Speculative Fiction; What if?

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Speculative Fiction; What if?

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1JimThomson
Apr 13, 2009, 8:16 pm

I have been reading 'WHAT IF?; Eminent Historians Imagining What Might Have Been', Edited by Robert Cowley. In it James McPherson speculates that the 'Missing Order' was never found. This was the one that revealed Gen. Lee's movement plans before the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). Thus the battle of Sharpsburg never took place. He goes on to consider that the Army of Northern Virginia reached Gettysburg first and took up fortified positions on Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. He then goes on the say that the Army of the Potomac attempted to assault the center of Rebel lines on Cemetery Ridge, from Seminary Ridge, with no less than THREE Corps! Since when is there room on the battlefield for three Corps to attack simultaneously? He states that ALL the Federal Cavalry was on the Union right flank, and that then the Rebel Left advanced and took the Union formations on their right flank, and routed them.
Now we all know that Gen. McClellan was a very cautious General. Would he have left his right Flank exposed like that, with only an Infantry screen? Flanks are usually screened by either Cavalry or Artillery, or both. McClellan was not the type to leave his flank exposed like this.
If he did so, someone as sharp as Gen. Lee would suspect a trap. General Lee would suspect that the Yankee Horse Artillery was hidden behind Seminary Ridge, with the intent of bringing them forward into action only when the Rebel right flank had advanced into the trap.

What do you think?