Battle of Frediericksburg Analysis

The Battle of Fredericksburg David P. Wrighten, CPT, MS Class 09-002 Small Group 6, MAJ Sims 03 April 2009 Abstract toward the beginning of December 1862, the Union Army of the Potomac had massed on the northern bank of the Rappahannock River as it was in position to strike the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. The Union likewise position themselves to remove the Confederate Army’s primary gracefully course for the import and fare of products in the south. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia defied the Union Army’s endeavored strike on the south side of the Rappahannock by possessing the high ground ignoring the riverside town of Fredericksburg. Gotten between the two restricting militaries, Fredericksburg was bound to the battleground for a ridiculous preface of significant fights between the Union and Confederate armed forces in the open fields of the south. The Battle of Fredericksburg Introduction The Battle of Fredericksburg happened on 11 December 1862 on the banks of the Rappahannock River close to the modest community of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Pitting three divisions of the Union Forces directed by MG Edwin V. Sumner, MG Joseph Hooker, and MG William B. Franklin, around 120,000 Soldiers against the two Confederate Forces Corps of Northern Virginia told by LTG James Longstreet and LTG Thomas L. Jackson roughly 90,000 Soldiers. This fight accentuated the compelling utilization of Weather, Maneuver, Observation Fields of Fire, Cover, and disguise, Obstacles, Key Terrain, and Avenues of Approach. The utilization of the Battlefield Operating Systems was instrumental in the achievement of the mission. The essential source used to assemble data was, Decisive Battles of the Civil War: the Battle of Fredericksburg by LT. COL. Joseph B. MitchellDrama on the Rappahannock: the Fredericksburg Campaign by Edward J. Stackpole. Optional sources utilized 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. Vital Setting Fredericksburg, Virginia during the 1860s had formed into a family arranged network. This town happened to be the most remote point to explore up the Rappahannock River. It was a significant site for exchanging for imported and sent out products. Be that as it may, the bigger, more up to date cruising vessels experienced issues in exploring the Rappahannock, which extraordinarily impede the global exchange with different less present day clients of exchange. This permitted individuals from Fredericksburg to live an increasingly typical or less blocked enormous city way of life. Militarily, this stream is significant for resupplying Soldiers basic supplies so as to battle viably. The town of Fredericksburg changed hands ordinarily all through the war. Being found so near Richmond and Washington, it can incredibly help or oppose in a potential assault on Richmond or Washington. Furthermore, this town could go about as an arranging territory before propelling an assault on the nation’s capital. Moreover, four significant fights battled inside a seventeen-mile span of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The significant experience during the Battle of Fredericksburg occurred in Virginia. MG Ambrose Burnside’s Federal Army of the Potomac attempted to countermine Gen Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and catch Richmond. Nonetheless, this would be a troublesome errand, since the Confederates were profoundly dug in into a guarded position west of town. Strategic Situation 1. Strategic: Burnside’s was to cross the Rappahannock River and hold onto the statures behind Fredericksburg, Virginia before Gen Lee’s armed force showed up. In the wake of holding onto the town of Fredericksburg, the Army of the Potomac would then propel south to Richmond. So as to cross the Rappahannock Burnside needed to fabricate numerous extensions; for this reason, bolster components sent barge connect hardware to Fredericksburg. The Union Forces showed up toward the northern banks of the Rappahannock; there were not a single Confederate Forces to be found. It ould appear as though the favorable position would be on the Union Forces. 2. Gear: Gen Hunt sent shooters to give covering fire to the specialists at each finish of the three development focuses. He additionally had 147 mounted guns pieces to fill in as the primary obstacle to the Confederate Forces restricting the Union exertion and oblige a moderate coordinations train. His ammunitio n and different classes of gracefully were copious however the separation would gradually make these assets disintegrate. The Confederates had adequate nourishment and water, however different classes of flexibly were rare, especially their ammunition. Many conveyed chasing rifles and shotguns of differing gauge. The Union Forces had an unmistakable preferred position. 3. Territory: The city and its environs along the Rappahannock River in north-focal Virginia were critical obstructions to Union advances on Richmond, the Confederate capital. The front line comprises of a progression of flood fields and waterway porches with delicate inclines resembled by north-south edges that give basic limits on either side, all involved Tertiary and Quaternary Coastal Plain silt. The Confederates, drove by Gen Robert E. Lee, successfully utilized characteristic territory highlights to block assaults made by the Union armed force. Strategic advantages likewise collected by the Confederates from fabricated hindrances on the combat zone, e. g. , stone dividers and wall. In the wake of intersection the Rappahannock River, the Union Army, needed to assault tough with little spread in their fruitless endeavors to unstick the Confederates. This gave the Confederate Forces the bit of leeway against the Union strike. 4. Troops: Strategically the Union Forces had the favorable position with the quantity of troops under Gen Burnsides order at almost 120,000. The Confederate Forces had the bit of leeway as having set up their cautious positions and direct access through their flexibly courses to their base camp in Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate Forces lacked military preparing in the positions just as standard issue things that would help in the accomplishment of their battle. The Union Forces had an unmistakable bit of leeway to the extent staff, however Confederate Forces had a preferred position for their capacity to resupply the units. 5. Time: This memorable Fredericksburg Campaign arranged and executed over a two-month term in November †December of 1862. This was during a very cold and unforgiving winter season. It diminished both the Union and Confederate powers from calm developments, away from of sight during pre-first light hours (haze on the waterway), substantial snowfall, which confined developments, thick territory made of oak, maple, cedar, and profoundly thick snared brush cause constrained portability, counter versatility and decreased eyes on the adversary. Accordingly, despite the fact that the climate didn't support either side, it didn't shielded strategic objectives of either side from being set up. The Battle After, the Battle of Bull Run the two armed forces committed the second 50% of 1861 and some portion of 1862 to make genuine alterations for increasingly significant fights to come. Acquisition of provisions, preparing, enrolling new warriors, and other military exercises was the essential preparing strategic the two armed forces. Neither one of the forces was in a specific rush to direct a hostile activity. A fretful President held up in the White House to perceive how his famous leader will retrain and use his incredible powers. Gen McClellan moved his powers in March 1862, by means of water, to the Virginia Peninsula between the York and James Rivers. The expectation of this move was to take Richmond, Virginia. Be that as it may, Johnston countered this arrangement by moving his Confederate troopers overland a similar way. Consequently, Gen Mc McClellan organized his soldiers at Fort Monroe. Simultaneously, Stonewall Jackson started his Shenandoah Valley Campaign, injured in fight General Johnston was prevail by Robert E. Lee. On Oct. 6, the President taught Gen McClellan to â€Å"cross the Potomac and offer fight to the adversary, or drive him South. Your military should now move,† â€Å"he stated, â€Å"while the streets are acceptable. † Twenty-four days spent in correspondence before Gen McClellan complied with the request for the president. Gen McClellan griped of an absence of men and supplies to make it reasonable to push ahead. Finally, October had almost passed by and Gen Lee’s armed force altogether refreshed and redesigned, and interchanges with Richmond restored, the Army of the Potomac started to cross the waterway (Oct. 26), 100,000 in number. The Nationals drove down the east side of the Blue Edge, yet neglected to strike the withdrawing Confederates over the mountain in flank or to advance beyond them; and Gen Lee pushed Gen Longstreet’s troops over the Blue Ridge to Culpeper Courthouse, between the Army of the Potomac and Richmond, prepared to question the development of the Nationals. Brisk and vivacious developments were presently important to cut off and rout, in detail, Gen Lee’s armed force. (See Map 1) On Nov. 75, the President mitigated Gen McClellan of order, and Gen Burnside took order of the Corps. An awareness of other's expectations made the last administrator exceedingly careful. Before he moved, he tried to get his 120,000 men well close by. Gen Burnside decided Aquia Creek Landing as his resupply center point and primary base for his ambush. His general choice was to, and he moved the military towards Fredericksburg down the Fredericksburg Route towards Fredericksburg. The permitted his powers to cover Washington and guarantee better assurance of his lines of resupply and correspondence. Oon Nov. 150 Gen. Sumner drove the development from Warrenton down the left bank of the Rappahannock and shrouded very nearly 40 miles in two and one-half days to Falmouth. By November 21, Gen Longstreet's Corps had shown up close to Fredericksburg, and Gen Jackson's (which had been downstream along the Rappahannock to forestall intersections there) was following quickly. Gen Lee from the start foreseen that he would battle Gen Burnside northwest