AHC WI either Lincoln or Davis captured during ACW

Was there any time when either might have been unlucky and got caught by opposing forces.

If so:

1) Is Davis tried for Treason.

2) If after 1863 Do confederates try Lincoln for promoting servile rebellion, as they threated to do to white officers in USCT units?
 

Saphroneth

Banned
I suppose it's not impossible that if McClellan had had the troops he could have battered his way into Richmond quite "fast", so he might have caught Davis out.

Early's attack on Washington or an analogue might have worked and let him capture Lincoln, if there'd been a somewhat different balance of forces. An Overland Campaign attempt in 1862 might have done it, as that would have a voracious appetite for troops to shore up the troops defending the rail lines and the Confederate army was still quite large. (In this conception Lincoln would probably need to be visiting the fort, and be wounded just before a major attack goes in, so he's not able to leave by himself and is overtaken by events.)
 
Didn't both Lincoln & Davies visit their front-line armies at times - perhaps running into an unfortunately timed enemy cavalry raid.
Of course this also depends on how big, if any, escort they had with them.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Actually, that's a good point - how does Presidential Succession in those days handle "President is captured"? It's never really come up...
 
Actually, that's a good point - how does Presidential Succession in those days handle "President is captured"? It's never really come up...

Can't see it being an issue. Taking Lincoln alive would be yuuuuge for the CSA. They can trade him for a peace treaty recognizing independence.
 
Can't see it being an issue. Taking Lincoln alive would be yuuuuge for the CSA. They can trade him for a peace treaty recognizing independence.

Wouldn't Lincoln just ask the Northerners to let him die as rebel hands than be remembered as the man who was traded to dismantle the union? The USA administration can't ignore that request. And they'd be morons to make that trade without asking what their head of state preferred, which would be not to be used as a hostage.
 
Actually, that's a good point - how does Presidential Succession in those days handle "President is captured"? It's never really come up...

"In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected."

The Confederate Constitution copies this word for word. In either case, being captured by the enemy would clearly count as "Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office".
 
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