The Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862

1
The Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862

• The Geography
• Command and Control
• The Battle
• The Outcome

2
The Geography

• Fredericksburg lies at the junction of two rivers
  with an approach by bridge
• Overlooked by high ground known as Maryes
  Heights, it is a perfect natural defense
  supported by a stone wall
• In order to overcome Maryes Heights an
  attacker must cross open ground
• The Heights has been reinforced with rifle pits
  and artillery

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
The Opening Moves

• Union Army
• Burnsides 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
  Lees 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 Maryes
  Heights

7
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 21 but has telegraphed its
  strength

8
December 12, 1862

9
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

10
A Confederate Generals point of View
General we can cover that groundso 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 Maryes
Heights 11 December 1862
11
December 12, 1862

• Burnsides believes that his superior numbers can
  remove CSA from Maryes 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

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
The Aftermath