"What if . . .General R. E. Lee wore blue?" Topic

"President Abraham Lincoln would've replaced General R. E. Lee; or the Union would have lost the war. Don't start throwing rotten tomatoes from your garden, yet—hear me out.

Let's say Lee replaced Lieutenant General Winfield Scott in 1861. For one, Lee was unwilling (not unable) to really take command over his senior generals. He thought if he confronted any of their inappropriate behavior his generals wouldn't listen to him. That's not the case. Leaders should show justified anger at the right time and place.

Reluctant to correct his generals, there's no way Lee could've taken command over Major General George McClellan or John Pope. Both were aggressive ego maniacs. Lee was a humble, compassionate, albeit passive-aggressive leader. It would've gotten ugly quick. Lee would've gotten extremely frustrated. McClellan and Pope would've bullied their way over their commander. Then, Lincoln would've reshuffled his military personnel. Lee goes and supports Quarter Master Montgomery C. Meigs…"

link

Armand

Well, first of all, if Lee had stayed loyal to the Union Scott would have given him command of what became the Army of the Potomac, and it would have been he who fought the first Battle of Bull Run. Only if he lost that would McClellan have been called in from West Virginia to replace him. Pope was a mere brigadier general out in Missouri at the time and not under Lee.

Wow. Does anyone think the war wouldn't have ended in 1861?