The BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG
South Fredericksburg (and background info)
The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia was fought by General Robert E. Lee for the Confederate states and General Ambrose Burnside for the Union states. President Abraham Lincoln of the Union was hoping for a victory to pass the Emancipation Proclamation that would declare all slaves in states that opposed the Union free. General Burnside proposed moving his troops to Falmouth, across from the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg and then directly to Richmond, the South's capital. General Lee's troops were in Culpepper, blocking the Union advances South. Burnside's army was at Falmouth by November 19th but, the plans to cross the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg were delayed due to weather (snow). General Lee anticipated Burnside crossing the Rappahannock and ordered lieutenants Longstreet and Thomas Jackson to line up along the Rappahannock, right outside of Fredericksburg. The Confederate troops had plenty of time to find the best defensive spot and establish supply lines because of the Union army's delay to cross the river. On December 11th, the Union troops tried to make a direct crossing to Fredericksburg but, were attacked by Confederates. The day was filled with attacks from the Confederates on the hill above. By the afternoon, Burnside managed to get several groups of soldiers to create a foothold and drive Confederate General Barksdale's of the South, troops out of town. Union troops crossed into Fredericksburg on December 12th, and vandalized the city. Lee's soldiers were in a seven mile curved line with 5 divisions along Marye's Heights, forming a fishhook shape, west of Fredericksburg. The heights south of Fredericksburg were held by Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson. Burnside decided to attack both groups of soldiers instead of attacking at the center. The main attack was at by Union General William B. Franklin General Jackson's troops, while Union General Edwin Sumner's troops distracted Longstreet on Marye's Heights. Burnside waited until December 13th to issue these orders. On the 13th, Franklin ordered General Reynold's troops at Jackson and fire broke out on Prospect Hill ahead of the Confederate line by John Pelham. After about an hour, Pelham went back to Confederate line. The Union soldiers then tried to attack Jackson more directly, resulting in lots of firing. Reynolds ordered his troops to approach the Confederate line but, Jackson had wrongly assumed the terrain, and the terrain was swampy and impassable. General Meade of the Union sent word to General Birney that re-enforcements would never come because of the terrain. Barney refused to coordinate with Meade, so, Meade retreated. This intense fighting became known as Slaughter Pens. With Meade retreating, The Confederates won the battle of South Fredericksburg
North Fredericksburg
Meanwhile, north of Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, was even less successful for the Union. General Sumner's men had to walk a half of a mile in open land, coming to Lee's troops. The Confederates fired on the Union. Burnside ordered wave after wave of divisions to Marye's Heighs, but Union was in carnage. Burnside retreated to a winter camp in Stafford county, December 15th, 1862. The Confederates won the Battle of Fredericksburg and their morale and spirits were boosted.
The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia was fought by General Robert E. Lee for the Confederate states and General Ambrose Burnside for the Union states. President Abraham Lincoln of the Union was hoping for a victory to pass the Emancipation Proclamation that would declare all slaves in states that opposed the Union free. General Burnside proposed moving his troops to Falmouth, across from the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg and then directly to Richmond, the South's capital. General Lee's troops were in Culpepper, blocking the Union advances South. Burnside's army was at Falmouth by November 19th but, the plans to cross the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg were delayed due to weather (snow). General Lee anticipated Burnside crossing the Rappahannock and ordered lieutenants Longstreet and Thomas Jackson to line up along the Rappahannock, right outside of Fredericksburg. The Confederate troops had plenty of time to find the best defensive spot and establish supply lines because of the Union army's delay to cross the river. On December 11th, the Union troops tried to make a direct crossing to Fredericksburg but, were attacked by Confederates. The day was filled with attacks from the Confederates on the hill above. By the afternoon, Burnside managed to get several groups of soldiers to create a foothold and drive Confederate General Barksdale's of the South, troops out of town. Union troops crossed into Fredericksburg on December 12th, and vandalized the city. Lee's soldiers were in a seven mile curved line with 5 divisions along Marye's Heights, forming a fishhook shape, west of Fredericksburg. The heights south of Fredericksburg were held by Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson. Burnside decided to attack both groups of soldiers instead of attacking at the center. The main attack was at by Union General William B. Franklin General Jackson's troops, while Union General Edwin Sumner's troops distracted Longstreet on Marye's Heights. Burnside waited until December 13th to issue these orders. On the 13th, Franklin ordered General Reynold's troops at Jackson and fire broke out on Prospect Hill ahead of the Confederate line by John Pelham. After about an hour, Pelham went back to Confederate line. The Union soldiers then tried to attack Jackson more directly, resulting in lots of firing. Reynolds ordered his troops to approach the Confederate line but, Jackson had wrongly assumed the terrain, and the terrain was swampy and impassable. General Meade of the Union sent word to General Birney that re-enforcements would never come because of the terrain. Barney refused to coordinate with Meade, so, Meade retreated. This intense fighting became known as Slaughter Pens. With Meade retreating, The Confederates won the battle of South Fredericksburg
North Fredericksburg
Meanwhile, north of Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, was even less successful for the Union. General Sumner's men had to walk a half of a mile in open land, coming to Lee's troops. The Confederates fired on the Union. Burnside ordered wave after wave of divisions to Marye's Heighs, but Union was in carnage. Burnside retreated to a winter camp in Stafford county, December 15th, 1862. The Confederates won the Battle of Fredericksburg and their morale and spirits were boosted.