AI: Hypothetically, Lee bypasses Gettysburg, seizing Philadelphia to cripple Union industry. While š arsenals and ā shipyards burn, a cautious Meade hesitates, allowing Leeās army to loot massive supplies and retreat intact to Virginia, leaving the North devastated and demoralized. š„
Google Gemini:
The physical damage to Philadelphia is severe, but the psychological damage is fatal to Abraham Lincolnās presidency.
The Narrative Shift: In reality, Gettysburg was the “High Water Mark” where the invasion was stopped. In this scenario, the invasion succeeded in humiliating the North. The narrative becomes: “The Union Army cannot even protect its own cities.”
ChatGPT:
Lincoln reacts with authorization, not hesitation:
Sherman-style warfare becomes official doctrine
Grant was given expanded authority sooner
Southern infrastructure becomes an explicit target
Emancipation is framed as both moral and punitive