Originally posted by Ironduke
View Post
I don't disagree. What I should have also stated that politically Lincoln would have to hold off on issuing the EP. The Democrats won a lot of seats in the 62 elections so he would have had less political backing to issue the EP...especially when the election results were added to the debacle of Fredericksburg.....Stones River was not enough of a Union victory to hang anything on.
While there is little doubt about the effect of a wheat embargo (and don't forget salted cod while you are at it) the Europeans could hae caused a lot more problems. Remember Napoleon III proposed a 6 month cease fire and negotiations. A loss at Antietam and no EP coupled with the trouncing at the polls could have led to a negotiated settlement.
Comment