I must admit that I'm somewhat worried. Was the update bad? After almost 2 days it doesn't have even 50 likes, whereas other updates usually reach 70 in the same time. I'm sure that many of you were expecting an account of the battle, but I think it was necessary to talk about this too, and it only fit here. Please like the update, and if it's been bad, I'm open to criticism and advice.
Yes... I wonder if an earlier understanding of PTSD can be reached on account of this. Also, Black civil rights and emancipation are likely to be seen as conquests of the Civil War, and after going through so much suffering and sacrifice, I can't see the soldiers simply rolling over and allowing the Slave Power to claim dominance again.
The Grand Army of the Republic often talked against Confederate statues and the Lost Cause. Something like that, but in stereoids.
Thanks!
If anybody has any judges that would be the stalwart defenders we need, please mention them! Even some Lincoln judges, like David Davis, showed at most wavering commitment to them IOTL. As for Lincoln, did he want to be Chief Justice? I can see that, but I don't remember him mentioning anything of the sort in the books about him I've read. Of course, the Civil War was his main preoccupation. I know Stanton desired to be in the Court.
I can see many people supporting the extralegal measures and civil rights violations because they were done in the name of the most just of causes - slave emancipation. But the "Lincoln is a tyrant" idiots will probably be emboldened.
I actually don't know much about the English Civil War except for the basics.
Thanks! I think I'll continue writing these little stories and then combine them into just one threadmark.
I'd imagine that they wouldn't stand for their achievements to be undone. But naturally there will be others who couldn't care less.
This time, Unconditional Surrender will be their only choice.
Many Radicals were curiously enough against disenfranchisement, because they believed it was hypocritical to preach equality and democracy while at the same time disenfranchising large swathes of the South.
The march won't be just in Georgia.
Thank you! No, those I made up. They are in response to the greater scale and number of atrocities. The North here is similar to Paris just before the Terror, when they thought the Austrians were coming to exterminate them.
Thank you! I'm afraid that those who enjoy the military aspect may get bored of an update dedicated entirely to the political and social side though.
Might be a result of me watching Revolutions and getting superficially interested in the French Revolution I think a more positive portrayal is possible.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy my writing style. What do you mean, though, by "odd meandering quality"?
I don't think a weaker Presidency would be inherently bad, in special because if the President remains so powerful a President opposed to Reconstruction could easily gut it.
This will be the decivise battle. Even more important than Gettysburg.
The February Orders would probably be as infamous as any law of the French Revolution, seen as the start of an American Terror. A complex legacy, to say the least.
Thank you! It's comments like yours that motivate me to write. Next update is finally the battle.
There are exacerbating factors potentially awaiting for veterans of both sides; Union troops will tend to be from areas that never saw any fighting so their civilian neighbours won't understand the butchery, while Confederates will be on the losing side, and so could potentially face accusations of cowardice from civilians Southerners who would blame them for their defeat.
Yes... I wonder if an earlier understanding of PTSD can be reached on account of this. Also, Black civil rights and emancipation are likely to be seen as conquests of the Civil War, and after going through so much suffering and sacrifice, I can't see the soldiers simply rolling over and allowing the Slave Power to claim dominance again.
There were a lot of veterans associations and soldier's homes established after the war. I've done a bit of civil war reenacting at the one in Milwaukee (near Miller Park Stadium, its part of the VA's grounds).
The Grand Army of the Republic often talked against Confederate statues and the Lost Cause. Something like that, but in stereoids.
That was some damn good writing! Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
In order to have a better post war America, it will take more than a few good presidents; it will also need a pro civil rights Supreme Court to ensure that no roll backs happen. Maybe Lincoln pulls a William Howard Taft and is nominated to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, or perhaps even Chief Justice after Salmon Chase dies during the 1870s (if he still gets the post that is).
I actually have Lincoln become Chief Justice in 1861 in my Triumphant timeline.
If anybody has any judges that would be the stalwart defenders we need, please mention them! Even some Lincoln judges, like David Davis, showed at most wavering commitment to them IOTL. As for Lincoln, did he want to be Chief Justice? I can see that, but I don't remember him mentioning anything of the sort in the books about him I've read. Of course, the Civil War was his main preoccupation. I know Stanton desired to be in the Court.
Washington wasn't perfect either, and people revere him; I think LIncoln will still go down in history well here, but perhaps like FDR - - FDR is a solid 3rd at worst in most historians' eyes, and some put him 1 or 2, because of the Depression and WW 2. Lincoln's mistakes will likely look better by comparison than, say, FDR's treatment of Japanese-Americans, too. Or, if not, his mistakes will be seen the same way, just sort of glossed over.
I can see many people supporting the extralegal measures and civil rights violations because they were done in the name of the most just of causes - slave emancipation. But the "Lincoln is a tyrant" idiots will probably be emboldened.
If we look at the English Civil War and especially the colonial theatre, that war was literally the prequel of the American Civil War.
ITTL, this is even more of the case given the radicalization that is happening on both sides.
I actually don't know much about the English Civil War except for the basics.
That story was quite got. Gives a reminder of how hellish the war actually is on the ground, and shows how an 'I just want to go home' greenhorn gets radicalized into utter hatred for the CSA.
Deserves a threadmark.
Thanks! I think I'll continue writing these little stories and then combine them into just one threadmark.
It'll be interesting to see how all of these radicalized soldiers shape up as a constituency during reconstruction.
The irony of war weary soldiers somehow ending up the most in favor of a lengthy, thorough reconstruction would be incredible to see. I imagine it'd work out that way just out of sheer spite and fear, from and of having to experience all this horror or doing so again.
Edit: Oops, posted right on top of a new update.
I guess this means I'm supposed to say "First".
I'd imagine that they wouldn't stand for their achievements to be undone. But naturally there will be others who couldn't care less.
Come on, Reynolds, stop the traitor Lee and give America's Ulysses a chance to show Johnny Reb what for!
This time, Unconditional Surrender will be their only choice.
The Confederate traitors ITTL are going to be disfranchised en masse, not just the top dogs anymore. Or, such thing could become unnecessary because...the South would go Paraguay in the end.
Many Radicals were curiously enough against disenfranchisement, because they believed it was hypocritical to preach equality and democracy while at the same time disenfranchising large swathes of the South.
At the rate things are going Paraguay in the south would be a good outcome for the region. If we thought Sherman had free reign before there shall be no tree without one of his neckties now.
The march won't be just in Georgia.
Great update, showcasing the increasing radicalisation of the Union cause at their darkest moment. Were the quotes about the guillotine in Ohio etc. OTL?
Thank you! No, those I made up. They are in response to the greater scale and number of atrocities. The North here is similar to Paris just before the Terror, when they thought the Austrians were coming to exterminate them.
Another great update! You're continuing to do a great job weaving the military and political developments together
Thank you! I'm afraid that those who enjoy the military aspect may get bored of an update dedicated entirely to the political and social side though.
I think I already said this before, but it does seem like in the civil war here, comparisons to the French Revolution,seem to be a bit frequent. Does leave me wondering how that'll affect American historiography on the French Revolution. While I generally detest comparisons between two states that have centuries to millenniums separating them, I wouldn't be surprised if, going off the comparisons between the two, the start of the civil war would be compared to August 10 which led to the king being deposed, starting what some call the second revolution, and it seems like the civil war is also referred to as the second American revolution.
Might be a result of me watching Revolutions and getting superficially interested in the French Revolution I think a more positive portrayal is possible.
I have to say, one thing I really like about this timeline is the way it is written. Way to many are either just endless regurgitation of minutia, lists of dates of events, or slightly goofy prose writing. This is one of the few where it really feels like something I would be reading in a University level course about the Civil War. There is something about the overall tone of the writing, the 'focus' of each chapter being about certain aspects of the war, and that odd meandering quality that I find is common in pop-academic writing.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy my writing style. What do you mean, though, by "odd meandering quality"?
In the Old Roman sense/spirit of the title, I don't think it's up for debate. Lincoln has definitely crossed into "rei gerundae causa" territory.
Come time for the war to end and reconstruction to start, there are going to be a lot of senators and representatives who remember this time vividly and I'm more than sure they will be pursuing amendments to weaken the presidency, I'd guarantee it.
Lincoln might not be a pushover, but once he's at the end of his rope or there's someone new as president all the veteran legislators are going to see to it that a repeat of this can never happen.
I don't think a weaker Presidency would be inherently bad, in special because if the President remains so powerful a President opposed to Reconstruction could easily gut it.
All hope is with Reynolds now. We'll see if he can pull a rabbit out of the hat
This will be the decivise battle. Even more important than Gettysburg.
What just happened in this chapter was an absolute decimation of the political opposition in the North in response to a national crisis. Much of it wasn't directly organized by Lincoln, and the mob violence definitely **isn't** his primary responsibility, but history will see that second suspension of Habeas Corpus as a moment of incitation. That was the go-ahead moment to exclude, remove, and attack the opposition on a massive scale.
The February Orders would probably be as infamous as any law of the French Revolution, seen as the start of an American Terror. A complex legacy, to say the least.
Just caught up to this TL. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Thank you! It's comments like yours that motivate me to write. Next update is finally the battle.