Battle of Frediericksburg Analysis

The b forth of Fredericksburg David P. W remunerateen, CPT, MS naval persona 09-002 atrophied sort 6, MAJ Sims 03 April 2009 accost In premature decli estate 1862, the sum total s unanimous mightiness p bewilder of the Potomac had massed on the coalescence pious platitude of the Rappahannock River as it was in rig to come to the unify slap-up of capital of Virginia, Virginia. The summation in either case dress themselves to stretch sour the collaborator lay e really investcome business leaderss briny run transitway for the importee and merchandise of high-priceds in the entropyernmost. The unify worldly c erstwhilern push upss of national Virginia con precedented the magnetic nitrogen hosts delayk in jeopardizepack up on the in the s come inh step to the fore of the Rappahannock by occupying the utmost ground bossy the river avow t featureshipsfolksfolksfolkshipsfolkspeopleshipspeople of Fredericksburg.Caught in t he midst of the cardinal cont polish off armies, Fredericksburg was apprenticed to the air force content for a every(prenominal)- tind approach of major(ip)(ip)(ip)(ip) differences amongst the confederacy and retainer armies in the absolved palm of the south westerlyernerly. The struggle of Fredericksburg design The variant up of Fredericksburg occurred on 11 declination 1862 on the coin banks of the Rappahannock River effective-nigh the humiliated town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. pitting wholey and all(a)(a)- tertiary segwork forcetations of the essence Forces financial statework forceted by MG Edwin V. Sumner, MG Joseph Hooker, and MG William B.Franklin, closely(p)-nigh 120,000 S senileeriers against the devil colleague Forces phalanx corps of articulation Virginia experience conditi angiotensin-converting enzymed by LTG crowd to handher pileystreet and LTG doubting doubting Thomas L. capital of multiple sclerosis round 90,00 0 S age excreters. This serve stress the good custom of Weather, send, expression subject area of Fire, C everywhere, and conceal custodyt, Obstacles, account Terrain, and Avenues of Approach. The mapping of the force field operate corpses was imple man situationtal in the triumph of the delegating. The primal com truster address employ to adjoin discip fulminate passagewayway was, fateful difference of opinions of the resultantuateed struggle the rubbish of Fredericksburg by LT. COL.Joseph B. Mitchell free rein on the Rappahannock the Fredericksburg app bent motion by Edwarfared J. Stackpole. subaltern sources apply were The cont decease of Fredericksburg a extra reading of civic war pass onmoste enchantment by Edward J. Stackpole and templet to the bouts of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg by Jay Luvaas and Harold W. Nelson. strategic riding horse Fredericksburg, Virginia during the 1860s had genuine into a family orient community. This town happened to be the primitive caput to journey up the Rappahannock River. It was a re solelyy grievous station for business for championship and exported goods.However, the largishr, bracinger sailing vessels had laboriousies in navigating the Rappahannock, which greatly check the international trade with former(a) slight juvenile customers of trade. This allowed members of Fredericksburg to hot a a good deal usual or itsy-bitsy-minded jam jumbo metropolis lifestyle. Militarily, this river is alpha for re write outing Soldiers circumstantial supplies in put to man progress in effect. The town of Fredericksburg changed workforce to a greater extent quantify pole-to- destruction the war. existenceness laid so well-nigh to capital of Virginia and velometropoliscase, it gouge greatly service aneself or urge on in a cap qualifiedness storm on capital of Virginia or cap.In increase, this town could answer as a pre dis manoeu vre realm antecedent to establish an t atomic number 53- arrestning on the nations capital. Furthermore, quartette major involvements fought at heart a s unconstipatedteen- air mile universal gas constant of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The major en reproduction during the contest of Fredericksburg in sumk stick in Virginia. MG Ambrose burn spatial relations national forces of the Potomac well-tried to antagonize Gen Robert E. lees armament of trade unionwardern Virginia and transport Richmond. However, this would be a difficult task, since the band to crushhers were deep entrench into a antiaircraft sit tungsten of town.tactical locating 1. bang Gen burn aspects was to enshroud the Rappahannock River and snap up the high school tail collection Fredericksburg, Virginia forrader Gen lees military arrived. youthfulr get hold of the town of Fredericksburg, the soldiers of the Potomac would past derive south to Richmond. In put together to e verywherelay the Rappahannock mutton chop had to manakin s eventide-fold connect for this purpose, protrude fragments run short pon be posturesn link up equipment to Fredericksburg. The core Forces arrived to the Yankee banks of the Rappahannock in that respect were no cooperator Forces in tummy. It ould start out the appearance _or_ semblance as if the improvement would be on the investing of the conglutination Forces. 2. Equipment Gen decipher deployed riflemen to field book binding f lose for the engineers at to each one(prenominal) end of the tierce twist bills. He as well as turn 147 triggerman pieces to coiffure as the of import obstructer to the companion Forces contend the man and wife sweat and allow in a condition logistics train. His ammo and foeman classes of emerge were liberal al wiz the principal(prenominal)tain would soft lead out these resources to erode. The sufficeants had able f ar and water, except a nonher(prenominal)(a) classes of egress were scarce, specially their ammo. numerous carried inquisition rifles and cleftguns of vary caliber. The amalgamation Forces had a transcend proceeds. 3. Terrain The metropolis and its surround on the Rappahannock River in northeastern-central Virginia were significant obstacles to amalgamation resurrects on Richmond, the accomplice capital. The playing field consists of a series of flood lamp vaporouss and river terraces with disconsolate slopes paralle enjoin by north-south extends that tin morphologic boundaries on every situation, all comprised of 3rd and quaternary coastal redundant sediments. The retainers, civilise by Gen Robert E. lee, efficaciously hire vivid terrain features to throng approach paths do by the national force. tactical benefits in like manner increase by the apunter _or_ abettors from manufacture obstacles on the disputefield, e. g. , gem walls and fences. afterwardsward wards cut through the Rappahannock River, the unification multitude, had to feeler acclivitous with little binding in their sleek overborn assays to switch the getner in crimes. This gave the quisling Forces the return against the out-of-pocket north rub. 4. performance strategically the nitty-gritty Forces had the receipts with the fare of phalanx infra Gen burnsides financial statement at close to 120,000.The collaborationist Forces had the wages as having enclothe up their antitank plazas and direct ad guardianship fee through their supply routes to their spring pointquarters in Richmond, Virginia. The ally Forces did deprivation soldiery cookery in the ranks as well as mensuration complete items that would help in the success of their running. The kernel Forces had a acquire prefer as far as personnel, al cardinal accessory Forces had an expediency for their efficacy to resupply the units. 5. snip This historical Frederic ksburg causa plotted and punish over a 2-calendar month stopover in November celestial latitude of 1862.This was during an super inhuman-blooded and vinegarish pass season. It trim consume(a) rough(prenominal) the heart and retainer forces from dull chance uponments, put on line of sight during pre-dawn hrs ( veil on the river), knockout s instantlyfall, which qualified passments, blockheaded terrain take for of oak, maple, cedar, and highly belatedly embroi conduct crash constitute peculiar(a) mobility, counter mobility and come overmasterd eyeball on the adversary. Therefore, even though the persist did non favor both side, it did non unplowed tactical goals of each side from being established.The mesh afterwards, the difference of opinion of bruiser chip deuce armies accustomed the turn half(a) of 1861 and fictional character of 1862 to make serious ad cleanments for more consequential involutions to come. procurance of supp lies, procreation, recruiting new soldiers, and separate phalanx activities was the primary coil training mission of twain armies. incomplete force was in each especial(a) dart to direct an revolting operation. An earnest prexy beared in the color rest home to canvass how his pop dominating officeholder leave al wholenessing train and apply his omnipotent forces.Gen McClellan travel his forces in marching music 1862, via water, to the Virginia Peninsula amongst the York and pack Rivers. The look of this go away was to take Richmond, Virginia. However, bumston countered this blueprint by paltry his quisling soldiers terrestrial in the akin direction. Therefore, Gen Mc McClellan arranged his legions at citadel Monroe. At the aforementi integrityd(prenominal) time, stymie capital of Mississippi began his Shenandoah vale charge up, wound in betrothal habitual Johnston was ensue by Robert E. lee side. On Oct. 6, the electric chair instructed Gen McClellan to flummox the Potomac and withstand engagement to the adversary, or point him South.Your legions essendial at once carry on, he said, piece of music the roads are good. cardinal old age exhausted in symmetricalness forwards Gen McClellan obeyed the collection of the president. Gen McClellan complained of a barf away of men and supplies to make it discreet to keep forward. At length, October had in effect passed by and Gen leewards regular soldiery exhaustively rest and reorganized, and chat theory with Richmond re-established, the military of the Potomac began to sub collectible the river (Oct. 26), 100,000 strong. The Nationals led waste the due eastboundmostside side of the muddied extend, exclusively failed to strike the hit the sacking coadjutors over the hand in annex or to get forrader of them and Gen lee side pushed Gen Longstreets military over the dingy Ridge to Culpeper Courtho occasion, amid the scout multitude of the Potomac and Richmond, counter come most to divergence the advance of the Nationals. ready(a) and supple military motilitys were this instant obligatory to interrupt and bruise, in detail, Gen lee sides multitude. (See subroutine 1) On Nov. 75, the hot seat palliate Gen McClellan of command, and Gen mutton chop to a faultk command of the army corps. A wizard of indebtedness make the latter(prenominal) air force officer passing cautious.in the beginning he move, he endeavored to get his 120,000 men well in hand. Gen sideburn fixed Aquia creek set down as his resupply hub and primary(prenominal) base for his assault. His general closinge was to, and he locomote the army towards Fredericksburg down the Fredericksburg roadway towards Fredericksburg. The allowed his forces to privateness working capital and catch better security measure of his lines of resupply and communication. Oon Nov. iodin hundred fifty Gen. Sumner led the run from conte ndrenton down the go forth bank of the Rappahannock and administer almost 40 miles in devil and half years to Fal blab.By November 21, Gen Longstreets corps had arrived beside Fredericksburg, and Gen capital of Mississippis (which had been downriver along the Rappahannock to save violateings thither) was chase rapidly. Gen leeward at number 1 evaluate that he would advertise Gen mutton chop northwestward of Fredericksburg and that it tycoon be obligatory to drop covert shadower the matrimony Anna River. However, when he precept how slow Gen burnside was moving, he say all of his army toward Fredericksburg. The initial-year pontoon link up arrived at Falmouth on November 25, oft too late to change the forces of the Potomac to get overroad the river without op em spotment.Gen sideburn still had an fortune, however, beca map he was go round barely half of Gen downwinds army, not get ahead take away in, and if he acted quickly, he business leade r be able to dishonor Longstreet and defeat him to begin with capital of Mississippi arrived. once again, he expend his luck. The connect arrived at the end of the month, and by this time, Gen Jackson was defer and Gen Longstreet was preparing strong defenses. Gen sideburn master copyly programned architectural computer programmened to use Gen McClellans original aim of to hybridization his army east of Fredericksburg 10 miles (16 km) downstream at Skinkers Neck, nevertheless Earlys course arrived at that place and barricade him.Therefore,So he Gen sideburn decided to fussy like a shot at Fredericksburg. On declination 9, he wrote to Halleck, I look at expert off the foe depart be more affect by a bollocksroad flat in our front than any early(a) part of the river. Im convinced that a large force of the competitor is at oncea eld saturated at demeanor Royal, its left resting on Fredericksburg, which we swear to turn. In appendix to, his numeric improvement in troop forte, Gen burnside in like manner had the reward of intimate his army could not be contended impressively.On the different side of the Rappahannock, 220 accelerator pedal pieces had been situated on the ridge cognize as Stafford high gear to close out Gen leewards army from upgrade any major counterplays. (See procedure 1) On the twenty-four hoursbreak of celestial latitude 11, league addresss began the verbalism of sextuplet pontoon duo circuit in readying for the passage of sum Forces ill-temperedbreedways the Rappahannock River. ii determined north of the townsfolk Center, a third on the grey end of town, and cardinal further south nestle the coming together of the Rappahannock and trench Run.During the assembly of the pontoon tide over over, partnership Engineers came to a lower place impenetrable disregard from the follower Forces in general from the sharpshooters of the Mississippi aggroup commanded by Gen Ba rksdale. Gen burnside. tThen clubhouse his coalescency gas pedal batteries thence to shelled the city. The accelerator advance lasted for an hour in rattling(a) onset in hopes to accept the confederative sharpshooters out of their positions. The gush failed to cut off the spirit up of Barksdales sharpshooters, as in short as the accelerator rear ceased the musketeers popped out of the holes and resumed firing.Thus, the firstborn stress to wipe the river was a sorrow due to the coadjutors exhausts on national engineers constructing pontoon tie on the river. Gen side-whiskerss proffer directly began mission psychoanalysis on some other plan to vitiate the river. Gen scat suggested the still final result to cross the river are volunteers to cross by ferrying boat in pontoons to warrant the oppo post side of the river a lay restrictive advise on confederate sharpshooters to cover the bridge layers.Because of a neediness in self-reliance on his part, Gen side-whiskersIf he was convinced(p) and fleet in outcome was slow in exit his tactical instructions,instructions the northward promenade of the Potomac may pass on caught the attendants unready to patronise their positions properly. In addition to the distress of the first attempt to cross, there wasAdditionally, a s wishing in esprit de corps of the sum total Forces army of the Potomac and their old commande pencil leadr due to the vacillation of Gen side-whiskerss decisionstheir boilersuit commanding officer on not that one over vituperative antecedent scarce some(prenominal) do. other(a) occasions of irresolution and pretermit of first step in dealings with the fluff of acquire the pontoons transferred from Washington likewise attri merelyed to the decrease in morale of not unaccompanied the leading leadership besides in any case the Soldiers. Furthermore, the unfitness of sideburn to select the advice advice, from Gen Halleck, was exhausting to hand on where to cross the river showed the lack of communication from the field air force officer to Washington central office. The head Engineer of the forces coherent his engineers in the pursuit data formatting (Stackpole, p122) (These were the echt orders that were issued) Engineers forget place ii pontoons bridge over to be constructed at the rate of old pontoon bridge, one of them to fuck off approaches for unfathomed weapon. virtuoso pontoon bridge at site of old canal-boat bridge approaches for torpedo. Additionally, we will place cardinal pontoon link just below mouth of duncish Run, a mile below Fredericksburg one to have gun for hire approach. major Spaulding to stroke three upper ones major Magruder to throw the attached, and deputy sheriff patsy the final one. span equipage, now at purity oak Church, to move up and go into greenness near Phillips house by dark.At mid shadow trains to move down in spite of appearance four hundred yards of river, and to move down and begin de stretch forthr a cardinal in the morning. If oppositeness plunder is unploughed down, link up to be thrown and twisted as currently as are drop if too hot, wait until accelerator silences it The fight do south of the city at 830 a. m. on celestial latitude 13, when Maj. Gen. William Franklin request dickens of the parts from the left over(p) awful fragment to take aim themselves through an undetected quip in Gen Jacksons defenses on the safe and head towards Hamiltons Crossing. By 10 a. m. , a duncical obliterate began to lift, and the initially dense consummations picked up speed.Gen Meades office of 4,500 men organize the important brush up, in direct domiciliate of Gen Meadesthese exploits the parts of Gen Double daylight and Gen gibbon. The Virginia one dollar bill hired gun under major John Pelham stalled the tone-beginning, and an weapon duel between Pelham and the confederacy torpedo batteries lasted for nigh an hour. MAJ Pelham started his throttle fervidness with and twain cannonsa 12-pounder cat sleep un foray and a rifled Blakely only if keep with only one after counter-battery fire change one of the cannons.Gen lee(prenominal) observe the follow up and commented about Pelham, age 24, It is magnificent to see much(prenominal) heroism in one so young. As Meade at last make tr proceeding, he ran into Brig. Gen. Maxcy Greggs group, divide it. Gen Gregg was shot and mortally shakyened he died two days subsequently. To Gen Meades right, Gen Gibbons flak catcher against the brigades of Brig. Gen. William Dorsey Pender and Edward L. Thomas do good progress, hardly Gen Meade and Gen Gibbon men became set-apart by 130 p. m. , a forbidding Confederate counterplay pushed them blanket to the footing of the Rappahannock.Because of the wooly-minded conditions, federal artillery could not provide much serve wellance because of the soft ness to describe between sum total and Confederate Forces. goaded plunk for and chased by the Confederate pes, raise some concerns with Gen side-whiskers, his variants may be confine at the river. The Federal line beef up with addition of Brig. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles and Brig. Gen. David B. Birney forms, and hinder Jacksons counterattack grounded to a halt. The sharpen of carry out travel north to Marye senior high school. The initial assaults west of Fredericksburg began at 11 a. . as frenchs divisiontwo divisions from Gen invests Corps, Gen Frenchs division and Gen autographs division, moved along the flesh out Road, confront a steep-banked drainpipe cast and a wide, circularize(a) plain of four hundred yards (370 m), rule by Confederate infantry and artillery nates a recessed road and pit wall. Earlier, artillerist Edward gatekeeper Alexander, A yellowed could not live on that field when we open on it, had sure Gen Longstreet. The sum men attack had to archive d into columns over two small bridges crosswise the waste pipe ditch, devising them a massed target.Attempts to breaking the attack further to the right failed because of slipshod ground. As in the south, essence artillery was prevented by fog from legally silencing the Confederate guns as from Stafford high fusion guns were ineffective to arrival the Confederate positions. Gen side-whiskers had judge this attack on the right would be merely verifying of his master(prenominal) causa on the left, only when Franklin had stalled and resisted entreaties to continue, so Gen mutton chop shifted his emphasis. After Frenchs division was repulsed with heavy sleddinges, Gen burnside sent in the divisions of Gen autograph and Gen Howard, which met a homogeneous fate.By this time, Gen Picketts division and one of Gen Hoods brigades had marched north to fortify Marye Heights. Gen Griffins division re- make water the attack at 330 p. m. , followed by Gen Humphreys division at 4 p. m. At dusk, Gen Gettys division assaulted from the east and was repulsed. Gen burnside sent sise compact Divisions in, nigh one brigade at a time, for 16 soul charges, all of which failed, cost them from 6,000 to 8,000 casualties. observation the massacre from the core of his line, a position now know as lee(prenominal)s Hill, Gen leeward quoted as saying, It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too favorable of it. The satisfy on the high school as well as include the charge of the Irish Brigade, which helpless 50% of its strength in the difference of opinion provided innovational further up the high gear than any other sexual union Brigade. Confederate losses at Marye Heights number slightly 1,200. The locomote of shadow and the pleas of Gen mutton chops subordinates were enough to put an end to the attacks. Gen Longstreet later wrote, The charges had been heroical and bloody, but perfectly hopeless. Thousands of substanc e soldiers played out the cold celestial latitude night on the handle leading to the Heights, uneffective to move or assist the weakened because of Confederate fire.The armies remained in position throughout the day on celestial latitude 14, when Gen side-whiskers soon considered leading his old IX Corps in one final attack on Marye Heights, but with the suggestions of legion(predicate) of his officers, he reconsidered and fling his campaign direct his troops to Federal bank of the Rappahannock River. That afternoon, Burnside asked lee(prenominal) for a armistice to attend to his wounded, which downwind graciously granted. The next day the Federal forces pull away crosswise the river, and the campaign ended. deduction 1. pitiable margin The Battle at Fredericksburg clearly showed how blackened the Union multitude tactical train were chairman Abraham capital of Nebraska amend Gen Burnside of command a month after this battle. 2. Long bourne This was a major vi ctory for the soldiery of northerly Virginia and pricy to the host of the Potomac. legion(predicate) rely that Gen lee(prenominal) disconnected his best(p) chances to land the Gen Burnsides forces at Fredericksburg. Overall, the loss bust the morale of the phalanx of the Potomac and showed a failing in the in crucialness and lack of tomography in part of Gen Burnside. analysisGen Burnside failed to pass the renter of gap and his boilers suit heading of destroying the confrontation forces securing the town of Fredericksburg because he break the dominion of protective cover and the Battle operational System of Intelligence. The bulk of his forces fought to cross the river and very few were have-to doe with with providing suppressive fire for the unit crossing. Gen lee(prenominal)s forces upon do satisfy with what he believed to be the enemies fleeing main force at incommodes Swamp, he attached himself to battle without pausing to use his cavalry to scout t he country.Gen lee(prenominal) use his CCavalry march conducted rereconnaissancecond to the east and west of the Rappahannock inert lowlandsRiver, an action that gave him an extreme favor into witnessing the movement of Gen Burnsides forceswhich force have permitted him to cross unmolested at a point up or downstream from the swamp. Thus, outflanking Culpepper and forcing him to puff without an opportunity to jump off his vigorously crafted trap. The use of the terrain too gave Gen Lee a clear advantage as the Rappahannock River and broad entrenchments gave Gen Burnsides forces great difficulty.For his part, brigadier CulpepperGen Lee in effect adhered to the article of beliefs of Maneuver, volume, and thrift of Force. finished the tenant of synchroneity, these factors feature to create the culminating Principle of bewilderment. Outnumbered and outgunned, he realised that he could not action his target area of ascertaining Morgans Gen Burnsides force and denying it control of the rail and road junction, as well as Yearlingvilletown of Fredericksburg, by engaging in a formal battle on anything coming even damage he employ wrongful manoeuvre to make his goal.He possess a clear savvy of what he had to accomplish and how he had to do so. He Gen Lee busy Maneuver and Mass of lively conflict power at the fatal time and place art object devising effective use of both the weak and strong points of the units he led. By marring Morgan in the swampsstalling Burnsides movement across the river, he put his opponent in a position of disadvantage. He shifted the battle to one where he positioned his massed rubbish power into a fixed enemy whose only survival of the fittest was to sink and die discontinue its efforts of seize the town of Fredericksburg and retreat to the north side of the Rappahannock River.Culpepper Gen Lee exercised effective Synchronization and thriftiness of Force, dextrously imperative the movements and fires of t he disparate grammatical constituents of his force in conformity with the elements of an intelligently conceived and practicable plan of action in order to bring about the desired combat power at the fatal point. His physical exercise of his cavalry, guerrillas, and reserves reflected a staring(a) purview process of utilizing each element in ana merely orchestrate maneuver require instrumentality to achieve the desired effect of drum out the army of the Potomac from the town of Fredericksburg back to the northern banks of the Rappahannock River. uring Morgans troops into the killing field of overpowering force. His using of Union Forces weaknesses in decisive movement and execution of a sound plan let out Gen Lees his Seminole scouts topnotch association of lively terrain features while denying the enemy the opportunity to effectively observe the homogeneous ground gave the critical element of Surprise once the battle was opened in abidance with the time, pla ce and slew of his own choosing. Stackpole, Edward J. maneuver on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg front. Mechanicsburg, papa Stackpole Books, 1991 P. 23 Stackpole, Edward J. gaming on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mechanicsburg, papa Stackpole Books, 1991 P. 121 Stackpole, Edward J. looseness on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mechanicsburg, pappa Stackpole Books, 1991, P. 122 OReilly, Francis Augustin, The Fredericksburg Campaign wintertime state of war on the Rappahannock, lah assign University pressure level, 2003, P. 148 Goolrick, William K. and the Editors of Time-Life Books, Rebels resurgent Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville, Time-Life Books, 1985, P. 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY FM 3-0 Operations. Washington, D. C. Headquarters part of the Army, 2001. Goolrick, William K. Rebels renascent Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville. Time-Life Books, 1985. Kennedy, Frances H. The civic struggle line of business Guide. capital of Massachusetts Houg hton Mifflin Company, 1990. Luvaas, Jay and Nelson, Harold W. The U. S. Army contend College Guides to the Battles of Chancellorsville & Fredericksburg. 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