A few years ago, on this very weekend, I was in Fredericksburg, Virginia, touring this town, its Civil War battlefield, and other nearby famous Civil War sites. As it was Memorial Day, there were many re-enactors out in full uniform representing both sides of that bloody conflict.
Pictured here are Confederate soldiers, camped just outside of town along the Rappahannock River (which can be seen in the background). Across the river was another encampment of Union soldiers.
Here, in December of 1862, Union troops under the command of General Ambrose Burnside, gathered to assault the town. General Lee, was caught off-guard by the Union movement and was forced to rush reinforcements into the area. He was helped by Burnside who refused to cross the river until a shipment of pontoon bridges arrived from Washington, even though there was a way to cross the river without bridges. The bridges were late in arriving, giving Lee extra time to bring in his troops.
After the bridges were put in place, and under heavy rebel fire, Federal troops crossed over and eventually took the town, looting as they went. Lee withdrew on purpose, to force the Federals to attack uphill at a place called Marye’s Heights. They did and were mowed down mercilessly by Confederate Fire. Still, Burnside kept sending wave after wave of troops, 16 in all, to assault the heights, all of whom suffered the same fate. Finally, Burnside called off the assault and retreated back across the river.
There were other parts of this battle too numerous to mention here, but suffice it to say it was a disaster for the Union. Burnside was shortly replaced by General Joseph Hooker, who himself suffered a major defeat a few months later at nearby Chancellorsville. Seven months later, these two massive armies would meet again in Pennsylvania at a place called Gettysburg.
Two days after taking this photo, I also went to Gettysburg to round out my very special Memorial Day weekend. These places will forever be burned into my memory.
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