WI: Price's Raid captures Missouri

What if Sterling Price's Invasion of Missouri was not defeated and ended up capturing the state for the Confederacy? Would it prolong the war some by having Lincoln divert forced from the West to combat Price and Confederate Missouri?
 

TFSmith121

Banned
The mean the one in 1864?

What if Sterling Price's Invasion of Missouri was not defeated and ended up capturing the state for the Confederacy? Would it prolong the war some by having Lincoln divert forced from the West to combat Price and Confederate Missouri?

Where Price's force was repeatedly defeated and suffered 50 percent casualties, both in action and through desertion?

That one?

Best,
 
Where Price's force was repeatedly defeated and suffered 50 percent casualties, both in action and through desertion?

That one?

Best,
Well what if Price made more informed decisions and moved faster, keeping the Union from regrouping as effectively. What if he even went so far as to let his guerrilla forces do their job.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
Price's army was ridiculously inept and ill-equipped. Something like a third of its men were returned deserters and many were unarmed. On the other hand, large numbers of Union troops had withdrawn from Missouri to reinforce Thomas in Tennessee. If the Confederacy had incredible good luck and Price does not act like a grade-A moron, I suppose there is a chance that at least a large part of Missouri might come under Confederate control once again.

But if events elsewhere go as they did IOTL, I don't see such a situation as lasting long. Price's army would begin to disintegrate on its own as the men dispersed to return to their homes and heavy Union reinforcements would soon begin arriving to drive the remainder out.
 
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