Joined: Sun May 14, 2017 1:55 am
Posts: 1058
Location: Tennessee
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I was listening to Civil War historians Donald Pfanz and Gerry Prokopowicz discuss the action on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg. They briefly discussed the myth that "if only the Confederates would have taken Cemetery Hill/Culp's Hill on July 1 the war would be over." Both agreed it was completely ridiculous to assume that just because two Federal corps were pushed off good high ground that the other five corps would have been "defeated" without a struggle and the entire course of the war changed. Meade would have simply fallen back to the "next high ground" or the Pipe Creek line.
Hard to really argue that point too much.
Gerry then spoke about how often Civil War enthusiasts discuss the "what ifs" of history as though a single moment in a battle would hinge the entire outcome of the war.
Again, can you argue?
From the North's perspective I guess you could say, "if only McClellan would have attacked Lee's center late on September 17, 1862, at Antietam, he could have routed Lee's army with their backs to the Potomac and destroyed them." Would it have brought the end of the war? The south was then in the middle of mass enlistment efforts which might have refilled the southern ranks at Richmond to form a new army. Chances are they would have had to abandon Richmond though and move to North Carolina to regroup.
From the South's viewpoint about the only battle which might have "ended the war" with a different outcome was Early's 1864 attack on Washington DC. Maybe if he succeeds, or if Lincoln is killed by a stray shot, the war drastically changes in one day. But that might have been their only real shot to end the war with a military victory in a day.
Just in case you'd like to check out the conversation http://www.impedimentsofwar.org/singleshow.php?show=120
_________________ Gen. Blake Strickler
Confederate General-in-Chief
El Presidente 2010 - 2012
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