Re: [DL] Alternate Timelines

["Christopher L. McGlothlin, M.Ed." <cmcgloth@halifax.com>]

At 08:22 PM 3/12/2001 -0600, Lanica Klein wrote:
>Hi again,

	Hi! 

>I have to admit that I don't own ALL the products (yet) and so I may be
>using a bad example in this question, but I hope you won't hold that
>against me...

	S'OK. You might want to check my .sig file for a list of recommended
future purchases. :-)

>I was wondering if anyone has an alternate time line of the Civil War
>specific to the world of Deadlands.

	You betcha! My detailed War Timeline may be found exactly where it's been
for the past three years: sitting on my hard drive. To date, it's been
rejected for publication in its entirety by three different PEG editors,
and with God as my witness, I'm not going to rest until I make it *four*. :-)
	Seriously, bits and pieces of it have popped up in various *DL* books over
the years, so I guess it's as official now as it's ever going to be.

>I ask because I can't decide what
>would happen with Sherman's March to the Sea.

	I'd originally decided it didn't happen at all in *DL*, until I made my
first in-person visit to the PEG Offices to confab with Shane, Matt & Co.
regarding my portion of *Tales o' Terror: 1877*. Matt Forbeck's opening
remark was "We're really looking forward to seeing what you've done with
Sherman's March in Deadlands." ;-)
	I didn't know how I could reconcile that event with the South being alive
& kicking 13 years after the fact, but I did the best I could. Only the
readers can really judge, I suppose.

>This was the most
>prominent event that shows the turning tide(s) of the war, IMHO.

	Myself, I'd have to go with the Atlanta Campaign (in the West) and the
Battle of Cedar Creek (in the East) as "most prominent". There's not much
any Confederate General could have done about 100,000 bluebellies rampaging
through the Peach State, which is indicative that the tide had gone from
turning to turned.
	Atlanta and Cedar Creek have both always struck me as significant
engagements the South would have won had they occurred just a month or two
earlier. When what used to be wins become losses, that's the sign of a
turning tide--at least IMHSO.

>So I
>don't think it would have happened or it would need to be altered in
>some way to fit into the idea that the war still rages.

	Here's the *DL* version from *TOT:77*. John Bell Hood never becomes
commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee (thus depriving the Union of
one its best field commanders;-) ). Instead, Sherman has to face the much
more capable "Stonewall of the West" Patrick Cleburne, who thwarts the
Yankees' every attempt at taking Atlanta. 
	Both commanders decide next to roll the dice, as Sherman bypasses Atlanta
in attempt to break Southern morale with a March to the Sea, and Cleburne
heads the opposite direction and invades Tennessee. Sherman cuts himself
off from outside communication (as he did historically), and thus doesn't
learn that during the March 1) Cleburne annihilates Union Gen. Thomas'
troops in the Volunteer State, returning Tennessee to Confederate control;
and 2) the British and French Empires have recognized the Confederacy, with
both having warships awaiting him in Savannah Harbor.
	With no other Union troops standing between Cleburne and the Canadian
border (and facing the real possibility of an entire Army being trapped in
Savannah by the European fleets), Lincoln orders Sherman and his command
sea-lifted back to Northern soil. Ultimately, the March to the Sea
redoubles Southern determination to win The War, and is regarded as a
legendary military blunder. Only Sherman's friendship with the
still-popular General Grant prevents him from going the way of McClellan
and Rosecrans.	

>Are there any
>other events that 'everyone knows about' that didn't happen in
>Deadlands?

	As far as my War Timeline is concerned, every battle and campaign that
took place in the real War happened except for Lee's Retreat from Richmond;
though of course, many have radically different outcomes in *DL*.
	Thanks for letting me ramble on a bit, and I hope this helps!


Deo Vindice,
Christopher McGlothlin, M.Ed.

Additional Developer: Deadlands: The Weird West Revised Edition
Co-Author: Tales o' Terror: 1877, Back East: The South & the JLA Sourcebook
Reviewer: Games Unplugged Magazine
Southern by the Grace of God