Battle of Washington (hypothetical)

See "Battle of Washington" for the historic conflict

The Battle of Washington is a hypothetical military engagement in American Civil War academia, analyzed by military theorists and historians as a possible Confederate Army attack on the Union capitol of Washington, D.C.. Washington was only attacked once during the Civil War, during the Battle of Fort Stevens.

Historical background

A mainstay of Confederate battle strategy during the Civil War was that the capture of Washington D.C. was essential to bring victory to the south. Southern leaders knew that such major northern cities as New York City, Philadelphia, and nearly the entirety of New England, were out of reach of Confederate forces, thus invasion of these areas was considered impractical.

Robert E. Lee was a chief proponent that the capture of Washington D.C. was critical to the southern war effort and drew up several possible attack strategies to take the city. A key first step in all of Lee's plans was to neutralize all Union armies protecting the capitol prior to attack. As Lee never achieved this aim, the Confederate Army was never able to launch a direct full scale assault on Washington itself.

Confederate battle plans

Following the Battle of First Manassas, the defeated Union forces, retreating in a rout towards Washington, caused the American government to fear that the Confederates would move on the capitol itself. Forces were mobilized and reserve troops brought in by order of Abraham Lincoln to protect the capitol, which feared an all out battle should the Confederates move east from Manassas, Virginia.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee was quoted "I could almost see a road clear to Washington" after the events of the second day of the battle nearly broke the Union lines. Lee's grand plan had been to destroy the Union Army at Gettysburg, then move forward to Washington, hopefully with the Confederate States government negotiating a peace prior to Lee having to actually attack the capitol.

Fictional depictions

The Battle of Washington is the final Confederate campaign in the video game Ultimate General: Civil War. In the campaign, the player is required to attack and hold three key Washington forts before assaulting the city itself. The player must then hold Washington against counterattacks by the Union Army.