Dixie Victorious: Chapter 10, Early over Sheridan

SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we've been going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). This represents the last scenario in the series and will be followed by some analysis tonight or on Monday.

Lee, Johnston and Davis hold a late war council to set strategy. They decide their best opportunity lies in defeating Union forces in the Valley and then taking Washington before the elections. They assign Patrick Cleburne's command to Early, moving it by train from the West. Early begins his offensive against Hunter without waiting for Cleburne and reaches the outskirts of D.C. Lincoln, visiting the works around the city, is shot dead. The Rebels, unaware of what has happened, retire to Winchester to await Cleburne. Grant sends Sheridan, Crook, Wright and Emory into the Valley. Sheridan is defeated by the combined forces. Early then attacks Sheridan's men in camp at Cedar Creek. Sheridan is wounded and taken prisoner. McClellan is elected president and a truce immediately takes place, followed by a peace treaty.