Home » History » American Civil War » Fredericksburg, Part 2: Franklin Attacks Jackson

Fredericksburg, Part 2: Franklin Attacks Jackson

© Michael J. Swogger

The bands silent and the men cold and on edge, the engineers began building three pontoon bridges in front of the town and three more to the south around 2 a.m. on December 11. The men to the south had little trouble doing their work. But the unarmed and utterly defenseless men near Fredericksburg working under the cover of darkness extended the bridges closer and closer to the 1,600 Confederate troops under General William Barksdale who lined the opposite bank of the river. These men had been ordered to slow the Federal crossing as long as possible before retiring to the main line on the heights. The eager Southern soldiers could hear the voices of the engineers and the sound of heavy equipment being used.

When the engineers came within 80 yards of Confederate sharpshooters, they found themselves under attack. Unable to work under such conditions, the engineers retreated away from the bridges while Federal cannon opened fire on the Rebel line across the river. Hour after hour passed with no luck in silencing the well-hidden sharpshooters. It wasn't until 1 p.m. when all the Federal guns--nearly 100--opened fire on the town. Still, even after 5,000 shells were lobbed into the city, Barksdale's men would not leave. It finally took four regiments using the pontoons as boats, navigated by the engineers, to cross under heavy fire and rid the town of Confederates. This happened at 4:30, over 14 hours after the engineers began the work (Goolrick, 1985). The Federals lost 97 men on this mission.

The bridges built and much of the Federal force now on the other side of the river, the town was in Burnside's hands. But he did little to continue the advance. By the time night fell, Barksdale's Confederates were safe behind the stone wall on Marye's Heights and Burnside's army had yet to make its attack. The next day was more of the same--more troops crossing the river and more strategic contemplation. The inactivity of the army made way for looting, stealing what they could carry and smashing everything else. Goolrick (1985) describes the scene:

They smashed mirrors, fine china and alabaster vases; mutilated books, paintings, and embroidered draperies; and chopped up antique furniture for firewood. Rosewood pianos were piled in the streets and burned, or employed as horse troughs, or wrecked by soldiers who danced atop the instruments and kicked the keyboards apart. The streets filled with soldiers dressed in women's clothes and tall silk hats, and the sacking took on a bizarre, carnival-like quality. "It was ludicrous to see some men come along with large doll babies and children's toys, wigs on and white beavers and bonnets," wrote Private Alfred Davenport of the 5th New York. "But it made me feel sad to think how comfortable the home were in time of peace now turned into desolation" (p. 54).

General William B. Franklin

Michael and Prince Jackson

The copyright of the article Fredericksburg, Part 2: Franklin Attacks Jackson in American Civil War is owned by . Permission to republish Fredericksburg, Part 2: Franklin Attacks Jackson in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.