USCT take thier orginial role in the battle of the crater

On July 30, 1864 a massive explosion ripped through confederate lines. The union had packed several hundered pounds of gunpowder below the confederates in a tunnel. A Crater was created. However the USCT (united states colored troops) who had been trained to move through the Crater and break confederate lines was ordered not to advance, instead a regiement of White soldiers went into the crater, they got slaughtered. The reason the USCT weren't in the fight was to avoid a political disaster if they suffered large causalties.

Im asking what would happen IF they were given the go ahead and went into battle.
 
They were in the fight, just not as the spearhead as originally intended, and took heavy losses which calls into question how they would have done as the spearhead even with special training as their commander proved to be utterly useless during the battle.

Specifically he vanished and proceeded to get drunk with the commander of the white regiment which was ordered to lead the attack in a last minute change of plans.:rolleyes:
 
I think they would do much better than the white troops. They wouldn't mill around helplessly in the crater while the Confederates set of cannon to cover them. Just after the blast, the Confederate lines were very vulnerable to breakthrough. I think they would have forced that breakthrough.

Long term? Burnside has a much better reputation. Possibly, Lee would surrender in Petersburg, leading to a much earlier end to the war. Lincoln definitely wins reelection after having won the war, and from there the butterflies are endless.
 
honestly its hard to tell, to USCT had trained to move AROUND the crater instead into it. granted the whole thing was FUBAR from the beginning. even if it was successful...which it might have been the war would have ended there. lee would escape, but maybe surrender at Farmville.
 
If History Channel is to believed(and I remember correctly), one problem that the original spearhead was they stopped and try help the survivors. That is great and heartwarming...but it allowed the Confederates to reinforce the lines.
 
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