Battle of Fredericksburg in the Civil War

The Battle of Fredericksburg was was fought December 13, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and saw Union forces suffer a bloody defeat. Having grown angry with Major General George B. McClellans unwillingness to pursue General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln relieved him on November 5, 1862, and replaced him with Major General Ambrose Burnside two days later. A West Point graduate, Burnside had achieved some success earlier in the war campaigning in North Carolina and leading IX Corps. A Reluctant Commander Despite this, Burnside had misgivings about his ability to lead the Army of the Potomac. He had twice declined the command citing that he was unqualified and lacked experience. Lincoln had first approached him following McClellans defeat on the Peninsula in July and made a similar offer following Major General John Popes defeat at Second Manassas in August. Asked again that fall, he only accepted when Lincoln told him that McClellan would be replaced regardless and that the alternative was Major General Joseph Hooker whom Burnside intensely disliked.      Burnsides Plan Reluctantly assuming command, Burnside was pressured to undertake offensive operations by Lincoln and Union General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck. Planning a late fall offensive, Burnside intended to move into Virginia and openly concentrate his army at Warrenton. From this position he would feint towards Culpeper Court House, Orange Court House, or Gordonsville before quickly marching southeast to Fredericksburg. Hoping to sidestep Lees army, Burnside planned to cross the Rappahannock River and advance on Richmond via the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad. Requiring speed and guile, Burnsides plan built upon some operations that McClellan had been contemplating at the time of his removal. The final plan was submitted to Halleck on November 9. Following a lengthy debate, it was approved by Lincoln five days later though the president was disappointed that the target was Richmond and not Lees army. Additionally, he cautioned that Burnside should move quickly as it was unlikely that Lee would hesitate to move against him. Moving out on November 15, the lead elements of the Army of the Potomac reached Falmouth, VA, opposite Fredericksburg, two days later having successfully stolen a march on Lee. Armies Commanders Union - Army of the Potomac Major General Ambrose E. Burnside100,007 men Confederates - Army of Northern Virginia General Robert E. Lee72,497 men Critical Delays This success was squandered when it was discovered that the pontoons needed to bridge the river had not arrived ahead of the army due to an administrative error. Major General Edwin V. Sumner, commanding the Right Grand Division (II Corps IX Corps), pressed Burnside for permission to ford the river to scatter the few Confederate defenders in Fredericksburg and occupy Maryes Heights west of the town. Burnside refused fearing that the fall rains would cause the river to rise and that Sumner would be cut off. Responding to Burnside, Lee initially anticipated having to make a stand behind the North Anna River to the south. This plan changed when he learned how slow Burnside was moving and he instead elected to march towards Fredericksburg. As the Union forces sat in Falmouth, Lieutenant General James Longstreets entire corps arrived by November 23 and began digging on the heights. While Longstreet established a commanding position,  Lt. General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons corps was en route from the Shenandoah Valley.   Opportunities Missed On November 25, the first pontoon bridges arrived, but Burnside refused to move, missing an opportunity to crush half of Lees army before the other half arrived. By the end of the month, when the remaining bridges arrived, Jacksons corps had reached Fredericksburg and assumed a position south of Longstreet. Finally, on December 11, Union engineers began building six pontoon bridges opposite Fredericksburg. Under fire from Confederate snipers, Burnside was forced to send landing parties across the river to clear out the town. Supported by artillery on Stafford Heights, the Union troops occupied Fredericksburg and looted the town. With the bridges completed, the bulk of Union forces began crossing the river and deploying for battle on December 11 and 12. Burnsides original plan for the battle called for the main attack to be executed to the south by Major General William B. Franklins Left Grand Division (I Corps VI Corps) against Jacksons position, with a smaller, supporting action against Maryes Heights. Held in the South Beginning at 8:30 AM on December 13, the assault was led by Major General George G. Meades division, supported by those of Brigadier Generals Abner Doubleday and John Gibbon. While initially hampered by heavy fog, the Union attack gained momentum around 10:00 AM when it was able to exploit a gap in Jacksons lines. Meades attack was eventually stopped by artillery fire, and around 1:30 PM a massive Confederate counterattack forced all three Union divisions to withdraw. To the north, the first assault on Maryes Heights had commenced at 11:00 AM and was led by the division of Major General William H. French. A Bloody Failure The approach to the heights required the attacking force to cross a 400-yard open plain which was divided by a drainage ditch. To cross the ditch, Union troops were forced to file in columns over two small bridges. As in the south, the fog prevented Union artillery on Stafford Heights from providing effective fire support. Moving forward, Frenchs men were repulsed with heavy casualties. Burnside repeated the attack with the divisions of Brigadier Generals Winfield Scott Hancock and Oliver O. Howard with the same results. With the battle going poorly on Franklins front, Burnside focused his attention on Maryes Heights. Reinforced by Major General George Picketts division, Longstreets position proved impenetrable. The attack was renewed at 3:30 PM when Brigadier General Charles Griffins division was sent forward and repulsed. Half an hour later, Brigadier General Andrew Humphreys  division charged with the same result. The battle concluded when Brigadier General George W. Gettys division attempted to attack the heights from the south with no success. All told, sixteen charges were made against the stone wall atop Maryes Heights, usually in brigade strength. Witnessing the carnage Gen. Lee commented, It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it. Aftermath One of the most one-sided battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Fredericksburg cost the Army of the Potomac 1,284 killed, 9,600 wounded, and 1,769 captured/missing. For the Confederates, casualties were 608 killed, 4,116 wounded, and 653 captured/missing. Of these only around 200 were suffered at Maryes Heights. As the battle ended, many Union troops, living and wounded, were forced to spend the freezing night of December 13/14 on the plain before the heights, pinned down by the Confederates. On the afternoon of the 14th, Burnside asked Lee for a truce to tend to his wounded which was granted. Having removed his men from the field, Burnside withdrew the army back across the river to Stafford Heights. The following month, Burnside strove to save his reputation by attempting to move north around Lees left flank. This plan bogged down when January rains reduced the roads to mud pits which prevented the army from moving. Dubbed the Mud March, the movement was cancelled. Burnside was replaced by Hooker on January 26, 1863.

How American Indians Have Adapted their Culture Since...

My essay will have an outlook of the history of the first Americans â€Å"Indians† and how they’ve adapted with their religion, subsistence strategy, social organization, and material culture. Over the years things have change in the history of Native Americans, prior to the reconstruction period, Native Americans knew who they were and what they lived for. Before the Europeans came and changed their living they one with nature and the land they’ve came to know. They believe that America was there’s and they lived free. In today’s history of Native Americans culture was founded in many ways, started in the mid 8200s B.C and before Christopher Columbus discovered America. Living in the Americas they were in touch with nature as well as their†¦show more content†¦Expansion was the cornerstone of their whole civilization, because their religion requested that a large number of human sacrifices where to be made. To get the sacrifices the Indian s went to war with other tribes to get these human sacrifices. With each conquest more sacrifices and more land was added to the Natives. The first Americans Also believed in Wakon,da a powerful god to them, whom they believed in, they believed that he created all things, made the land they also believed in life after death and immorality that made earthly life secure and pleasant; they expressed their feelings for nature as in peace and confidence. Different native religions evolved to match their needs and lifestyle Religious traditions of aboriginal people around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, with great hunting skills or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Wakon’da, spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connection between the spirituality and the culture. 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Book Review The Shining Mountain free essay sample

The story is about a girl called Panama-la, who Is named after a Shining Mountain. She lives with her mom and dad in Scotland. The other kids often tease Panama-la, because of her name.. But her father tells her to be brave and never be ordinary. Panama-las father, who Is a famous mountaineer, trains her to climb the mountain she was named after. Her father puts her through a lot of stuff to get ready, and Panama is afraid of the pressure he puts on her.But Panama;la promised her father to be extraordinary, so she pulls herself together and vows never to disappoint her father. When they arrive at the mountain, some Sharpe men offers to help them. Her father arrogantly turns them down, and they in return, tell them that a mountain goddess will probably stop them before they reach the top. Ignoring the warning, they continue their Journey. We will write a custom essay sample on Book Review: The Shining Mountain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At first, Panama-la feels fresh, and nothing is bothering her, but soon she starts to eel weary.Out of nowhere, a Sharpe woman appears, and offers to help carry Panama-las backpack, but she refuses to be helped by the woman. The Sharpe woman appears again, and this time Panama-la accepts her offer. The fourth time, the Sharpe woman offers to take Panama-las heavy heart. By accepting this, she turns Panama-la Into a swan. The Sharpe woman, who Is actually a mountain goddess, confronts Panama;las father. Her father learns the truth, and feels ascribable because of it.He tries to take his own life, but the goddess wont let him. The goddess makes him realize, that the huge expectations he had for her, made Panama-la unhappy, and unsure of herself. He starts to cry, regretting that he put so much pressure on her. When the mountain goddess feels that the father has learned his lesson, she turns Panama-la back into a human. Panama-la and her father reunite, and they run down to the bottom of the mountain, together again. Book Review The Shining Mountain free essay sample The story is about a girl called Panama-la, who is named after a Shining Mountain. She lives with her mom and dad in Scotland. The other kids often tease Panama-la, because of her name.. But her father tells her to be brave and never be ordinary. Panama-las father, who is a famous mountaineer, trains her to climb the mountain she was named after. Her father puts her through a lot of stuff to get ready, and Panama is afraid of the pressure he puts on her.But Panama-la promised her father to be extraordinary, so she pulls herself together and vows never to disappoint her father. When they arrive at the mountain, some Sharpe men offers to help them. Her father arrogantly turns them down, and they in return, tell them that a mountain goddess will probably stop them before they reach the top. Ignoring the warning, they continue their journey. We will write a custom essay sample on Book Review: The Shining Mountain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At first, Panama-la feels fresh, and nothing is bothering her, but soon she starts to feel weary.Out of nowhere, a Sharpe woman appears, and offers to help carry Panama-las backpack, but she refuses to be helped by the woman. The Sharpe woman appears again, and this time Panama-la accepts her offer. The fourth time, the Sharpe woman offers to take Panama-las heavy heart. By accepting this, she turns Panama-la into a swan. The Sharpe woman, who is actually a mountain goddess, confronts Panama-las father. Her father learns the truth, and feels miserable because of it.He tries to take his own life, but the goddess wont let him. The goddess makes him realize, that the huge expectations he had for her, made Panama-la unhappy, and unsure of herself. He starts to cry, regretting that he put so much pressure on her. When the mountain goddess feels that the father has learned his lesson, she turns Panama back into a human.