"What if battles " Topic

The forts and naval defence fleets below New Orleans were the only forces preventing the federals from taking one of the most important cities in the Confederacy . The Battle of the forts offer wargamers a lot of potential for "what ifs"
What if the Ironclad Louisiana was moored in the shipping channel , What if the chain barrier was sited upriver where it could be covered by the forts guns , What if the River Defence Fleet acted more aggressively . What if the Federals attempted the passage in daylight . What if the Mortar schooners were neutralised by land forces before damaging the water battery . What if the fire rafts were secured together and launched in pairs so they snagged themselves either side of the target. What if some of the larger ships were unable to cross the bar. What if Ironclad Mississippi was completed and sent downriver in time . Any or all of these possibilities could have tilted the battle in the Confederates favour and led to a closer more exciting battle .
The works at Island Number 10 were the most powerful defences the Confederacy had north of Vicksburg and offer a wonderful scope for wargaming both Naval and Land actions . The batteries and gunboat fleet needed to stop the federal armoured gunboats linking up with union land forces around New Madrid . There is also plenty of potential for "what ifs" in these battles .
What if the channel had been partially blocked by sinking the civilian steamers , what if the federals had tried to force a passage during daylight hours and what if Commodore Hollins had been more aggressive and ordered his fleet to ram and sink Carondelet when she was cut off from all support.

I suppose if everything went perfectly for the Confederates and the Union had a bunch of bad breaks the fight below New Orleans might have been a balanced scenario. But they didn't and it wasn't.

That said, sometimes it is more interesting to play the hand dealt to the original cast and see if you can do better (a bit like duplicate bridge).

Actually the one to do would be to have the CSS Louisiana under her own steam. Scharff "History of the Confederates Navy" states that she was completed with functioning engines.

Here's another: what if the water levels remained high enough for the CSS Neuse to get down to New Bern?