Could Lee have won the Maryland Campaign?

[Hampton Legion HQ]

I read a report by James McPherson, which said that Lee could have won the campaign, IF order 191 had not been lost. My thoughts are that he would have been able to destroy McClellan with a battle where he got between him and Washington, and Lincoln would have stupidly shouted at him to attack and destroy his army.

[RDBoles]

The old "what if" question. My thoughts about McClellan is, he never would have put him self in a postion to be turned by Lee. Jackson was still in Harpers Ferry until the 16th of Sept. A P Hill didn't leave until the morning of the 17th. Longstreet was at Boonetown. D.H. Hill was covering the passes. With no 191 orders to move on. McClellan would still be moving by the 15th at the latest any way. He was fanning out looking for Lee. Even if he couldn't get passed South Mountain or Crampton's Gap, because of D H Hill, would he have massed his forces there? I don't think so. He new Harpers Ferry was being Besieged but not by how many forceses. And Franklin's Corps was never used or even in attendence at Antietam. Jackson would not be motivated to hurry, order 191 not being lost. What would Longstreet be doing? Where was he headed? It seems to me Lee's army was spread out and came back because of McClellans agressivness. How far apart would they be when McClellan finanaly did move closer?

[Hampton Legion HQ]

Sorry, I meant the campaign.

[Hancock the Superb]

Same idea, I believe. McClellan was ordered to relieve Harpers Ferry, and he detailed the 6th Corps to the task. At anyrate, this would hammer-through and cause Lee to recall all his forces to again, Sharpsburg, since it is centrally located. I have no idea why Lee thought that a brigade of cavalry was sufficient to guard Crampton's Pass. While most historians focus on the Lost Order, and McClellan at Turner's Gap and Fox's Gap, Crampton's Pass was going to be forced at anyrate, within a day. With Lee's army terribly understrenghted, and the possibility that McClellan could outflank Lee at Sharpsburg and cut off the communication with the Shenandoah (and he would be closer to Washington, and that would ease Halleck's fears of Lee turning McClellan's flank at Leesburg). If Lee was to win the campaign, he would have needed to hold back McClellan for much longer than it would take to capture Harpers Ferry.

[Hampton Legion HQ]

McClellan actually moving his army? Is that a joke?

[Hancock the Superb]

Franklin was ordered to relieve Harpers Ferry even before McClellan was presented with the lost orders. McClellan is no fool, he wouldn't just leave the 6th Corps all alone after they fought, he would move his army to support them in Pleasant Valley - directly across Lee's line of communications between Harpers Ferry and Hagerstown.

[Armchair General]

Hampton Legion HQ wrote:

McClellan actually moving his army? Is that a joke?

It wasn't a question of him moving the army; it was a question of him moving the army in the right direction.

[Hampton Legion HQ]

Nah. McClellan would have advanced, if at all, at a snail's pace. He couldn't have got to where Lee was before Lee had taken every city in the North. Remember the Peninsula?

[RDBoles]

If Lee would have continued to spred out and take many cities it would have been folly. He would be inviting disaster in the largest sense. In Maryland and Pennsylvania, He would have no support from any where. He was too thin to go to far. The Army of the Potomac was getting bigger and bigger and Lee's army was not, nor could they. The intent of Lee's Raid into Maryland and or Pennsylvania was just that, a raid. He could not sustain any prolonged stay.

[Hancock the Superb]

I've never heard better words as that last sentence, RDBoles