— Ch. 1 · Strategic Context And Setup —
Second Battle of Fredericksburg.
~4 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
On the 1st of May 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee departed Fredericksburg with the bulk of his Army of Northern Virginia. He left Major General Jubal A. Early to guard the city with a force that included his own division and William Barksdale's brigade. Lee marched west to confront Union Major General Joseph Hooker's main thrust at Chancellorsville. Early received orders to watch the remaining Union forces near Fredericksburg. If attacked and defeated, he was to retreat southward to protect supply lines. The situation required Early to balance holding ground while avoiding destruction by superior numbers. Most of the Confederate force deployed south of Fredericksburg on the morning of May 2. Early misunderstood his instructions and moved most troops toward Chancellorsville that day. Lee corrected the error, forcing Early to return to his positions before dawn on May 3. Union photographers captured images of Confederate officers gathered on the bank from one mile away during late April.
Tactical Deployment And Movements
Major General John Sedgwick commanded the VI Corps, I Corps, and part of the II Corps division under Brigadier General John Gibbon near Fredericksburg. On April 29, Union forces seized several crossings and laid pontoon bridges in the early morning hours. Divisions led by William T. H. Brooks and James S. Wadsworth crossed the Rappahannock River. During the night of May 1, the I Corps reinforced the main army at Chancellorsville. Sedgwick received orders on the evening of May 2 to attack Early with his remaining forces. He moved his units into Fredericksburg at dawn on May 3. His plan initially targeted the ends of Marye's Heights but was blocked by a canal and stream. He shifted focus to attack the center manned by Barksdale's brigade alongside Newton's division. The first attempt failed as Union soldiers could not breach the defenses. A brief truce allowed Union troops to examine the Confederate right flank without consulting their commander. Colonel Thomas M. Griffin of the 18th Mississippi Infantry granted permission for this pause.