A different Shiloh

This scenario assumes that General P.G.T. Beauregard, rather than being transferred west in early 1862 to take the post of second in command of the Army of Mississippi, is instead assigned to command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, where he oversees the Confederate coastal defenses in that region (a task in which he excelled when assigned to it later in the war). Thus, he is not present at Shiloh in April 1862.

April 3, 1862--The Confederate Army of Mississippi leaves Corinth, Mississippi, at dawn, aiming to attack the Union army under Major General Ulysses S. Grant, which is encamped at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee (in OTL, delays caused in part by actions of General P.G.T. Beauregard and his Adjutant, Colonel Jordan, delayed the advance from Corinth until April 4. Since Beauregard, in the ATL, is commanding in the Carolinas and Georgia, this does not occur). The Confederates arrive at their “jump off point” near Pittsburg Landing on the evening of April 3, and go into camp for the night.

April 4-5, 1862--The Battle of Shiloh. The Confederate Army of Mississippi launches an attack on the Union Army of the Tennessee, under Major General Ulysses S. Grant, at dawn of April 4, 1862. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston’s original plan is carried out (in OTL, it was changed by General Beauregard), and the Confederate Army of Mississippi attacks with Polk’s Corps on the left, Bragg’s Corps in the center, and Hardee’s Corps on the right, with Breckinridge’s Corps in reserve, the Confederate Corps moving up side by side in compact columns (instead of the formation ordered by Beauregard in OTL, where the Corps advanced in echelon). Johnston's plan emphasizes the attack on the Confederate right flank against Grant's left, aiming to capture Pittsburg Landing and separate the Union army from its gunboat support (and avenue of retreat) on the Tennessee River, driving it west into the swamps of Snake and Owl Creeks, where it can be destroyed. Johnston makes it known to his subordinates in no uncertain terms that the aim is Pittsburg Landing, and nothing must stop or delay the Confederate thrust toward that objective (in OTL, subordinate commanders were confused after receiving conflicting instructions from Johnston and Beauregard as to the objective…Johnston was saying Pittsburg Landing, but Beauregard envisioned an assault with the objective of driving the enemy into the Tennessee River…the opposite of what Johnston intended).

The attack is a complete surprise, and, despite their inexperience and disorganization caused by the heavily wooded terrain (much less than in OTL due to the attack formation ordered by Johnston, which allows the Corps Commanders to keep much tighter control of their inexperienced troops once the battle has started), the Confederate forces advance rapidly. Among the dead in the first hour of the attack is Union Major General William T. Sherman, who, having been roused from slumber by the first shots of the attack, is shot through the head while mounting his horse as he prepares to ride off and see what is happening. As in OTL, Union forces attempt to make a stand in the Sunken Road (the position which would, in OTL, become known as the Hornet’s Nest). But rather than allowing themselves to be delayed by Union troops holding out in this strong position, the Confederates instead cordon off and bypass the position (it is reduced by concentrated artillery the next day), and continue on toward their objective. Pittsburg Landing falls at 11:00 a.m., and General Grant is killed shortly afterward, as he tries to organize a defense of the Landing, when his party is surprised by fast-moving Confederate cavalry under Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest. Grant‘s death means that Union command and control pretty much falls into chaos from this point on, and Grant’s Army finds itself effectively flanked and forced away from the Tennessee River into the swamps. The Confederates push them further into the swamps through the rest of the day, until, at about 4:00 p.m., a heavy, cold rain begins to fall, effectively ending that day‘s fighting. It rains all night, turning the fields and roads in the area into quagmires of mud. It also effectively dashes the efforts of the Union Army to construct defensive lines during the night.

The mud-soaked fields and roads caused by the previous night’s rains cause the Confederates to delay renewing their attack until 1:00 p.m. on April 5, 1862. General Johnston spends the intervening time reorganizing his troops and replenishing the ammunition of his men., and the Confederate attack, when it comes, is devastating. It is made all the more so by the fact that Breckinridge’s Reserve Corps, which was never committed to battle the previous day, is completely fresh and rested when it makes it’s assault on April 5. The Union Army of the Tennessee, pushed against the anvil of rain-swollen and impassable Owl and Snake Creeks, it’s morale destroyed by the defeats suffered the previous day and the death of it’s beloved commander, shatters under the Confederate hammer blows. Some individual division commanders (Lew Wallace is the most prominent of these) decide to go out in a blaze of glory, and fight until their positions are literally over-run, causing huge Confederate casualties. Most, however, seeing the impossibility of their position, simply surrender. A few units do manage to escape the trap, but, for the most part, the Army of the Tennessee ceases to exist by 6:00 p.m.

The Confederates have won a huge victory, but at a terrible cost…almost 13,000 Confederates are dead, wounded, or missing. The Union army has suffered far worse, however…over 15,000 dead or wounded, another 20,000 captured. Only 5,000 out of the original 40,000-strong Union army escapes to fight another day. It has been the bloodiest two-day period in American history up to that point.

April 6, 1862--Refugees from Grant’s Army of the Tennessee reach the headquarters of Major General Don Carlos Buell, who is, at the time leading his army to link up with Grant at Pittsburg Landing. Buell, hearing their reports that Grant is dead and Pittsburg Landing has fallen, decides to retreat back to Nashville rather than continuing on to Pittsburg Landing.

So what happens from here? Several questions come to mind...

--What would be Sidney Johnston's objectives in the aftermath of his victory? Johnston is shortly going to be reinforced by another 20,000 men (Van Dorn's Army of the West, ordered across the Mississippi from Arkansas). Does he try to reclaim Nashville and/or invade Kentucky? If Johnston later meets Don Carlos Buell in battle, who wins?

--What would be the possible international repercussions? Would such a decisive Union defeat and apparent end to the string of Union successes in the West be enough to bring in Britain and France on the side of the Confederacy?

--How would the Lincoln Administration react...would they take troops away from George McClellan and send them west to redeem the situation there, and if so, does that effectively scuttle the Peninsula Campaign?

Any other thoughts?
 
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Very interesting post. Not sure how the Lincoln administration would have reacted in the face of such a defeat at Shiloh. In terms of bringing Great Britain and/or France into the mix, however, I'm not convinced that either country would have been willing to intervene for the Confederacy while slavery was still being practiced.

Even with the reinforcement from Van Dorn, Johnston's victory at Shiloh is so pyrrhic that an immediate attack on Nashville seems unlikely to me. What I do find intriguing, however, is the possibility that, with Johnston and Van Dorn linked and the Union army reeling from the defeat at Shiloh the siege at Vicksburg doesn't happen.
 
I see things going very well for the Confederacy till the West culminates in a Gettysburg style battle that ends with a sound Confederate defeat around the same time of a Gettysburg style battle in the East also ending in a Southern defeat. As far as foreign intervention it would pretty much take the same rout as OTL and I think in the case of a major defeat at Shiloh the Peninsular campaign would take even more precedent with as much resources as could be spared being poured into in order to redeem the Union.
 
What happens after Buell gets back to Nashville? He probably hides behind the cities defenses til he absolutely has to make a move.

New Orleans and island #10 still fall. I'm not sure what Johnston's next target would be, but I doubt its Nashville.

Corinth and its railroads are safe, that gives them a logistical advantage that they didn't have OTL. Johnston and Lee are able to send troops to aid each other if need be.

If there is a Gettysburg, it might happen a little differently than OTL. If not a Confederate victory, then at least not as great a disaster.

The biggest impact is the absence of Grant and Sherman. Vicksburg won't fall as early as OTL. Atlanta falls much later.

In 1864 things look bad for Lincolns reelection. President MacClellan?

Shiloh might produce a major political victory for the south.
 
So lets say that the peninsula campaign is a success for the Union how does that effect things?
 
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The American Civil War lasted for 4 years. During this time, there was never as sweeping a victory - despite the heavy Confederate losses - as that described in this scenerio. And the longer the war continued, the more professional the armies became, allowing for a better chance for such an outcome.

The control of the armies at this point in the war makes such a Union disaster - or a Confederate one - impossible. A 1864 army, fighting against a 1862 opponent, could have done it, but not one 1862 army against another 1862 army.
 
The American Civil War lasted for 4 years. During this time, there was never as sweeping a victory - despite the heavy Confederate losses - as that described in this scenerio. And the longer the war continued, the more professional the armies became, allowing for a better chance for such an outcome.

The control of the armies at this point in the war makes such a Union disaster - or a Confederate one - impossible. A 1864 army, fighting against a 1862 opponent, could have done it, but not one 1862 army against another 1862 army.

I disagree. Indeed, I would argue that such an outcome was MORE likely to occur early on in the war than it was later, when the better training of the veteran armies prevented catastrophic collapses of morale (which is what really occurs in this scenario) from occurring. It almost happened on the first day of Shiloh in OTL, even though the Confederate attack was handicapped from the beginning by confusion over it's objectives and the very poor attack formation imposed upon it by Beauregard. Remove those obstacles, and throw in a little random luck (Sherman and Grant being killed while Johnston survives), and something like this scenario could well have happened. Just because it didn't occur in OTL doesn't mean it was impossible.
 
A lot depends on what happens next.
The South has just inhearited a lot of Equipment, while The Union has to rebuild in the west.

If the South can squeak out a few more victories, then the Democracts/Whigs will use these in the 1862 campaign.
Lincoln facing a more hostile Congress will have other problems beside the War.


If the South can keep controll of the Mississippi, The Mississipi Iron clads will be built, and be able to retake New Orleans.
 

MrP

Banned
I like the scenario - very interesting and rather plausible - but I'm not too happy about both Grant and Sherman being killed. I think I'd be happier to see one of the two captured or even escape instead. But that's more of a literary criticism than aught else. ;)
 
Removing Grant and Sherman can have a catastrophic impact on the Union war effort farther down the road. In the short term, the Confederates have forced Federal troops back to Nashville. Don Carlos Buell won't attack them, but Johnston is in no shape to take Nashville. The Confederates will also lose New Orleans thanks to Shiloh (same as OTL), but the blow won't be as heavy.

There's no telling what Johnston would have done next, but it is possible that he will attempt to go north and invade Kentucky if Bragg suggests it. Buell would go after Johnston and there would be a showdown in Kentucky.
 
Indeed, I would argue that such an outcome was MORE likely to occur early on in the war than it was later, when the better training of the veteran armies prevented catastrophic collapses of morale (which is what really occurs in this scenario) from occurring.


Robert,

I believe you've got it backwards. The lack of discipline and morale would mean that the war's early armies would run away before they could be destroyed. We see this as late as 1863 and Chickamauga.

The only time a Civil War army was destroyed as you suggest happens in this timeline was at Nashville and much of that has to do with Hood's disciplined troops remaining on the field and Thomas actually planning on and launching a post-battle pursuit. Neither of those things occur in your ATL Shiloh and they happened all of once in the war.

... the Confederate attack was handicapped from the beginning by confusion over it's objectives and the very poor attack formation imposed upon it by Beauregard.

That so-called "poor attack formation" was required by the training level of the Confederate army of the time.

(Sherman and Grant being killed while Johnston survives), and something like this scenario could well have happened.

I'll give you Sherman, he was right up front during the initial Confederate assault, but killing Grant makes this "Just Another Klan Wank". We have too many accounts of Grant's battlefield behavior, including his own account of this very battle, that argue the opposite. He never placed himself under fire. At the OTL Shiloh, he rallied troops, led them to the fighting, and sent them on before he entered the enemy's range. (You can find those accounts, suitably footnoted, in Keegan's Mask of Command.)

Just because it didn't occur in OTL doesn't mean it was impossible.

True, but because it not's impossible doesn't mean that the opposite then holds true. For example, while it's not impossible that I in the OTL could win the lottery and marry a nymphomaniac supermodel, it's isn't very damn plausible either.


Bill
 
Robert,

I believe you've got it backwards. The lack of discipline and morale would mean that the war's early armies would run away before they could be destroyed. We see this as late as 1863 and Chickamauga.

The only time a Civil War army was destroyed as you suggest happens in this timeline was at Nashville and much of that has to do with Hood's disciplined troops remaining on the field and Thomas actually planning on and launching a post-battle pursuit. Neither of those things occur in your ATL Shiloh and they happened all of once in the war.

That assumes that the army has someplace to go when it runs away. The problem here is that the Union army has no place to run, because they are backed up against rain-swollen and impassable Owl and Snake Creeks. That's why the scenario turns out as it does.

That so-called "poor attack formation" was required by the training level of the Confederate army of the time.

Actually, Beauregard's echelon formation was far more complicated for inexperienced troops to perform than Johnston's original plan would have been. Beauregard's plan called for the units to advance in line formation, through heavily wooded country, with each corps following the other in successive waves. This caused units to become intermingled and meant that the Corps commanders lost control of their units almost immediately. Johnston's plan called for an advance in compact columns...which would have, in and of itself, helped the inexperienced units to maintain their cohesion and help reduce intermingling....and the corps were to be arranged in line abreast, rather than following one another...which, again, would help prevent intermingling and allow better control by the Corps commanders. Beauregard had a penchant for grandiose plans which his inexperienced troops were not capable of performing. He demonstrated this at First Manassas and again at Shiloh. Johnston's plan took the inexperience of the troops into account.

I'll give you Sherman, he was right up front during the initial Confederate assault, but killing Grant makes this "Just Another Klan Wank".

"Another Klan wank?" Is there some particular reason why you have to drag this discussion into the mud and try to turn it into a flame war?

We have too many accounts of Grant's battlefield behavior, including his own account of this very battle, that argue the opposite. He never placed himself under fire. At the OTL Shiloh, he rallied troops, led them to the fighting, and sent them on before he entered the enemy's range. (You can find those accounts, suitably footnoted, in Keegan's Mask of Command.)

Grant was nearly killed by enemy fire at Shiloh on at least one occasion. An aide riding next to him was decapitated by a Confederate cannon ball...had that ball been 3 feet to one side, and it would have been Grant's brains scattered over the ground. And I didn't say he placed himself under enemy fire in this scenario, although Grant did do that on a number of occasions during the war. What I said was he was surprised by a party of Confederate cavalry in the chaos at Pittsburg Landing when the Confederates took the area.

True, but because it not's impossible doesn't mean that the opposite then holds true. For example, while it's not impossible that I in the OTL could win the lottery and marry a nymphomaniac supermodel, it's isn't very damn plausible either.


Bill

Well, I can certainly agree to that. Especially with a sourpuss attitude like yours. :D
 
I like the scenario - very interesting and rather plausible - but I'm not too happy about both Grant and Sherman being killed. I think I'd be happier to see one of the two captured or even escape instead. But that's more of a literary criticism than aught else. ;)

Well, I suppose we could have Sherman killed and Grant surprised and captured by Forrest's cavalry. The question then would be, does Grant get exchanged later, and if so, what role does he play. Does he make it back into a major theater of the war, or end up out west chasing Indians, like John Pope?
 
It seemed to me that in initial plans, Columbus should be defended to the last extremity with a reduced garrison. In OTL, Beauregard decided to evacuate Columbus and make his defense of the Mississippi River at Island Number Ten.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
The logical move for A. S. Johnston after such a successful Shiloh would be to move directly north against Paducah, the capture of which would possibly compel the Union forces to evacuate Nashville by having their main supply line (the Cumberland River) cut. As a bonus, the capture of Paducah would block any Union effort to move against Island No. 10. The perceived threat to Illinois would also cause Union reinforcements to be dispatched westward from the Eastern Theater, curtailing the Peninsular Campaign.
 
Longer War

It means the war lasts longer. It takes a wile for the north to reorganize. The souths lack of industry and reduced trade due to the blockaked make it hard for them to strengthen their position. After a stalmate, a bright young union general, with new troops and equipment, sees a weakness the confederate position. This lead to the battle of ( Incert Tennessee community here) and a resumption of war in the west.
 
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