| Barksdale's Troops Fight in Streets of Fredericksburg |
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 11, 1862-6 a.m.
Brigadier-General PENDLETON,
Commanding Artillery:
GENERAL: General Longstreet has just reported that the enemy is attempting to cross at Fredericksburg, and is now putting down his pontoon bridges. Ascertain the best position for the two big guns, and bring the to bear.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 11, 1862-4.20 a.m.
Major General E. V. SUMNER,
Commanding Right Grand Division:
In addition to the verbal orders already given you, I will add the following:
Your first corps, after crossing, should be protected by the town and the banks of the river as much as possible until the second corps is well closed up and in the act of crossing; after which you will move the first corps directly to the front, with a view to taking the heights that command the Plank road and the Telegraph road, supporting it by your other corps as soon as you can get it over the river. General Hooker will immediately follow in your support, and will see that your right flank is not troubled.
General Franklin crosses below, as you are aware, thus protecting your left. The extent of your movement to the front beyond the heights will be indicated during the engagement.
Please inform me if you propose to change your headquarters before the head of your column reaches the river, that I may send you guides for the roads. I send one with this. If you desire further instructions, please send word by the orderly.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 11, 1862-4.45 a.m.
Major General JOSEPH HOOKER,
Commanding Center Grand Division:
General Sumner is ordered, after crossing the river, to move immediately to the front, with a view to taking the heights commanding the Plank and Telegraph roads. After crossing, you will hold yourself in readiness to support either his column or General Franklin's, which crosses below Deep Run, and will move down the old Richmond road, in the direction of the railroad. Should we be so fortunate as to dislodge the enemy, you will hold your command in readiness to pursue by the two roads.
My headquarters will be at the Phillips house, where, if you will send an aide at 8 o'clock, guides will be furnished you to lead your column. I will be glad to see you at headquarters before the head of your column reaches the river.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 11, 1862-5.15 a.m.
Major-General FRANKLIN, Commanding Left Grand Division:
General Sumner will, after crossing the river, move immediately to the front, with a view to taking the heights which command the Plank and Telegraph roads. I have ordered General Hooker to hold himself in readiness, as soon as he has crossed the river, to support either General Sumner's column or your own. After your command had crossed, you will move down the old Richmond road, in the direction of the railroad, being governed by circumstances as to the extent of your movements. An aide will be sent to you during your movements.
My headquarters will be at the Phillips house.
I have the honor to be, general, very truly, your obedient servant,
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General of Volunteers.
[DECEMBER 11, 1862.]
Major-General FRANKLIN:
General Burnside directs you to hold your present position. At 12 o'clock all the batteries will open on the town. We will send you the result, and further orders.
JNo. G. PARKE,
Chief of Staff.
DECEMBER 11, 1862.
Major General J. G. PARKE:
Does the 12 o'clock in the message in regard to shelling the town mean noon to-day, or some other time?
FRANKLIN.
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA., December 11, 1862-12.30 p. m.
At 5 a. m. enemy commenced throwing three bridges across river-one at railroad bridge, one at ford above, and one below mouth of Deep Run. They were soon driven from first two, but at third their guns, sweeping the plain in all directions, have driven back our sharpshooters, and their men cannot be molested; bridge is reported nearly completed; our guns command plains should they cross; no attempt to cross yet General W. E. Jones reports Slocum's whole force left Harper's Ferry yesterday in cars for Washington. Milroy reached Petersburg, Hardy County, W. Va., Sunday night. Forces at New Creek moved down the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and entered Martinsburg at sundown yesterday.
R. E. LEE.
DECEMBER 11, 1862.
General BURNSIDE:
The two bridges are finished, one for infantry, the other for artillery.
W. B. FRANKLIN,
Major-General.
GENERAL FRANKLIN'S HEADQUARTERS,
December 11, 1862.
Major-General PARKE,
Chief of Staff:
It is understood there is bridge material enough to construct another additional infantry bridge at my point of crossing. The engineer troops here are entirely exhausted; but I beg of the general, if he has engineers to spare, that he will order the bridge be thrown across during the night.
W. B. FRANKLIN,
Major-General.
DECEMBER 11, 1862-6.30 p.m. [Received 7.40 p.m.]
GENERAL: Our troops now occupy Fredericksburg. We have three bridges opposite the town and two below, with a force on the opposite bank covering them. I expect to cross the rest of my command tomorrow.
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General.
Major-General HALLECK.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 11, 1862-7.45 [p.m.].
[Received 8.45 p.m.]
GENERAL: I was mistaken in saying we had five bridges built. We have succeeded in building four, and hope to have the fifth over before morning. Fredericksburg is occupied by a division of our troops, and I hope to have the main body of our force over early to-morrow. Our loss is very slight.
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General, Commanding.
Major General H. W. HALLECK.
WASHINGTON, December 11, 1862.
Major-General BURNSIDE:
Permit me to suggest the importance of pushing re-enforcements across during the night, so as to be able to resist any attack during the morning. This seems to me of vital importance.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
Series I. Vol. 21, Part 1, Pages 107, 64, 65.
Burnside was able to make a crossing under fire and push back Barksdale's Mississippians from the town. But the defenders delayed the crossing long enough to disrupt Burnside's plans for a more immediate advance against the military road running behind the Confederate lines. As planned, the Union forces would have penetrated to a point near Hamilton's Crossing, on the Confederate right, and from that position flanked Lee out of the strong position he held on the heights above the town. Having failed to do so it was critical, as Halleck noted, to quickly cross enough force during the night to make the bridgehead secure. It is interesting to note the apprehension felt by Halleck for the force in the exposed plain, especially in light of Lee's failure to exploit this weakness after repulsing the main attacks on the 13th.
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