alternatehistory.com

Virginia had voted to stay in the Union on April 4th 1861.

Jubal A. Early, the delegate from Franklin County who is a staunch Unionist, has openly ridiculed the protesters, claiming that they wish to subvert the national government. "The enthusiasm for secession is short sighted, and likely to lead to war," he said.

The representative of Staunton, John Baldwin, a lawyer and a slave owner, challenged anyone to deny that the national government had always supported Southern property rights, including slaves. "The Lincoln administration does not represent an assault on Southern liberties," he argued, "and even if it did, the U.S. Constitution protected them." He compared Virginia to a lighthouse that could withstand "the breasting and surging waves of Northern fanaticism and of Southern violence."

When the vote was held today, the result was 90 to 45 against secession.

Whig Party member John Janney exulted after the vote, "The secessionists are now without the slightest hope of success!"

http://www.7score10years.com/index....ginia-convention-votes-to-stay-with-the-union

That changed after Lincoln quickly made clear he wasn't going to give diplomacy a chance with the leaders of the states that left, he was going to war with them and at the same time he also tried to make Virginia mobilize to send troops to help the war effort against the southern states that left the Union. That led to a second vote with Virginia leaving the Union.

What if Lincoln decides to engage in a military build up in Northern states to prepare for conflict while biding his time trying to show he is reasonable and wants peace by discussing matters with Southerns that left, while at the same time successfully painting the Southern states that left as the unreasonable and belligerent ones.

At the same time Lincoln decides to go down to Richmond twice in person in the Summer and then Fall of 1861 and meets with Virginia leaders and courts them that he has been acting reasonable trying to discuss the matter and these Southern states are being unreasonable and belligerent and there might be no option left to preserve the Union other then occupying them.

He would of course tell the Virginia leaders that if you do not wish to send troops to help I will fully accept your choice. Could Lincoln have been able to keep Virginia in the Union while building up his forces and planning a military campaign for mid 1862 or 1863 against the Southern states?
Top