The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
In November 1862, just four days after his promotion to commander of the Army of the Potomac, Ambrose Burnside moved his army to Fredericksburg, Virginia, directly across the Rappahannock River on Marye's Heights and Prospect Hill. The ensuing engagement, climaxing on December 13, stretched for miles, involved hundreds of thousands of men, produced staggering, unequal casualties (13,000 Federal soldiers compared to 4,500 Confederates), ruined the career of Burnside, embarrassed Abraham Lincoln, and distinguished Lee as one of the greatest military strategists of his era. THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN, by Francis O'Reilly, is the definitive military study of this controversial operation. O'Reilly describes the gruesome struggle's tactical movements in vivid detail, integrating eyewitness accounts from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest private soldier to produce a seamless narrative. Woven within the broader military and political events are gripping stories from civilians trapped between opposing armies.
Drawing upon his intimate knowledge of the battlegrounds, the author discusses the unprecedented nature of Fredericksburg's warfare. It saw the first purposeful bombardment of an American city, the first urban street fighting in North America, and the first bridgehead landing under fire in American military history. O'Reilly analyzes the strategy of the commanders, the difficulty in logistics and delay in pontoon bridging, and the political pressure from Lincoln for a victory, which overrode practical considerations.
A traditional battle study that makes for compulsive reading, THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN is sure to become a classic.
About the Author
Francis Augustin O'Reilly is also the author of STONEWALL JACKSON AT FREDERICKSBURG: THE BATTLE OF PROSPECT HILL. He has written numerous articles on the Civil War and conducted extensive battlefield studies and tours throughout Virginia.
The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock,Francis Augustin O'Reilly,Louisiana State University Press,0807128090,Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fre,Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862,History,History - Military / War,History: American,Military - Other,Military - United States,Military History - U.S. Civil War,U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877),United States - Civil War,United States - General,American history: c 1800 to c 1900,USA,Virginia,Warfare & Defence,c 1800 to c 1900
Books Report:
Recommended Books