This is a discussed collaborative TL about a divergence from the perspective of an ATL. In this case, what if Lee's Special Order 191 was captured by the Union. A simple answer is OTL would occur, but again this is from the perspective of someone from Turtledove's TL-191 pondering on what would occur.
I'll play referee for now, but some sort of committee or something should oversee this so it doesn't become just one person's vision, and in case any participants becomes bored or busy and it just doesn't die.
So here we go
!
****
"We were whooped through incompetence, plain and simple. It all came down to the loss of Lee’s Special Order 191 - wrapped in a paper with cigars - some fool dropped what amounted to a “how to whoop us” right in Little Mac’s lap [1]. Those papers gave detailed accounts of the Army of Northern Virginia’s movements into Maryland. That Yankee sunuvabitch, McClellan, must have been beside himself with the leg up he got on us. It finally emboldened him to use his Army of the Potomac to smash us, wiping us out piece by piece [2]. Lee was captured, and that my friends, was the beginning of the end…at least that phase of the war, as you know.
The Yankees might have smashed our armies in the fields, occupied our lands, and freed a lower race [3] to befoul good Christian white women, but they’ll never crush our spirits. The northern history books might say the Southern Rebellion [4] has ended, but it never truly has. The Confederacy’s loyal sons, who their papers dismiss as simple bushwhackers, fight on. And we will fight on, until our nation is free, or the blood of every Southerner lies spilt on the earth.
So you can send your readers back in Germany my personal affections for your Kaiser, for speaking out to the world of the crimes perpetuated by the so-called United States. We are only united with them through tyranny. We admire him for standing up against the British and French who denounced our nation and even profited off our subjugation, and condemning the Yankees for allying with them and interfering with affairs it has no business in. [5]"
[1] In OTL, Special Order 191 was never lost. Though an old, unsubstantiated rumor/myth was the responsible lieutenant nearly did so. If this rumor was true, and recovered by the Union army, it might have prompted McClellan in finally coming out of his caution, given certain victory.
[2] Lee had divided the Army of Northern Virginia, moving separately into Maryland, which they would later regroup. In OTL Lee was able to surprise McClellan and force a battle on him along the Susquehanna River, leading to the Battle of Camp Hill and the defeat of the Army of the Potomac.
[3] It was said President Lincoln was considering freeing the slaves, to win over approval of Europe and gain more soldiers for the Union cause. He was timing this on a great victory, which in OTL never occurred of course. Given McClellan’s success, this proved to be the moment Lincoln was waiting for.
[4] Since the Confederate States of America was defeated in TTL, the name of “The War of Succession” never caught on, and was officially given the demeaning name of “The Southern Rebellion”
[5] The result of the War of Succession led to an alliance between Britain, France, and the CSA. In TTL, with the defeat of the Confederacy, these two European powers established closer ties with the United States instead – being the nation emerged as the sole power of the continent. Countering their rivals, the German Empire has given not-so-official support to the continuing insurgency against the Union occupation.
I'll play referee for now, but some sort of committee or something should oversee this so it doesn't become just one person's vision, and in case any participants becomes bored or busy and it just doesn't die.
So here we go
!****
"We were whooped through incompetence, plain and simple. It all came down to the loss of Lee’s Special Order 191 - wrapped in a paper with cigars - some fool dropped what amounted to a “how to whoop us” right in Little Mac’s lap [1]. Those papers gave detailed accounts of the Army of Northern Virginia’s movements into Maryland. That Yankee sunuvabitch, McClellan, must have been beside himself with the leg up he got on us. It finally emboldened him to use his Army of the Potomac to smash us, wiping us out piece by piece [2]. Lee was captured, and that my friends, was the beginning of the end…at least that phase of the war, as you know.
The Yankees might have smashed our armies in the fields, occupied our lands, and freed a lower race [3] to befoul good Christian white women, but they’ll never crush our spirits. The northern history books might say the Southern Rebellion [4] has ended, but it never truly has. The Confederacy’s loyal sons, who their papers dismiss as simple bushwhackers, fight on. And we will fight on, until our nation is free, or the blood of every Southerner lies spilt on the earth.
So you can send your readers back in Germany my personal affections for your Kaiser, for speaking out to the world of the crimes perpetuated by the so-called United States. We are only united with them through tyranny. We admire him for standing up against the British and French who denounced our nation and even profited off our subjugation, and condemning the Yankees for allying with them and interfering with affairs it has no business in. [5]"
General J.E.B. Stuart,
Commander of the Western Confederate Army
Talking to German Reporters in
New Mexico Territory, USA
1881
Commander of the Western Confederate Army
Talking to German Reporters in
New Mexico Territory, USA
1881
[1] In OTL, Special Order 191 was never lost. Though an old, unsubstantiated rumor/myth was the responsible lieutenant nearly did so. If this rumor was true, and recovered by the Union army, it might have prompted McClellan in finally coming out of his caution, given certain victory.
[2] Lee had divided the Army of Northern Virginia, moving separately into Maryland, which they would later regroup. In OTL Lee was able to surprise McClellan and force a battle on him along the Susquehanna River, leading to the Battle of Camp Hill and the defeat of the Army of the Potomac.
[3] It was said President Lincoln was considering freeing the slaves, to win over approval of Europe and gain more soldiers for the Union cause. He was timing this on a great victory, which in OTL never occurred of course. Given McClellan’s success, this proved to be the moment Lincoln was waiting for.
[4] Since the Confederate States of America was defeated in TTL, the name of “The War of Succession” never caught on, and was officially given the demeaning name of “The Southern Rebellion”
[5] The result of the War of Succession led to an alliance between Britain, France, and the CSA. In TTL, with the defeat of the Confederacy, these two European powers established closer ties with the United States instead – being the nation emerged as the sole power of the continent. Countering their rivals, the German Empire has given not-so-official support to the continuing insurgency against the Union occupation.
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