The battle of fredericksburg, fought december, 1862, was a major confederate victory and one of the most lopsided defeats of the civil war for union forces. The battle of fredericksburg begins in and around fredericksburg, virginia, between general robert e. Shop for battle of fredericksburg art from the worlds greatest living artists. Battle of fredericksburg simple english wikipedia, the. What was the primary importance of the battle of fredericksburg.
In the battle, which had the largest concentration of soldiers, more than 170. Lees army of northern virginia repulses a series of attacks by general ambrose burnsides army of the potomac at. The battle of fredericksburg was fought december 1115, 1862, in and around fredericksburg, virginia, in the eastern theater of the american civil war. Federals cross, kelly, ford against slight opposition before splitting their columns. The union suicide mission at the battle of fredericksburg duration. It was one of the largest battles of the civil war in terms of troops involved. Lees confederate army of northern virginia and the northern army of potomac, commanded by major gen. April 1863 union forces in the east begin a new campaign in virginia to flank lees army of northern virginia at fredericksburg. Lee spoke these words as he observed his troops crushing the union army at the battle.
On the night of november 7, 1862, the precise, plodding and irrefutably vain, george mcclellan, was relieved as commander of the u. The battle of fredericksburg, fought december, 1862, was a major confederate victory and one of the most lopsided defeats of the civil war for. The futile assaults by federal soldiers against the confederate defensive positions on maryes heights and behind the infamous stone wall along the sunken road solidified ambrose burnsides reputation as an inept army commander and reinforced. The fredericksburg battlefield visitors center is on maryes heights scene of the famous fight at the stone wall. Lee, was part of the union armys futile frontal attacks on december against. Following the missed opportunities at the battle of antietam, president abraham lincoln relieved major general george b. Union given credit for victory at antietam even though it was really a tie mcclellan fired for the second and final time people up north growing anxious over how long the war is photographs of antietam battlefield begin to change peoples views of war. After defeating confederates at the battles of antietam, perryville. Entries are listed below by dateofoccurrence ascending firsttolast. A political, social, and military history, heidler, david s. It involved the first major opposed river crossing in the history of the united states. Best books on the civil war battle of fredericksburg. Fredericksburg campaign novemberdecember 1862 battles in campaign. Mcclellans unwillingness to pursue general robert e.
Civil war maps, available online, spotsylvania county. Touring the battle of fredericksburg the inheritage almanack. The battle of fredericksburg was fought december, 1862, during the american civil war 18611865 and saw union forces suffer a bloody defeat. Dust jacket notes inscribed by sidney robertson cowell. On december 11, 1862, the union army of the potomac, after bombarding the town with artillery fire, crossed the rappahannock river and landed at. Fredericksburg, located on the rappahannock river at the fall line, was a key obstacle to union advances on richmond, the confederate capital. The battle of fredericksburg was one of the largest and deadliest battles of the civil war. The battle of fredericksburg december 11, 1862 december 15, 1862 was a major battle in the american civil war fought at fredericksburg, virginia.
The american civil wars first major battle manassas bull run. Other confederate commanders included stonewall jackson, james longstreet. Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective. Rable paints a fascinating picture of life in the army, from the dreary days of waiting in camp to the horrors of battle to the aftermath of a bloodbath. General burnside was under pressure from president abraham lincoln in washington to.
Recorded by sidney robertson cowell in san jose, california on august 16, 1939. Battle of fredericksburg timeline timetoast timelines. The union army did not start its attack for several weeks after arriving across the river from the town. Battle of fredericksburg timeline on november 14th of 1862 the union army arrived in falmouth across the rappahannock river from the confederates occupied town of fredericksburg. List of books and articles about battle of fredericksburg. The environs of fredericksburg, virginia, were a major theatre of operations in the american civil war 18611865 beginning with the battle of fredericksburg in december 1862. Civil war 1861 1865 fredericksburg played a major role in the civil war, serving as the grounds for what was then the largest battle in america and the first urban battle since the revolutionary war. It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it. This illustration from harpers weekly from january 3, 1865. Mcclellan of his command of the federal army of the potomac, replacing him with major general ambrose burnside, one of the corps commanders. Battle of fredericksburg with maps, photos, and historical. Map of the main battlefields, routes, camps and head qrs.
The program is administered by the american battlefield protection program, an arm of the national park service. Fredericksburg confederate order of battle wikipedia. Why did the union lose the battle of fredericksburg. Overview of fredericksburg by phd students from stanford, harvard, and berkeley fredericksburg dec, 1862 in the civil war. Lees army of northern virginia could block his route. Timeline leading to the war antebellum era bleeding kansas border states compromise of 1850 john. Choose your favorite battle of fredericksburg designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more. Our battle of fredericksburg page includes history articles, battle maps, expert videos, photos, and recommended web links for this important 1862 civil war battle in virginia. The horizon did blaze briefly orange through the sulphurous haze as they approached maryes heights, but in the twilight southern gunners could still see well enough to rake the oncoming. Check out our animated battle map for fredericksburg.
The city and its environs along the rappahannock river in northcentral virginia were significant obstacles to union advances on richmond, the confederate capital. Confederate sniper fire delays completion of federal pontoon bridges. Timeline for the battle of fredericksburg dec 11, am. Federal v, xi and xii corps concentrate, preparing to move upriver.
The battle of fredericksburg was a major civil war battle fought at fredericksburg, virginia, in december 1862. While i typically create best civil war books on posts for the 150 th anniversary of major and sometimes not so major battles, i usually come up with brand new things to say about them. But it is the towns more infamous role that sets the mood. The battle of fredericksburg on december, 1862, involved nearly 200,000 combatants and is remembered as one of the most significant confederate victories. The battle of fredericksburg among the battles of the civil war, names which are most commonly known are those such as antietam. The combat, between the union army of the potomac commanded by maj. Civil war timeline gettysburg national military park u. Battle of fredericksburg timeline december th 15th, 1862 the battle of fredericksburg saw a much larger union force routed by general lees army of northern virginia. The battle of fredericksburg was a crushing defeat for the union, whose soldiers fought courageously and well but fell victim to mismanagement by their generals, including confused orders from. That stone wall remains and is situated behind the visitors center, the stone wall partially rebuilt since the battle. The battle saw almost 200,000 men engagedmore than any other civil war battle.
The battle of fredericksburg was fought in december of 1862, a year that started for the federals with the optimism of mcclellans peninsula campaign but saw disaster after disaster until the stalemate of the battle of antietam, the bloodiest single day in american history. Timeline for the battle of fredericksburg american civil war. The innis house is also there a small home, the inside riddled with bullet holes, still. Burnside and the confederate army of northern virginia under general robert e. The battle of fredericksburg and its many interpretations. Forms part of a group of field materials documenting george vinton graham performing angloamerican songs on october 12. In this case ill mostly be letting my prior thoughts do my talking for me since i managed to cover most of these in some. Timeline of the battle of fredericksburg fought during the american civil war. The union army encampment near falmouth afforded the men a clear view of fredericksburg and confederate troop preparations while they waited for the. Federal i and vi corps cross the river and demonstrate against lees fredericksburg defenses april 27. Even the officers advanced reluctantly, at least one of them willing the sun to sink and end the battle. On november 17, burnside reached stafford heights on the river opposite fredericksburg.
The old stone wall in the battle field of fredericksburg, virginia where 3000 confederate soldiers waited for the yankees to charge. Lees army of northern virginia after the battle of antietam, president abraham lincoln relieved him on november 5, 1862, and replaced him with. There are a total of 3 battle of fredericksburg timeline december th 15th, 1862 events in the database. The following confederate states army units and commanders fought in the battle of fredericksburg of the american civil war. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the campaign.
Battle of fredericksburg on december, 1862, confederate general robert e. A german officer on stuarts staff had the day previous, while riding along the position, remarked its existence, and suggested the propriety of razing it. Potomac crossing the rappahannock in the morning of dec. T he one hundred and fiftythird anniversary of the battle of fredericksburg, fought from december 1115, 1862, offers an important reminder not only of the civil wars enormous costs but that the wars major accomplishments preservation of the union and the emancipation of the slaves were by no means inevitable. Fredericksburg battlefield visitor center visitor center, virginia, united states campaigns. The second battle of fredericksburg, also known as the second battle of maryes heights, took place on may 3, 1863, in fredericksburg, virginia, as part of the chancellorsville campaign of. Union pickets guarding the river cut down chathams trees and piled the wood in the downstairs fireplaces to keep warm. The union troops, despite outnumbering the confederates, suffered a crushing defeat. Fredericksburg december 1862 civil war 150 pinhole project.
Burnside took command of the army of the potomac and made immediate plans to move toward richmond, hoping to quickly cross the rappahannock river before robert e. Federal artillery attempts to drive away confederate sharpshooters but without success. Effective use of terrain in the american civil war. It served as the catalyst for lincoln to issue the preliminary emancipation proclamation.
Lees army of northern virginia repulses a series of attacks by general. Graham says he added a little horror to this where hed forgotten the text. As the trees disappeared, they tore paneling from the buildings interior for fuel and scrawled their names on. The battle of fredericksburg is known as the most disastrous defeat the federal army of the potomac experienced in the american civil war. Leading corps of the union army reaches germanna ford, 18 miles west of fredericksburg. Civil war 18611865 fredericksburg, va official website. The battle of fredericksburg was fought december 1115, 1862, in and around fredericksburg. Terrain and the battle of fredericksburg, december, 1862. Lees army of northern virginia, fredericksburg was one of the army of the potomacs worst defeats. Sumner, and joseph hooker to the north side of the rappahannock river opposite fredericksburg.
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