150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA...

[MichaelWinicki]

Not many Civil War battles were fought during the month of December, however two would come within a couple weeks of each other during December 1862... This one, fought inside and out, the City of Fredericksburg, VA along the Rappahannock River and the Battle of Stones River, in Tennessee at the end of December.

Fredericksburg was one of the most one-side battles of the war with the Union losing over 12,000 casualties and the Confederacy less than half that amount.

Many of the Union losses were taken when several brave, but suicidal charges were attempted against a well fortified Confederate position just east of town. Seven Union divisions were sacrificed in the effort.

This is not to say the North had no opportunity to win the battle. Early in the day, along a stretch of railroad, south of town a brief breakthrough of Confederate lines took place, but no reserves were pushed forward to take advantage.

The night of December 13th was frigid and many of the wounded literally froze to the ground.

[burmafrd]

Just to prove some people never learn we had Cold Harbor in 1864. The only battlefield mistake Grant ever admitted to.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Just to prove some people never learn we had Cold Harbor in 1864. The only battlefield mistake Grant ever admitted to.

That type of life-wasting suicidal charge has been a staple of the military for far too long.

The eastern front in WW2 was one suicidal charge after another.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

That type of life-wasting suicidal charge has been a staple of the military for far too long.

The eastern front in WW2 was one suicidal charge after another.

well with the Russians they used penal battalions and had MGs at their back. They were given a choice- be killed by them or the Germans.

The Red Army would march a penal battalion right over a mine field to clear it.

[tomson75]

Attended college in Fredericksburg briefly...great little town with a ton of history. Some great stories from that place. I've walked those battlefields many times.

Used to be a great little bar there that pays homage to the Irish Brigade...

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by tomson75

Attended college in Fredericksburg briefly...great little town with a ton of history. Some great stories from that place. I've walked those battlefields many times.

Used to be a great little bar there that pays homage to the Irish Brigade...

I'll tell ya, if I could go back in time and witness the charge of the Irish Brigade towards the wall, with those green flags just a fluttering... Well being there in a way that I couldn't get kurplunked by a minie... That would have been something to see.

[Bizwah]

Oh man....General Burnside was the Dave Campo of Union generals.

Many acts of heroism in that battle. I like the story of Private Kirkland. He couldn't stand to hear the suffering of the Union troops on the other side of the wall and leapt over during the fighting to give water to the wounded.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Bizwah

Oh man....General Burnside was the Dave Campo of Union generals.

Many acts of heroism in that battle. I like the story of Private Kirkland. He couldn't stand to hear the suffering of the Union troops on the other side of the wall and leapt over during the fighting to give water to the wounded.

Some might say the "Jerry Jones", but the "Dave Campo" works.

When the first person penned the description of the "Peter Principle" i.e. that in business, people are promoted into jobs with duties they cannot fulfill, that they had Ambrose Burnside in mind.

And it's not like Burnside was any great shakes as a corps commander. His performance at Antietam was horrid. I've never understood his promotion to commander of the army except that he was not George McClellan or one his minions.

[Diogenes]

McClellan: Jerry (Massive ego without the results)

Burnside: Campo (Incompetent and in over their heads)

Grant: Jimmy (Took chances and always kept the pressure on. Relentless)

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Diogenes

McClellan: Jerry (Massive ego without the results)

Burnside: Campo (Incompetent and in over their heads)

Grant: Jimmy (Took chances and always kept the pressure on. Relentless)

LOL!

Jerry might be a better match with John Bell Hood... impetuous, rash.

[Diogenes]

If anyone here is a Civil War nut like I am, has several months to kill and hasn't already read Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative, I would highly recommend you do so.

[Bizwah]

Originally Posted by Diogenes

If anyone here is a Civil War nut like I am, has several months to kill and hasn't already read Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative, I would highly recommend you do so.

On my Nook.