Dixie Victorious: Chapter 5, Johnston manages the war in the west

SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we're going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). I'll compile my comments on the scenarios and post them Sunday. (Note that the title of this post is a link to the book description on Amazon.)

Chapter 5. "We Will Water Our Horses in the Mississippi"

A.S. Johnston is wounded at Shiloh, but thanks to prompt medical attention he survives and ends his convalescence a year later - in time to take command of Pemberton and Joe Johnston at Vicksburg. A.S. Johnston succeeds in making them work in tandem. When Grant crosses the Mississippi, Johnston forces Loring to attack. Grant's immediate defeat opens the door to a Rebel counteroffensive in the west.Meanwhile, five brigades from Johnston's briagde travel east to help Lee with an offensive after Chancellorsville.

The dual defeats of Chancellorsville and Vicksburg strengthens peace sentiment in the North.

Lee wages a "careful" campaign that culminates at Gettysburg and his additional strength guarantees victory in Pennsylvania. (The war's end is alluded to but not described after this point.)

Monday: Stuart's cavalry sticks with the ANV to deliver victory at Gettysburg.