[LTCJ]

Do you honestly think that if Gettysburg Day 2 had gone the other way and the army of Northern Virginia had marched on Washington they would not have "Removed" Lincoln? Take a look at the percentage of active duty West Pointers who went rebel, it is over 50%.

I have to respectfully disagree with your analysis. There was never any intent by the South to overthrow the Federal government or remove Lincoln. The idea of moving on Washington was intended to force a peace and recognition of the Confederacy. And as for the officer corps, those "going south" did so to their own states not the Confederate Army. The labels "Civil War" or "War of the Rebellion" stuck as a consequence of the outcome of the war, not because they were accurate.

If, God forbid, things should now develop into armed conflict to restore the national government, it would be the USA's first true civil war. And development of a "civilian security force" would mark the Crossing of the Rubicon in the minds of most of those I served with, I believe.

[GonzoGOP]

The idea of moving on Washington was intended to force a peace and recognition of the Confederacy

And that is the important phrase. How do you force recognition without the threat of force? In other words you recognize the Confederacy or we remove your administration and replace it with something that will recognize the Confederacy. The removal of the Lincoln administration was not a primary aim of the Confederacy. However, given the opportunity they would have done it in order to achieve their primary aim. Remember a Confederates headed by John W Booth did attempt to remove the Lincoln administration as a last attempt to gain Confederate independence. Although the group only succeeded in eliminating Lincoln himself.