The Hero of Arlington

The Hero of Arlington
The tale of a Union Virginia
Author's Note: Welcome to my first TL on AlternateHistory.com. I have always been interested in history since I was a little child, and the Civil War was one of the first pieces of American history to interest me. So I decided to write my first alternate history on this subject. Thank you and enjoy. :D
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Chapter 1

Fort Sumter, South Carolina
7 April, 1861


Captain Gustavus Fox was walking around the newly manned Fort Sumter the day after his arrival with the 350 troops he brought after convincing Lincoln that holding out would convince the other slave states that defiance would send the message of a strong united union [1]. Under the cover of darkness, his small fleet of ships passed into Charleston harbor undetected. A moment after staring out at the rebel city of Charleston, Fox decided to talk with Anderson.


“Captain Fox, it is wonderful to see these reinforcements, but how has the South reacted to this?” Anderson asked.


“The Confederacy, as far as I know, hasn’t even noticed the reinforcements, but I think we should let them know by making our presence obvious.” replied Fox.


“All that would do is…” Anderson trailed off as his second in command, Abner Doubleday, walked in.


“I overheard Captain Fox’s idea and I believe we should go through with it.” Doubleday proclaimed. “Not only will it show our willingness not to back down from this fort, it will also get this fort defended in case of a Confederate attack on this fort.”


Anger swelled up in Anderson’s face and he screamed, “NO! All that will do is provoke General Beauregard to attack this fort and kill everyone here, along with starting an armed conflict with our Southern brothers that would ruin the North and South. Now, both of you GET OUT!"
After being booted from the commanding officer’s office, Fox felt an urge of sin in his mind. He wanted to eliminate Robert Anderson before he destroyed the US’s hold on Fort Sumter. That night, he snuck into Anderson’s bedroom with rope. Fox tied down Anderson to his bed and put a pillow over his face and suffocated the Major in his sleep. The next day every one at Fort Sumter was in shock as their commanding officer lied dead. Doubleday then took over and went with Fox’s plan, and coming up with one of his own.
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From “The American Story: A History of the United States”
McDonald Publishing, 2011
Chapter 7: The Civil War


The mysterious murder of Major Robert Anderson was a mystery that has eluded historians and investigators to this day, with many rumors floating around as early as the day after his death. Under Anderson’s successor, Abner Doubleday, possibly under the influence of Captain Gustavus Fox, Fort Sumter was geared up for war. After Gustavus Fox’s resupply of the fort, the Confederacy sent an ultimatum to evacuate Fort Sumter. On 12 April, 1861 at approximately five AM in the morning, shots rang from Fort Sumter to the nearby Fort Johnston and Cumming’s Point, setting fire to both instantly. General Pierre “Iron Man” Beauregard [2] was awoken to the screams and gunshots. Scrambling out of his bed, Beauregard stormed out and sent the order to fire on Fort Sumter. For the next five hours, shots rang in Charleston harbor until Fort Sumter was set ablaze. Filled with adrenaline, the Confederate forces stormed Fort Sumter under the orders to kill any living survivors for nearly destroying the innocent city of Charleston. Only 60 men were found alive, excluding Abner Doubleday, who had been found with a broken skull and bullet wounds. Only one piece of information was gathered that day, the rumor that Doubleday had killed Anderson for his pro-slavery sentiment.


The news from Charleston that day sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Pro-secessionist talks in Virginia had ceased due to the horrors of the Confederate massacre of soldiers without trial, causing it to stay in the union. However, that did not stop the secession of Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, enraged by the tale that Doubleday had murdered Kentucky native Robert Anderson, and Missouri [3]. By 1 June, 1861, a total of twelve states and the Arizona Territory had seceded from the United States with claims over the Indian Territory. The Civil War had just begun, but the maelstrom was yet to come.


[1] In OTL, Gustavus Fox was sent to Fort Sumter only to resupply it. In TTL, he was able to convince Lincoln to send troops as well.

[2] Known as P.G.T. Beauregard in OTL

[3] With the murder of pro-slavery Major Robert Anderson sending shockwaves throughout the South, Missouri governor Claiborne Jackson was able to persuade the Missouri General Assembly to secede from the United States with Anderson’s murder as reason.



Below: Map of the Earth on June 1st, 1861 as the Civil War is just beginning

1861 - Copy.png
 
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Chapter 2

The White House
Washington D.C., United States of America
18 April, 1861

President Abraham Lincoln was walking around his office pacing frantically after hearing that Kentucky and Tennessee had seceded from the United States with the rest of the South, minus Virginia, to follow suit. He needed a man to lead the army throughout this war. His current commander Winfield Scott was too old, but had suggested Colonel Robert E. Lee of Virginia. Taking his advice, Lincoln had sent his aid Francis Blair to Lee’s home of Arlington two hours ago and had not heard back as the sun was setting. Finally as the sky went dark, Francis came bursting into the President’s office.

“Francis, what is it?!” exclaimed Lincoln as he observed Blair’s pale face.

“Sir, its Lee. The answer to your question is yes.” Francis said with a wide grin on his face.

“That’s great. Tell Scott the news and get Lee in my office by tomorrow.” Lincoln proclaimed.

With that done, Blair left the White House and Lincoln alone. Looking at Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington, Lincoln hoped that Scott was right about this Lee fellow, for if he was wrong, Lincoln was sure the nation was doomed.
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From The Hero of Arlington: the Life of Robert E. Lee by Professor Frank Brown
Lexington State University [1] Press, 2012
Chapter 5: The General


robert-e-lee-portrait.jpg
Major General Robert E. Lee

In 1860, Robert E. Lee was just a mere lieutenant colonel in the US Army, with a popular opinion with General Winfield Scott, who was miles away from his base in Texas, but the next year would change everything for him. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was in need of a man to lead his armies, as Winfield Scott was near retirement. He needed someone fresh and full of energy.Alas, Lincoln did not discover Lee until of Winfield Scott’s recommendation and on 18 April, 1861, Lee was given the offer at his Arlington plantation by Lincoln’s aid, Francis Blair. At first not known, Lee later stated in his memoirs that he chose to fight out of patriotism and devotion to family (most of whom were against secession). The next day, Lee went to see President Lincoln and General Scott in person, where he was promoted to the rank of Major General and given command over the Army of Northeastern Virginia, later renamed the Army of Chesapeake Bay [2].

For the first two months of the Civil War, Lee did not see any action until the Army of Appalachia [3] under General Pierre Beauregard and Braxton Bragg began an invasion of Virginia through North Carolina and Kentucky on 4 July, 1861. Lee was sent to deal with them. On 14 July, Lee’s and Beauregard’s armies clashed at the small town of Lynchburg, Virginia, beginning the First Battle of Seven Hills. The battle wore on for over a day until Confederate forces stormed the Union encampment, leading to Lee ordering his retreat to Lexington. However, some did not retreat. Forces under George McClellan remained, refusing to move, earning him the nickname “Stonewall” McClellan. After hours of fighting, McClellan was stormed by General Beauregard’s troops, perishing along with 150 troops that remained with him. The other thousand were taken prisoner. Beauregard’s action of breaking the resistance of McClellan’s troops earned him the nickname of “Iron Man” Beauregard, a nickname that stuck for the rest of the war.

George%20B.%20McClellan.jpg
George “Stonewall” McClellan

P.-G.-T.-Beauregard-38927-1-402.jpg
Pierre “Iron Man” Beauregard

[1] Washington and Lee University in OTL

[2] The Army of Chesapeake Bay in TTL is a combination of the Army of Northern Virginia and Army of the Potomac

[3] TTL’s replacement for the Army of Northern Virginia
 
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I am really not understanding why Virginia stays in the Union, whereas Missouri and Kentucky both secede?

and Stonewall McClellan? That is just bizarre.
 
I am really not understanding why Virginia stays in the Union, whereas Missouri and Kentucky both secede?

and Stonewall McClellan? That is just bizarre.

Virginia stayed in the Union due to the massacre of the remaining Union troops stationed at Fort Sumter. Robert Anderson was from Kentucky, and there was already enough support for secession. The same went for Missouri. The governor at the time, Claiborne "Fox" Jackson, was in favor of secession, and even went as far as storming the St. Louis Arsenal to gain the weaponry the Union had stored there. In TTL, news papers in the states of Missouri and Kentucky, two border states, spread the rumor that Doubleday had killed Robert Anderson for his pro-slavery views. Some papers twisted the story to say that Lincoln himself ordered Anderson to die. This stirred up the people in Missouri and Kentucky to the point where a majority were in favor of secession. However, this rumor was not spread in Virginia based on the fact that many people believed Virginia's secession was inevitable, but all the Virginians heard was of the Confederates massacring the remaining Union troops who had surrendered, causing a sharp decrease in pro-secession sentiment. As for Stonewall McClellan, I went with that for an interesting story twist since the actual Stonewall, Thomas Jackson, is from Virginia and fights for the Union in TTL along with Lee. Jackson will be in the next update.
 
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Cryostorm

Monthly Donor
Why would North Carolina secede if Virginia does not, the chief reason they did OTL was because Virginia seceded after the fall of Fort Sumter, hard to not join a nation that surrounds you.. If Virginia stays in the Union then North Carolina would likely stay in as well which would severely hurt the Confederacy, Virginia and North Carolina were the most industrial states in the south and the port of Wilmington was an major supplier of European imports and the last port to fall.
 
Why would North Carolina secede if Virginia does not, the chief reason they did OTL was because Virginia seceded after the fall of Fort Sumter, hard to not join a nation that surrounds you.. If Virginia stays in the Union then North Carolina would likely stay in as well which would severely hurt the Confederacy, Virginia and North Carolina were the most industrial states in the south and the port of Wilmington was an major supplier of European imports and the last port to fall.
North Carolina seceded due to the rumor that Robert Anderson was murdered by Abner Doubleday for his pro-slavery views. Local news papers spun the story into a violation of state's rights. Also, North Carolina Governor John Ellis was in favor of secession and it was barely beat by less than one thousand votes. With the outcry over Anderson's death, the popular majority switched to secession.
 
North Carolina seceded due to the rumor that Robert Anderson was murdered by Abner Doubleday for his pro-slavery views. Local news papers spun the story into a violation of state's rights. Also, North Carolina Governor John Ellis was in favor of secession and it was barely beat by less than one thousand votes. With the outcry over Anderson's death, the popular majority switched to secession.

This as a basis for North Carolina, Missouri, and Kentucky secceeding raises a question.

Why is it that when papers - presumably based on Confederate (or at least now Confederate residents, even if not the Confederate government) sources report Doubleday murdered Anderson for being pro-slavery, people take that seriously?

Show of hands. How many mid-19th century Americans even knew who Doubleday was? Or that Anderson HAD pro-slavery views?

Not to mention that joining the Confederacy because one US officer murdered another over the subject is . . . rather hard to imagine.

And how many people are going to believe that Doubleday did it because he was ordered to? It just doesn't hold a lot of water if you apply an ounce of critical thought to it - which those who didn't join the CSA right away (or at all) OTL presumably did before their decision.


I think the idea of "Iron Man" Beauregard, and other things is quite clever - but this is strangling my suspension of disbelief.

And as someone who would like to see where you go with an alt-ACW timeline, I'd like to ask you not to threaten it so much so quickly.
 

katchen

Banned
Virginia stayed in the Union due to the massacre of the remaining Union troops stationed at Fort Sumter. Robert Anderson was from Kentucky, and there was already enough support for secession. The same went for Missouri. The governor at the time, Claiborne "Fox" Jackson, was in favor of secession, and even went as far as storming the St. Louis Arsenal to gain the weaponry the Union had stored there. In TTL, news papers in the states of Missouri and Kentucky, two border states, spread the rumor that Doubleday had killed Robert Anderson for his pro-slavery views. Some papers twisted the story to say that Lincoln himself ordered Anderson to die. This stirred up the people in Missouri and Kentucky to the point where a majority were in favor of secession. However, this rumor was not spread in Virginia based on the fact that many people believed Virginia's secession was inevitable, but all the Virginians heard was of the Confederates massacring the remaining Union troops who had surrendered, causing a sharp decrease in pro-secession sentiment. As for Stonewall McClellan, I went with that for an interesting story twist since the actual Stonewall, Thomas Jackson, is from Virginia and fights for the Union in TTL along with Lee. Jackson will be in the next update.
Does this mean that when Abner Doubleday invents baseball, assuming he survives the Civil War, Southerners will boycott the game and refuse to play it?
 
Does this mean that when Abner Doubleday invents baseball, assuming he survives the Civil War, Southerners will boycott the game and refuse to play it?

According to the Doubleday myth of baseball, that game was created in 1839. As for the Southern boycott, I have not reached 1876 yet, but it is a really good idea. Also, Doubleday died at Fort Sumter. You will find that in the first update.
 
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Chapter 3


From The Guns of the South by T. J. Whitman
University of Illinois Press, 1963

The early Confederate victories were shocking blows to Union General Robert E. Lee, who was determined to stop the invasion of Virginia. By 1 August , Lee had reached Washington and had came up with a plan. He and his other Generals, William T. Sherman and Joseph Johnston, decided it was time to go on the offensive once again. Known as the Summer Offensive, the Army of Chesapeake Bay went South to push out General Bragg’s Army of Appalachia from Virginia. The first major blow to the Confederates came on 20 August at the Battle of Hampton Roads. Lee’s army caught Bragg by surprise, leading to a weak defense of the area. After only two hours, General Bragg was forced to retreat South to Danville. The Battle of Hampton Roads completely reversed the opinion of him in Washington. Most of congress wanted him fired, but President Lincoln and General Winfield Scott stood by him, with Scott stating Major-General Lee is the finest soldier I have ever seen in action, and the day he is removed is the day I resign.” It is commonly believed that Scott’s words saved Lee from a dishonorable discharge. After the battle however, Lee was championed as the savior of Virginia from the rebel scum, and no one dared to say anything negative about him.

Even though Lee’s decision making caused his victory, it was another man who took the headlines, Colonel Thomas Jackson. His legendary charge to Newport News on horseback that cut Bragg’s line in two earned him the name “Iron Fist” Jackson. After securing the area, General Lee personally congratulated him and sent word to Washington for him to be promoted to the rank of Major General, which occurred ten days after the battle ended.

In the West however, Iron Man Beauregard had secured western Virginia by the end of October. After that, Confederate President Davis called him back to Montgomery [1] for an urgent matter…
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From The Union Forever
Santorum Printing, Vancouver, Cascadia [2], 1947
Chapter 3: The Western Front

At the same time as Robert Lee was fighting Iron Fist Jackson and Bragg in Virginia, Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was preparing for his own attack. Since the beginning of hostilities, Lincoln himself had personally wanted Missouri to be back in Union hands. With the South’s morale declining after the loss at Hampton Roads, Grant decided to strike. On 3 September, 1861, Grant invaded Hannibal, Missouri, and began his march to St. Louis. Before setting out, Grant split his 30,000 manned army into three to surround St. Louis. However, there would only be two fronts assaulting St. Louis. On 4 September, Union forces under Major General W.H.L. Wallace were assaulted by the Army of the Mississippi [3] under Albert Sydney Johnston. The short battle ended in 1,000 deaths on both sides along with Wallace and his troops being taken prisoner. Quickly learning of the assault on St. Louis, Johnston frantically set up defenses to make sure General Grant would not take St. Louis.
On 6 September, 1861, Grant’s army to the North and John A. McClernand’s army from the West attacked St. Louis. Expecting to catch Johnston by surprise, Grant was shocked to discover Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk waiting for his army. The bloodbath had begun. The Battle of St. Louis lasted for two days, setting the city ablaze. The battle was a stalemate until the St. Louis Arsenal exploded. General Johnston ordered an evacuation from the city, giving Grant the victory. With heavy losses, Grant needed reinforcements, which were received from Cairo Illinois one week later. With a reinvigorated army, Grant set off to liberate the rest of the Mississippi Valley in Missouri from Confederate hands. This was done by the end of October. With that, Grant’s Army of Illinois set off for Jefferson City, the last major Confederate stronghold in the state.
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Montgomery, Alabama
4 November, 1861


General Pierre “Iron Man” Beauregard was waiting in the Alabama State Capitol Building waiting for President Davis. Beauregard had no idea why Davis would want to speak with him. His victories in Virginia were one of the things keeping morale up. Maybe it was a reward, or maybe Jefferson and his cabinet wanted to punish him for allowing Lee to regain Hampton Roads. Either way, Beauregard would have to wait and see. Before another thought could be formed, President Davis was standing over the best General in all of the Confederacy.

“You wanted to see me sir?” Beauregard asked.

“I did.” Davis replied. “As you have probably have heard of, the US is closing in on Missouri, and it needs to stop. I have invited you here to take control of the army of the Mississippi from Johnston.”

“Why the hell do we need Missouri anyway.” Beauregard remarked. “All Missouri does is act as a small part of a thick wall between us and here. Virginia on the other hand, is right on the steps of Washington. By capturing all of the state, we could launch an assault on their capital and force Lincoln to recognize us.”

“You need me to tell you why? If we lose Missouri, the Union can just walk down the Mississippi and split us into two. Now go to Little Rock where Johnston will be waiting for you. I want Missouri in Confederate hands by the end of this year! Or do we have to give you a dishonorable discharge Mister Beauregard?” Jefferson bellowed. With that, Beauregard left Davis’ office.

There was nothing else he could do. Beauregard had to try and take back Missouri. If not, he knew that all of those bureaucrats would have his ass on their desk. Whether he liked it or not, Iron Man Beauregard was heading West.
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From “The American Story: A History of the United States”
McDonald Publishing, 2011
Chapter 7: The Civil War


The fall of 1861 was a grim time for the Confederate States. Missouri was falling to General Grant, and Robert E. Lee was snuffing out the remainder of their troops in Virginia. But that was all going to change. With Iron Man Beauregard on the offensive in Missouri, it was only a matter of time until he struck. That day came on Thanksgiving Day, 1861. The Army of the Mississippi invaded through the city of Springfield, reinstating Claiborne Jackson as Governor of Missouri after being ousted by Grant on 6 November. The Iron Man struck again and soon he was at the Osage River. General Grant countered Beauregard at Osage Beach on 10 December. The Battle of Osage Beach was a decisive Confederate victory after Beauregard’s forces killed General John A. McClernand and shooting Grant in the left leg. That day saw the rise of another famous Military - Lieutenant George A. Custer. After blasting through an offensive line, he killed General Leonidas Polk, temporarily sending shock through Beauregard’s troops. When Grant was shot, he took command and ordered a retreat to Jefferson where they would make a last stand against Johnston and Beauregard. For his bravery, Custer was promoted to the rank of Captain. By the end of 1862, Custer would go on to become a General. Grant would never fully recover from his gunshot wound, being stuck with a limp for the rest of his life.

At this same time, Braxton Bragg was making another push North. With reinforcements under Major General James Longstreet, The Army of Appalachia began their second invasion on 10 December. Longstreet’s forces struck like a viper, retaking Hampton Roads right out from under Lee’s nose. Once again, the Confederate forces were on the march to Lynchburg.
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Lynchburg, Virginia
25 December, 1861

General Robert E. Lee was sitting down in the local church enjoying the local Christmas sermon. Even though the spirit was supposed to be that of joy, a sense of dread ran through Lee’s mind. The Confederates were on the march to Seven Hills once more. This time, they had fresh recruits under a vicious new General. That day Lee prayed to God that this time the Union would prevail over the Rebs. If they did not, the nation would be in the same boat they were at this time five months ago, hopeless as Longstreet and Bragg marched to Washington.

But its Christmas today. I should enjoy the birth of Christ.” Lee thought. With that, he stopped thinking about gloom and doom and tuned into the sermon.



[1] In OTL, the Confederate government moved the capital to Richmond from Montgomery shortly after Virginia seceded. Without Virginia’s secession, the capital remained in Montgomery, Alabama.


[2] A hint about the future.

[3] Army of Tennessee did not change its name in TTL.
 
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I find hard to believe that Custer was a general when he had barely just graduated from West Point. Can you provide more background to justify this promotion?
 
I find hard to believe that Custer was a general when he had barely just graduated from West Point. Can you provide more background to justify this promotion?

Caught me there. Meant to put Lieutenant. Will fix that shortly.
 
Caught me there. Meant to put Lieutenant. Will fix that shortly.

Ok fair enough. Just seemed way too off for Custer to have made Custer a general at that time. He might get a brevet promotion to Captain for his rally though.
 
Ok fair enough. Just seemed way too off for Custer to have made Custer a general at that time. He might get a brevet promotion to Captain for his rally though.

He did. Go back and check the updated Chapter 3. Thank you for your feedback.
 
Although some officers did (like Custer in 1863 IRL) get very rapid promotions, so Custer jumping to colonel of a volunteer regiment and getting a generalship in 1863 would not be all that far fetched even if it hadn't been IRL for him to be a brigadier general in 1863 (straight from captain in the regular army to brigadier general of volunteers).

By the way (speaking of older officers now), what happened to Charles Ferguson Smith?
 
Although some officers did (like Custer in 1863 IRL) get very rapid promotions, so Custer jumping to colonel of a volunteer regiment and getting a generalship in 1863 would not be all that far fetched even if it hadn't been IRL for him to be a brigadier general in 1863 (straight from captain in the regular army to brigadier general of volunteers).

By the way (speaking of older officers now), what happened to Charles Ferguson Smith?

Charles Ferguson Smith was killed in action when Albert Sydney Johnston's troops intercepted W.H.L's as he was preparing to flank St. Louis from the South.
 
Charles Ferguson Smith was killed in action when Albert Sydney Johnston's troops intercepted W.H.L's as he was preparing to flank St. Louis from the South.

Shame. At least he died like a soldier, and not of an unlucky infection like OTL.

A place at Valhalla has to count for something.
 
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