A question for those knowledgeable about military affairs (paging @Arnold d.c if he's around), but my understanding is that Lee's Pennsylvania campaign ended at Gettysburg because there are many paths and roads leading to the town. Furthermore, it's close to the Maryland/Pennsylvania border, which would allow Lee to strike either Baltimore or Harrisburg. Taking into account that Maryland has been devastated by two years of warfare and there are little supplies there for Lee's army to take, while Pennsylvania is still unscathed, and that Lee's primary objective is defeating the Army of the Susquehanna and then go on to "liberate" Maryland, would it be realistic or cheap for the shootdown to take place in Gettysburg? Personally, I would prefer other location to not simply repeat OTL, but I'd like to hear everyone's opinions first.
Edit: Also, two thoughts that intrigued me, both regarding capitals. Now, I do think that Annapolis would remain the capital of Maryland, and Washington that of the United States, but I do wonder if it would be at all possible for the capitals to permanently change to Frederick and Philadelphia respectively. Frederick was the seat of the Unionist government during the initial part of the war and they would be able to move back to Annapolis only after the Battle of Anacostia liberated Washington - so it would be technically possible for them to turn around and designate Frederick as the new capital if they really wanted it, especially since Frederick took in the Maryland Unionists that have fled the rebels and the burnt Washington.
I must admit is a quite pleasant style, if I say so myself.
Indeed, some measures will have to be taken to assure racist Northerners that the great majority of African Americans are staying in the South. The "rehearsals" for reconstruction will be analyzed after the battle.
I haven't read that TL, because I'm not very knowledgeable about African history and also because it seems like a daunting task. But after skimming through, it seems the Sea Islands were an independent republic, albeit briefly?
Edit: Also, two thoughts that intrigued me, both regarding capitals. Now, I do think that Annapolis would remain the capital of Maryland, and Washington that of the United States, but I do wonder if it would be at all possible for the capitals to permanently change to Frederick and Philadelphia respectively. Frederick was the seat of the Unionist government during the initial part of the war and they would be able to move back to Annapolis only after the Battle of Anacostia liberated Washington - so it would be technically possible for them to turn around and designate Frederick as the new capital if they really wanted it, especially since Frederick took in the Maryland Unionists that have fled the rebels and the burnt Washington.
And you hit on the reason why such a writing style tends to get used so often on mass-market history books. It helps ground the events for readers, and allows the writer to flex and take advantage of phrases and slang that wouldn't normally come to mind.
I must admit is a quite pleasant style, if I say so myself.
That makes sense and I suppose that for production and (obviously) societal reasons its not viable to move them north.
Indeed, some measures will have to be taken to assure racist Northerners that the great majority of African Americans are staying in the South. The "rehearsals" for reconstruction will be analyzed after the battle.
Noted.
Now that you mention the Sea Islands, have you ever read Malê Rising?
Some interesting things came out of the Sea Islands during that timeline's US Civil War.
People are a fractious lot.
Likewise, writers are worrisome.
I haven't read that TL, because I'm not very knowledgeable about African history and also because it seems like a daunting task. But after skimming through, it seems the Sea Islands were an independent republic, albeit briefly?
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