Joshism
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We all pretty much know how the Red River Campaign went in early 1864. Banks and Porter go up the river with the goal of taking Shreveport, with Steele coming overland from Arkansas. Banks is defeated and retreats. Taylor unsuccessfully attempts to trap him. Some clever engineering saves Porter's fleet then Banks successfully withdraws as well. Steele is delayed and retreats when he learns Banks has been defeated.
1. What is the impact on the war if Banks' army is mostly or totally captured? It's a huge PR nightmare and AJ Smith isn't around to fight Forrest, but does it meaningfully affect the overall war?
2. In a worst case scenario, Porter scuttles his trapped ships (outright capture seems extremely unlikely). The ships are in remote Alexandria - not really an easy place for the Confederates to raise, repair, and reequip them, plus cobble together competent crews. Is it realistic they could be put into CS service in time to cause serious trouble on the Mississippi? Could the Union just effectively bottle them up in the Red River? Would such a defeat ruin Porter's career?
3. Banks defeats Taylor, Steele fights through as well, Confederate efforts to drop the river levels are ineffective (or just don't happen) so Porter is fine, and Shreveport falls to Union forces. Now what? AJ Smith has to leave, as previously agreed. East Texas is close at hand, but Banks and Steele are at the end of a long and tenuous supply line, even with Porter patroling the Red River. Can the Union actually hold these gains and move into Texas? Does it have any real benefit to the war, even politically? Does this success elevate Banks' political career after the war?
Think optimal, but realistic scenarios.
1. What is the impact on the war if Banks' army is mostly or totally captured? It's a huge PR nightmare and AJ Smith isn't around to fight Forrest, but does it meaningfully affect the overall war?
2. In a worst case scenario, Porter scuttles his trapped ships (outright capture seems extremely unlikely). The ships are in remote Alexandria - not really an easy place for the Confederates to raise, repair, and reequip them, plus cobble together competent crews. Is it realistic they could be put into CS service in time to cause serious trouble on the Mississippi? Could the Union just effectively bottle them up in the Red River? Would such a defeat ruin Porter's career?
3. Banks defeats Taylor, Steele fights through as well, Confederate efforts to drop the river levels are ineffective (or just don't happen) so Porter is fine, and Shreveport falls to Union forces. Now what? AJ Smith has to leave, as previously agreed. East Texas is close at hand, but Banks and Steele are at the end of a long and tenuous supply line, even with Porter patroling the Red River. Can the Union actually hold these gains and move into Texas? Does it have any real benefit to the war, even politically? Does this success elevate Banks' political career after the war?
Think optimal, but realistic scenarios.