Fredericksburg, 1862 : A Study of War [Illustrated Edition]

SPECIAL CAMPAIGN SERIES. NO.3

FREDERICKSBURG

A STUDY IN WAR

BY

MAJOR G. W. REDWAY

LATE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT

(RESERVE OF OFFICERS)

WITH FIVE MAPS

 This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING

Text originally published in 1906 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2011, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

PREFACE

IT must be a primary object with every soldier to know exactly how war is carried on: how strategy is influenced, in its conception by politics and in its execution by tactics; how both strategy and tactics are affected by terrain, by the seasons, by railways, telegraphy and sea power: how armies have been raised and organized, trained and led in battle; how supplied with weapons and other means of defence, with food and clothing, ammunition and shelter; how the sick and wounded are cared for; how the waste of war is repaired.

The study of these matters in peace time can only be pursued seriously when we illustrate the subject continually by examples drawn from history. It is not by remembering maxims, by explaining military phrases or discussing general principles, that a soldier learns his trade; he must probe deeply the problems of war, examine them in every detail, and never be content to accept the ipse dixit of any historian, however eminent in his day and generation, while actual evidence is available.

The following pages will, it is hoped, enable the student, with a minimum of trouble and the least possible expenditure of time, to become thoroughly familiar with the essentials of campaigning, by participating as it were in certain events that happened some forty years ago on the continent of America, in the decade that saw the battles of Magenta, Solferino and Sadowa in central Europe.

The campaigns of the great Civil War are especially fitted for study by the English speaking soldier for several reasons; there exists a full description of every pitched battle in all its phases, the march orders and reconnaissance reports are also available. The names of persons and places are already familiar to the student, and records are accessible at first hand without the intervention of a translator. There are but few gaps that need filling up by aid of the imagination, and we have not to take into account any difference of race, method of training or armament on the part of the combatants, as in the case of foreign wars. The American armies were similarly conditioned in all respects, even to the extent of being commanded by officers who had been trained in the same military academy; and the official records of both belligerents have been printed without fear or favour side by side in that monumental publication just completed and entitled War of the Rebellion.

Moreover, the American Civil War was in a certain sense a Renaissance; new methods of warfare were adopted, the Nation in Arms was made manifest; and from this period in the history of tactics we trace the appearance of heavy guns in the field, the genesis of modern cavalry, the establishment of signal and ambulance corps, and the use of hasty entrenchments, of field telegraphy, and of balloon reconnaissance.

The present volume presents a striking contrast to the story of an European campaign with which this Series commenced; in place of the methodical strategy and forcing tactics of the Germans we must describe the puzzled flounderings of the Federal leaders; instead of a disunited defence of the French frontier which in six weeks resulted in the unconditional surrender of a large army, we shall narrate the brilliant manoeuvres by which Lee and his lieutenants kept the invaders of Virginia at bay until the Union government was at its wits' end and the Confederate cause almost won. The writer's task has been to examine many hundreds of letters and reports, written in the field and now preserved in the archives of the War Department at Washington, and, with such skill as he can command, produce for the Special Campaign Series a record of war which shall contain the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so far as that is possible in inditing the class of narrative which we call History.

MAPS

(In pocket at end of volume)

I. STRATEGICAL MAP OF THE EASTERN THEATRE OF WAR

II. VICINITY OF FREDERICKSBURG

III. FREDERICKSBURG TOWN

IV. GENERAL FRANKLIN’S SKETCH–MAP

V. THE RIVER RAPPAHANNOCK

Contents

PREFACE 4

MAPS 5

CHAPTER I 15

Introductory Notes 15

CHAPTER II 18

After Sharpsburg—Rest and Recruitment—General Lee in the Shenandoah valley—general McClellan along the Potomac—The Lines of Communication—Stuart's Cavalry Raid—State of the Armies in October, 1862—Federal Invasion of Virginia—McClellan's Flank March—Lee's Manoeuvers Federal Line of Operations. 18

CHAPTER III 25

Burnside Assumes Command—The Army of The Potomac at Warrenton—A New Plan of Campaign—The March to Falmouth—A Maritime Base—Lee's Dispositions for Defense—Jackson moves to Port Royal. 25

CHAPTER IV 34

Cavalry Reconnaissance. 34

CHAPTER V 40

Fredericksburg—Lee's Preparations—River Reconnaissance—Burnside’s Plan For Crossing—Confederate Deficiencies' 40

CHAPTER VI 47

Federal Artillery Dispositions—Laying the Pontoon Bridges—Crossing the Rappahannock. 47

CHAPTER VII 52

The Confederates concentrate for Battle—Final Dispositions of Longstreet and Jackson—Cavalry Reconnaissance. 52

CHAPTER VIII 57

Movements of the Three Grand Divisions—Reports by Sumner, Hooker and Franklin—Topography of the Battlefield—Burnside's Attack Orders. 57

CHAPTER IX 64

The Morning of December 13—Final Dispositions for Battle—Tactical Points—Franklin's Interpretation of Orders—Cost of an Armed Observation. 64

CHAPTER X 72

The American Soldier; his Social Status and Professional Ability—A Voice from the Ranks. 72

CHAPTER XI 82

The Battle of December 13—The Left Attack by Franklin—Jackson's Defense of the Confederate Right Section—The Right Attack by Sumner—Longstreet's Defense of the Confederate Left Section—General Burnside's Failure—General Lee's Decision. 82

CHAPTER XII 96

After The Battle—the Departments of an Army—The Federals on the Defensive—Burnside's Retreat —Cavalry Reconnaissance—Burnside's Last Effort—The Mud March End of Campaign. 96

APPENDIX 109

A—RAILROAD COMMUNICATIONS. 109

B — INVASION OF VIRGINIA BY THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SEPTEMBER 26-NOVEMBER 9. MARCH TABLE. 115

C — ABSTRACT FROM FIELD RETURN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, COMMANDED BY GENERAL R. E. LEE, DECEMBER 10, 1862; HEADQUARTERS FREDERICKSBURG, VA. 116

D — ABSTRACT FROM TRI-MONTHLY RETURN OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, MAJ.-GEN. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE COMMANDING, FOR DECEMBER 10, 1862. 117

E — FEDERAL TRANSPORT, JANUARY 1, 1863. 118

F — COMPARATIVE TABLE OF LOSSES (Dec. 11-15). 119

G — REPORT OF SIGNAL OFFICER. 124

H — RIVER RECONNAISSANCE BY A CONFEDERATE ENGINEER. 127

I — STUART'S EXPEDITION TO DUMFRIES. 129

J — NOTE ON HOWISON'S 133

MAPS 134

I – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1861 134

Charleston Harbor, Bombardment of Fort Sumter – 12th & 13th April 1861 134

1st Bull Run Campaign – Theatre Overview July 1861 135

Bull Run – 21st July 1861 136

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 18th July 1861 137

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 21st July 1861 (Morning) 138

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Actions 1-3 p.m. 139

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Union Retreat 4 P.M. to Dusk 140

II – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1862 141

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (6-8.30 A.M.) Confederate Attacks 141

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (9 A.M.) Union Attacks 142

Forts Henry and Donelson – 6th to 16th February 1862 143

Battle of Fort Donelson – 14th February 1862 144

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 145

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 146

New Madrid and Island No. 10 – March 1862 147

Pea Ridge – 5th to 8th March 1862 148

First Battle of Kernstown – 23rd March 1862, 11 – 16:45 149

Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing) - 6th & 7th April 1862 150

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 - Morning 151

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 – P.M. 152

Battle of Yorktown – 5th to 16th April 1862 153

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 24th to 25th May 1862 - Actions 154

Williamsburg – 5th May 1862 155

Fair Oaks – 31st May to 1st June 1862 156

Battle of Seven Pines – 31st May 1862 157

Seven Days – 26th June to 2nd July 1862 158

Seven Days Battles – 25th June to 1st July 1862 - Overview 159

Seven Days Battles – 26th & 27th June 1862 160

Seven Days Battles – 30th June 1862 161

Seven Days Battles – 1st July 1862 162

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 2.30 P.M. Hill’s Attacks 163

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 3.30 P.M. Ewell’s Attacks 164

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 7 P.M. General Confederate Attacks 165

Pope’s Campaign - 24th August 1862 166

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 A.M. 167

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 6 P.M. 168

Second Battle of Bull Run – 28th August 1862 169

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 10 A.M. 170

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 12 P.M. 171

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 5 P.M. 172

Pope’s Campaign – 29th August 1862 Noon. 173

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 3 P.M. 174

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 4.30 P.M. 175

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 5 P.M. 176

Battle of Harpers Ferry – 15th September 1862 177

Antietam – 16th & 17th September 1862 178

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 Overview 179

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 6 A.M. 180

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 7.30 A.M. 181

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 9 A.M. 182

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 10 A.M. 183

Iuka – 19th September 1862 184

Battle of Iuka – 19th September 1862 185

Corinth – 3rd & 4th October 1862 186

Second Battle of Corinth – 3rd October 1862 187

Second Battle of Corinth – 4th October 1862 188

Perryville – 8th October 1862 189

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 2 P.M. 190

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3 P.M. 191

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3.45 P.M. 192

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4 P.M. 193

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4.15 P.M. 194

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 5.45 P.M. 195

Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 196

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Overview 197

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Sumner’s Assault 198

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Hooker’s Assault 199

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou – 26th to 29th December 1862 200

Stone’s River – 31st December 1862 201

Battle of Stones River – 30th December 1862 202

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 8.00 A.M. 203

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 9.45 A.M. 204

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 11.00 A.M. 205

III – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1863 206

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 206

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 207

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4.45 P.M. 208

Chancellorsville Campaign (Hooker’s Plan) – April 1863 209

Battle of Chancellorsville – 1st May 1863 Actions 210

Battle of Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 Actions 211

Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 212

Chancellorsville – 3rd to 5th May 1863 213

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 6 A.M. 214

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. 215

Battle of Chancellorsville – 4th to 6th May 1863. 216

Battle of Brandy Station – 8th June 1863 217

Siege of Vicksburg – 25th May to 4th July 1863 218

Siege of Vicksburg – 19th May 1863 - Assaults 219

Siege of Vicksburg – 22nd May 1863 - Assaults 220

Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 221

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 Overview 222

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 7 A.M. 223

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10 A.M. 224

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10.45 A.M. 225

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 11 A.M. 226

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 12.30 P.M. 227

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 2 P.M. 228

Gettysburg – 2nd to 4th July 1863 229

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Lee’s Plan 230

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Overview 231

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetary Ridge A.M. 232

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Initial Defence 233

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Evening attacks 234

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Hood’s Assaults 235

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard Initial Assaults 236

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard and Cemetary Ridge 237

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Initial Assaults 238

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Second Phase 239

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetery Hill Evening 240

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (1) 241

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (2) 242

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Overview 243

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge 244

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge Detail 245

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Johnson’s Third Attack 246

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Opening Positions 247

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – First Phase 248

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Second Phase 249

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 South Cavalry Field 250

Battle of Gettysburg – Battlefield Overview 251

Fight at Monterey Pass – 4th to 5th July 1863 252

Chickamauga – 19th & 20th September 1863 253

Chickamauga Campaign – Davis’s Crossroads – 11th September 1863 254

Chickamauga Campaign – 18th September 1863 After Dark 255

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Morning 256

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 257

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 258

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. 259

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 11 A.M. to Mid-Afternoon 260

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Mid-Afternoon to Dark 261

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Brigade Details 262

Chattanooga – 23rd to 25th November 1863 263

Chattanooga Campaign – 24th & 25th November 1863 264

Chattanooga Campaign – Federal Supply Lines and Wheeler’s Raid 265

Battle of Missionary Ridge – 25th November 1863 266

Mine Run – 26th to 30th November 1863 267

IV – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1864 268

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 29th to 31st March 1864 268

Wilderness – 5th & 6th May 1864 269

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 – Positions 7 A.M. 270

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 - Actions 271

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 5 A.M. 272

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 6 A.M. 273

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 11 A.M. 274

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 2 P.M. 275

Spotsylvania – 8th to 21st May 1864 276

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 7th & 8th May 1864 - Movements 277

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 8th May 1864 - Actions 278

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 9th May 1864 - Actions 279

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 10th May 1864 - Actions 280

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 12th May 1864 - Actions 281

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 13th May 1864 - Actions 282

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 17th May 1864 - Actions 283

North Anna – 23rd to 26th May 1864 284

Battle of North Anna – 23rd May 1864 285

Battle of North Anna – 24th May 1864 286

Battle of North Anna – 25th May 1864 287

Battle of Haw’s Shop – 28th May 1864 288

Battle of Bethseda Church (1) – 30th May 1864 289

Battle of Bethseda Church (2) – 30th May 1864 290

Cold Harbor – 31st May to 12th June 1864 291

Battle of Cold Harbor – 1st June 1864 292

Battle of Cold Harbor – 3rd June 1864 293

Pickett’s Mills and New Hope Church – 25th to 27th May 1864 294

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – 27th June 1864 295

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 15th to 18th June 1864 296

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 21st to 22nd June 1864 297

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 30th July 1864 298

Wilson-Kautz Raid – 22nd June to 1st July 1864 299

First Battle of Deep Bottom – 27th to 29th July 1864 300

Second Battle of Deep Bottom – 14th to 20th August 1864 301

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 18th to 19th August 1864 302

Opequon, or Winchester, Va. – 19th September 1864 303

Fisher’s Hill – 22nd September 1864 304

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 27th October 1864 305

Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 306

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 5-9 A.M. Confederate Attacks 307

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Afternoon 308

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Evening 309

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 4-5 P.M. Union Counterattack 310

Franklin – 30th November 1864 311

Battle of Franklin – Hood’s Approach 30th November 1864 312

Battle of Franklin – 30th November 1864 Actions after 4.30 P.M. 313

Nashville – 15th & 16th December 1864 314

V – OVERVIEWS 315

1 – Map of the States that Succeeded – 1860-1861 315

Fort Henry Campaign – February 1862 316

Forts Henry and Donelson – February 1862 317

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 23rd March to 8th May 1862 318

Peninsula Campaign – 17th March to 31st May 1862 319

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 21st May to 9th June 1862 320

Northern Virginia Campaign – 7th to 28th August 1862 321

Maryland Campaign – September 1862 322

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – First Phase – 10th to 19th September 1862 323

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – Second Phase – 20th September – 3rd October 1862 324

Fredericksburg Campaign – Movements mid-November to 10th December 1862 325

Memphis to Vicksburg – 1862-1863 326

Operations Against Vicksburg and Grant’s Bayou Operations – November 1862 to April 1863 327

Campaign Against Vicksburg – 1863 328

Grant’s Operations Against Vicksburg – April to July 1863 329

Knoxville Campaign - 1863 330

Tullahoma Campaign – 24th June – 3rd July 1863 331

Rosecrans’ Manoeuvre – 20th August to 17th September 1963 333

Bristoe Campaign – 9th October to 9th November 1863 334

Mine Run Campaign – 27th November 1863 – 2nd December 1863 335

Grant’s Overland Campaign – Wilderness to North Anna - 1864 336

Grant’s Overland Campaign – May to June 1864 337

Overland Campaign – 4th  May 1864 338

Overland Campaign – 27th to 29th May 1864 339

Overland Campaign –29th to 30th May 1864 340

Overland Campaign – 1st June 1864 – Afternoon 341

Sheridan’s Richmond Raid – 9th to 14th May 1864 342

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 343

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 344

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 11th June 1864 345

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 12th June 1864 346

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – May to July 1864 347

Operations about Marietta – 14th to 28th June 1864 348

Atlanta Campaign – 7th May to 2nd July 1864 349

Operations about Atlanta – 17th July to 2nd September 1864 350

Richmond-Petersburg Campaign – Position Fall 1864 351

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – 20th August – October 1864 352

Sherman’s March to the Sea 353

Franklin-Nashville Campaign – 21st to 28th November 1864 354

Operations about Petersburg – June 1864 to April 1865 355

Carolinas Campaign – February to April 1865 356

Appomattox Campaign - 1865 357

CHAPTER I

Introductory Notes

THE American Civil War began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Confederates on April 12, 1861. Within a year 232 engagements took place, and before General Kirby Smith surrendered to the Federals on May 26, 1865, no fewer than 2,260 battles, sieges and skirmishes had been recorded. Of the various armed forces under various leaders, operating over a vast area in forty states and territories, which contributed to this amazing total of combats, the most important organizations were known as the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia.

These commands were continually occupied during the whole of four years in protecting their own or threatening the enemy's capital. Washington on the left or east bank of the Potomac and Richmond on the left or north bank of James River are about 120 miles apart; the Potomac River is the State line between Virginia and Maryland, and the crossing of this natural barrier by one force or the other constituted at this period an act of invasion.

The policy of the Northern States was aggressive; that of the Southern States was purely defensive and throughout the war, rival commanders shaped their strategy largely by political considerations: on the part of the North the attitude assumed was that of an established Government suppressing a rebellion; on the part of the South the war was regarded as a struggle for freedom, a righteous resistance to intolerable oppression. The capture of Richmond and the overthrow of the newly constituted and rival Government was the aim of the Federal president Abraham Lincoln; while, on the other hand, Jefferson Davis, ex-Secretary for War of the Federal Government, and now President of the Confederate States, expected by the action of his armies to justify his political existence as an independent ruler, to enlist fresh sympathizers among the Federals themselves, and to win official recognition as a belligerent by foreign Powers.

It is, however, remarkable that of all the Generals operating in the Eastern theatre of war, the chief of whom had been trained in the same military school at West Point and had fought side by side in Mexico, the really aggressive fighters were found at the head of the Confederate army whose Government was longing for peace, while the offensive strategy of the Federals was, for three years at least, directed by officers whose characteristics were caution, timidity and vacillation. The triumvirate at Washington consisted of the President (Lincoln), the General-in-Chief (Halleck), and the Secretary for War (Stanton); and the Federal generals in the field were, until almost the close of the war, largely controlled by a body which resembled the old Aulic Council in Europe during the Seven Years War. It is safe to assert that if the material resources of the North had been at the disposal of Johnston and Lee and Jackson, or if McClellan and Pope and Burnside had encountered the economic difficulties of the Confederate leaders, the War of Secession would have quickly ended in favour of the South. The Federal Government, however, which had resolved to invade Virginia and capture Richmond, and possessed enormous resources in men and material, was served by some singularly feeble generals, while the Confederate Government which stood on the defensive and sought foreign aid as an unprotected, infant State, was upheld for four years by such a master