Kentucky goes Union early and Tennesee follows

What if Kentucky went to the Union's side early and Tennesee seeing itself truly threatened early declares for the Union as well.
 
War is probably over by 1864. Having tennesse and Kentucky almost splits the confederacy in half. The Union can launch raids or advances into the deep south at will. Other border states, like Maryland and Missouri, are not likely to try and declare for the SOuth, while Arkansas, North Carolina, and Virginia may reconsider. The union can easily move down the Mississippi, cutting the reduced confederacy in half. Or, they could advance towards Atlanta, and cut it in half in a different place. Meanwhile, the south has lost a good deal of strategic depth and manpower. If it survives the first months or year, it will half to make a choice to either ignore the dangers of tennesse being in the Union and advance on Washington or hold around richmond, or gamble everything on a push into Tennesse to buy themselves time.
 
You would have to completely do away with the Tennessee government at the time. As well as the internal strife which was already exploding before Tennessee seceeded. Before Fort Sumter a vote was held which gave a 4 to 1 majority to no leave the Union. After Fort Sumter, it was the exact opposite. Franklin County Tennessee actually threatened to leave the state and join Alabama if Tennessee did not leave the Union.
 
You would have to completely do away with the Tennessee government at the time. As well as the internal strife which was already exploding before Tennessee seceeded. Before Fort Sumter a vote was held which gave a 4 to 1 majority to no leave the Union. After Fort Sumter, it was the exact opposite. Franklin County Tennessee actually threatened to leave the state and join Alabama if Tennessee did not leave the Union.

Kentucky's declaration could certainly change that for two reasons. One is that the Union army is now going to mass at its border and not Kentucky's so Tennesee is under imediate threat and Kentucky and Tennesee traded in the period Kentucky was neutral. That is unlikely to happen if Kentucky declares for the Union and that makes Tennesee economically weaker.
 
I can go along with Kentucky declaring for the Union, but Tennessee is a bit tricky. But regardless, if both states went with the Union, I'd doubt the war would even last until 1864. It could well be over by 1863 - especially if the Union concentrates its efforts out west
 
Why would KY declare for the Union early? The best way to have this would be that Magoffin dies before the war and the state House put a governor in place, though I think you'd still get a shadow/secessionist government at Bowling Green or Somerset.
 
I can go along with Kentucky declaring for the Union, but Tennessee is a bit tricky. But regardless, if both states went with the Union, I'd doubt the war would even last until 1864. It could well be over by 1863 - especially if the Union concentrates its efforts out west

For one thing NC would probably go soon after as it was one of the least enthusiastic states of the Confederacy. After that Virginia is surrounded and goes too.
 
Why would KY declare for the Union early? The best way to have this would be that Magoffin dies before the war and the state House put a governor in place, though I think you'd still get a shadow/secessionist government at Bowling Green or Somerset.

True, but a shadow government is almost certainly going to be weaker then the recognized one. Have Magoffin die 6 months beforfe the war.
 
Just reading this, before I looked up the name on wikipedia, I thought that (misspelled) MacGuffin was the Pro-Union Governor of Kentucky you've POD'd into place. Turns out he's real. Oops. :eek:
 
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