What was the greatest chance for a Confederate victory?

Discussion in 'Historical Events Coffee House' started by Sokol-1, Jan 22, 2012.

?

What was the greatest chance for a Confederate victory?

The border states side with the Confederacy in 1861 2 vote(s) 5.4%
Britain enters the war because of the Trent Affair 17 vote(s) 45.9%
Grant defeated at Shiloh 0 vote(s) 0.0%
Lee's Lost Orders not lost, Maryland Campaign successful 3 vote(s) 8.1%
Pemberton not cooped up in Vicksburg, Grant defeated 0 vote(s) 0.0%
Lee wins at Gettysburg 12 vote(s) 32.4%
Army of Cumberland destroyed after Chickamauga 0 vote(s) 0.0%
Jubal Early captures Washington in July, 1864 1 vote(s) 2.7%
Atlanta doesn't fall, Lincoln loses 1864 election 1 vote(s) 2.7%
Other (please specify) 1 vote(s) 2.7%
  1. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

    Member Since:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Message Count:
    11,853
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    373
    Location:
    Mars
    The French were out of Mexico by the time Gettysburg happened.
    And? Neither was Lee. ROmmel was in control of all the Axis forces in North Africa.
  2. Da Julii Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 8, 2012
    Message Count:
    62
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    12
    Lee only had command of one army now he did do a lot with that army but he did not command all confederate forces.
    slydessertfox likes this.
  3. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    No not at all.
    Also guys remember that there was a huge difference between command in the Civil War and command in WW2. Generals in WW2 usually commanded forces across a wide front, while overall command during the Civil War might as well have been a ceremonial position because your generals in the field had pretty much free reign.
  4. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

    Member Since:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Message Count:
    11,853
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    373
    Location:
    Mars
    For the most part, yes.
  5. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    The French invaded Mexico city on 7th June 1863. Less than a month before Gettysburg. They didn't pull out until 1867. Pullouts back then weren't like modern day pullouts. They didn't last for years, the invading army just left.
  6. 1Historygenius Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 20, 2012
    Message Count:
    511
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    United States
    But he was in overall command of basically the Army of North Virginia, one of the most primary of forces in the CSA Army.
  7. Shisno Doesn't know who did this

    Member Since:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Message Count:
    2,641
    Likes Received:
    739
    Trophy Points:
    139
    Location:
    NKVD Underground
    Primary force for the Confederates in Virginia, not the West, which was a much bigger and a front much more important than the East. And he only became commander of the Army of Northern Virginia on May 31, 1862.
    slydessertfox and General Mosh like this.
  8. 1Historygenius Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 20, 2012
    Message Count:
    511
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    United States
    However, do you deny the fact that the Army of Northern Virginia under his control was a critical part in the war?
  9. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    Of course it was. But to blame him for the war is absurd! If anything, the war was lost by the Army of the Tennessee and its commanders. It was won and lost with Sherman and Grant in the West, it was a stalemate in the North until the West had already begun to crumble.
  10. Shisno Doesn't know who did this

    Member Since:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Message Count:
    2,641
    Likes Received:
    739
    Trophy Points:
    139
    Location:
    NKVD Underground
    That is why I blame Davis. Always gave the position of army commander to his old West Point friends (Braxton Bragg).
  11. 1Historygenius Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 20, 2012
    Message Count:
    511
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    United States
    So let's say the Union do achieve taking the Mississippi River. Yet by then the CSA has taken DC, New York City, and Philadelphia.
  12. Shisno Doesn't know who did this

    Member Since:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Message Count:
    2,641
    Likes Received:
    739
    Trophy Points:
    139
    Location:
    NKVD Underground
    You have no logic backing up claims. I can say that both NYC, Philly and DC are all fortified, on a river (or island) thus bringing in naval support and a supply route, and any such invasion of the North brings the massive Army of the Potomac to bear down on the Army of Northern Virginia and thousands of recruits and supplies. Any protracted siege will be bad for Lee, as the AofP will simply catch up to them and force an engagement unfavorable to Lee, as well as the fact even if he wins such a battle, he is cut off from supply lines and reinforcements. The farms of Pennsylvania can only sustain an army for so long, and when summer is over, there will be no more food to pillage.
    slydessertfox likes this.
  13. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

    Member Since:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Message Count:
    11,853
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    373
    Location:
    Mars
    And Rommel was in overall command of the Afrika Corps, which was arguably the most important force on the western front at the time. He was also in command of the army defending the French coast during D-Day.
    Shisno likes this.
  14. Da Julii Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 8, 2012
    Message Count:
    62
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    12
    This whole arguement is rediculous Lee is the only reason the war lasted as long as it did without him Richmond would have fallen in 62. I am really becoming sick of argueing this point because none of this matters as long as the CSA lost in the west no matter how hard they fought in the east they would have been sourrounded and cut off.
    Shisno and slydessertfox like this.
  15. Shisno Doesn't know who did this

    Member Since:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Message Count:
    2,641
    Likes Received:
    739
    Trophy Points:
    139
    Location:
    NKVD Underground
    I concur. Without Lee, the war would have been over long before than when it did end. For example, in the Peninsula Campaign, when Lee took charge, McClellan's army was 6 miles from Richmond, and they could even here the church bells. By the end of the 7 Days Battle (which the Confederates mainly lost because of Jackson, no joke), the Union were at there starting base on the James River at the beginning of the Peninsula Campaign.

Share This Page