WI: James Buchanan attacks the Confederacy?
- Thread starter Teshuvah
- Start date
He would either speed up all events of the civil war by the appropriate number of months, or possibly hold onto some of the upper south because Democrat Buchanan sending in troops might be somehow less objectionable than Republican Lincoln doing it.
I am assuming here that Buchanan does this somewhat coherently and that the invasion isn't so haphazardly managed that it causes extreme problems for the Union war effort.
A lot depends on the details of how this happens. For example, what if Buchanan reinforced Federal troops and placed commanders he'd knew to be loyal to protect federal property down south in the months leading up to the election. When the fireeaters secede, they cause an incident by attacking armed federal troops who resist. That would lead to different events then Buchanan doing the same as he did IOTL except launching an attack in February 1861.
I am assuming here that Buchanan does this somewhat coherently and that the invasion isn't so haphazardly managed that it causes extreme problems for the Union war effort.
A lot depends on the details of how this happens. For example, what if Buchanan reinforced Federal troops and placed commanders he'd knew to be loyal to protect federal property down south in the months leading up to the election. When the fireeaters secede, they cause an incident by attacking armed federal troops who resist. That would lead to different events then Buchanan doing the same as he did IOTL except launching an attack in February 1861.
Fearless Leader
Donor
I don't think it's all that implausible to have Buchanan begin the civil war that much earlier... Take a look at his cabinet appointments, he definitely was going for a pro-Union, anti-secession feel. IMO All it would take is the right spark to get Buchanan to move (albeit reluctantly) against the Confederacy
A Potential Spark Perhaps?
Let's say that our POD is that the cadets from the Citadel score the proverbial "Golden BB" hit on the Star of the West resulting in a catastrophic explosion which sinks the ship. The event is then sensationalized by the Press, and when South Carolina refuses to hand over the cadets to the Federal Government to be tried, Buchanan is forced to call up volunteers to suppress the rebellion.
However even his being a democrat I don't think would affect the decisions of the Border States or alter them from OTL. What you would see is a lot less war materiel falling into Confederate hands as they have 3-4 months less time than OTL.
The real question is how he decides to serve out the rest of his term. Does he attempt to do as much as possible to win the war to salvage his reputation? Or does he appoint Lincoln as his Vice-President and then resign viewing himself as a failure for not preventing the outbreak of hostilities.
A Potential Spark Perhaps?
Let's say that our POD is that the cadets from the Citadel score the proverbial "Golden BB" hit on the Star of the West resulting in a catastrophic explosion which sinks the ship. The event is then sensationalized by the Press, and when South Carolina refuses to hand over the cadets to the Federal Government to be tried, Buchanan is forced to call up volunteers to suppress the rebellion.
However even his being a democrat I don't think would affect the decisions of the Border States or alter them from OTL. What you would see is a lot less war materiel falling into Confederate hands as they have 3-4 months less time than OTL.
The real question is how he decides to serve out the rest of his term. Does he attempt to do as much as possible to win the war to salvage his reputation? Or does he appoint Lincoln as his Vice-President and then resign viewing himself as a failure for not preventing the outbreak of hostilities.