Delta Force
Banned
Under what circumstances could the United States have fired the first shot of the American Civil War instead of the Confederacy, particularly between Lincoln's election and the end of 1862?
Perhaps the war could start with a maritime boundary or taxation dispute? Lincoln orders the USN to begin conducting "customs" inspections of ships going into Confederate ports in order to collect the federal tariffs and check for contraband that can fuel the illegal insurgency. Many ships from Europe and the CSA are caught up in what is essentially a blockade action, causing great concern for freedom of the seas for European and Confederate shipping companies.
One day a Confederate (or British) ship is stopped and searched by a smaller USN blockade ship and found to have illegal contraband onboard. The USN starts to tow the ship away when a larger CSN warship comes across the scene and responds to it as an act of piracy. After a brief exchange the USN ship is outmatched and surrenders to the Confederates, with the crew being taken to the CSA and charged with piracy.
Unlikely, the Union had a MUCH better navy than the Confederacy.
Under what circumstances could the United States have fired the first shot of the American Civil War instead of the Confederacy, particularly between Lincoln's election and the end of 1862?
True, but many of those ships were smaller and obsolete. They were also spread out across the entire Confederate coastline, with only 60 or so modern warships available at the start of the blockade. The scenario above doesn't rely on the CSN being able to beat the USN in a pitched battle, just having local supremacy for a few hours, which is quite plausible.
Under what circumstances could the United States have fired the first shot of the American Civil War instead of the Confederacy, particularly between Lincoln's election and the end of 1862?
well, objectively, this wouldnt be considered as Union troops firing the first shot, it would be defensive fire against encroaching enemies. if a union soldier personally picked out a passing confederate and shot him unprovoked, that would be firing the first shot (of that given engagement)Federal Troops at Fort Pickens opened fire on Southerners attempting to seize the fort on January 8th 1861.
well, objectively, this wouldnt be considered as Union troops firing the first shot, it would be defensive fire against encroaching enemies. if a union soldier personally picked out a passing confederate and shot him unprovoked, that would be firing the first shot (of that given engagement)