Inspired by all these "capitol" threads, has anyone ever discussed the Union military strategy if Maryland secedes?
I assume the Virginia front becomes the Maryland front. The terrain is not significantly different from Northern Virginia; it's all the same Piedmont plateau. If marching south through central MD, there are a number of E-W rivers to be crossed, and it seems to me MD rivers tend to be located in gorges more frequently than northern VA rivers.
You've also got a discontented Baltimore running across union supply lines, but I guess they had that anyway.
At the very least that Potomac crossing will be hell.
What would the campaign be like? Would it be as difficult as Virginia turned out to be, or are we talking about just a slight headache before the Virginia quagmire?
I assume Baltimore is nothing but chaotic riots at this time, Confederate sympathizers clashing with Federal troops in the streets (which happened on a smaller scale OTL.) Washington is probably evacuated, but left garrisoned and remains in Union hands under a probably rather ineffective siege.
Do the Union even attack Maryland, or cross into Virginia at Harpers Ferry and keep the Potomac on their flank? Perhaps couple this with a naval landing in Southern Maryland and Annapolis, try to isolate the state from the rest of the Confederacy?
How about the Confederates? The position in Maryland is tenuous, but the potential rewards are enormous. Not only do they strike a symbolic blow by capturing DC, but they can take the industrial powerhouse of Baltimore, which I believe was one of the two or three biggest centers of industry in the entire country at the time. Also, there's the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Still, its army is small and untested at this point. Do they take the risk and fortify MD?
Anyone see any different possibilities? I'm extremely curious to know what people think. Also, if this has been discussed before, could you please point me in the direction of that discussion?
Thanks
I assume the Virginia front becomes the Maryland front. The terrain is not significantly different from Northern Virginia; it's all the same Piedmont plateau. If marching south through central MD, there are a number of E-W rivers to be crossed, and it seems to me MD rivers tend to be located in gorges more frequently than northern VA rivers.
You've also got a discontented Baltimore running across union supply lines, but I guess they had that anyway.
At the very least that Potomac crossing will be hell.
What would the campaign be like? Would it be as difficult as Virginia turned out to be, or are we talking about just a slight headache before the Virginia quagmire?
I assume Baltimore is nothing but chaotic riots at this time, Confederate sympathizers clashing with Federal troops in the streets (which happened on a smaller scale OTL.) Washington is probably evacuated, but left garrisoned and remains in Union hands under a probably rather ineffective siege.
Do the Union even attack Maryland, or cross into Virginia at Harpers Ferry and keep the Potomac on their flank? Perhaps couple this with a naval landing in Southern Maryland and Annapolis, try to isolate the state from the rest of the Confederacy?
How about the Confederates? The position in Maryland is tenuous, but the potential rewards are enormous. Not only do they strike a symbolic blow by capturing DC, but they can take the industrial powerhouse of Baltimore, which I believe was one of the two or three biggest centers of industry in the entire country at the time. Also, there's the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Still, its army is small and untested at this point. Do they take the risk and fortify MD?
Anyone see any different possibilities? I'm extremely curious to know what people think. Also, if this has been discussed before, could you please point me in the direction of that discussion?
Thanks