Fall of DC? Southern Victory at Manassas goes far?

This is for a timeline I'm wanting to try my hand at. I appreciate any help and welcome all comments.

Whenever I start thinking about alternative history scenario's, there are a few countries, a few events, and a few battles that spring to my mind. One of them revolves around the very first land battle of the American Civil War.

The begining of the battle, where Union forces were under the command of Brig. General Irvin McDowell fought against Brig. General P.G.T Beauregard and Confederate forces, the Confederates were initially at a disadvantage. It was thanks to the arrival of Brig. General Joseph E. Johnston and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson that turned the tide of the battle in the South's favor.

The Confederate counterattack pushed the unseasoned and ill-experienced Union troops beyond their limits, and an orderly retreat turned into a rout. (this was something McDowell had been worried about, and it was only after pressure from Lincoln and other politicians that he had gone into the field to campaign)

Beauregard and Johnston did not press on, due to the disorganized state of their own combined armies, despite pressure from Jefferson Davis.

But what if Beauregard and Johnston had pressed forward? What if they had chased the panic-striken union troops back to Washington DC? Would the Confederate forces have been able to capture the city right after the first major land battle of the Civil War? How would this have effected the rest of the war?

RookieHistorian
 
The Southern armies were in almost as much chaos as their northern brethren. There is next to no chance they could have capitalized on their victory in the manner you describe.
 

mowque

Banned
I think Manassas is a good 30 miles from DC, so not exactly a hop, skip and jump. Even if the South tries to follow after Bull Run, I don't think they can get the cohesion they need.
 
True. I suppose I should have thought about that. Plus, I hadn't fully considered how disorganized the Confederate forces were, and that by the time Confederate forces had reorganized, the Union troops would have likely done the same...

Hmm...need to check and see what if any cavalry forces were at or near-by that could have been used to potentially harrass the fleeing Union troops while the foot soldiers and artillery reorganized...

Maybe I should have worded it to imply they did so within a day or two of the battle..? :p
 
I dont think DC could be taken, in a outright battle. Maybe if a complete destruction of the Union army happened, DC could be abandoned and then the CSA takes it
 
I dont think DC could be taken, in a outright battle. Maybe if a complete destruction of the Union army happened, DC could be abandoned and then the CSA takes it

I suppose it would depend (assuming the Confederates were able to reorganize quickly enough) on just how demoralized the union troops were, and how fast they also are able to reorganize.
 
Maybe have a POD where something with the railroad is wrong and Jackson cant send all of his Troops but most, the confederates sill win, and the rest of Jacksons men arrive, fresh and organized and slaughter the retreating Union soldiers
 

mowque

Banned
Maybe have a POD where something with the railroad is wrong and Jackson cant send all of his Troops but most, the confederates sill win, and the rest of Jacksons men arrive, fresh and organized and slaughter the retreating Union soldiers

Without Jackson (the man AND his troops) the Rebels are going to be the ones running. And, due to terrain, that might be the end of the war right there.
 
no i mean jackson comes with about 80% of his ppl, it will be closer but still a confederate victory, then the 20% left behind catch the next set of trains and arrive in time to destroy the retreating union forces
 
Maybe have a POD where something with the railroad is wrong and Jackson cant send all of his Troops but most, the confederates sill win, and the rest of Jackson's men arrive, fresh and organized and slaughter the retreating Union soldiers
no i mean Jackson comes with about 80% of his ppl, it will be closer but still a confederate victory, then the 20% left behind catch the next set of trains and arrive in time to destroy the retreating union forces
Johnson's Troops - not Jackson

?Didn't whe have a TL several years ago about a Union Victory at the First Battle of Manassas?
 
The troops that arrived to bolster the Confederate Army were indeed Johnstons troops. Stonewall Jackson was just a colonel at the begining.

Beauregard was the one in command of the forces already present.
 
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