WI: Lee successful in West Virginia and beats McClellan

In 1861, Lee and McClellan faced off for the first time in what was at the time western Virginia. Due to poor subordinates and green troops, Lee was defeated which opened the way for West Virginia to later become a state. What if Lee had better luck and defeated McClellan in 1861?
 

Marc

Donor
Ironically, and likely, a quicker ultimate Union victory, if you take the proposition that McClellan more hindered the war effort than aided it.
 
Ironically, and likely, a quicker ultimate Union victory, if you take the proposition that McClellan more hindered the war effort than aided it.

McClellan did organize and train the Army of the Potomac, transforming it into a magnificent military force. If he's not around to do that then who is and who would prove capable of taking Richmond in 1862?
 
In 1861, Lee and McClellan faced off for the first time in what was at the time western Virginia. Due to poor subordinates and green troops, Lee was defeated which opened the way for West Virginia to later become a state. What if Lee had better luck and defeated McClellan in 1861?

Actually, McClellan had left the theatre before Lee was assigned to West Virginia. The question should be what if Le defeated Rosecrans in West Virginia.
 

Marc

Donor
McClellan did organize and train the Army of the Potomac, transforming it into a magnificent military force. If he's not around to do that then who is and who would prove capable of taking Richmond in 1862?

Well, as my grandfather who was a barber for some years used to say, "You can get the best razor, hone it to the finest edge, and still get bloodied as the devil if you can't use it well."

With a good steady hand, the Army of the Potomac would have done just fine with the decent training it was going to get, regardless.
And frankly, it would have been so much better if the Rebellion had ended sooner, rather than when it did.

(I still own his Thiers-Issard straight edge, but I lost my steady hand long ago, ah well.)


Actually, McClellan had left the theatre before Lee was assigned to West Virginia. The question should be what if Le defeated Rosecrans in West Virginia.

Quite so. Lee could have won, I believe(?). Something about overestimating the Union forces? - Lord, there is a world of irony in that statement, considering.
 
Last edited:
To be honest I just can't see it happening Lee had to deal with officers who didn't get along to the point they camped at different places, the weather was poor rain almost every day and apparently snowed one day and the lack of experience of all concerned including Lee make it really hard to see what he could do. I forgot that a lot of his troops were sick and badly supplied.
 
Last edited:
McClellan did organize and train the Army of the Potomac, transforming it into a magnificent military force. If he's not around to do that then who is and who would prove capable of taking Richmond in 1862?

Burnside took rawer troops and turned them into a force capable of capturing most of the North Carolina coastline in less time than it took for McClellan to train the Army of the Potomac. Pretty much every Union army commander was good at turning recruits into an army. Where McClellan excelled was in charisma, the ability to make troops love him. Robert E Lee had it as well, along with William T Sherman. If McClellan had dared as much as Lee or Sherman, his ability to inspire would have accomplished amazing things.
 
Top