The Pig War: A TL
- Thread starter Veranius
- Start date
Praise
Dear Veranius,
You are an excellent writer. The idea that France seeks an early Entente with the Empire by some thirty years thus breaking-up Prussian goose-stepping - Genius. . .
That means my lovely Hanover does not get eaten by the Beast of Berlin.
Thank you.
Yours Stafford1069
Dear Veranius,
You are an excellent writer. The idea that France seeks an early Entente with the Empire by some thirty years thus breaking-up Prussian goose-stepping - Genius. . .
That means my lovely Hanover does not get eaten by the Beast of Berlin.
Thank you.
Yours Stafford1069
10 - Part 1
10- The Last Gamble Begins
With the double victories at the Wilderness and Fredericksburg significantly outweighing the losses in the Shenandoah Valley, Lincoln thought the end of the war was in sight, However, he had McDowell hold at Chancellorsville instead of pressing on to Richmond. Lincoln wanted to be sure he crushed the Southern Rebellion once and for all, and authorized the creation of two more armies in the east, one based at Centreville and the other at Fort Monroe. Lincoln wanted McDowell’s army focused against Richmond while the army at Fort Monroe would simultaneously advance up the James River, and the army at Centreville would take down Magruder. McDowell’s command was soon renamed as the Army of Central Virginia, while the Army of Northern Virginia’s name went to the force at Centreville. The force at Fort Monroe was called the Army of Southern Virginia. McClellan’s force was renamed as the Army of Western Virginia, and received reinforcements from Pennsylvania under John F. Reynolds.
The view from the South was much different. Davis had been persuaded not to sack Longstreet, but only on the condition that Longstreet would give Davis a victory by the time the year was out in six months. Davis was clinging to the shred of hope that Britain or France would swoop in and secure Confederate independence, but that ship had sailed away long ago. Longstreet knew time was running out for the Confederacy, so he launched a desperate gamble. Magruder was ordered to leave Culpeper and join with Johnston and Lightning Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley, then bypass McClellan at Martinsburg and invade the North. Longstreet would make a series of demonstrations near Spotsylvania to convince Lincoln and McDowell that the threat he posed was the larger danger. Johnston was ordered to fight a defensive battle in the North, giving Davis his victory, before turning on Washington.
With the double victories at the Wilderness and Fredericksburg significantly outweighing the losses in the Shenandoah Valley, Lincoln thought the end of the war was in sight, However, he had McDowell hold at Chancellorsville instead of pressing on to Richmond. Lincoln wanted to be sure he crushed the Southern Rebellion once and for all, and authorized the creation of two more armies in the east, one based at Centreville and the other at Fort Monroe. Lincoln wanted McDowell’s army focused against Richmond while the army at Fort Monroe would simultaneously advance up the James River, and the army at Centreville would take down Magruder. McDowell’s command was soon renamed as the Army of Central Virginia, while the Army of Northern Virginia’s name went to the force at Centreville. The force at Fort Monroe was called the Army of Southern Virginia. McClellan’s force was renamed as the Army of Western Virginia, and received reinforcements from Pennsylvania under John F. Reynolds.
The view from the South was much different. Davis had been persuaded not to sack Longstreet, but only on the condition that Longstreet would give Davis a victory by the time the year was out in six months. Davis was clinging to the shred of hope that Britain or France would swoop in and secure Confederate independence, but that ship had sailed away long ago. Longstreet knew time was running out for the Confederacy, so he launched a desperate gamble. Magruder was ordered to leave Culpeper and join with Johnston and Lightning Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley, then bypass McClellan at Martinsburg and invade the North. Longstreet would make a series of demonstrations near Spotsylvania to convince Lincoln and McDowell that the threat he posed was the larger danger. Johnston was ordered to fight a defensive battle in the North, giving Davis his victory, before turning on Washington.
11 - Part 1
Shifting to the west...
11- Jonesboro
Back in the West, Confederate hopes were rapidly fading. The Union Army of the Frontier brushed aside a Confederate attack led by Sterling Price at Pea Ridge, halting any chance the Confederates had at retaking Missouri. The Union Armies of Illinois and Missouri then began a two pronged thrust into Arkansas, seeking to restore control of the Mississippi River to Union hands, and also to drive Kentucky into the Union camp. Albert Sidney Johnston understood the significance of the Mississippi, and resolved to prevent its loss from happening. With 50,000 men in tow, he marched to Memphis and on to Jonesboro. There, he met the Union. With 90,000 men on the Union side, the Battle of Jonesboro was the largest battle in the West. And it was a Confederate disaster.
The week long slog in mid April, the same week as Fredericksburg, produced the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War. At the center of it all was the Ryefield (1). The Ryefield changed hands no less than twenty four times throughout the entire battle, eleven times on a single day. Johnston’s army was crippled, with the Army of the Mississippi suffering nearly 50% casualties, including Major General Braxton Bragg, the highest ranking casualty in the entire war. The Union suffered no less, with an equivalent amount lost. Johnston quickly retreated back to Corinth, begging Davis for reinforcements. Grant, first nicknamed “Unconditional Surrender” Grant after his capture of Island Number Ten in February, became known as the Butcher due to his brute force assault on the Confederate center. Though it did break Confederate lines and lead to Johnston’s withdrawal, one Union regiment suffered 85% casualties. Halleck and Buell seized upon the opportunity granted by the Confederate retreat and secured Little Rock, guaranteeing Union control over Arkansas. Coupled with a victory at New Orleans, in which Admiral David Farragut swept into the city, the Mississippi River was almost in Union hands. Only one thing contested that: Vicksburg.
(1)- Antietam has the Cornfield, Gettysburg has the Wheatfield, Jonesboro has the Ryefield.
11- Jonesboro
Back in the West, Confederate hopes were rapidly fading. The Union Army of the Frontier brushed aside a Confederate attack led by Sterling Price at Pea Ridge, halting any chance the Confederates had at retaking Missouri. The Union Armies of Illinois and Missouri then began a two pronged thrust into Arkansas, seeking to restore control of the Mississippi River to Union hands, and also to drive Kentucky into the Union camp. Albert Sidney Johnston understood the significance of the Mississippi, and resolved to prevent its loss from happening. With 50,000 men in tow, he marched to Memphis and on to Jonesboro. There, he met the Union. With 90,000 men on the Union side, the Battle of Jonesboro was the largest battle in the West. And it was a Confederate disaster.
The week long slog in mid April, the same week as Fredericksburg, produced the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War. At the center of it all was the Ryefield (1). The Ryefield changed hands no less than twenty four times throughout the entire battle, eleven times on a single day. Johnston’s army was crippled, with the Army of the Mississippi suffering nearly 50% casualties, including Major General Braxton Bragg, the highest ranking casualty in the entire war. The Union suffered no less, with an equivalent amount lost. Johnston quickly retreated back to Corinth, begging Davis for reinforcements. Grant, first nicknamed “Unconditional Surrender” Grant after his capture of Island Number Ten in February, became known as the Butcher due to his brute force assault on the Confederate center. Though it did break Confederate lines and lead to Johnston’s withdrawal, one Union regiment suffered 85% casualties. Halleck and Buell seized upon the opportunity granted by the Confederate retreat and secured Little Rock, guaranteeing Union control over Arkansas. Coupled with a victory at New Orleans, in which Admiral David Farragut swept into the city, the Mississippi River was almost in Union hands. Only one thing contested that: Vicksburg.
(1)- Antietam has the Cornfield, Gettysburg has the Wheatfield, Jonesboro has the Ryefield.
12 + 13 - Part 1
12- The Invasion of the North
Following Davis’s approval, the armies of the Confederacy began to move. Magruder vanished across the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Longstreet moved out from Richmond. Longstreet met McDowell at the North Anna River, and in the month that followed Longstreet was outmaneuvered and outnumbered, forced to inch back to Richmond. Yet McDowell stayed the killing blow when scouts reported to him that Magruder’s force was gone. He had no idea if Magruder had joined with Longstreet or if he had joined Johnston in the Valley. Instead of the ANV joining McDowell’s ACV as planned, the ANV remained at Centreville.
Magruder had led his army on a night march across the mountains to Front Royal, confusing Union spies when his rearguard marched in circles around the same area, giving the impression he was still near Culpeper and possibly being reinforced. That gave Magruder only two weeks, until the spies realized it was a ruse. Johnston and Lightning Jackson made a quick feint towards Harpers Ferry, drawing McClellan there, then linked up with Magruder and crossed the Potomac at Williamsport. Chambersburg was reached by the beginning of August, and the Confederates enjoyed an early harvest in the untouched North. Johnston maintained the momentum and within a week was at the Susquehanna River at Camp Hill. McClellan launched his pursuit, yet was cautionary, as it was reported to him that the enemy outnumbered him. McClellan arrived at Gettysburg just days after hearing about the sacking of York.
At this point, there was disagreement in the Confederate leadership. Johnston wanted to fight the defensive battle and get out of the North while they still could. Magruder wanted to go further, possibly sacking Baltimore, Harrisburg, Lancaster, or even Philadelphia, maximising the value of the invasion. Lightning Jackson wanted to smash McClellan’s army, to prevent him from linking up with other Union forces. With McClellan slowly closing in, what would the Confederates choose to do?
13- Situation as of September 1st, 1862
Confederate Order of Battle:
Army of the Shenandoah- Joseph E. Johnston (approx. 40,000), based in York Pennsylvania
Army of the James- James Longstreet (approx. 40,000), based in Ashland, Virginia
Army of the Mississippi- Albert S. Johnston (approx. 30,000), based in Corinth, Mississippi
Army of the Cumberland- John C. Breckinridge (approx. 10,000), based in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Army of the Red- Sterling Price (approx. 10,000), based in Monroe, Louisiana
Union Order of Battle:
Army of Central Virginia- Irvin McDowell (approx. 100,000), based at Lake Caroline, Virginia
Army of Southern Virginia- John E. Wool (approx. 25,000), based in Yorktown, Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia- Joseph Hooker (approx. 35,000), based in Centreville, Virginia
Army of Western Virginia- George B. McClellan (approx. 35,000), based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Army of Pennsylvania- John F. Reynolds (approx. 15,000), based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Army of Arkansas- Henry Halleck (approx. 80,000), based in Little Rock, Arkansas
Army of the Frontier- John C. Fremont (approx. 25,000), based in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Following Davis’s approval, the armies of the Confederacy began to move. Magruder vanished across the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Longstreet moved out from Richmond. Longstreet met McDowell at the North Anna River, and in the month that followed Longstreet was outmaneuvered and outnumbered, forced to inch back to Richmond. Yet McDowell stayed the killing blow when scouts reported to him that Magruder’s force was gone. He had no idea if Magruder had joined with Longstreet or if he had joined Johnston in the Valley. Instead of the ANV joining McDowell’s ACV as planned, the ANV remained at Centreville.
Magruder had led his army on a night march across the mountains to Front Royal, confusing Union spies when his rearguard marched in circles around the same area, giving the impression he was still near Culpeper and possibly being reinforced. That gave Magruder only two weeks, until the spies realized it was a ruse. Johnston and Lightning Jackson made a quick feint towards Harpers Ferry, drawing McClellan there, then linked up with Magruder and crossed the Potomac at Williamsport. Chambersburg was reached by the beginning of August, and the Confederates enjoyed an early harvest in the untouched North. Johnston maintained the momentum and within a week was at the Susquehanna River at Camp Hill. McClellan launched his pursuit, yet was cautionary, as it was reported to him that the enemy outnumbered him. McClellan arrived at Gettysburg just days after hearing about the sacking of York.
At this point, there was disagreement in the Confederate leadership. Johnston wanted to fight the defensive battle and get out of the North while they still could. Magruder wanted to go further, possibly sacking Baltimore, Harrisburg, Lancaster, or even Philadelphia, maximising the value of the invasion. Lightning Jackson wanted to smash McClellan’s army, to prevent him from linking up with other Union forces. With McClellan slowly closing in, what would the Confederates choose to do?
13- Situation as of September 1st, 1862
Confederate Order of Battle:
Army of the Shenandoah- Joseph E. Johnston (approx. 40,000), based in York Pennsylvania
Army of the James- James Longstreet (approx. 40,000), based in Ashland, Virginia
Army of the Mississippi- Albert S. Johnston (approx. 30,000), based in Corinth, Mississippi
Army of the Cumberland- John C. Breckinridge (approx. 10,000), based in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Army of the Red- Sterling Price (approx. 10,000), based in Monroe, Louisiana
Union Order of Battle:
Army of Central Virginia- Irvin McDowell (approx. 100,000), based at Lake Caroline, Virginia
Army of Southern Virginia- John E. Wool (approx. 25,000), based in Yorktown, Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia- Joseph Hooker (approx. 35,000), based in Centreville, Virginia
Army of Western Virginia- George B. McClellan (approx. 35,000), based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Army of Pennsylvania- John F. Reynolds (approx. 15,000), based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Army of Arkansas- Henry Halleck (approx. 80,000), based in Little Rock, Arkansas
Army of the Frontier- John C. Fremont (approx. 25,000), based in Fayetteville, Arkansas
14 - Part 1
Update time!
14- The Defiance of Fort McHenry
In the end, the Confederates chose to do everything. A small force under Edward Johnson made a quick feint to Hanover, Pennsylvania, forcing McClellan to consolidate his forces at Gettysburg or risk being outnumbered and defeated, even though Johnson was vastly outnumbered by McClellan alone. The Army of the Shenandoah then raced to Baltimore, hoping to gain supplies and support from the Maryland populace before turning on Washington. The maneuver went spectacularly in the Confederacy’s favor until they reached Baltimore. Johnston wanted to capture Fort McHenry, which had been used as a prison containing many Maryland political prisoners. However, the fort resisted capture when the Confederates arrived, and they were forced to besiege it. After four failed assaults and word of Union armies moving towards Baltimore, the Confederates were compelled to withdraw. The Union garrison, when they saw the retreating Confederates, launched into a resounding chorus of the Star Spangled Banner, which eventually was made into the national anthem, as Fort McHenry had seen two turning points of two great American wars.
When Union forces arrived at Baltimore the day after the Confederate withdrawal, they found a city in ruins. The Confederate rearguard had set fire to some warehouses containing many supplies they had taken from Baltimore, to deny them to the Union. However, that fire soon raged out of control, and much of Baltimore was destroyed. This incident served to convince many of the Marylanders who sympathized with the Southern Cause that the South was on a collision course with destruction.
Johnston had originally wanted to retreat back to the Shenandoah Valley the same way he had entered the North, via Carlisle. However, he deemed McClellan at Gettysburg as too close. So, Johnston decided to thread the needle and follow the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad back to Harper’s Ferry. At this point, the Confederates had achieved none of their goals for the invasion.
It is speculated that had Robert Rhodes’s division continued to Fort McHenry the day the Confederates arrived at Baltimore instead of securing the city, Fort McHenry would have fallen and the Confederates would have had a powerful defensive position in Maryland. However, most historians agree that had this happened, the Civil War would have still not ended in the South’s favor, only dragging out the war for a few more years.
14- The Defiance of Fort McHenry
In the end, the Confederates chose to do everything. A small force under Edward Johnson made a quick feint to Hanover, Pennsylvania, forcing McClellan to consolidate his forces at Gettysburg or risk being outnumbered and defeated, even though Johnson was vastly outnumbered by McClellan alone. The Army of the Shenandoah then raced to Baltimore, hoping to gain supplies and support from the Maryland populace before turning on Washington. The maneuver went spectacularly in the Confederacy’s favor until they reached Baltimore. Johnston wanted to capture Fort McHenry, which had been used as a prison containing many Maryland political prisoners. However, the fort resisted capture when the Confederates arrived, and they were forced to besiege it. After four failed assaults and word of Union armies moving towards Baltimore, the Confederates were compelled to withdraw. The Union garrison, when they saw the retreating Confederates, launched into a resounding chorus of the Star Spangled Banner, which eventually was made into the national anthem, as Fort McHenry had seen two turning points of two great American wars.
When Union forces arrived at Baltimore the day after the Confederate withdrawal, they found a city in ruins. The Confederate rearguard had set fire to some warehouses containing many supplies they had taken from Baltimore, to deny them to the Union. However, that fire soon raged out of control, and much of Baltimore was destroyed. This incident served to convince many of the Marylanders who sympathized with the Southern Cause that the South was on a collision course with destruction.
Johnston had originally wanted to retreat back to the Shenandoah Valley the same way he had entered the North, via Carlisle. However, he deemed McClellan at Gettysburg as too close. So, Johnston decided to thread the needle and follow the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad back to Harper’s Ferry. At this point, the Confederates had achieved none of their goals for the invasion.
It is speculated that had Robert Rhodes’s division continued to Fort McHenry the day the Confederates arrived at Baltimore instead of securing the city, Fort McHenry would have fallen and the Confederates would have had a powerful defensive position in Maryland. However, most historians agree that had this happened, the Civil War would have still not ended in the South’s favor, only dragging out the war for a few more years.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't McHenry on the wrong side of Baltimore to defend the city? If the Confederates want to raid Baltimore they don't have to get anywhere near the fort unless they're attacking from the sea, wouldn't it make more sense to just besiege the fort and keep the Union soldiers tied up until they leave?
Yeah, that does make more sense. However, the Confederates did want to try to free some of the political prisoners held at McHenry so that they could try to rally Maryland behind the Confederate banner.
15 - Part 1
Update time!
15- The Thunder Battle
The Battle of Frederick is known by many as simply the Thunder Battle. It was a major turning point in the American Civil War, as it signaled the true defeat of the Confederate’s Invasion of the North. It also holds a piece of trivia as the only major Civil War battle fought during a thunderstorm. The Army of the Shenandoah had been withdrawing from Maryland at a quick pace, reaching Frederick only two days after leaving Baltimore. Yet finally, McClellan sprang into action. Some think that was due to Lincoln basically threatening to sack McClellan if he didn’t move. And so, McClellan reached Frederick the same day as Johnston. In the midst of a massive thunderstorm.
To say the battle was chaos would be an understatement. Under the dark, overcast skies, light briefly by lightning strikes and the flashes of guns and cannons, thunder mixed with the sounds of battle into a deafening roar, driving rain coating everything into a slick, it is easy to see how the battle became one of the bloodiest in the war. For ten hours, both armies endured ferocious hand to hand combat when the gunpowder fouled. Trees around the battlefield were shorn to waist height as a result of the hail of bullets in the air. Lightning Jackson himself was nearly struck by lightning, which caused serious confusion when soldiers on both sides thought he had fallen. To simplify things, it was a slaughter. Confederate forces suffered nearly 75% casualties, 30,000 men, while McClellan lost 15,000. It was the bloodiest battle in the east. Fredericksburg remains the bloodiest day in the American Civil War only because the Thunder Battle went well past midnight. John F. Reynolds was catapulted to fame after the timely arrival of the Army of Pennsylvania broke the already low Confederate morale.
The Army of the Shenandoah was shattered, limping back to Winchester, losing hundreds of men from desertions. McClellan remained at Frederick, licking his wounds. However, McClellan’s reluctance to pursue the Confederates was the last straw for Lincoln, who sacked McClellan and replaced him with Reynolds, merging the Army of Western Virginia with the Army of Pennsylvania.
15- The Thunder Battle
The Battle of Frederick is known by many as simply the Thunder Battle. It was a major turning point in the American Civil War, as it signaled the true defeat of the Confederate’s Invasion of the North. It also holds a piece of trivia as the only major Civil War battle fought during a thunderstorm. The Army of the Shenandoah had been withdrawing from Maryland at a quick pace, reaching Frederick only two days after leaving Baltimore. Yet finally, McClellan sprang into action. Some think that was due to Lincoln basically threatening to sack McClellan if he didn’t move. And so, McClellan reached Frederick the same day as Johnston. In the midst of a massive thunderstorm.
To say the battle was chaos would be an understatement. Under the dark, overcast skies, light briefly by lightning strikes and the flashes of guns and cannons, thunder mixed with the sounds of battle into a deafening roar, driving rain coating everything into a slick, it is easy to see how the battle became one of the bloodiest in the war. For ten hours, both armies endured ferocious hand to hand combat when the gunpowder fouled. Trees around the battlefield were shorn to waist height as a result of the hail of bullets in the air. Lightning Jackson himself was nearly struck by lightning, which caused serious confusion when soldiers on both sides thought he had fallen. To simplify things, it was a slaughter. Confederate forces suffered nearly 75% casualties, 30,000 men, while McClellan lost 15,000. It was the bloodiest battle in the east. Fredericksburg remains the bloodiest day in the American Civil War only because the Thunder Battle went well past midnight. John F. Reynolds was catapulted to fame after the timely arrival of the Army of Pennsylvania broke the already low Confederate morale.
The Army of the Shenandoah was shattered, limping back to Winchester, losing hundreds of men from desertions. McClellan remained at Frederick, licking his wounds. However, McClellan’s reluctance to pursue the Confederates was the last straw for Lincoln, who sacked McClellan and replaced him with Reynolds, merging the Army of Western Virginia with the Army of Pennsylvania.
Gives a whole new meaning to Jackson's nickname right there.
I was going to have Jackson die from a lightning strike, but I thought that was too harsh.
Don't jinx it...
Lee had his chance and he blew it at Fredericksburg. He's in a comfortable retirement, with orders from both the Union and Confederacy to stay away from his house to let him live in peace.
16 - Part 1
16- The Fall of Richmond
While the Confederates were wreaking havoc in the North, so was McDowell in the South. He resisted calls from Lincoln to return to Washington, instead wishing to remain near Richmond to eventually force Johnston to go South, or at least trade one capital for another. Longstreet’s demonstrations gave McDowell his opening. Outmaneuvering Longstreet with superior numbers, he forced Longstreet into a defensive position around Old Cold Harbor, where McDowell then surrounded Longstreet. Following a ten day long artillery duel and with ammunition and provisions dwindling, Longstreet tried to break out. However, it was repulsed with heavy loss to the Confederates. With the odds now 5 to 1 against them and increasing, along with rising desertions and dwindling supplies, Longstreet asked for terms of surrender. McDowell’s terms were lenient: the soldiers had to swear an oath never to take up arms against the United States Government, and officers were allowed to keep their horses. McDowell summed it up as “an honorable end to an honorable foe”. However, due to concerns that some may break the oath, the Confederates were led to Fredericksburg to remain for the rest of the war. When they left Old Cold Harbor, McDowell had his troops salute them.
With the destruction of the Army of the James, Richmond was basically undefended. Only about 8,000 remained between Richmond and Petersburg, commanded by Gustavus Smith. On his advice, Jefferson Davis reluctantly agreed to abandon Richmond, falling back to Roanoke in the safety of the Shenandoah Valley. Before he could, John Buford had led his cavalry on a massed raid, breaking most of the railways leading away from Richmond. While the overall damage was minimal, this caused a general panic to unfold in Richmond, preventing Davis from escaping. On September 17, 1862, Richmond fell to the McDowell.
The Fall of Richmond did not mean the end of the Confederacy. Using the time bought by Longstreet’s last stand at Cold Harbor, Alexander Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederate States, escaped Richmond before it was cut off. He was sworn in as the new President at Greensboro, North Carolina, where he stayed for only a few weeks before moving farther south to Columbia, South Carolina. Most of Virginia aside from the Shenandoah Valley was cleared of Confederate troops by winter, paving the way for Virginia’s readmission to the Union. The North had seemingly won the war.
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