The order isn't lost

An overused with if, but what could have happened had Lee's Order 191 not been dropped by the courier and recovered by the Union? Could Lee have had a more successful campaign and not had an Antietam like battle? Thanks guys.
 
Probably not. McClellan still has an army twice the size of Lee's and his supply situation isn't substantially improved over OTL. Maybe the union forces aren't as aggressive at South Mountain as McClellan is less confident about what's in front of him but either way Lee is headed back across the Potomac once the field trip ends.
 

SsgtC

Banned
I seem to recall reading as well that McClellan wasn't even sure if the order was genuine or not and that he didn't act on it until after the battle had already started and Lee's dispositions confirmed the order.
 
Top