Post by mcnutt on Apr 9, 2019 15:44:54 GMT
If you are nor familiar with the Battle of the Crater, it was a Union plan to end the stalemate of the Civil War’s Battle of Petersburg. A tunnel was dug under Confederate lines, explosives were put in the end of the tunnel. They were detonated, which killed and buried Confederate troops and panicked many more. General Burnside approved the plan and picked an inexperienced Black division to lead the charge after the explosion. They were given training for the assignment. On July 30, 1864,hours before the bomb was set to go off, General Meade, Burnside’s superior, changed the plan. He, who had no confidence in Black troops, had the White soldiers go in first. OTL the untrained White troops delayed their advance. They were all very disorganized. Most of them stopped to gawk at the crater and some them climbed in the crater. This allowed the Confederates time to counter attack. The Union gained nothing. ITTL the trained Black soldiers come out first and quickly charged around the crater and attack the Confederates. More Union troops are sent through the gap in the Confederate lines. They are told to stop gawking at the crater and move ahead. With his forces divided and some of them under attack from both sides, Lee orders the Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw and sends a message to Jefferson Davis that Richmond can no longer be defended. The Confederate government and many other refugees evacuated. On July 31, 1864, Union troops occupied Richmond. The fall of the Confederate capitol was celebrated all over the North. Lincoln’s political fortunes improved. John C. Fremont gave up his third party candidacy and endorsed Lincoln. On August 5, 1864, Grant caught up with Lee at Appomattox Court House and the Confederates dug in for a long fight. When the Democratic Convention met August 29-31, 1864 and adapted a peace platform that complained of four years of failure, they did not enjoy much credibility with a public celebrating a great victory. On September 1, 1864 more good news came for the Union. General Sherman took Atlanta. On September 10, 1864, Sherman wired Grant a proposal for an invasion of South Georgia. Grant hoping for help with siege of Appomattox ordered Sherman to begin the invasion as soon as possible. On September 19, 1864, Sherman launched his March to the Sea. On October 26, 1864, Sherman took Savannah. On November 4, 1864, Sherman began his invasion of South Carolina. That was the last good news Northern voters would receive before voting on November 8, 1864. Lincoln would win in a landslide, winning 61 % of the popular vote and carrying every Union state except Kentucky. On January 29, 1865, Johnston would surrender to Sherman in Durham, North Carolina. Lee surrendered to Grant on February 4, 1865.
