WI Jefferson Davis Replaced Bragg with Longstreet in Oct. 1863?

Anaxagoras

Banned
What if, during the interval between Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Jefferson Davis listens to the advice of most of the senior commanders of the Army of Tennessee and replaced Braxton Bragg with James Longstreet?
 
Lee probably isn't too happy about it. Longstreet demonstrates he's not the best at managing people either.

The AoT probably doesn't have (or if its happened, its undone) the reorganization Bragg inflicted on it. Its still in a bad spot.

What happens from there...depends on how confident Longstreet is and what he sees as most important.

Forrest probably still goes to Mississippi (as he sent a request to go there with basically his escort and his old regiment OTL before this).
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
How would it have affected the upcoming battle for Chattanooga? I think clearly it would be to the Confederates' advantage. Longstreet was a better general than Bragg by a longshot, the AoT would not be as internally divided with Longstreet in command as it had been with Bragg, and the two divisions which were sent off to Knoxville IOTL would probably remain on Missionary Ridge.

It is possible that this move would affect things sufficiently to give the South a chance to pull a victory at Chattanooga, or at least avoid the humiliating rout that took place IOTL? How would that affect the overall course of the war?
 
How would it have affected the upcoming battle for Chattanooga? I think clearly it would be to the Confederates' advantage. Longstreet was a better general than Bragg by a longshot, the AoT would not be as internally divided with Longstreet in command as it had been with Bragg, and the two divisions which were sent off to Knoxville IOTL would probably remain on Missionary Ridge.

It is possible that this move would affect things sufficiently to give the South a chance to pull a victory at Chattanooga, or at least avoid the humiliating rout that took place IOTL? How would that affect the overall course of the war?

I'm not sure if it would be less internally divided. The AoT still has pro and anti Bragg factions, and the antis are still largely to the wrong side of Fletcher Christian when it comes to their understanding of obedience.

As for Missionary Ridge: Would Longstreet correct the position that everyone OTL - not just Bragg - thought was invulnerable?
 

Anaxagoras

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I'm not sure if it would be less internally divided. The AoT still has pro and anti Bragg factions

There would obviously be bad feeling towards Longstreet by those who were pro-Bragg, such as Wheeler, Stewart, and others. But folks like Hardee, Hill, Cleburne, Breckinridge and others would be delighted. While there would still be tension, I don't think it would be nearly as bad as it was IOTL.

for Missionary Ridge: Would Longstreet correct the position that everyone OTL - not just Bragg - thought was invulnerable?

Not sure, but he would probably have two extra divisions with which to do it.
 
There would obviously be bad feeling towards Longstreet by those who were pro-Bragg, such as Wheeler, Stewart, and others. But folks like Hardee, Hill, Cleburne, Breckinridge and others would be delighted. While there would still be tension, I don't think it would be nearly as bad as it was IOTL.

I'm not sure. See below - even if Bragg is removed, the AoT has a very bad history of only working with any kind of harmony when it came to bringing him down. And that method of dealing with troublesome commanders being vindicated is not something you want when guys like Polk and his supporters are in the army.

Not sure, but he would probably have two extra divisions with which to do it.
True. But that might not matter given how surprisingly indefensible it was.

It could, but I'm hesitant to assume that Longstreet would automatically do better just because he's a better general - the AoT is rotten to the core and overly optimistic.

Also, if Longstreet plays favorites from the Virginia army (and he probably will, even if not thinking of in those terms), that won't go over well.
 
At the very least in full command Longstreet would make all efforts to fully cut the Cracker Line and capture the Army of the Cumberland *before* relief expeditions had a chance to do anything. Bragg as usual found himself fighting with his subordinates at the worst possible time, Longstreet would in the short time be making all effort to focus on the actual battle.

Now, whether or not Longstreet could make the AoT generals act like adults and not spoiled toddlers.......
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
At the very least in full command Longstreet would make all efforts to fully cut the Cracker Line and capture the Army of the Cumberland *before* relief expeditions had a chance to do anything. Bragg as usual found himself fighting with his subordinates at the worst possible time, Longstreet would in the short time be making all effort to focus on the actual battle.

Agreed. If the Cracker Line had been cut, what would have been the result?

Now, whether or not Longstreet could make the AoT generals act like adults and not spoiled toddlers.......

Hardee and Breckinridge would have been happy to give Longstreet a chance, I think. They would mostly be happy to have anyone but Bragg at the head of the army.
 
Agreed. If the Cracker Line had been cut, what would have been the result?

Best-case scenario for the Union is that the city falls but not the Army of the Cumberland. Worst-case is Vicksburg in reverse, loss of Chattanooga and the entire Army of the Cumberland.

Hardee and Breckinridge would have been happy to give Longstreet a chance, I think. They would mostly be happy to have anyone but Bragg at the head of the army.

This didn't exactly work for Joe E. Johnston.....
 
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