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re: One of the great debacles in American military history occurred 162 years ago today...
Posted on 12/13/24 at 1:33 pm to Purplehaze
Posted on 12/13/24 at 1:33 pm to Purplehaze
quote:
Burnside decided to stick to his plan despite getting reports of cattle crossing the river from Hancock. Had they sent a regiment across to establish a perimeter, more regiments could have come across and Lee would have been flanked.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and I am by no means a Burnside defender, but the man had valid concerns. Winter is always unpredictable and while that ford might have been there one day, it wouldn't have necessarily been there the next due to variations in the water levels. Plus he was operating under the assumption (backed up by assurances from the War Department) that the arrival of the pontoons were imminent.
It also must be noted that the Lincoln administration was applying more political pressure than usual on their commanding generals in the field to achieve some kind of major victory before the New Year due to the losses Republicans had taken in the midterms that November.
This post was edited on 12/13/24 at 1:36 pm
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Posted on 12/13/24 at 1:34 pm to michael corleone
quote:
understand why Burnside attacked the heights
The first assault which was to be a diversion to pin and hold Lee while he had Franklin assault Jackson on the left?
Maybe. He had lost the element of surprise and it negated his numerical and artillery superiority out of play, but I accept that risks will always need to be taken when crossing a river in the presence of the enemy.
Had Meade been reinforced with the troops who later were sent against Maryes Heights he might’ve won or at least forced Lee to pivot.
But the piecemeal assaults after things had ended on the flank were the actions of an imbecile or a man more afraid of telling Lincoln he’d lost than of throwing away the lives of thousands of his men.
Posted on 12/13/24 at 2:11 pm to michael corleone
quote:
Gettysburg is quite similar. When you stand on Seminary Ridge and look across to toward Cemetery Ridge and the round tops, It appears that they can be taken with the proper frontal assault and flanking maneuver. When standing on LRT or Cemetery Ridge, they appear to be the perfect defensive positions that cannot be penetrated. Add In a little hubris and political pressure and you understand why Burnside attacked the heights and Lee LTR and CR.
I've never visited the battlefield at Fredericksburg, but I've been to Gettysburg three or four times. What you wrote is so accurate.
Posted on 12/13/24 at 2:43 pm to tide06
No amount of cotton was worth all this
Posted on 12/13/24 at 2:59 pm to RollTide1987
The story goes: Lee, who worried about everything, asked Longstreet if he thought the Union soldiers could cross the field in front of them. Longstreet replied, “General, a chicken couldn’t get across that field.”
Posted on 12/13/24 at 3:01 pm to LeeeroyJenkins
principle of determining the govt you chose.
—a govt that supported slavery. So yes, slavery was the ultimate cause of the CW.
—a govt that supported slavery. So yes, slavery was the ultimate cause of the CW.
Posted on 12/13/24 at 3:04 pm to cypresstiger
quote:
The story goes: Lee, who worried about everything, asked Longstreet if he thought the Union soldiers could cross the field in front of them. Longstreet replied, “General, a chicken couldn’t get across that field.”
That was actually Colonel Edward Porter Alexander, Longstreet's chief of artillery, who said that.
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