The Confederates begin their advance. The advance in the north begins well, but things soon begin to break down. The yelling and jostling at the canals holds the attack up and leads to troops getting mixed up. Several Battalions march straight into the canal, with dozens killed from drowning. The Union sentries hear the commotion and send out troops to investigate, soon discovering the night attack. The Union camp hurriedly begins to arm up, while Union skirmishers fire into the troops crossing the canal, inflicting disproportionate casualties. A Confederate Captain seizes the initiative and manages to lead a mob of soldiers to charge the skirmishers, only to slam into another confederate unit, inflicting heavy casualties in a fierce melee with his own side. More Union skirmishers pour in, while messengers get the artillery on the heights to open up on the canal, first with carcass, then with shrapnel.
In the chaos, the Confederate troops inflict more casualties on each other than they do the enemy. Finally, the attackers begin to fall back. Those on the other side of the canal quickly withdraw, but the troops who have already crossed it have to swim or wade through, or struggle across the packed bridges. Many attempt to surrender, or are blown apart by the shrapnel and rifle fire-the Union army is focusing everything they have on the bridges.
To the south, the Confederate army advances to attack the rest of the Union force, but units charge in the wrong direction, get into firefights with their own men, or are pinned down by Union rifle fire when they get into range. Those few units that get into hand-to-hand give a good account of themselves, but are soon overwhelmed by raw numbers. The attack withdraws in shambles, and the next morning, Lee withdraws with his army in shambles before the Union forces can push their advantage.
The Union army ends up taking 1,200 prisoners and inflicting about 3,000 casualties, while losing only a few hundred men. The battle of Fredericksburg goes down in history as one of Lee's worst mistake, and as a costly Union victory.
In the chaos, the Confederate troops inflict more casualties on each other than they do the enemy. Finally, the attackers begin to fall back. Those on the other side of the canal quickly withdraw, but the troops who have already crossed it have to swim or wade through, or struggle across the packed bridges. Many attempt to surrender, or are blown apart by the shrapnel and rifle fire-the Union army is focusing everything they have on the bridges.
To the south, the Confederate army advances to attack the rest of the Union force, but units charge in the wrong direction, get into firefights with their own men, or are pinned down by Union rifle fire when they get into range. Those few units that get into hand-to-hand give a good account of themselves, but are soon overwhelmed by raw numbers. The attack withdraws in shambles, and the next morning, Lee withdraws with his army in shambles before the Union forces can push their advantage.
The Union army ends up taking 1,200 prisoners and inflicting about 3,000 casualties, while losing only a few hundred men. The battle of Fredericksburg goes down in history as one of Lee's worst mistake, and as a costly Union victory.
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