Title: The Fredericksburg Campaign : winter war on the Rappahannock /
Authors: O'Reilly, Francis Augustín, 1965-
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press,
Year: 2003
Subjects: Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862.
Abstract: "In November 1862, just four days after his promotion to commander of the Army of the Potomac, Ambrose Burnside moved his army to Fredericksburg, Virginia, en route to Richmond. Confederate commander Robert E. Lee responded by placing the Army of Northern Virginia directly across the Rappahannock River on Marye's Heights and Prospect Hill. The ensuing engagement climaxing on December 13, stretched for miles, involved hundreds of thousands of men, produced staggering unequal casualties (13,000 Federal soldiers compared to 4,500 Confederates), ruined the career of Burnside, embarrassed Abraham Lincoln, and distinguished Lee as one of the greatest military strategists of his era." "The Fredericksburg Campaign, by Francis O'Reilly, is the definitive military study of this controversial operation. O'Reilly describes the gruesome struggle's tactical movements in vivid detail, integrating eyewitness accounts from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest private soldier to produce a seamless narrative. Woven within the broader military and political events are gripping stories from civilians trapped between the opposing armies." "Drawing upon his close familiarity with the battlefield, the author discusses the unprecedented nature of Fredericksburg's warfare. It saw the first purposeful bombardment of an American city, the first urban street fighting in North America, and the first bridgehead landing under fire in U.S. military history. O'Reilly analyzes the strategy of the commanders, the difficulty in logistics and delay in pontoon bridging, and the political pressure from Lincoln for a victory, which overrode practical considerations."--Jacket.
Contents: Poor Burn feels dreadfully: the winter campaign of 1862 -- To cripple the Rebel cause: the road to Fredericksburg -- The enemy will be more surprised: countdown to crossing -- A scene of wildest confusion: the pontoon crossings on December 11 -- A fierce and deadly contest: fighting in the streets -- The most Gothic of goths: the sacking of Fredericksburg -- The jaws of death: the battle begins -- A terrible slaughter in our ranks: the Federal breakthrough -- Getting Hill out o' trouble: the Confederate counterattack -- Cheer up, my hearties: French's attack -- The valley of death: Hancock's attack -- A devil of a time: Howard and Sturgis attack -- The die is cast: Deep Run and Griffin's attack -- The gates of hell: final assaults at twilight -- Deciding the fate of our country: the aftermath of battle -- Played out: Dumfries raid and the mud march -- Not the same troops we started with.