Lincoln's agonizing search for a candidate competent to lead the Union army is miserably punctuated by failure after failure. You tell the story so well! I just finished Akinson's An Army at Dawn, about the WW2 Africa campaign, and a similar early string of failed generals is, for awhile, a plague on the ultimate success of the Allies. This was a great piece, thank you!
The story of botched logistics and particularly quartermastering weapons and materiel in the landing craft on the African coast, in Atkinson's book is reminiscent of botched landing pontoons at Fredricksberg. Happens in every war it seems. Agree, a well organized and really readable essay ,librarian!
I live about ten miles from Fredericksburg and have toured those sites many times. This is one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle I have ever read.
There’s an equestrian statue of Burnside in a park named after him in our downtown capital here in RI.
Since its original dedication, nicely situated next to what was a beautiful gilded age train station and City Hall, it is now the terminus of city bus traffic and a gathering place for transients. Slightly seedy, filled with trash and almost comically forlorn.
Generally speaking “just keep throwing men at it” was the solution to the civil war. Grant eventually did it and won, and there were times before 1864 when it would have worked too.
That said, it was possible to screw up “just throw men at it” so badly that the union could lose, and Fredericksburg was a good example of that.
I think the big problem is that every single union general understood that “as long as I don’t lose my whole army in the field we will win this war”.
Which was true, and it did work, and the 1864 confederates were a weaker and easier foe to finally vanquish. It was just such a fucking costly way to win in the end.
Lee by contrast knew the opposite “I have to defeat them in the field or we lose” and that led to him doing crazy ass shit that threw off the other side. Eventually that attitude met its end in pickets charge.
I’m not sure if this story is true or merely apocryphal, but “it is said that” using the term hookers to describe prostitutes stems from the fact that Gen. Hooker (who, as you mentioned, was a partier) had so many camp followers that it slowed down his progress when he had to move troops. Allegedly, Union soldiers saw the rag-tag parade, and asked the greycoats what was going on. “Oh”, said a Confederate soldier, “them’s Hookers”!
That's apparently a myth; the term was in use before Joseph Hooker was a public figure, and probably refers to the ladies of Corlear's Hook in New York.
Every source I can find simply describes "a rival" as being responsible for bribing Secretary of War John Floyd to break Burnside's contract. I'd actually be curious. New England was the locus of gun manufacturing in America at the time, so it could be a lot of people.
Librarian, these are fabulous essays. And your dry captions are hilarious. I'm an all - but paid subscriber. If my post Christmas morale is up to it, I'm in.
Lincoln's agonizing search for a candidate competent to lead the Union army is miserably punctuated by failure after failure. You tell the story so well! I just finished Akinson's An Army at Dawn, about the WW2 Africa campaign, and a similar early string of failed generals is, for awhile, a plague on the ultimate success of the Allies. This was a great piece, thank you!
Thank you, and that is a great book.
The story of botched logistics and particularly quartermastering weapons and materiel in the landing craft on the African coast, in Atkinson's book is reminiscent of botched landing pontoons at Fredricksberg. Happens in every war it seems. Agree, a well organized and really readable essay ,librarian!
Sad that war is generally the tale of young men dying for the hubris and incompetence of old men. Some things don't change.
I live about ten miles from Fredericksburg and have toured those sites many times. This is one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle I have ever read.
There’s an equestrian statue of Burnside in a park named after him in our downtown capital here in RI.
Since its original dedication, nicely situated next to what was a beautiful gilded age train station and City Hall, it is now the terminus of city bus traffic and a gathering place for transients. Slightly seedy, filled with trash and almost comically forlorn.
That his glorious statue is a refuge for hapless losers is somehow fitting.
Generally speaking “just keep throwing men at it” was the solution to the civil war. Grant eventually did it and won, and there were times before 1864 when it would have worked too.
That said, it was possible to screw up “just throw men at it” so badly that the union could lose, and Fredericksburg was a good example of that.
I think the big problem is that every single union general understood that “as long as I don’t lose my whole army in the field we will win this war”.
Which was true, and it did work, and the 1864 confederates were a weaker and easier foe to finally vanquish. It was just such a fucking costly way to win in the end.
Lee by contrast knew the opposite “I have to defeat them in the field or we lose” and that led to him doing crazy ass shit that threw off the other side. Eventually that attitude met its end in pickets charge.
I’m not sure if this story is true or merely apocryphal, but “it is said that” using the term hookers to describe prostitutes stems from the fact that Gen. Hooker (who, as you mentioned, was a partier) had so many camp followers that it slowed down his progress when he had to move troops. Allegedly, Union soldiers saw the rag-tag parade, and asked the greycoats what was going on. “Oh”, said a Confederate soldier, “them’s Hookers”!
That's apparently a myth; the term was in use before Joseph Hooker was a public figure, and probably refers to the ladies of Corlear's Hook in New York.
Sad, the other story is better.
Great piece. “Killer Angels” is my favorite Civil War read.
It's a classic for a reason. I always recommend the works of S. C. Gwynn, especially Rebel Yell and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
I can't help but wonder if the competition who sideswiped Burnside's breechloading carbine design went by the name of Morgan.
Every source I can find simply describes "a rival" as being responsible for bribing Secretary of War John Floyd to break Burnside's contract. I'd actually be curious. New England was the locus of gun manufacturing in America at the time, so it could be a lot of people.
Forgot to mention. First use of trench warfare, superceded by the tank (WW1), then by aircraft (WW2), now superceded by the drone.
Drones are the Stosstruppen: (hypersonic) missile artillery will supercede WW2 legancy of Airsuperiority.
Librarian, these are fabulous essays. And your dry captions are hilarious. I'm an all - but paid subscriber. If my post Christmas morale is up to it, I'm in.
Very interesting. Thanks.
It's a pity that so many Civil War battlefields have been lost to "development."
Wow brother. You are top notch at these. I can’t wait for the next one!!!
Thank you very kindly.
With that hairstyle his ex should have arrested him!
I love your history pieces! Great storytelling!
Thank you very much.
I have zero facial hair too: that's why I am Walt Bismark-ing instead of leading the occupation of Tripoli. Thanks Celaeno for the memo...
I’ve never cared for Civil War history at all, but your essays are changing my mind.