The Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862

The Geography

Command and Control

The Battle

The Outcome

The Geography

• Fredericksburg lies at the junction of two rivers with an approach by bridge

• Overlooked by high ground known as Marye’s Heights, it is a perfect natural defense supported by a stone wall

• In order to overcome Marye’s Heights an attacker must cross open ground

• The Heights has been reinforced with rifle pits and artillery

General Robert Lee

• Mexican War veteran, present at Harpers Ferry in 1859

• Joins Confederacy because of loyalty to Virginia, not a slave owner

• A brilliant strategist who takes the battle to his opponents, also uses terrain to his advantage

Ambrose Burnside

• A likeable man but, aware of his limitations as a poor commander

• Hesitant and fails to follow through with decisiveness

• Best known for his military blunders and as the originator of the “sideburns”

The Opening Moves

• Both armies are probing one another in early Nov.10 1862

• Lee seizes the initiative and moves to Fredericksburg and occupies the area

• Burnside fails to move swiftly and is in place by Dec 10, 1862

                                                                           

The Opening Moves

Union Army• Burnside’s plan relies on

speed, concealment and superior numbers

• He plans to cross the Rappanock River at three points using pontoon boats and then taking the city while moving troops up the left side of Lee’s position and outflanking him

CSA• Lee will use terrain,

he has city and high ground to use

• Lee knows Union must attack and will have to dislodge his troops from both city and Marye’s Heights

The Opening Moves

• Union troops failed to take Fredericksburg, they hesitated because of unknown

• Pontoon boats show CSA that Union plans to cross river way

• Union outnumbers CSA 2:1 but has telegraphed its strength

December 12, 1862

•

December 11, 1862

• Union crosses the Rappannock River on the pontoons and enters the outskirts of city

• CSA are using buildings, and spider holes to pick off Union troops

• Union will attack city in column formations this overwhelms CSA and they take the city

A Confederate General’s point of View

“General we can cover that ground…so well that we comb it as with a fine tooth comb. A chicken could not live on that field when we open [fire] on it.”

Colonel Alexander Porter

Marye’s Heights

11 December 1862

December 12, 1862

• Burnsides believes that his superior numbers can remove CSA from Marye’s Heights

• He will launch 6 assaults on the area but will not dislodge the CSA

• The assaults are nothing more than sending waves of soldiers towards the Heights

December 12, 1862

• One of the most famous assaults on the Heights was led by the Irish Brigade

• The Brigade was comprised entirely of Irish immigrants, fighting to prove their patriotism and manhood

• Men will lie quivering and withering in agony crying for their mothers or begging to be killed

December 13, 1862

• Union forces will attempt to move on the left side of the CSA

• The CSA are entrenched in a wooded area but will be pushed back by superior Union numbers

• The Union forces are unable to hold the ground and withdraw

The Aftermath

• Union losses were 12,000 and CSA losses 4,500• The CSA showed that entrenched forces could

hold off superior numbers• The Union learned it must maintain secrecy

concerning its moves• Burnside shows that the Union needs to find a

competent general• Fredericksburg shows that both sides have the will

to continue fighting even in the face of death

The Aftermath