Just had an idea regarding Fredricksburg. . .

Art

Monthly Donor
If Burnside had forded the river before the pontoon train, which was delayed in a bureaucratic foul-up, actually arrived, late, could he have secured the town and the heights beyond it and made a successful advance on Richmond. The Army Of The Potomac before Meade and Grant are in command is a succession of commanders who simply can't decide to advance and keep advancing until the enemy has retreated into a position from which he can only surrender. McDowell, McClellan, Pope, Burnside, and Hooker all bungled away tens of thousands of men and the morale of the army, with the exception of McClellan for morale.
 

ben0628

Banned
If Burnside had forded the river before the pontoon train, which was delayed in a bureaucratic foul-up, actually arrived, late, could he have secured the town and the heights beyond it and made a successful advance on Richmond. The Army Of The Potomac before Meade and Grant are in command is a succession of commanders who simply can't decide to advance and keep advancing until the enemy has retreated into a position from which he can only surrender. McDowell, McClellan, Pope, Burnside, and Hooker all bungled away tens of thousands of men and the morale of the army, with the exception of McClellan for morale.

Would have secured the heights but getting to Richmond is debatable. Probably not though
 
If Burnside has crossed early, then Lee would be prepared to fight in North Anna. A position where he could easily give the Army of the Potomac a bloody nose.
 

Art

Monthly Donor
As bad a bloody nose as Fredricksburg itself? 14,000 + casualties to about 5,000?
 
As bad a bloody nose as Fredricksburg itself? 14,000 + casualties to about 5,000?
The nature of the terrain gives Lee a great advantage. If Lee deployed in the historical inverted V formation that he used in 1864, then Burnside's army would be broken into three parts- one on the Telegraph Road, another at Ox Ford, and a third at Jericho Mills. Each flank would have to cross the river twice to reinforce the other.

If Lee entrenches and Burnside attacks, then Burnside will most likely be repulsed. A serious assault on Ox Ford's bluffs would be like Mayne's Heights. After Burnside is repulsed, Lee will have an opportunity to destroy an element of the AotP. With the AotP and the artillery reserve already split, this is Lee's best opportunity to inflict serious damage to the AotP.

However, while the AotP has suffered serious losses, I am quite certain that Lee will suffer serious losses destroying that certain element, perhaps losses that would be far worse than Fredricksburg.
 
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