My TL-191

I think this is a worthwhile idea to pursue. Concerning your edited TL outline however keep in mind that Lincoln will not agree to end the war short of victory. Therefore the war should continue until atleast a Democrat gets inaugurated in 1865.
 
I'll follow this. Even if the books weren't all that plausible they were still pretty amazing, and I'd like to see how you change it. Consider me subscribed :D
 
But why Switzerland, which has always been strictly neutral, ally with anybody? Not any country ally without reason.

Because this is supposed to be an improvement over the original TL-191 or something like that? Even though there are numerous factual errors and ridiculous paths taken that make the OP's claim questionable.
 
I hope you fix the ridiculous idea of Britain illogically allying with the CSA past 1863. That never made a lick of sense considering the US and UK were too close to consider breaking ties permanently.
 
I think this is a worthwhile idea to pursue. Concerning your edited TL outline however keep in mind that Lincoln will not agree to end the war short of victory. Therefore the war should continue until atleast a Democrat gets inaugurated in 1865.

I thought it over and now agree with you. I could have Grant be moved to the Eastern Front after McClellan fails at the Battle of Boonsborough and Sherman not take up Total War tactics.
 
Prologue

The days of the War for Southern Independence were never exciting to Private John McHenry. Ever since the thrill of joining the Confederate army faded and he faced his first taste of true warfare, he had been waiting for his furlough in order to go back to his plantation and to his safe pre-war life. John was exhausted from fifty miles of marches every day, with nothing to eat but a biscuit that is impossible to bite and cold soup that does not energize him a single bit. All along the way, he could hear the wounded soldiers cry their anguished noises, his fellow soldiers grumble about the constant marching, and his superiors shouting angrily at each other for losing certain battles.

And today, he had woken up late and his regiment had left without him. Following his major's orders from two days ago, John had been going in the direction his regiment had marched, but he failed to catch up to them. It was getting close to noon, and he was getting awfully tired, too tired to continue. He hadn't had any food for over eighteen hours, and barely any water; his canteen was almost empty. He came across a field of green grass, exhausted, and collapsed on the ground. Lying there on the grass, John felt the wind blow something against his arm. The wind soon died down, and the piece of paper that was wedged between his arm and the ground was soon lifted into the air. John read what was on the letter[1]:

Special Orders, No. 191
Hdqrs. Army of Northern Virginia
September 9, 1862

1. The citizens of Fredericktown being unwilling while overrun by members of this army, to open their stores, to give them confidence, and to secure to officers and men purchasing supplies for benefit of this command, all officers and men of this army are strictly prohibited from visiting Fredericktown except on business, in which cases they will bear evidence of this in writing from division commanders. The provost-marshal in Fredericktown will see that his guard rigidly enforces this order.
2. Major Taylor will proceed to Leesburg, Virginia, and arrange for transportation of the sick and those unable to walk to Winchester, securing the transportation of the country for this purpose. The route between this and Culpepper Court-House east of the mountains being unsafe, will no longer be traveled. Those on the way to this army already across the river will move up promptly; all others will proceed to Winchester collectively and under command of officers, at which point, being the general depot of this army, its movements will be known and instructions given by commanding officer regulating further movements.
3. The army will resume its march tomorrow, taking the Hagerstown road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and, after passing Middletown, with such portion as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday morning take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of them as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harpers Ferry.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


He recognized immediately that the sheet of paper was important orders for his army, and that they might have dropped it back here on accident. Invigorated by his discovery, no longer caring about how exhausted he is, he dashed forward. By nightfall, he had finally reached his regiment, and the first thing he did was show the sheet of paper to his major.

The major looked at his piece of paper for a while, reached the bottom of it, and said, "Good, but now, where is the rest of it?"

OOC:
1. POD: He found a torn copy of Special Order 191, with orders 1, 2, and 3 listed on there. That means that McClellan never knows about the troops that are going to Sharpsburg, and therefore the Battle of Antietam will never happen.

Any suggestions, comments, feedback, criticism, et cetera are welcome.
 
I thought it over and now agree with you. I could have Grant be moved to the Eastern Front after McClellan fails at the Battle of Boonsborough and Sherman not take up Total War tactics.
then you have to remove Sherman completely. He recognised the problem of how to smash the damn south very early in the conflict....like, even before it started.
 
Modified timeline of 1862

Some time before - Confederate troops recover Special Order 191. (finished)
September 13th, 1862 - Confederate troops win the Battle of Harper's Ferry. (OTL)
September 14th, 1862 - Confederate troops lead by Robert E. Lee win the Battle of South Mountain.
September 17th, 1862 - Confederate troops are defeated at the Battle of the B&O and are forced to retreat.
September 18th, 1862 - Lincoln mentioned to a British diplomat that he had a bill that will free up the slaves, and that he might pass it.
September 21st, 1862 - General George McClellan is replaced by Ulysses S. Grant.
October 2nd, 1862 - France break ties with its former foreign policy and recognizes the CSA, because it won two battles in a roll one day after another, securing two important outposts in Maryland, and because it caved in to pressure from Mexican Emperor Maximilian I. This was before they received the news that the CSA lost the Battle of the B&O, so they believed there was a chance the Confederates might win the Battle of the B&O
October 4th, 1862 - Great Britain refuses to do so, because its parliament was gridlocked until the abolitionists won out, and because the Battle of South Mountain was not a decisive victory for the South, and because the CSA lost the Battle of the B&O.
October 12th, 1862 - Spain recognizes the CSA.
October 16th, 1862 - The CSA government denounces the British parliament for not recognizing the CSA.
October 30th - December 5th, 1862 - US forces successfully fought and won numerous battles in western Maryland. Robert E. Lee and his forces are pushed back into Virginia.
November 4th, 1862 - Great Britain responds to the denunciation by saying that she doesn't need the CSA's cotton.
December 16th, 1862 - Virginia Unionists in the north and west break away from Virginia and ask to join the Union.


Spoiler Alert:
Switzerland will not be neutral for long.
I will take inspiration from certain timelines like Male Rising and All About My Brother.
 
Top