The first battle of Fredericksburg

“My God, General Reynolds, did they think my division could whip Lee's whole army?”—Major General George G. Meade to Major General John F. Reynolds, on the afternoon of December 13

"If there is a worse place than hell, I am in it.”—President Abraham Lincoln upon hearing of Burnside’s defeat at Fredericksburg

The first battle of Fredericksburg marked a new low point in the civil war for the Union. With over 200,000 soldiers on the field, it was the largest battle in the war. Notwithstanding his overwhelming superiority in numbers, Major General Ambrose E. Burnside’s frontal assault, conducted from disadvantaged terrain, against Lieutenant General “Stonewall” Jackson’s soldiers proved disastrous. The lack of speed in the attack and the inability to synchronize efforts when the attack was made allowed the numerically inferior force to defeat Union generals piecemeal. However, through the darkness of defeat there shined a promising light—the leadership of Major General Meade and the heroic actions his division.

Meade, a division commander in Reynolds’ I Corps, had at his disposal on the morning of the 12 December 1862 three brigades and four artillery batteries. First Brigade, under Col. William Sinclair, and Second Brigade, commanded by Col. A.L. Magilton, both consisted of six regiments. Third Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. C. Feger Jackson, consisted of five regiments. The four batteries each had four guns. Two batteries were light 12-pounders, commanded by Captain D.R. Ransom and Lieut. J.G. Simpson, and two were 3-inch rifled guns, commanded by Capts. J.H. Cooper and F.P. Amsden. In total, Meade commanded approximately 4,500 men.

On the morning of December 12, VI Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. William F....

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...ter write, “What will be done next I cannot tell. Burnside, I presume, is a dead cock in the pit.” To Halleck, leading back in Washington D.C., Meade would pen “It is understood Halleck says, ‘This army shall go to Richmond, if it has to go on crutches,’ which (as over 10,000 cripples were made the other day) seems likely to occur before long.” For Meade’s efforts he would be promoted to Major General. Meade’s leadership at Fredericksburg would serve the Union well during the remaining years of the war.

Though Fredericksburg was arguably the biggest blow to both the morale of the Union Army and the leaders in Washington, the leadership and courage demonstrated on Prospect Hill would find its way into a future battle. In this battle, Meade would find himself at the helm of decision making. At Gettysburg Meade would make Lee feel the pain of Fredericksburg.