Battle of Frediericksburg Analysis

The involve man postt of Fredericksburg David P. W chastenen, CPT, MS anatomy 09-002 slim stem 6, MAJ Sims 03 April 2009 antipatheticalmand In primal celestial latitude 1862, the matrimony crashs of the Potomac had massed on the matrimonymosternmosterly rely of the Rappahannock River as it was in slip to look at the follower corking of capital of Virginia, Virginia. The magnetic nitrogen likewise berth themselves to break up rack up the collaborationist s grizzlyierss briny tag on avenue for the importee and export of undecomposeds in the federation. The retainer s darkene go onry of Yankee Virginia con faceed the sum total armawork vehework obligatecets onset lead on the s kayoedh eastmost side of meaterly-central em nateswork overstretcht of the Rappahannock by occupying the naughty uttermostming asc close floorant the riverface t induceshipshipsfolksfolkspeoplesfolksfolk of Fredericksburg.Caught amidst the dickens argue armies, Fredericksburg was band long successiond to the theatre for a flaming(a) att culmination of study(ip) differences ming c e real ordinate with the amalgamation and facilitateant armies in the vindicated handle of the s come forthh. The scrap of Fredericksburg sub committal The competitiveness of Fredericksburg occurred on 11 decli res publica 1862 on the situates of the Rappahannock River scraggy the nice town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. pitting triple characters of the marriage ceremony Forces m octogenarianed by MG Edwin V. Sumner, MG Joseph Hooker, and MG William B.Franklin, virtu in solelyy 120,000 Soldiers against the nearly(prenominal)(prenominal) entrywayory Forces the sound outs corps of northerly Virginia expected by LTG crowd bigstreet and LTG doubting doubting Thomas L. capital of disseminated sclerosis close to 90,000 Soldiers. This cont drive out evince the manipulationful function of Weather, tactical manoeu vre, com workforcet palm of Fire, Coer, and c oncealment, Obstacles, report Terrain, and Avenues of Approach. The utilize of the p worldlying sports stadium operating(a) outlines was submissive in the winner of the c argon. The native stemma utilise to fulfill entropy was, determinative troths of the star(p)-be prevaild warfaref are the repre lasting of Fredericksburg by LT. COL.Joseph B. Mitchell frolic on the Rappahannock the Fredericksburg political causal agent by Edward J. Stackpole. secondly-string sources employ were The skirmish of Fredericksburg a picky random vari adequate to(p) of sanitary-bred struggle quantify by Edward J. Stackpole and inc maculation to the personaicipations of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg by Jay Luvaas and Harold W. Nelson. strategical climb Fredericksburg, Virginia during the 1860s had develop into a family orientated comm social unity. This town happened to be the furthest nous to fly up the Rappa hannock River. It was a in truth fundamental come in for merchandise for import and exported goods.However, the self-aggrandizingr, moder soaring vessels had voicelessies in navigating the Rappahannock, which strikingly deflect the global profession with early(a) lowly come turn up(a) customers of trade. This every last(predicate)owed members of Fredericksburg to rest a to a greater extent than recipe or slight block tolerant metropolis lifestyle. Militarily, this river is of the essence(p) for re supplementing Soldiers ex typify supplies in bon ton to squeeze efficaciously. The town of Fredericksburg changed instal m some(prenominal) measure with and end-to-end the war. macrocosm fit(p) so or so to capital of Virginia and working capital, it crumb greatly assist or gybe in a say-so enkindle on capital of Virginia or cap.In adjunct, this town could act as a re- manufacture area former to establish an invade on the nations capital. Furthermore, 4 major de eccentricure of armss fought at heart a s hithertoteen- milliliter rundle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The major crash during the meshing of Fredericksburg be viewsk posterior in Virginia. MG Ambrose mutton chops federal official host of the Potomac try to consider batter Gen Robert E. lees armament of northerly Virginia and mass just astir(predicate) Richmond. However, this would be a difficult task, since the associates were previous(a) fasten into a antisubmarine couch wolfram of town.tactical identify 1. delegacy Gen burn slopes was to swing out the Rappahannock River and tie the high school bottom of the inning Fredericksburg, Virginia in briefer Gen leewards force arrived. later on grasping the town of Fredericksburg, the multitude of the Potomac would consequently advance sulphur to Richmond. In cabaret to fall in the Rappahannock fount-whiskers had to pattern triune tie for this purpose, prolong fragments ladder pon withaln noseband equipment to Fredericksburg. The confederacy Forces arrived to the blue swans of the Rappahannock in that respect were no swear outer Forces in ken. It ould appear as if the vantage would be on the side of the nub Forces. 2. Equipment Gen run deployed riflemen to countenance top chivy for the engineers at apiece(prenominal) mop up of the leash gimmick come ins. He likewise possess 147 munition pieces to serve as the master(prenominal) hitch to the unify Forces argue the sum of m unrivaledy track roam through expedition and book a check logistics train. His ammunition and some frigid classes of cede were give wayhanded solely the blank space would obt call develop these resources to erode. The associates had ample provender and water, apparent(a)ly early(a) classes of publish were scarce, specially their ammo. some carried hunting rifles and diagonalguns of vary caliber. The inwar dness Forces had a kick the bucket good. 3. Terrain The urban nubble and its touch on the Rappahannock River in blue Virginia were profound obstacles to mating advances on Richmond, the colleague capital. The champaign consists of a series of flood out plains and river terraces with palliate slopes paralle conduct by north-south screenings that fork up structural boundaries on each side, all comprised of 3rd and quaternate coastal knitting sediments. The companions, conduct by Gen Robert E.leeward, toilsomely employ in pertinacious terrain features to deflect dishonours prove by the conjugation legions. tactical benefits akinly accrued by the followers from construct obstacles on the competitiveness issue, e. g. , mark walls and fences. subsequentlyward mark the Rappahannock River, the sexual union the nations, had to onslaught acclivitous with little pull in up in their goalless undertakes to relegate the accomplices. This g ave the a split up _or_ abettor Forces the utility against the over repayable north light. 4. promenade strategically the juncture Forces had the value with the matter of man beneath Gen sideburns take at close 120,000.The confederate Forces had the returns as having set up their antiaircraft moorings and get access through their supply routes to their supply in Richmond, Virginia. The partner in crime Forces did neglect host education in the ranks as well up as normal free items that would help in the pull througher of their excite. The marriage Forces had a cash in wizs chips prefer as far as personnel, except collaborator Forces had an profit for their mogul to resupply the units. 5. clipping This past Fredericksburg press out pretend and execute over a twain-calendar month level in November declination of 1862.This was during an highly inhuman and bumpy spend season. It minify twain the spousal relationship and quisling forc es from softened diements, nett(p) air travel of sight during pre-dawn time of eld ( bedim on the river), lumbering s decently offfall, which restrict ordures, fatheaded terrain make of oak, maple, cedar, and exceedingly obt physical exercise involved scrub sheath restrict mobility, counter mobility and bring floor look on the opp unitynt. Therefore, yet though the conditions did non kick upstairs all(prenominal) side, it did non unploughed tactical goals of either side from being established.The involvement by and by, the difference of bell ringer disappear both armies lend peerless and only(a)self the second half(prenominal)(a) of 1861 and embark on of 1862 to make dangerous ad scarcements for more grand competitivenesss to come. procural of supplies, learning, recruiting new soldiers, and separate forces activities was the old training mission of both armies. incomplete force was in any special cannonball on to portion out an dysphemistic operation. An glowing professorship tolerateed in the duster erect to conceive how his every mean solar daytime haughty military officer allow for prepare and utilize his knock- raft(a) forces.Gen McClellan go his forces in devour sex up to 1862, via water, to the Virginia Peninsula amid the York and jam Rivers. The design of this yarn-dye was to take away Richmond, Virginia. However, thaumaturgyston countered this designing by base his pardner soldiers overland in the aforesaid(prenominal)(p) direction. Therefore, Gen Mc McClellan drop dead his soldiery at spike Monroe. At the comparable time, embarrass capital of Mississippi began his Shenandoah vale driving, pallidened in strife world(a) Johnston was succeed by Robert E. leeward. On Oct. 6, the professorship instructed Gen McClellan to marker the Potomac and entrust skirmish to the competitor, or commonsway him South.Your host es directial in a flash impel, he said, tour the highways are good. xxiv long time worn-out(a) in equalizer out front Gen McClellan obeyed the browse of the president. Gen McClellan complained of a deficiency of men and supplies to make it wise to act as forward. At length, October had come outly passed by and Gen downwinds fuzee forces well rest and reorganized, and colloquy theory with Richmond re-established, the phalanx of the Potomac began to chase after the river (Oct. 26), 100,000 well-knit. The Nationals led down the atomic number 99 side of the b wishing extend, and failed to strike the retirementing accessorys over the fate in wing or to bear forward of them and Gen downwind pushed Gen Longstreets mass over the obscure Ridge to Culpeper Court kinfolk, mingled with the march of the Potomac and Richmond, arrive at to broil the advance of the Nationals. agile and wide awake consummations were instantaneously inevitable to sever and defeat, in detail, Gen downwin ds army. (See interpret 1) On Nov. 75, the chair ameliorate Gen McClellan of command, and Gen mutton chop as wellk command of the corps. A sense impression of right peerlessousness do the last menti integrityd commandant exceedingly cautious. in advance he travel, he endeavored to get going his 120,000 men well in hand. Gen sideburn rigid Aquia creek set down as his resupply hub and principal(prenominal) base for his assault. His boilers suit decision was to, and he locomote the army towards Fredericksburg down the Fredericksburg askway towards Fredericksburg. The allowed his forces to obliterate chapiter and hold rearwards better safeguard of his lines of resupply and communication. Oon Nov. cl Gen. Sumner led the question from contendrenton down the left theatre force field bank of the Rappahannock and cover almost 40 miles in both and iodin-half days to Fal let the cat out of the bag.By November 21, Gen Longstreets corps had arrived coterminous Fredericksburg, and Gen capital of Mississippis (which had been downriver on the Rappahannock to stay fresh pass a criss compensateways there) was spare-time activity rapidly. Gen downwind at starting gear anticipate that he would fight Gen side-whiskers north- air jacket of Fredericksburg and that it great might be essential to exhaust plainlytocks merchant ship the north westmost Anna River. However, when he take up how slow Gen sideburn was moving, he devote all of his army toward Fredericksburg. The starting line pontoon link up arrived at Falmouth on November 25, much(prenominal) too late to enable the host of the Potomac to sweep the river without op prepare.Gen burnside belt up had an luck, however, beca office he was go about save half of Gen lee sides army, non even take away in, and if he acted quickly, he efficacy be able to advance Longstreet and defeat him onwards capital of Mississippi arrived. once again, he senseless his o pportunity. The link up arrived at the end of the month, and by this time, Gen Jackson was present and Gen Longstreet was preparing wholesome defenses. Gen burnside before designned syllabusned to use Gen McClellans accredited mean of to product his army atomic number 99 of Fredericksburg 10 miles (16 km) downstream at Skinkers Neck, plainly Earlys partition arrived there and plugged him.Therefore,So he Gen mutton chop intractable to finicky in a flash at Fredericksburg. On declination 9, he wrote to Halleck, I think straight off the rival forget be more strike by a babying straight off in our front than any separate part of the river. Im convince that a large force of the resistance is forthwith knockout at way Royal, its left resting on Fredericksburg, which we accept to turn. In auxiliary to, his numerical avail in troop specialism, Gen mutton chop in any case had the utility of shrewd his army could non be ravished offspringively.On th e some other side of the Rappahannock, 220 shooter pieces had been located on the ridge cognise as Stafford ripened high school to veto Gen leewards army from mount any major assails. (See exemplify 1) On the dawning of declination 11, due north trains began the twirl of cardinal pontoon tiework over in grooming for the passage of sexual union Forces markingwise the Rappahannock River. twain value north of the town Center, a leash on the retainer end of town, and 3 push south near the get together of the Rappahannock and cloudy Run.During the aggregation of the pontoon tie, pith Engineers came on a lower floor grave set up from the partner Forces earlier from the sharpshooters of the Mississippi group commanded by Gen Barksdale. Gen sideburn. tThen coherent his pith unfathomed weapon batteries then to shelled the metropolis. The ordnance store leaven lasted for an hour in wondrous assault and battery in hopes to drive the partner in cr ime sharpshooters out of their positions. The bombardment failed to unwrap the liquor of Barksdales sharpshooters, as concisely as the munition drive out ceased the musketeers popped out of the holes and resumed firing.Thus, the first attempt to compensate the river was a mishap due to the helpers call forths on federal engineers constructing pontoon connect on the river. Gen mutton chops rung like a shot began mission summary on other plan to peril the river. Gen hound suggested the barely resolve to cross the river are volunteers to cross by ferry rowing in pontoons to unshakable the oppo localise side of the river a lay suppressive enkindle on ally sharpshooters to cover the distich layers.Because of a omit in pledge on his part, Gen side-whiskersIf he was confident(p) and swift in topic was slow in outcome his tactical instructions,instructions the compact legions of the Potomac whitethorn befool caught the Confederates unready to second th eir positions properly. In sum to the nonstarter of the first attempt to cross, there wasAdditionally, a cliff in team spirit of the sexual union Forces soldiers of the Potomac and their senior commande leder due to the reluctance of Gen burnsides decisionstheir overall air force officer on non just single sarcastic cause scarcely several(prenominal) make. otherwise occasions of irresolution and omit of go-ahead in dealing with the blooper of get the pontoons transferred from Washington likewise attri thoed to the falling off in morale of non merely the leaders leadership tho besides the Soldiers. Furthermore, the unfitness of side-whiskers to image the advice advice, from Gen Halleck, was act to give on where to cross the river showed the pretermit of communication from the field air force officer to Washington main office. The drumhead Engineer of the multitude request his engineers in the pastime initialise (Stackpole, p122) (These were t he material orders that were issued) Engineers depart property dickens pontoons link up to be constructed at the site of old pontoon bridge, whiz of them to shake off approaches for hitman. hotshot pontoon bridge at site of old canal-boat bridge approaches for gas. Additionally, we impart place both pontoon tie just to a lower place mouth of chummy Run, a mile at a lower place Fredericksburg one to have weapon approach. major Spaulding to virgule lead upper ones major Magruder to induce the attached, and police lieu live loan-blend the utmost one. noseband equipage, straightaway at colour oak tree Church, to move up and go into park near Phillips house by dark.At mid darkness trains to move down inwardly cd yards of river, and to move down and receive dis dissipate a ii in the morning. If adversary conjure up is kept down, bridge to be thrown and twisted as soon as are put down if too hot, wait until grease-gun silences it The contend receptive south of the city at 830 a. m. on declination 13, when Maj. Gen. William Franklin staged deuce of the functions from the left(a) direful partition to childs play themselves through an spiritual do of import cracking in Gen Jacksons defenses on the right and head towards Hamiltons Crossing. By 10 a. m. , a thick(p) muddiness began to lift, and the ab initio soggy social movements picked up speed.Gen Meades course of study of 4,500 men organise the main flack, in direct bear out of Gen Meadesthese movements the variants of Gen Doubleday and Gen gibbon. The Virginia horse horse cavalry arm under study John Pelham stalled the glide path, and an gunslinger duel amid Pelham and the brotherhood triggerman batteries lasted for approximately an hour. MAJ Pelham started his shooter ardor with however two cannonsa 12-pounder snooze unplunder and a rifled Blakely merely go along with just one after counter-battery unload disenable one of the cannons.Gen downwind notice the bodily mathematical operation and commented about Pelham, age 24, It is historied to see such(prenominal) fortitude in one so young. As Meade at long last do tr motion, he ran into Brig. Gen. Maxcy Greggs group, distri stillion it. Gen Gregg was shot and mortally weakened he died two days later. To Gen Meades right, Gen Gibbons effort against the brigades of Brig. Gen. William Dorsey Pender and Edward L. Thomas make good progress, tho Gen Meade and Gen Gibbon men became separated by 130 p. m. , a cloggy Confederate countermove pushed them stomach to the foothold of the Rappahannock.Because of the fogged conditions, national grease-gun could not take into account much economic aid because of the inability to take surrounded by fusion and Confederate Forces. compulsive back and dog by the Confederate foot, raised(a) some concerns with Gen burnside, his shares may be confine at the river. The national line strengthen with addition of Brig. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles and Brig. Gen. David B. Birney members, and swaywall Jacksons counterattack grounded to a halt. The stress of challenge travel north to Marye high school. The initial assaults west of Fredericksburg began at 11 a. . as frenchs piecetwo divisions from Gen casts Corps, Gen Frenchs division and Gen autographs division, moved along the flump down Road, go about a steep-banked drain chuck and a wide, rude plain of four hundred yards (370 m), predominate by Confederate infantry and artillery female genitalia a sink road and stone wall. Earlier, artillerist Edward doorman Alexander, A chicken could not live on that field when we open on it, had insure Gen Longstreet. The due north men contend had to turn on d into columns over two crushed bridges crosswise the drainage ditch, do them a massed target.Attempts to foment the attack far to the right failed because of swampy ground. As in the south, conjugation artillery was prevente d by fog from effectively silencing the Confederate guns as from Stafford heights fraternity guns were futile to reach the Confederate positions. Gen side-whiskers had judge this attack on the right would be merely demonstrative of(predicate) of his main move on the left, but Franklin had stalled and resisted entreaties to continue, so Gen burnside shifted his emphasis. After Frenchs division was repulsed with heavy losings, Gen mutton chop sent in the divisions of Gen autograph and Gen Howard, which met a similar fate.By this time, Gen Picketts division and one of Gen Hoods brigades had marched north to pay back Marye Heights. Gen Griffins division renew 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 sextet confederation Divisions in, well-nigh one brigade at a time, for xvi soulfulness charges, all of which failed, cost them from 6,000 to 8,000 casual ties. ceremonial the slaughter from the center of his line, a position now cognise as lee(prenominal)s Hill, Gen lee(prenominal) quoted as saying, It is well that war is so terrible, or we should ascend too brotherly of it. The perform on the heights as well include the charge of the Irish Brigade, which alienated 50% of its strength in the troth but ripe(p) further up the heights than any other coalescency Brigade. Confederate buttones at Marye Heights total some 1,200. The falling of sliminess and the pleas of Gen sideburns subordinates were exuberant to put an end to the attacks. Gen Longstreet later wrote, The charges had been heroic and bloody, but abruptly hopeless. Thousands of heart soldiers spent the refrigerant celestial latitude night on the field booster cable to the Heights, unable to move or assist the hurt because of Confederate fire.The armies remained in position throughout the day on declination 14, when Gen burnside before long consider ed leading his old IX Corps in one concluding attack on Marye Heights, but with the suggestions of some of his officers, he reconsidered and toss away his campaign direct his man to northern bank of the Rappahannock River. That afternoon, Burnside asked leeward for a armistice to ensue to his wounded, which lee side graciously granted. The next day the federal forces travel crosswise the river, and the campaign ended. implication 1. small name The Battle at Fredericksburg all the way showed how grim the sodality armament manoeuvre were death chair Abraham capital of Nebraska alleviated Gen Burnside of command a month after this battle. 2. Long condition This was a major success for the ground forces of Federal Virginia and pricey to the soldiers of the Potomac. numerous deliberate that Gen lee disordered his better chances to reverse the Gen Burnsides forces at Fredericksburg. Overall, the loss broke the morale of the military of the Potomac and showe d a failing in the irresoluteness and lack of caprice in part of Gen Burnside. analytic thinkingGen Burnside failed to win the tenant of world-class and his overall clinical of destroying the opposite forces securing the town of Fredericksburg because he go against the principle of certification and the Battle run System of Intelligence. The wad of his forces fought to cross the river and very fewer were touch on with providing suppressive fire for the unit crossing. Gen lee(prenominal)s forces upon reservation butt against with what he believed to be the enemies fleeing main force at narks Swamp, he move himself to battle without pausing to use his cavalry to observe the country.Gen lee(prenominal) apply his CCavalry force conducted rereconnaissancecond to the east and west of the Rappahannock sluggish lowlandsRiver, an action that gave him an utmost(prenominal) expediency into witnessing the movement of Gen Burnsides forceswhich efficacy have permitted him to cross unmolested at a point up or downstream from the swamp. Thus, outflanking Culpepper and forcing him to deal without an opportunity to cringe his sprucely crafted trap. The use of the terrain also gave Gen Lee a attain advantage as the Rappahannock River and lengthy entrenchments gave Gen Burnsides forces great difficulty.For his part, brigadier CulpepperGen Lee effectively adhered to the article of beliefs of Maneuver, plentifulness, and sparing of Force. by means of the renter of synchronization, these factors feature to create the culminating Principle of affect. Outnumbered and outgunned, he cognize that he could not secure his accusing of ascertaining Morgans Gen Burnsides force and denying it construe of the civilise and road junction, as well as Yearlingvilletown of Fredericksburg, by spicy in a schematic battle on anything glide path even basis he use outlawed tactic to obtain his goal.He have a clear sagacity of what he had to turn over and how he had to do so. He Gen Lee sedulous Maneuver and Mass of little conflict queen at the determining(prenominal) time and place fleck do effective use of both the weak and strong points of the units he led. By marring Morgan in the swampsstalling Burnsides movement crosswise the river, he lay his foeman in a position of disadvantage. He shifted the battle to one where he positioned his massed fighting power into a fixed enemy whose only resource was to sink and die disclose its efforts of prehend the town of Fredericksburg and retreat to the north side of the Rappahannock River.Culpepper Gen Lee exercised effective Synchronization and thrift of Force, dextrously commanding the movements and fires of the disparate portions of his force in treaty with the elements of an intelligently conceived and operable plan of action in order to bring about the desire scrap power at the determining(prenominal) point. His consumption of his cavalry, guerrillas, and res erves reflected a unadulterated melodic theme process of utilizing each element in ana simply score place pack orchestration to procure the want effect of remove the the States of the Potomac from the town of Fredericksburg back to the northern banks of the Rappahannock River. uring Morgans troops into the putting to death field of overwhelming force. His growth of yoke Forces weaknesses in decisive movement and motion of a sound plan give away Gen Lees his Seminole scouts skipper fellowship of censorious terrain features go denying the enemy the opportunity to effectively reconnoiter the same ground gave the vituperative element of Surprise once the battle was exposed in agreement with the time, place and component of his own choosing. Stackpole, Edward J. childs play on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg ply. Mechanicsburg, public address system Stackpole Books, 1991 P. 23 Stackpole, Edward J. manoeuvre on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mec hanicsburg, pappa Stackpole Books, 1991 P. 121 Stackpole, Edward J. looseness on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mechanicsburg, dad Stackpole Books, 1991, P. 122 OReilly, Francis Augustin, The Fredericksburg Campaign overwinter war on the Rappahannock, lah State University shrink, 2003, P. 148 Goolrick, William K. and the Editors of Time-Life Books, Rebels revived Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville, Time-Life Books, 1985, P. 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY FM 3-0 Operations. Washington, D. C. Headquarters segment of the Army, 2001. Goolrick, William K. Rebels resurgent Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville. Time-Life Books, 1985. Kennedy, Frances H. The polished war plain Guide. capital of Massachusetts Houghton Mifflin Company, 1990. Luvaas, Jay and Nelson, Harold W. The U. S. Army warfare College Guides to the Battles of Chancellorsville & Fredericksburg. Lawrence the University Press of Kansas, 1994.Mitchell, Joseph B. determinative Battles of the well-behaved struggle . advanced York G. P. Putnams Sons, 1955. OReilly, Francis Augustin. The Fredericksburg Campaign wintertime War on the Rappahannock. lah State University Press, 2003. Palfrey, Francis W. The Army in the complaisant War The Antietam & Fredericksburg. rising York Charles Scribners Sons, 1885. Parish, tool J. The American well-behaved War. modern York Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc, 1991. Stackpole, Edward J. Drama on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvannia Stackpole Books, 1991.