the head of the soon-to-be 11th Corps as early as March-April 1862. I believe Old Rosy should have retained his command in West Virginia and should have confronted Jackson in the Valley.
In the West, Thomas should at least get a command equal to Buell, Grant and Pope following his action at Mill Springs.
2) CONFEDERACY
As for the Union, so many options !
Because 1862 is the year I like to study the most, I'll also take the aftermaths of the Peninsula Campaign.
After Lee get rid of Magruder, Holmes and Huger, he still have the choice between several top subordinates to create his wing commanders :
- MG Longstreet
- MG Jackson
- MG Ewell
- MG D.H. Hill
- MG McLaws
- MG A.P. Hill
- MG R.H. Anderson
- MG Stuart
- BG D.R. Jones
- BG Whiting
A.P. Hill, as a favorite of Lee, may have the opportunity to discover his level of incompetency sooner when put in command of a wing
or
D.R. Jones and Whiting are finally promoted MGs while keeping their commands
or
Stuart assumes command of Jackson's Div., as a confirmed MG and as a Virginian
etc.
Personnaly, I would have retained D.H. Hill as a Reserve Wing commander (because he is one of my favorites).
In the West, it's very difficult to deal with such senior subordinates as Polk or Bragg, but we can imagine some options :
- Cheatham, as a confirmed MG, assumes command of Polk's Grand Div./1st Corps
- Lovell is transferred to the Army of the Mississippi and assumes command of a Division or a Corps
- Hardee is promoted Gen. and assumes command of the Army of the Mississippi, instead of Bragg or Polk
- Forney is transferred to the Army of the Mississippi and assumes command of a Division with the rank of MG
Personnaly, I would like to see Loring in command of the Dept. of East Tennessee / Army of Kentucky, in order to evaluate his leadership and his command ability at that level. Combing this command with Southwestern Virginia Dept. would allow Loring to assemble quite a huge force (perhaps 20-25,000) for temporary missions. Kirby Smith can be transferred elsewhere.