Post by Epic History on Jan 7, 2016 3:33:11 GMT
After confirming that the Union's Army of the Potomac under McClellan was moving to withdraw, Robert E. Lee began to shift the Army of Northern Virginia to engage with the Army of Virginia under John Pope that was gradually advancing towards Richmond from the North. After conferring with his commanders, Lee and his commanders decided upon a plan to turn Pope's right flank. By accomplishing this, the Confederates would prevent McClellan from offering support to Pope as well as cut his (Pope's) lines of resupply and his avenue of retreat. Once in position, Lee could then further his advantage by launching a surprise flank attack thanks to the Bull Run mountains screening his movements. Finally, at this time both Pope and Lee had roughly 50,000 men, so Lee would go into this fight with a rough numerical parity against the Federals in contrast to most engagements he would be in throughout the war. The stage was thus set for a great victory when disaster struck.
A detachment of J.E.B Stuart's cavalry under Major Fitz Hugh Lee strayed too far to the right, in the direction of Fredericksburg. Stuart himself set out to find this lost brigade, and ended up having to beat a hasty retreat upon an unsaddled horse to avoid capture by a group of Union cavalry on recon. His adjutant general, a Major named Norman R. Fitz Hugh was not so lucky, however. He was captured by the Federals, and upon his person had a copy of Lee's plans and orders which he was unable to dispose of in time. This was given to Pope, whom was able to grasp the situation and withdrew to the Rappahannock river to escape the trap. Although Pope would still take a beating from Lee's Army of Northern Virginia a few days later, the chance for Lee to strike a decisive blow had been lost.
So, this brings us to the "What If" of this. The first possible PoD is that Fitz Hugh Lee understands his orders better, and commits to a rapid marching of his brigade instead of taking them to be rationed. The next is that Stuart and his adjutant either avoid the road the Federals happen to be on patrol, or Hugh is able to make a hasty getaway like Stuart himself did. Failing that, the Major is able to properly dispose of Lee's orders is the next best one. Regardless of how it is done, let's just say it is. Pope doesn't learn of the coming assault, and thus doesn't move his Army back further North. This allows Lee to spring his trap, with all of the advantages he has I mentioned above. I think it is safe to say that the Union Army of Virginia is probably destroyed in detail by the Confederates. With that said, how does the war carry on from here? Antietam hasn't occurred yet and neither has the Emancipation Proclamation, so European intervention could very easily happen at this juncture. If not right then, a few weeks later Lee could still invade Maryland as he did in OTL. Without the forces of Pope, McClellan would be short tens of thousands of men to oppose Lee and butterflies will likely prevent the more famous "Lost Orders" of TL-191 fame.
A detachment of J.E.B Stuart's cavalry under Major Fitz Hugh Lee strayed too far to the right, in the direction of Fredericksburg. Stuart himself set out to find this lost brigade, and ended up having to beat a hasty retreat upon an unsaddled horse to avoid capture by a group of Union cavalry on recon. His adjutant general, a Major named Norman R. Fitz Hugh was not so lucky, however. He was captured by the Federals, and upon his person had a copy of Lee's plans and orders which he was unable to dispose of in time. This was given to Pope, whom was able to grasp the situation and withdrew to the Rappahannock river to escape the trap. Although Pope would still take a beating from Lee's Army of Northern Virginia a few days later, the chance for Lee to strike a decisive blow had been lost.
So, this brings us to the "What If" of this. The first possible PoD is that Fitz Hugh Lee understands his orders better, and commits to a rapid marching of his brigade instead of taking them to be rationed. The next is that Stuart and his adjutant either avoid the road the Federals happen to be on patrol, or Hugh is able to make a hasty getaway like Stuart himself did. Failing that, the Major is able to properly dispose of Lee's orders is the next best one. Regardless of how it is done, let's just say it is. Pope doesn't learn of the coming assault, and thus doesn't move his Army back further North. This allows Lee to spring his trap, with all of the advantages he has I mentioned above. I think it is safe to say that the Union Army of Virginia is probably destroyed in detail by the Confederates. With that said, how does the war carry on from here? Antietam hasn't occurred yet and neither has the Emancipation Proclamation, so European intervention could very easily happen at this juncture. If not right then, a few weeks later Lee could still invade Maryland as he did in OTL. Without the forces of Pope, McClellan would be short tens of thousands of men to oppose Lee and butterflies will likely prevent the more famous "Lost Orders" of TL-191 fame.
