On September 4, 1863, General Grant was in New Orleans for a two-day military review held in his honor by Nathaniel Banks following the fall of Vicksburg. However, near disaster struck the Union that day. Grant, despite a reputation for excellent horsemanship, was mounted on an unfamiliar and rather violent steed he was riding rather quickly throughout the day. In the evening, as he returned to a hotel with his officers, the horse was likely spooked by a locomotive whistle and promptly fell on Grant, who was able to remain in the saddle, with “great violence”. Grant was rendered unconscious, and awoke later in excruciating pain being attended by several physicians as one side of his body swelled from above the knee to the armpit. After nearly a week bedridden, Grant returned to Vicksburg, still injured and receiving wide accusations of drunkenness. Most of us know what happened henceforth. But what if Grant, one of the Union’s greatest assets for his strategic genius and indomitable will, was indeed killed that day? Indeed, Lincoln has lost his great captain. How will the Chattanooga Campaign develop (assuming Chickamauga retains its OTL result)? Is it guaranteed Halleck remains general-in-chief? What about the 1864 campaign in Virginia with Meade still in overall command?
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