Lee's Bold Plan for Point Lookout: The Rescue of Confederate Prisoners That Never Happened

In July 1864, while hemmed in by Grant at Richmond, General Robert E. Lee conceived a bold plan designed not only to relieve Lynchburg and protect the Confederate supply line but also to ultimately make a bold move on Washington itself. A major facet of this plan, with the addition of General Jubal Early's forces, became the rescue of the almost 15,000 Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout, a large Union prison camp at the confluence of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. With international recognition hanging in the balance for the Confederacy, the failure of Lee's plan saved the Union and ultimately changed the course of the war. This work focuses on the many factors that contributed to this eventual failure, including Early's somewhat inexplicable hesitancy, a significant loss of time for Confederate troops en route, and aggressive defensive action by Union General Lew Wallace. It also discusses various circumstances such as Washington's stripped defenses, the potential release of imprisoned Southern troops and a breakdown of Union military intelligence that made Lee's gamble a brilliant, well-founded strategy.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Preface      1. Introduction      2. Lee Was an Audacious Man      3. Plans to Capture Washington and Point Lookout      4. Trevilian Station      5. General Hunter Fails to Move in the Shenandoah Valley as Directed      6. Lee’s Bold Plan, Phase I      7. Early’s Fateful Decision      8. Washington’s Defenses Undermanned      9. Point Lookout Prison Camp Vulnerable to Attack      10. Early Tarries on the Upper Potomac      11. A Lack of Shoes Causes Delay      12. Grant Fails to Meet Early’s Threat      13. Early Hindered by Lack of Cooperation with Mosby      14. Washington’s Defenses Depleted by Removal of Troops to Maryland Heights      15. Seaborne Attack on Point Lookout in Conjunction with Early’s Forces Called Off      16. Wallace Aggressively Contests Early’s Move to Frederick      17. General Ransom Costs Early Time      18. Hunter and Howe Fail to Move to Threaten Early      19. Confederates Fail to Secure Bridge at Monocacy Junction      20. Early Delayed by Battle of the Monocacy      21. Johnson-Gilmor Raid Toward Baltimore and Point Lookout      22. Wallace’s Retreat to Baltimore Aids Early’s Advance on Washington      23. Hot Weather Slows Early’s Move on Washington      24. Early Loses Opportunity to Enter Washington at Fort Stevens      25. Veteran Reserve Troops and Convalescing Officers Help Defend Washington      26. Quartermaster Employees Serve in Washington’s Defense      27. Lack of Intelligence on Washington Defenses Handicaps Early      28. Actions at the Blair Mansions a Minor Factor in Early’s Failure to Enter Washington      29. McCook’s Force Outside Fort Stevens Deters Early’s Assault      30. Convalescing Union Troops Help Defend Washington      31. Lincoln Under Fire at Fort Stevens      32. Foreign Recognition of the Confederacy and Lincoln’s Problematic Reelection      33. Epilogue: Early Reconsidered      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index     

About the Author :
Retired attorney Jack E. Schairer lives near Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to professional articles, his previous work includes a novel and a book of poetry.