Lee at the Alamo
Lee at the Alamo is an alternate history short story by Harry Turtledove. It was published online at tor.com on September 7, 2011.[1]
| "Lee at the Alamo" | |
|---|---|
| Author | Harry Turtledove |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Alternate history |
| Publication type | Online |
| Publisher | Tor books |
| Publication date | September 7, 2011 |
Plot summary
The story begins with the point of divergence in December 1860, when General David E. Twiggs is unable to take command of the Department of Texas, leaving Lieutenant colonel Robert E. Lee as the commander. The story itself is set in February 1861 - shortly after the state of Texas voted to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy - through March 1861. Lt. Colonel Lee concludes that it is his duty to defend U.S. Army munitions and property in San Antonio, Texas, including the fabled Alamo, rather than allow their surrender to the seceding Texas government, as Twiggs did in real life. This leads to a Second Battle of the Alamo.
While Lee is forced to surrender to Benjamin McCulloch after several weeks of siege, he becomes a national hero. When Virginia does eventually secede, President Abraham Lincoln is able to convince Lee to stay in the Union's service by agreeing to send him west, where he will not be fighting against his fellow Virginians.
Award Nomination
"Lee at the Alamo" was nominated for a Sidewise Award for Alternate History in 2012.