Battle of Fredericksburg
After the loss at the battle of Antietam, then-President Abraham Lincoln sent out an order to Union General McClellan to take down the enemy, or at least push it south. This order given on October 6, and McClellan was warned to move quickly, before roads became frosty with cold and snow. On October 26, the Army of the Potomac began to cross the Potamac River with 100,000 soldiers. On November 5, McClellan was relieved of his position and replaced with General Burside (known for his facial hair, giving it the name we presently use today as a play on his surname, "sideburns"). However, Burside, too, was cautious, but he took great risks, placing him above McClellan in skill in the people's mind. Burnisde had been offered this position twice before, but had refused because he didn't feel qualified to command an army. Many colleagues of his agreed, as well as his peers. The General had three officers commanding the three divisions of the Army of the Potomac- William B. Franklin, Edwin Sumner, and Joseph Hooker. The Confederates were under the orders of Robert E. Lee. Half of his force were under James Longstreet, located in Culpeper, Virginia. They would be defending Richmond against a direct Union attack. The other part of Lee's army, led by Thomas Jackson, were west, in the Shenandoah Valley across the Blue Ridge Mountains. They were moving quickly, and were to detain Burnside's supply lines.
The president predicted that Burnside would use his larger force to defeat Longstreet and force Jackson to lose his position. But Burnside knew that by attacking Longstreet, the Rebels would retreat to a stronger, tighter defensive line closer to the Confederate capitol of Richmond. This way would also extend his supply line. Another problem to this stradegie would create Washington an open area, leaving it open for Jackon's army to counterattack it. Southerner's under Jackson were notorious for this. Due to all these risks, the Union General chose to take a southern route towards Richmond trhough Fredricksburg. But the Rappahnnock River was in the way, and all the bridges originally joining the two opposite lands were destroyed by prior battles. This problem would be solved by pontoons- portable bridges that floated on boats.
Burnside ordered the 65-year old General Edwin Sumner and his division to break camp on ovember 15, and two days later, they arrived at Falmouth. Falmouth was only a few miles up river from Fredricksburg. Opposite them on the other side of the river, a thousand Confederate men defending the town. Sumner ordered an attack immedialy. The North fired shells into the town, attempting to harass the South. At the same time, he ordered a New York brigade made up mostly of Irish immigrants to cross the shoulder-deep river and take control of Fredrickburg. Halfway across, Burnside arrived and had them return because he worried that autumn rains would create a rising in the Rappahannock, seperating them from the main force.
On November 24, the engineers who were to build the pontoons arrived after crossing muddy roads and creeks. Unfortunately, Longstreet's corps had arrived at Fredricksburg 5 days earlier. Two days before the pontoons arrived, the Confederates already had a 7-mile long defensive position on the hills behind Fredricksburg. Lee originally ordered Longstreet's troops to the North Anna River, the best defensive position between Fredricksburg and Richmond, and had two divisions to Fredricksburg to obstuct the Union's advance. But when they reached Fredricksburg, they found the Federals hadn't crossed the river, passing the news the Lee, redirecting them to all go to Fredricksburg. On the 21, Jackson had his corps go east, joining Longstreet, and they arrived on December 3, having marched 175 miles in 12 days, with very few of them having shoes to wear. Jackson had his forces positioned south of town, covering the Rappahannock River between Hamilton's Crossing and Port Royal.
Burnside knew he needed a good plan to succeed crossing the river, but he had few options. Upriver at Banks' Fords was a possible route, but the river's steep banks created climbing slippery and dangerous. Another option was downriver between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, and that place was reported to have a small force of Confederates there. Still wanting to get between Southern Forces and Richmond, he decided to cross the River at Skinker's Neck, but Jackson's corp arrived there and established a position at soon as Burnside arrived.
While the Union forces scouted the Rappahannock, Rebels under Longstreet (considered the "greatest defensive strategist of the war") built earthworks on the riverbank and the hills southwest of Fredericksburg. Their big guns were on Marye's Heights and positioned to created deadly crossfire.
On December 5, snow fell. Burnside realized, that with winter quickly coming, he couldn't wait any longer, they would have to cross at Fredricksburg. He decided to attack the middle of the Confederate line. On December 11, 3 A.M., he ordered 3 pontoon bridges to be built, hoping to have his entire force across the Rappahannock River by night. However, the fog was covering everything the Rebels were doing. At first light, Southern cannons fired two quick shots, signaling that the Union was on the move. The engineers heard it, but the bridges were 100 feet from the opposite shore while the sun rose. The Confederates opened fire at the first outlines of the Union forces. More than 50 Union cannons fired into Fredericksburg in response. The engineers took advantage of the covering fire and continued to work on the bridges. However, at each attempt, sharpshooters drove them back to shore.
Burnside wasn't expecting so much resistance, and didn't have a plant to beat the Rebels back and have his men cross. He eventually turned to his artillery, and for the next eight hours, almost 150 cannons attacked the empty town. Shells and falling masonry killed many Southern troops, but the survivers continued to fire at the bridges. By afternoon, the Union had not made any progress crossing the river. General Henry Hunt, commander of Union artillery, suggested sending soldiers by pontoon across the river to possiblly push Confederates from the water's edge. It was extremely risky, but Burnside had no other choice, they had been delayed nearly 12 hours. A little after 3 P.M., Hunt's guns began a heavy bombing, while volunteers from the 7th Michigan prepared to launch the boats. The guns soon quieted, and the Federals jumped into the 30 food long boats. About 70 men attempted at the crossing the river, and succeeded. The Union continued with this tactic, and were overjoyed at one of few successes during this battle. However, Confederate squads were hidden in the deserted homes of Fredericksburg, in attics or cellars, shooting unnoticing Union troops who didn't know where the shots were from. This created some fast deaths, such as 10 of 30 in 5 minutes, which happened to a Massachusette company, or 97 men of 300, barely moving 50 yards. The pontoons were finished by sunset, and regiments roared across. At nightfall, Union troops controlled most streets in Fredericksburg.
The next day, the rest of the 115,000 troops traveled across the river to the nearby town, taking up most of the day. Many troops, bored from inactivity or a mix of emotions from the recent fighting, rampaged through town, stealing what they could, tearing homes apart, and burned personal items. This was the worst vandalism that took place during the Civil War.
At 11 A.M., Meade had his troops continued their advance towards the South. 800 yards away, Confederate gunshots rang through the air, and a strong artillery fight began between the Union and Confederate gunners, the Union winning this mini-fight. So moany horses died, that the place where the South was positioned during this short outbreak was known as "Dead Horse Hill." Meade realized that if he didn't have his force move, they would lose and be lost. He was about to continue to move forward, but an small explosion occured when a Union shell hit a Confederate ammunition wagon. Meade took advantage of this opportunity, and surprised a southern brigade already under frontal attack. The Rebels fell back because of this double attack. Meade neadied reinforcements, and twice had someone request them from General David Birney. Meade stormed and personally raged at Birney, making him give him the troops, but by then, the Rebels had counterattacked already. Meade's men were weary, and broke the Federal line. Rebel artillery moved forward, pouring heavy fire into Federal ranks, preventing them from re-forming and re-grouping.
5 miles above the Southern battle ground, at the center of the Confederate line, Burnsde ordered a series of assaults. But the Federals would have to cross an open plain towards high ground, total suicide. They had over 60,000 men, but were in such a small space that waves could only be of 5,000 men, and they would have to cross over 600 yard of open ground towards 7,000 Confederate troops located on higher ground. On that morning on the 13th, Sumner's division as well as the remainders of Hooker's division organized on the outskirts of Fredericksburg. Thy now faced the near-impossible task overrunning the strong, prepared, and well trained Confederate troops. To make even worse, the wall had ben banked with dirth to prevent Union bullets and shells from permeating the defensive tool.
At noon, Sumner ordered for the assaults to commence. They soon encountered a canal 20 yards in that wasn't displayed on their maps crossing the plain. They had to file across three somewhat destroyed bridges crossing the canal.
The president predicted that Burnside would use his larger force to defeat Longstreet and force Jackson to lose his position. But Burnside knew that by attacking Longstreet, the Rebels would retreat to a stronger, tighter defensive line closer to the Confederate capitol of Richmond. This way would also extend his supply line. Another problem to this stradegie would create Washington an open area, leaving it open for Jackon's army to counterattack it. Southerner's under Jackson were notorious for this. Due to all these risks, the Union General chose to take a southern route towards Richmond trhough Fredricksburg. But the Rappahnnock River was in the way, and all the bridges originally joining the two opposite lands were destroyed by prior battles. This problem would be solved by pontoons- portable bridges that floated on boats.
Burnside ordered the 65-year old General Edwin Sumner and his division to break camp on ovember 15, and two days later, they arrived at Falmouth. Falmouth was only a few miles up river from Fredricksburg. Opposite them on the other side of the river, a thousand Confederate men defending the town. Sumner ordered an attack immedialy. The North fired shells into the town, attempting to harass the South. At the same time, he ordered a New York brigade made up mostly of Irish immigrants to cross the shoulder-deep river and take control of Fredrickburg. Halfway across, Burnside arrived and had them return because he worried that autumn rains would create a rising in the Rappahannock, seperating them from the main force.
On November 24, the engineers who were to build the pontoons arrived after crossing muddy roads and creeks. Unfortunately, Longstreet's corps had arrived at Fredricksburg 5 days earlier. Two days before the pontoons arrived, the Confederates already had a 7-mile long defensive position on the hills behind Fredricksburg. Lee originally ordered Longstreet's troops to the North Anna River, the best defensive position between Fredricksburg and Richmond, and had two divisions to Fredricksburg to obstuct the Union's advance. But when they reached Fredricksburg, they found the Federals hadn't crossed the river, passing the news the Lee, redirecting them to all go to Fredricksburg. On the 21, Jackson had his corps go east, joining Longstreet, and they arrived on December 3, having marched 175 miles in 12 days, with very few of them having shoes to wear. Jackson had his forces positioned south of town, covering the Rappahannock River between Hamilton's Crossing and Port Royal.
Burnside knew he needed a good plan to succeed crossing the river, but he had few options. Upriver at Banks' Fords was a possible route, but the river's steep banks created climbing slippery and dangerous. Another option was downriver between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, and that place was reported to have a small force of Confederates there. Still wanting to get between Southern Forces and Richmond, he decided to cross the River at Skinker's Neck, but Jackson's corp arrived there and established a position at soon as Burnside arrived.
While the Union forces scouted the Rappahannock, Rebels under Longstreet (considered the "greatest defensive strategist of the war") built earthworks on the riverbank and the hills southwest of Fredericksburg. Their big guns were on Marye's Heights and positioned to created deadly crossfire.
On December 5, snow fell. Burnside realized, that with winter quickly coming, he couldn't wait any longer, they would have to cross at Fredricksburg. He decided to attack the middle of the Confederate line. On December 11, 3 A.M., he ordered 3 pontoon bridges to be built, hoping to have his entire force across the Rappahannock River by night. However, the fog was covering everything the Rebels were doing. At first light, Southern cannons fired two quick shots, signaling that the Union was on the move. The engineers heard it, but the bridges were 100 feet from the opposite shore while the sun rose. The Confederates opened fire at the first outlines of the Union forces. More than 50 Union cannons fired into Fredericksburg in response. The engineers took advantage of the covering fire and continued to work on the bridges. However, at each attempt, sharpshooters drove them back to shore.
Burnside wasn't expecting so much resistance, and didn't have a plant to beat the Rebels back and have his men cross. He eventually turned to his artillery, and for the next eight hours, almost 150 cannons attacked the empty town. Shells and falling masonry killed many Southern troops, but the survivers continued to fire at the bridges. By afternoon, the Union had not made any progress crossing the river. General Henry Hunt, commander of Union artillery, suggested sending soldiers by pontoon across the river to possiblly push Confederates from the water's edge. It was extremely risky, but Burnside had no other choice, they had been delayed nearly 12 hours. A little after 3 P.M., Hunt's guns began a heavy bombing, while volunteers from the 7th Michigan prepared to launch the boats. The guns soon quieted, and the Federals jumped into the 30 food long boats. About 70 men attempted at the crossing the river, and succeeded. The Union continued with this tactic, and were overjoyed at one of few successes during this battle. However, Confederate squads were hidden in the deserted homes of Fredericksburg, in attics or cellars, shooting unnoticing Union troops who didn't know where the shots were from. This created some fast deaths, such as 10 of 30 in 5 minutes, which happened to a Massachusette company, or 97 men of 300, barely moving 50 yards. The pontoons were finished by sunset, and regiments roared across. At nightfall, Union troops controlled most streets in Fredericksburg.
The next day, the rest of the 115,000 troops traveled across the river to the nearby town, taking up most of the day. Many troops, bored from inactivity or a mix of emotions from the recent fighting, rampaged through town, stealing what they could, tearing homes apart, and burned personal items. This was the worst vandalism that took place during the Civil War.
At 11 A.M., Meade had his troops continued their advance towards the South. 800 yards away, Confederate gunshots rang through the air, and a strong artillery fight began between the Union and Confederate gunners, the Union winning this mini-fight. So moany horses died, that the place where the South was positioned during this short outbreak was known as "Dead Horse Hill." Meade realized that if he didn't have his force move, they would lose and be lost. He was about to continue to move forward, but an small explosion occured when a Union shell hit a Confederate ammunition wagon. Meade took advantage of this opportunity, and surprised a southern brigade already under frontal attack. The Rebels fell back because of this double attack. Meade neadied reinforcements, and twice had someone request them from General David Birney. Meade stormed and personally raged at Birney, making him give him the troops, but by then, the Rebels had counterattacked already. Meade's men were weary, and broke the Federal line. Rebel artillery moved forward, pouring heavy fire into Federal ranks, preventing them from re-forming and re-grouping.
5 miles above the Southern battle ground, at the center of the Confederate line, Burnsde ordered a series of assaults. But the Federals would have to cross an open plain towards high ground, total suicide. They had over 60,000 men, but were in such a small space that waves could only be of 5,000 men, and they would have to cross over 600 yard of open ground towards 7,000 Confederate troops located on higher ground. On that morning on the 13th, Sumner's division as well as the remainders of Hooker's division organized on the outskirts of Fredericksburg. Thy now faced the near-impossible task overrunning the strong, prepared, and well trained Confederate troops. To make even worse, the wall had ben banked with dirth to prevent Union bullets and shells from permeating the defensive tool.
At noon, Sumner ordered for the assaults to commence. They soon encountered a canal 20 yards in that wasn't displayed on their maps crossing the plain. They had to file across three somewhat destroyed bridges crossing the canal.
It was such an easy victory, one Southerner later wrote, "We watched the fruitless charges, with their fearful slaughter until we were sick at heart. As I watched one line get swept away one by one fearful blast from behind the wall, I forgot they were enemies and only remembered that they were men, and it is hard to see in cold blood, brave men die." So many men died, that one Confederate troop, and young 19 year old, could not stand the cries of the dying Union troops. He was remembered as the "Angel of Fredericksburg".