What if Major General Grant of the Army of the Tennessee died at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, what would the butterflies of a US Army with no Grant be?
Are you assuming that the US still wins the battle? That is an important question, because General Sherman emerged from that battle with a boost to his career. If the US loses, that boost probably will not happen and Sherman may never rise to prominance either.
Here is the question, if Grant dies does that ensure that the US loses the Battle. I once wrote a Confederate Wank where Albert Sidney Johnston survives the Battle and Grant dies leading to reversed roles. If Shiloh is a Confederate victory, it could lead to more Confederate attacks into Kentucky.
Here is the question, if Grant dies does that ensure that the US loses the Battle. I once wrote a Confederate Wank where Albert Sidney Johnston survives the Battle and Grant dies leading to reversed roles. If Shiloh is a Confederate victory, it could lead to more Confederate attacks into Kentucky.
Grant's death does not necessarily result in a Union defeat. The Confederates were exhausted by the end of the first day and Lew Wallace's division and Buell's divisions were arriving to reinforce the Army of the Tennessee. The Confederates are going to be forced to retreat the next day, Grant or no Grant.
The first real butterflies come after that as Grant's dogged perseverance and sang-froid are missing from the campaign to take Vicksburg. With a Buell or a Rosecrans in charge the Confederates might hold out much longer, although eventually Union numbers will tell.
The butterflies from this are so numerous and large as to defy accurate prediction; many different possible outcomes are likely.
Grant's death does not necessarily result in a Union defeat. The Confederates were exhausted by the end of the first day and Lew Wallace's division and Buell's divisions were arriving to reinforce the Army of the Tennessee. The Confederates are going to be forced to retreat the next day, Grant or no Grant.
The first real butterflies come after that as Grant's dogged perseverance and sang-froid are missing from the campaign to take Vicksburg. With a Buell or a Rosecrans in charge the Confederates might hold out much longer, although eventually Union numbers will tell.
The butterflies from this are so numerous and large as to defy accurate prediction; many different possible outcomes are likely.
Somehow i knew you were going to say that....George H. Thomas wins the Civil War when Lee, presented with a red flag by a matador hiding a buzzsaw runs over it.