My ancestor was 1Sgt in 136th Penna and was wounded, shot through both legs, during the advance on prospect hill. I’ve walked those fields. He lay on the field wounded after his unit pulled back and remained there on the battlefield for 3 days, when confederates discovered him and took him prisoner. He was transported by rail to Richmond and put into the hellhole, Libby Prison. His wounds untreated, he was lucky to be paroled as he was no longer able to fight, while hundreds of fellow prisoners died there of neglect, disease and starvation. He made his way north somehow, probably by ship and reached the hospital at the Naval academy in Annapolis. He lay there for months but when sufficiently recovered, was mustered out and sent back to home and family in Johnstown, Penna. 50 years after Fredericksburg, he penned a detailed memoir of his experience, which the Family has preserved.

@boomtaylor8297

10 ай бұрын

That's remarkable great you hold 9n to family history

@carywest9256

5 ай бұрын

Isn't that the same Johnstown that was washed away in a flood decades after The War Between the States?

@brt-jn7kg

5 ай бұрын

It's very very likely that my fifth grade grandfather shot at him

@douglasslist3200

Ай бұрын

I do encourage you to be sure that the family gets the keepsake into the public domain. The book Partriots Priests and Rebels is an astounding annotated collection of family papers that is a bit mind blowing because so many original sources help you understand how entirely different the world was back then. A good bit of the material involves living in wartime Fredericksburg.

Fantastic lesson, Jeffrey. I've never been so exhausted after just watching a video. Union actions were the definition of insanity

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

I imagine many of those soldiers and officers knew it was doomed, but they had to do it anyway.

@pagejackson1207

Жыл бұрын

Jeffery rightly pointed out that Franklin was suppose to attack the right flank of the Confederate line at Hamilton's Crossing. That was intended to be the Union's main attack. The effort at Marye's Heights was intended to be a diversion. Burnsides' plan failed to be implemented, in large part, because the orders weren't delivered to Franklin in a timely fashion and those orders were poorly worded and vague, at best, as to many specifics. Franklin was a very conservative officer and place undue weight on Burnside's instructions to guard the river crossings. If Franklin had concentrated his available force on gaining Hamiltion's Crossing he would have been sitting on Lee's LOC and closer to Richmond than Lee's army. As Jeffery's video suggests if Franklin had attacked Jackson's center with more than one single division he had an excellent chance of splitting the Confederate line and breaking Lee's LOC. The battle plan was not insanity but a lack of clarity in the excise of the Union's command and control function resulted in a defeat and thousands of union soldiersbeing needlessly sacrificed. One correction: General Thomas Cobb did not die on the road behind the stone wall. During an interval in the Union attacks General Cobb climbed Marye's Heights and went to the Stephens House which was serving a an HQ. There he was mortally wounded by a Union artillery shell which over-shot the Confederate line at the foot of Marye's Heights.

@jls0037cslewis1

Жыл бұрын

The Union was largely repulsive.

@daveburns3886

Жыл бұрын

It was lee’s ineptitude that lost the day, union strategy was superior

@pagejackson1207

Жыл бұрын

@@daveburns3886 Strange that you should say that about the Battle of Fredericksburg which was an overwhelming Confederate victory.

Excellent presentation. The geographical editing of the modern satellite landscape is very well done. Thank you for your work on this video

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@bernardjeanmarie14

Жыл бұрын

may I Concur

@bernardjeanmarie14

Жыл бұрын

My address is Berny Dolan.

@carywest9256

5 ай бұрын

​@@JeffreytheLibrarianThe heights above Fredericksburg is pronounced Marie's Heights, although spelt Marye's Heights. A common mistake!

It’s impressive to know all of this, even given the internet. Let alone actually making an hour long video that’s highly detailed and shows the organization of the units at specific times and as with updates such as moral and ammo. Be proud of yourself for this.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated! That means a lot to me.

Always a good day when this channel posts a new civil war video!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Most wonderfully done. And you took the time to clear up the usual name confusion!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

10 ай бұрын

thank you!

I love these videos. Thank you!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

Great Video love the attention to detail i would ask you do the Battle of Chickamuaga next as it is a large battle and quite unknown

was so excited when i woke up and saw you uploaded this. i’ll save it for tonight (not because it’s boring) i think i retain the most information subconsciously

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Excellent! I hope you enjoy it!

As always, so well researched and presented. Wonderful visuals Thank you, Jeff

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

This is a good video to watch along with Frank O'Reilly's video on Fredericksburg. Glad you composed and researched this whole thing. Thanks.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Epic. Outstanding brief on the operations at Fredericksburg in December 1862. No book has done it better. Mesmerizing.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, that means a lot to me.

This is a phenomenal break down, I used to live near Fredericksburg and have toured the battlefield several times. This helps me understand the heroic actions so much better. Thank you.

Aweosome, provided information I did not know. Will have to revisit parts that I was not aware were more important then the stories tell.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

loving these civil war videos. never thought it would be subject i would be interested in before.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

The Civil War is about as dramatic as life can get.

Well done. Fast paced enough and highlighted graphics synced with the narration so that even I couldn't get lost. Bravo.

Jeffrey that has to be one of the most exhaustingly researched videos on KZread. You did an outstanding job researching this battle and putting it in a format that makes it completely understandable. As much as I know about the battle you have still managed to increase my understanding. I hope to see the same effort for the BullRuns and Chancellorsville campaigns. Bravo. Outstanding!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, sir! That is much appreciated. Yes, we will continue to do more Civil War videos. Bull Run and Chancellorsville are on the list.

Just watched the Shilo battle, Holy Cow!! these are incredible. Making these battles so easy to understand. Well done!!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

This is what the people want! Thanks for making this its my favorite kind of videos from you. You make these videos better than anyone.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! That means a lot to me.

@mrdinkelpuss4000

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian It would be cool if you reached out to Vlogging Through History. He breaks down other peoples videos and adds his 2 cents. He loves civil war videos and has a good following. If he reviewed one of your videos it would highlight your channel more and hopefully inspire you to make more incredible battle break downs like this. He takes video recommendations from his fans ill ask him to break one of your videos down.

Excellent presentation.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great video. Really appreciate the detail and map references for the different units involved

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

great job love these kind of videos thanks for your time to make them very well done.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

One of the interesting theories about the rationale of Burnside's logic was that he thought the men were simply too cowardly, and just needed one unit that wouldn't falter and fall back. This is why he kept doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

This brings back memories of when childish me was reading up on this battle among the others and it hit me that the Civil War was really the exact same military madness as WW1, just without the technology. A formally trained officer class which insisted on using the exact same tactics over and over and over, and not only failing to learn from their own mistakes but repeating the mistakes of their enemies from prior battles. After that, I cannot look at military 'science' and tactics as anything other than something like pro-wrestling where the play is the purpose and the fighting just a disgusting show.

Fantastic videos, thank you so much for all the hard work. My family lives on the Manassas Battlefields and have walked them more than any other area. I've been to Fburg so much as well that this really helps me visualize all that I've seen over the years. I would love to see a video like this about the battle of Manassas and sounding areas sometime. Thank you again!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

I'm just getting started. I will continue to do Civil War battles, so Manasses is on the list.

@brianpoague

Жыл бұрын

@Jeffrey the Librarian I figured it would get touched on at some point and very excited for it. Thank you again for the time and hard work

Well done, thank you for doing this. I can't wait for the next one.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Man imagine sitting in a classroom or office in one of those buildings built on the open fairgrounds and not ever knowing how many people may have died right where youre sitting! Crazy.

Superb !

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

This was awesome. Im from Fredericksburg 😊 thank you for such a detailed video..i learn by watching

@JeffreytheLibrarian

8 ай бұрын

Thank you, friend! That's such a nice part of America.

I have my favorite Civil War channels, and yours just happened to pop up. Glad I clicked on it. I enjoy the detailed descriptions of the battle actions you provide. Very well researched and informative. You've earned a new subscriber! Thank you.

Jeffery, wonderful video! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more detailed version of the Fredericksburg battle! I visited the battlefield last year and from the sunken road, you really can’t get a good perspective of the fairgrounds! Thanks for the detail!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, sir!

I've been hoping that you'd do this battle. THANK YOU!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

I will keep expanding the scenarios. We are just starting.

Even today, when you stand at the stone wall at Fredericksburg and look down, the Federal assault looks impossible. Of course, 6 months later at Gettysburg, Lee attempts a similar maneuver with Pickett's brigade against the Angle.

Very well done, sir.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

11 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Fantastic work! Thanks

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Hope you get this message. My ancestor Col. Daniel Leasure was the founder of the 100th PA Inf. Reg. " Roundheads". I do know that he fought at this battle. I'm not sure if he was a Regimental or Battalion commander at this battle. I'm pretty sure most of what he commanded was Battalions. Any info you have would be appreciated. Also this was a fantastic breakdown of the battle.

Well reported! Thank you!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

When I was stationed at Quantico, I owned a house and seven acres on Spotswood Furnace Rd west of town - near Salem Church. I went to the Sunken Road frequently. Very humbling. The stories of the crying wounded through the night were heart wrenching. I hope the battlefields have not been consumed by greedy developers since 2005.

Great Vid.. from Hill Manassas VA.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

Thanks!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you, friend! I greatly appreciate your contribution.

Very Very well done!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Very very very very very very very very very well done

@JeffreytheLibrarian

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

My favorite civil war battle!

Again, another excellent video! Thank you for your all of your thorough work. I do have 3 questions: what was the elevation of Marye's Heights compared to the Union position and/or the ravine? Second question, you mentioned HW Halleck chiding Burnside about sending battle details over the telegraph, do we know if Lee was aware of Union plans specifically at Fredericksburg because of Burnside's big mouth? And a general question: were farmers compensated for crops lost/damaged by a battle on their farm?

@johnjohnson3447

Жыл бұрын

In general, farmers were not compensated. Foraging for food stuff (farm animals, chickens, pigs, cows and produce was widespread and common. Battle damage was just too bad. Pillage and burning was widespread and notorious in several Union campaigns: Shenandoah valley, GA, SC etc

@mustbtrouble

Жыл бұрын

@@johnjohnson3447 the entire goal of Lee's incursions into Maryland and Pennsylvania was pillaging. All armies generally conducted themselves similarly.

This is great! Jeffrey kicks ass!

The incompetence of Fredericksburg makes this Union man SICK. I marvel that the average soldiers did not abandon the cause due to poor leadership

“IF” the biggest word in the English language. My dad said this to me in the 1960’s.

Perhaps either a compass rose or arrow pointing north for different maps would help with orientation? I'm really getting a lot of clarity from your videos, just trying to keep up..

I really like your civil war videos. Can you do one one Chattanooga.? Thanks

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation. I plan on continuing to do more Civil War battles, so I will get to Chattanooga.

@---------353

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian yep. You bring it all in. Tographie, big picture, little picture of the entire battlefield. Tactical moves and responses thrown in too. Excellent. Just excellent. Thank you.

You barely mentioned Pelham, "Here Major John Pelham, commanding Stuart’s Horse Artillery, executed a stunning flank attack on advancing Union troops during the Battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862. Reduced to one cannon, the 24-year-old Pelham halted the Federals for almost two hours by employing the flying artillery tactics that he had perfected. Observing from a nearby hilltop, Lee exclaimed, “It is glorious to see such courage in one so young! Lee’s battle report commended “the gallant Pelham.”

Excellent videos! Would you care to share what software you use to make them? Thank you

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I use good old-fashioned Microsoft Paint3D.

correct me if I'm wrong but the confederates on Marys Heights couldn't touch Stafford Heights guns or if they could lee only had a few guns of the size to be able to accurately shoot that far.

My great great great uncle Captain Wesley Mellard Co H 13th Mississippi Infantry Barksdales brigade fought at Fredericksburg

Why didn't the union stop trying against the stonewall and try somewhere else?

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

The rebel line was probably impenetrable the whole way down. The Army of the Potomac was really bottlenecked because there were few ways across the millrace except Hanover Street. Also, I think Burnside had it in his head that he was going to concentrate everything on one point. In hindsight, it would have just made sense to cross the Rappahannock River at a different location after the Confederate army had arrived and entrenched itself. Burnside is kind of the opposite of McClellan. McClellan would try once, determine something was hard, and not commit. Burnside would throw everything in, again, and again, and again.

@lawsonj39

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Talk about the definition of insanity! Unbelievable that Burnside was allowed to continue to command troops after this debacle; he should have been court-martialed, broken, and tossed out of the service--or worse.

@crimony3054

Жыл бұрын

Burnside believed that the Confederates would counter-attack if he did not keep up the pressure. Grant made as many terribly foolish decisions too, but one thing Grant would not do that Burnside did do -- Grant would not go backwards.

@valjean76

10 ай бұрын

Grant would disengage a bad position and redeploy though.

Ambrose Burnside overthinking it: they must be expecting us to attack from where our army is so they therefore must not be expecting that. They are definitely expecting the attack elsewhere so we will attack exactly where they are and are not expecting it.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

10 ай бұрын

Classic overthinking. Hit them where they are the most powerful, because they wouldn't expect it...

By the way, I live near Fredericksburg, and Sophia Street is not pronounced "So-FEE-uh" but rather "Suh-FIE-uh" .. I don't know why.

I had to stop watching at 38:07 - I don't really want to know how it plays out. SMH at Union's ---- am at true loss for a word to describe it. No battle should have even been considered at that location. You knew it was doomed well before the bridges arrived - just by looking at the terrain! No wonder Lincoln about lost his mind!!!

Unique spelling of Virginia Check it out Viriginia

Excellent presentation! One quibble... it's pronounced Marye's Heights in the way one might say "Marie's" (ma-REEs) rather than "Mary's" (MAYR-ees). Someone has to be that native Fredericksburg accent around here! But well done... very well done.

@teamjay2837

Жыл бұрын

👍 I live in Chancellor and came to comments for that and Sophia St. We pronounce it As"So-pheye-uh." Great video!

@shaunvernonkenney

Жыл бұрын

@@teamjay2837 -- and then there's "fred-RICKS-berg" rather than "fred-er-ICKS-berg". who needs four syllables when three will do!

@mustbtrouble

Жыл бұрын

nobody cares

@shaunvernonkenney

Жыл бұрын

@@mustbtrouble you did.

Bluecoats = blueberries

falmouth- the town at the mouth of the river fal, cornwall, uk. i know how a lot of american towns get their names- someone or some folks arrived from falmouth mass. or falmouth, cornwall, im doubting falmouth, jamaica, and said we'll name this place falmouth. anybody know who and what falmouth. i come from (the only) bodmin, cornwall, uk.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Greetings, UK! It's probably named after the Falmouth in the UK. Eastern Virginia is old for America. Fredericksburg has towns named after the English royal family, because they are from the colonial period, so I would bet that Falmouth, Virginia was founded by folks from that town in the UK.

@hvymettle

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Falmouth was first settled by English colonists in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1686. Bartholomew Gosnold named the settlement for Falmouth, Cornwall, England, his home port.

Thanks. Burnside was another indecisive bum of a general. Lol

Who would win General Burnside in command of 130,000 troops Or One Stonewall

Too much to follow.

how stupid can anybody - except union generals- be to attack frontal over open ground ennemy behind fortification to receive deadly fire. No idea to circumvent the ennemy and take the advantage away from him. What a useless waste of soldiers. Is this what american officers learnt at sandhurst...

Holy shit my house is literally just outside of the video at 3:47 Edit: holy shit my house is in the video at 13:48 haha Edit: omg the other house I lived in is just outside of view at 25:58 lmao

I live near the Rappahanock River, and the history here used to be explored by tourists. Not so much today, because the Woke are removing all Confederate Historical Markers and monuments.

The plan was stupid to begin with. Was too predictable.

Seems crazy to go against the stonewall, waste of men and foolish 🙄