alternatehistory.com

Just some ideas I want to get written down:

[Note: there are lots of ACW divergences which have been done many times. These are ideas which AFAIK have not been explored.]

1. Senator Abraham Lincoln, 1855-?. In the turmoil following the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Lincoln sought election as U.S. Senator as an "anti-Nebraska" candidate. He appealed to the nascent Republican party, the remnants of Whigs, and independents. He came within five votes of being elected: the first ballot was Lincoln 45, incumbent Democrat James Shields 41, and "anti-Nebraska" Democrat Lyman Trumbull 5. Lincoln lost ground on later ballots, and threw his support to Trumbull, who switched to the Republicans.

2. Senator Abraham Lincoln, 1859-?. Lincoln fought incumbent Democrat Stephen Douglas down to the wire, losing 54-46 in the legislature, though Republicans had gotten more votes. If Douglas had mis-stepped, Lincoln might have been won. Douglas would be out, leaving the Democratic Party to Buchanan's Doughface wing. Lincoln would be a front-runner for the Republican nomination in 1860 (OTL he was something of a dark horse); who would the Democrats pick?

3. Republicans nominate Seward in 1860. Seward was thought to be a lock for the nomination. After the platform was presented to the convention, Seward delegates moved that nominations be taken up immediately. But the chairman said the tally sheets weren't ready; they would arrive in a few minutes. So the convention adjourned till the next day. That night, Lincoln's managers made the deals that won it for him. If the tally sheets had been ready... Does Seward win the election?

4. President Seward, 1861-?. His ideas for the secession crisis were significantly different from Lincoln's. For one thing, Seward wanted to evacuate Fort Sumter, to keep the Upper South happy and put off secession there. He even promised Upper South emissaries that Sumter would be evacuated. (Lincoln had to remind him who was President.)

5. Confederate President Robert Toombs. He was a fervent secessionist from Georgia and an early favorite to be elected Provisional President. He declined consideration in deference to his fellow Georgian Howell Cobb, but Cobb didn't want the office. By the time Toombs learned that, the Provisional Confederate Congress had chosen Jeff Davis. Toombs had some very different ideas about how the CSA should conduct the war. To begin with, he opposed (quite eloquently) bombarding Fort Sumter, telling Davis
"Mr. President, at this time it is suicide, murder, and will lose us every friend at the North. You will wantonly strike a hornet's nest which extends from mountain to ocean, and legions now quiet will swarm out and sting us to death. It is unnecessary; it puts us in the wrong; it is fatal."

6. Stonewall Jackson killed at First Manassas, leading to Union victory. OTL Jackson was shot in the hand; it might have been his head or his heart. If Jackson is killed, the Virginia brigade will probably be shaken, and not provide the anchor for the crumbling Confederate left flank to rally. The Confederates will be driven off Henry House Hill, and Johnston and Beauregard will withdraw the remains of their army off the field. Now what? OTL, victory First Manassas seemed to confirm the braggadocio of the "Fire-Eaters"; it gave the Confederacy an immense psychological boost while checking the Union for months. It gave the CSA time and impetus to get "established". If it is a humiliating defeat instead - does the CSA unravel immediately?

7. The south flank at Fredericksburg. The main action at Fredericksburg was a massive frontal assault on Marye's Heights, directly west of the town, which failed with heavy casualties. Further south, the "Left Grand Division" of the Army of the Potomac attacked Jackson's corps, which was defending along a lower series of ridges. Meade's division struck a gap in Jackson's line and nearly broke through. Meade wrote later ''The slightest straw would have kept the tide in our favor.'' But his was the only division making the attack, with Gibbon's division in support; Franklin, commanding the Left GD, didn't understand he was to attack in force, and held back several additional divisions. If Franklin (or a different commander) had attacked strongly, Jackson's corps might have been swept away for a Union victory. Ambrose Burnside might be the hero of the Union.
Top