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Point of Divergence: September 1862. Lee never lost any orders and passes though Maryland into Pennsylvania
Battle of Gettysburg, The Army of Northern Virginia enters a "fishhook" shaped defensive position. Union General George McClellan finally attacks but receives heavy casualties. Lee then marches and captures Philadelphia on September 29 while McClellan waits for reinforcements. There are minor militia engagements while Lee crosses Pennsylvania.
President Lincoln relieves McClellan of command and names Ambrose Burnside commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Confederate government wires Washington to propose a cease fire, Lincoln refuses.
US troops in Tennessee are ordered East.
Citing the month-long Confederate occupation of Philadelphia, Democrats win midterm elections, achieving majorities in both the House and Senate.
Burnside attacks Lee on November 11 in the Battle of Philadelphia, but Lee escapes by using a collapsing defense and because of Burnside's reluctance to attack a Northern city. Lee goes down into Delaware and flanks Baltimore defenders en route to join Burnside; Baltimore is burned as the retreat to Virginia continues.
In the chaos in the Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington corridor, President Abraham Lincoln is shot accidentally by an Union solder on November 14; the death, however blamed on the South. Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, in Maine at the time, becomes the 17th President of the United States.
On January 1, 1863, CSA President Jefferson Davis wires US President Hamlin for cease fire. Bowing to public opinion Hamlin grants the cease fire. This includes stopping the blockade at Confederate controlled ports.
Reunification conference convenes in Annapolis, in April. Both sides leave the table, Hamlin will accept no less than reunification and the conference fails.
Huge amounts of British and other foreign arms enter the Confederacy though blockade-free ports. Hamlin, on May 27, orders the blockade restored. On June 6, Confederate forces cross the Potomac again while General Joseph Johnston organizes a campaign in Tennessee. CSA forces quickly return to Virginia without a shot fired but in the west Federal forces retreat into Kentucky as they prepare to move east.
The Confederacy, having recaptured Tennessee, once again offer a cease fire, Hamlin refuses. The Congress, however, refuses to allocate funds, fearing a repeat of Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The Army of the Potomac advances to the Rappahannock River and holds defensive positions.
The Army of the Potomac, is rocked by riots due to inactivity. General Burnside is killed during the fighting. The Army is split into two commands under George Meade and Winfield Hancock. The incident is called the "Rappahannock Riot" in the press and results in the army being prostrate for months as Meade and Hancock try to restore discipline. Lee uses the diversion to once again march north via the Shenandoah valley, the Army of Northern Virginia presence causes calls for peace through out the North. There are accusations that some generals started the riot in order to restart the campaign, these are never proven.
Kentucky secedes from United States but declares itself neutral, the Confederate authorities in Kentucky celebrate.
With French help Confederate forces take New Mexico Territory. French involvement will not be discovered until many years later.
Calling for peace, New York Democrat Horatio Seymour is elected President of USA in November. Democrats increase their congressional majorities under the pledge of Peace.
March 4, Seymour enters office, wires Davis for cease fire. Orders all troops to withdraw to loyal states. Generals Grant, Sherman, Hancock, Thomas and Meade sign a joint letter of protest but reluctantly follow orders. Seymour later orders the withdrawal from Kentucky.
USA and CSA governments meet for reconciliation talks in Lexington, KY but, the talks fail.
US government moves out of Washington to Baltimore. Congress meets in Baltimore in October 1865.
Kentucky applies for statehood with Confederacy and becomes its 12th state (the Confederate Congress seems to forget about Kentucky's previous Confederate status) . The US protests but takes no action. Republicans in Congress blast Seymour's inaction. Meanwhile many US & CS troops are put on leave.
Democrats lose some ground to the G.O.P.'s "kill the copperhead campaign" in the midterm Congressional elections.
Noting withdrawal of US troops as de facto recognition, Britain and France recognize the Confederate States of America on November 11, 1866. Other nations soon follow. Republicans call out for some action but Seymour refuses. With the South now seen independent public options begins to change in the North.
Treaty of St. Louis, signed between CSA and USA in March. Is ratified by Democratic US Senate (only by the bare minimum of two-thirds) and CSA Senate (by all but two members) in August and June respectively. Treaty features:
Great Britain passes the British North America Act, creating the Dominion of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick & Nova Scotia).
John C. Breckinridge elected the second President of CSA in November. Without organized parties the election is only decided by the House. Of note, General Robert E. Lee, refused to run.
CS Regular Army is consituted at 20,000 regulars and about 100,000 in the various state militias.
US transcontinental railroad from Omaha to Sacramento completed in March. Western Railroad Act passed, authorizes of four more transcontinental routes.
In July, several Mormon leaders declare the Utah Territory the independent nation of Deseret. However, most Mormons oppose the declaration.
Republicans, blaming the Civil War on Democrats, win landslide elections for White House and Congress. William Seward wins Presidency on promise of making a stronger union. Decries that the democrats "sold out the USA" and that they "stabbed us in the back."
Nebraska enters the Union.
Mexican revolutionaries, lead by Benito Juarez take control of Mexico.
US Congress removes 12 stars from the US flag.
Upon taking office March 4, Seward orders the formation of the "Army of the Colorado" under Ulysses S. Grant, it is an army of 80,000 men. Its first priority is holding the rail link to California.
Seward and Republican Congress push agenda though in first 100 days. Six Constitutional amendments are passed and ratified by year's end. These come to be known as the "Second Bill of Rights"
US sets standing army at 500,000, reserve at 2 million. Begins a naval buildup for a "two-ocean navy".
Led by Britain, European nations place an economic embargo on the Confederate States until such time that slavery is ended.
Canada War is fought between the Great Britain and the United States.
Last Modified August 7, 1999
Copyright 1999 John Mullervy
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