Battle of Frediericksburg Analysis

The consider of Fredericksburg David P. W sort outen, CPT, MS categorise 09-002 Small Group 6, MAJ Sims 03 April 2009 Abstract In early December 1862, the national the States of the Potomac had massed on the Yankee bank of the Rappahannock River as it was in send to lessen the abetter _or_ abettor capital of capital of Virginia, Virginia. The junction as soundly as position themselves to chuck start off the Confederate Armys of import supply alley for the import and export of goods in the south. The Confederate Army of federal Virginia confronted the married couple Armys attempted strike on the south inc line of business of the Rappahannock by occupying the high ground e very come to the forelooking the riverside townspeople of Fredericksburg.Caught amid the two opposing armies, Fredericksburg was destined to the struggleground for a bloody approach of major scrambles amid the pairing and Confederate armies in the idle field of the south. The encounter o f Fredericksburg Introduction The bout of Fredericksburg occurred on 11 December 1862 on the banks of the Rappahannock River near the small town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Pitting three air divisions of the Union Forces commanded by MG Edwin V. Sumner, MG Joseph Hooker, and MG William B.Franklin, or so 120,000 S h whizst-to-goodnessishiers against the two Confederate Forces corps of blue Virginia commanded by LTG James Longstreet and LTG doubting Thomas L. Jackson approximately 90,000 Soldiers. This affair emphasized the effective commit of Weather, Maneuver, Observation Fields of Fire, Cover, and concealment, Obstacles, Key Terrain, and Avenues of Approach. The use of the Battlefield Operating Systems was instrumental in the success of the mission. The primary witnesser used to gather information was, Decisive Battles of the gracious War the Battle of Fredericksburg by LT. COL.Joseph B. Mitchell fun on the Rappahannock the Fredericksburg Campaign by Edward J. Stackpole. Secondary sources used were The Battle of Fredericksburg a Special Edition of Civil War Times by Edward J. Stackpole and Guide to the Battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg by Jay Luvaas and Harold W. Nelson. Strategic Setting Fredericksburg, Virginia during the 1860s had developed into a family point community. This town happened to be the farthest point to navigate up the Rappahannock River. It was a very important site for trading for imported and exported goods.However, the larger, newer sailing vessels had difficulties in navigating the Rappahannock, which greatly hinder the international trade with other less new customers of trade. This allowed members of Fredericksburg to live a more normal or less obstruct big metropolis lifestyle. Militarily, this river is important for resupplying Soldiers decisive supplies in order to get by effectively. The town of Fredericksburg changed hands many times throughout the war. Being set(p) so closely to Richmond and Washington, it can greatly assist or resist in a potential flack catcher on Richmond or Washington.In admission, this town could act as a present area prior to launching an attack on the nations capital. Furthermore, four major battles fought within a s take downteen-mile radius of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The major encounter during the Battle of Fredericksburg took place in Virginia. MG Ambrose side-whiskerss Federal Army of the Potomac tried to countermine Gen Robert E. leewards Army of Northern Virginia and capture Richmond. However, this would be a difficult task, since the Confederates were deeply entrenched into a defensive position west of town.Tactical Situation 1. Mission Gen side-whiskerss was to elude the Rappahannock River and seize the heights behind Fredericksburg, Virginia before Gen lee sides array arrived. After seizing the town of Fredericksburg, the Army of the Potomac would so advance south to Richmond. In order to bungle the Rappahannock burnside had to public figure multiple twain over for this purpose, support grammatical constituents sent pontoon bridge equipment to Fredericksburg. The Union Forces arrived to the couplingern banks of the Rappahannock in that location were no Confederate Forces in sight. It ould turn overm as if the improvement would be on the side of the Union Forces. 2. Equipment Gen Hunt deployed riflemen to provide lotion fire for the engineers at each end of the three construction points. He also possessed 147 heavy weapon pieces to serve as the principal(prenominal) impedimenta to the Confederate Forces opposing the Union effort and accommodate a pass logistics train. His ammo and other classes of supply were plentiful except the distance would behind cause these resources to erode. The Confederates had sufficient food and water, but other classes of supply were scarce, peculiarly their ammo.Many carried hunting rifles and cam strokeguns of varying caliber. The Union Forces had a clear returns. 3 . Terrain The city and its environs on the Rappahannock River in north-central Virginia were significant obstacles to Union advances on Richmond, the Confederate capital. The battlefield consists of a series of flood plains and river terraces with gentle slopes paralleled by north-south ridges that provide structural boundaries on either side, all comprised of Tertiary and quaternary Coastal Plain sediments. The Confederates, led by Gen Robert E.Lee, effectively used essential terrain features to impede attacks made by the Union army. Tactical benefits also accrue by the Confederates from manufactured obstacles on the battlefield, e. g. , stone walls and fences. After interbreedway the Rappahannock River, the Union Army, had to attack uphill with little cover in their unsuccessful attempts to loose the Confederates. This gave the Confederate Forces the vantage against the Union strike. 4. Troops Strategically the Union Forces had the advantage with the number of troops nether Gen Burnsides command at nearly 120,000.The Confederate Forces had the advantage as having set up their defensive positions and direct entrance fee through their supply routes to their headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate Forces did lack army training in the ranks as well as standard eff items that would help in the success of their sweat. The Union Forces had a clear advantage as far as personnel, but Confederate Forces had an advantage for their tycoon to resupply the units. 5. Time This historic Fredericksburg Campaign planned and executed over a two-month period in November December of 1862.This was during an extremely cold and harsh spend season. It reduced both(prenominal) the Union and Confederate forces from quiet playactments, clear line of sight during pre-dawn arcminutes ( mist on the river), heavy s at one timefall, which restricted movements, thick terrain made of oak, maple, cedar, and super thick entangled brush cause limited mobility, count er mobility and reduced eyes on the foeman. Therefore, even though the weather did non esteem either side, it did not kept tactical goals of either side from beingness established.The Battle After, the Battle of Bull Run both armies devoted the reciprocal ohm half of 1861 and part of 1862 to describe serious adjustments for more important battles to come. procurance of supplies, training, recruiting new soldiers, and other military activities was the primary training mission of both armies. Neither force was in any particular hurry to carriage an offensive operation. An impatient chairperson waited in the black-and-blue House to see how his popular commanding officer go forth retrain and utilize his knock-down(a) forces.Gen McClellan moved his forces in March 1862, via water, to the Virginia Peninsula between the York and James Rivers. The intent of this move was to take Richmond, Virginia. However, Johnston countered this plan by moving his Confederate soldiers overland in the same direction. Therefore, Gen Mc McClellan staged his troops at Fort Monroe. At the same time, Stonewall Jackson began his Shenandoah Valley Campaign, wounded in battle General Johnston was succeed by Robert E. Lee. On Oct. 6, the President instructed Gen McClellan to soft touch the Potomac and bump battle to the antagonist, or drive him South.Your army must now move, he said, piece the roads are good. Twenty-four days spent in correspondence before Gen McClellan obeyed the order of the president. Gen McClellan complained of a lack of men and supplies to make it prudent to move forward. At length, October had nearly passed by and Gen Lees army thoroughly rested and reorganized, and communications with Richmond re-established, the Army of the Potomac began to cross the river (Oct. 26), 100,000 strong. The Nationals led down the east side of the BlueRidge, but failed to strike the retreating Confederates over the mountain in flank or to get forth of them and Gen Lee pus hed Gen Longstreets troops over the Blue Ridge to Culpeper Courthouse, between the Army of the Potomac and Richmond, ready to dispute the advance of the Nationals. Quick and energetic movements were now necessary to sever and defeat, in detail, Gen Lees army. (See Map 1) On Nov. 75, the President relieved Gen McClellan of command, and Gen Burnside took command of the Corps. A sense of accountability made the latter commander exceedingly cautious.Before he moved, he endeavored to get his 120,000 men well in hand. Gen Burnside determined Aquia brook Landing as his resupply hub and main base for his assault. His overall decision was to, and he moved the army towards Fredericksburg down the Fredericksburg Route towards Fredericksburg. The allowed his forces to cover Washington and curb better protection of his lines of resupply and communication. Oon Nov. 150 Gen. Sumner led the movement from Warrenton down the leftfield bank of the Rappahannock and covered almost 40 miles in two an d half days to Falmouth.By November 21, Gen Longstreets Corps had arrived near Fredericksburg, and Gen Jacksons (which had been downstream along the Rappahannock to frustrate crossings there) was following rapidly. Gen Lee at first pass judgment that he would fight Gen Burnside northwest of Fredericksburg and that it might be necessary to drop arse behind the North Anna River. However, when he saw how slowly Gen Burnside was moving, he directed all of his army toward Fredericksburg. The first pontoon bridges arrived at Falmouth on November 25, such(prenominal) too late to enable the Army of the Potomac to cross the river without opposition.Gen Burnside still had an opportunity, however, because he was facing only half of Gen Lees army, not besides dug in, and if he acted quickly, he might be able to attack Longstreet and defeat him before Jackson arrived. Once again, he squandered his opportunity. The bridges arrived at the end of the month, and by this time, Gen Jackson was p resent and Gen Longstreet was preparing strong defenses. Gen Burnside originally plannedplanned to use Gen McClellans original plan of to crossing his army east of Fredericksburg 10 miles (16 km) downstream at Skinkers Neck, but Earlys division arrived there and blocked him.Therefore,So he Gen Burnside decided to cross directly at Fredericksburg. On December 9, he wrote to Halleck, I think now the adversary will be more surprised by a crossing immediately in our front than any other part of the river. Im convince that a large force of the enemy is now concentrated at Port Royal, its left resting on Fredericksburg, which we hope to turn. In supplement to, his numerical advantage in troop strength, Gen Burnside also had the advantage of designed his army could not be attacked effectively.On the other side of the Rappahannock, 220 grease-gun pieces had been located on the ridge known as Stafford Heights to encumber Gen Lees army from mounting any major counterattacks. (See Map 1) On the morning of December 11, Union railroad engineers began the construction of sixsome pontoon bridges in dressing for the passage of Union Forces across the Rappahannock River. Two placed north of the town Center, a third on the southern end of town, and three gain ground south near the confluence of the Rappahannock and Deep Run.During the assembly of the pontoon bridges, Union Engineers came under punishing fire from the Confederate Forces primarily from the sharpshooters of the Mississippi Brigade commanded by Gen Barksdale. Gen Burnside. tThen ordered his Union artillery batteries then to shelled the city. The artillery fire lasted for an hour in terrific bombardment in hopes to drive the Confederate sharpshooters out of their positions. The bombardment failed to dampen the spirits of Barksdales sharpshooters, as soon as the artillery fire ceased the musketeers popped out of the holes and resumed firing.Thus, the first attempt to cross the river was a failure due t o the Confederates fires on federal engineers constructing pontoon bridges on the river. Gen Burnsides stave immediately began mission analysis on another plan to cross the river. Gen Hunt suggested the only solution to cross the river are volunteers to cross by ferry rowing in pontoons to secure the opposite side of the river a lay suppressive fire on Confederate sharpshooters to cover the bridge layers.Because of a lack in confidence on his part, Gen BurnsideIf he was self-confident and swift in issuing was slow in issuing his tactical instructions,instructions the Union Army of the Potomac may oblige caught the Confederates unready to defend their positions properly. In addition to the failure of the first attempt to cross, there wasAdditionally, a decrease in team spirit of the Union ForcesArmy of the Potomac and their senior commandeleadershipr due to the hesitation of Gen Burnsides decisionstheir overall commander on not just one critical occasion but several occasions.Oth er occasions of indecisiveness and lack of initiative in dealing with the blunder of getting the pontoons transferred from Washington also attributed to the decrease in morale of not only the Leadership leadership but also the Soldiers. Furthermore, the inability of Burnside to consider the advice advice, from Gen Halleck, was trying to give on where to cross the river showed the lack of communication from the field commander to Washington Headquarters. The Chief Engineer of the Army ordered his engineers in the following format (Stackpole, p122) (These were the actual orders that were issued) Engineers will place two pontoons bridges to be constructed at the site of old pontoon bridge, one of them to have approaches for artillery. One pontoon bridge at site of old canal-boat bridge approaches for artillery. Additionally, we will place two pontoon bridges just beneath mouth of Deep Run, a mile below Fredericksburg one to have artillery approach. major Spaulding to nurse three upp er ones major Magruder to throw the next, and Lieutenant Cross the lowest one. Bridge equipage, now at White Oak Church, to move up and go into park near Phillips house by dark.At midnight trains to move down within four hundred yards of river, and to move down and begin unloading a two in the morning. If enemy fire is kept down, bridges to be thrown as soon as are unloaded if too hot, wait until artillery silences it The battle opened south of the city at 830 a. m. on December 13, when Maj. Gen. William Franklin ordered two of the divisions from the Left Grand form to maneuver themselves through an unseen gap in Gen Jacksons defenses on the right and head towards Hamiltons Crossing. By 10 a. m. , a thick fog began to lift, and the initially sluggish movements picked up speed.Gen Meades division of 4,500 men formed the main attack, in direct support of Gen Meadesthese movements the divisions of Gen Doubleday and Gen Gibbon. The Virginia Horse Artillery under Major John Pelham stall ed the attack, and an artillery duel between Pelham and the Union artillery batteries lasted for approximately an hour. MAJ Pelham started his artillery attack with only two cannonsa 12-pounder Napoleon smoothbore and a rifled Blakelybut continued with only one by and by counter-battery fire disabled one of the cannons.Gen Lee observed the work on and commented intimately Pelham, age 24, It is glorious to see such courage in one so young. As Meade terminally made traction, he ran into Brig. Gen. Maxcy Greggs brigade, scattering it. Gen Gregg was shot and mortally wounded he died two days later. To Gen Meades right, Gen Gibbons attack against the brigades of Brig. Gen. William Dorsey Pender and Edward L. Thomas made good progress, but Gen Meade and Gen Gibbon men became separated by 130 p. m. , a heavy Confederate counterattack pushed them cover song to the beachhead of the Rappahannock.Because of the foggy conditions, Federal artillery could not provide much assistance because of the inability to discern between Union and Confederate Forces. drive back and chased by the Confederate infantry, raised some concerns with Gen Burnside, his divisions may be trapped at the river. The Federal line strengthened with addition of Brig. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles and Brig. Gen. David B. Birney divisions, and Stonewall Jacksons counterattack grounded to a halt. The focus of action moved north to Marye Heights. The initial assaults west of Fredericksburg began at 11 a. . as Frenchs divisiontwo divisions from Gen Couchs Corps, Gen Frenchs division and Gen Hancocks division, moved along the Plank Road, facing a steep-banked drainage ditch and a wide, open plain of 400 yards (370 m), dominated by Confederate infantry and artillery behind a sunken road and stone wall. Earlier, artillerist Edward Porter Alexander, A chicken could not live on that field when we open on it, had assured Gen Longstreet. The Union men attacking had to file d into columns over two small bridges acr oss the drainage ditch, making them a massed target.Attempts to shift the attack farther to the right failed because of swampy ground. As in the south, Union artillery was prevented by fog from effectively silencing the Confederate guns as from Stafford Heights Union guns were unable to reach the Confederate positions. Gen Burnside had anticipated this attack on the right would be merely supportive of his main effort 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 losses, Gen Burnside sent in the divisions of Gen Hancock and Gen Howard, which met a standardized fate.By this time, Gen Picketts division and one of Gen Hoods brigades had marched north to reinforce 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 six Union Divisions in, virtually one brigade at a time, for 16 individual charges, all of which failed, costing them from 6,000 to 8,000 casualties. Watching the carnage from the center of his line, a position now known as Lees Hill, Gen Lee quoted as saying, It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it. The action on the heights also included the charge of the Irish Brigade, which baffled 50% of its strength in the battle but advanced advance up the heights than any other Union Brigade. Confederate losses at Marye Heights totaled around 1,200. The falling of darkness and the pleas of Gen Burnsides subordinates were sufficient to put an end to the attacks. Gen Longstreet later wrote, The charges had been desperate and bloody, but utterly hopeless. Thousands of Union soldiers spent the cold December night on the fields ahead(p) to the Heights, unable to move or assist the wounded because of Confederate fire.The armies remained in position throughout the day on D ecember 14, when Gen Burnside presently considered leading his old IX Corps in one final attack on Marye Heights, but with the suggestions of many of his officers, he reconsidered and abandoned his campaign sending his troops to northern bank of the Rappahannock River. That afternoon, Burnside asked Lee for a truce to attend to his wounded, which Lee graciously granted. The next day the Federal forces retreated across the river, and the campaign ended. SIGNIFICANCE 1.Short Term The Battle at Fredericksburg clearly showed how disastrous the Union Army Tactics were President Abraham Lincoln relieved Gen Burnside of command a month after this battle. 2. Long Term This was a major victory for the Army of Northern Virginia and costly to the Army of the Potomac. Many believe that Gen Lee lost his outflank chances to destroy the Gen Burnsides forces at Fredericksburg. Overall, the loss broke the morale of the Army of the Potomac and showed a weakness in the indecisiveness and lack of va gary in part of Gen Burnside. ANALYSISGen Burnside failed to achieve the tenant of green light and his overall objective of destroying the enemy forces securing the town of Fredericksburg because he violated the normal of Security and the Battle Operating System of Intelligence. The bulk of his forces fought to cross the river and very few were concerned with providing suppressive fire for the unit crossing. Gen Lees forces upon making contact with what he believed to be the enemies fleeing main force at Devils Swamp, he committed himself to battle without pausing to use his buck to reconnoiter the country.Gen Lee used his CCavalry Troops conducted rereconnaissancecond to the east and west of the Rappahannock turbid lowlandsRiver, an action that gave him an extreme advantage into witnessing the movement of Gen Burnsides forceswhich might have permitted him to cross unmolested at a point up or downstream from the swamp. Thus, outflanking Culpepper and forcing him to withdraw with out an opportunity to spring his cleverly crafted trap. The use of the terrain also gave Gen Lee a clear advantage as the Rappahannock River and extended entrenchments gave Gen Burnsides forces great difficulty.For his part, Brigadier CulpepperGen Lee effectively adhered to the Principles of Maneuver, Mass, and thrift of Force. Through the renter of Synchronization, these factors combined to create the culminating Principle of Surprise. Outnumbered and outgunned, he realized that he could not achieve his objective of ascertaining Morgans Gen Burnsides force and denying it manoeuver of the rail and road junction, as well as Yearlingvilletown of Fredericksburg, by agreeable in a conventional battle on anything approaching even terms he used unconventional tactics to achieve his goal.He possessed a clear understanding of what he had to accomplish and how he had to do so. He Gen Lee employed Maneuver and Mass of critical combat power at the decisive time and place while making effect ive 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 placed his enemy in a position of disadvantage. He shifted the battle to one where he positioned his massed combat power into a fixed enemy whose only option was to sink and die discontinue its efforts of seizing the town of Fredericksburg and retreat to the north side of the Rappahannock River.Culpepper Gen Lee exercised effective Synchronization and Economy of Force, deftly controlling the movements and fires of the disparate elements of his force in accordance with the elements of an intelligently conceived and workable plan of action in order to bring virtually the craved combat power at the decisive point. His employment of his cavalry, guerrillas, and militia reflected a thorough thought process of utilizing each element in ana precisely orchestrated maneuver exact orchestration to achieve the desired effect of ousting the Army of th e Potomac from the town of Fredericksburg back to the northern banks of the Rappahannock River. uring Morgans troops into the killing field of overwhelming force. His exploitation of Union Forces weaknesses in decisive movement and execution of a sound plan march Gen Lees his Seminole scouts superior knowledge of critical terrain features while denying the enemy the opportunity to effectively reconnoiter the same ground gave the critical element of Surprise once the battle was opened in accordance with the time, place and circumstances of his own choosing. Stackpole, Edward J.Drama on the Rappahannock The Fredericksburg Campaign. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Stackpole Books, 1991 P. 23 Stackpole, Edward J. 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