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Build-up to the Battle of Gettysburg. Hollywood History. The Battle of Fredericksburg December 11-15, 1862. Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet defend high position Union General Ambrose Burnside orders direct frontal assault
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Build-up to the Battle of Gettysburg Hollywood History
The Battle of FredericksburgDecember 11-15, 1862 • Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet defend high position • Union General Ambrose Burnside orders direct frontal assault • Assault is defeated, Union suffers over 12,000 casualties • Compared to over 5,000 for Confederacy
The Battle of ChancellorsvilleApril 30 – May 6, 1863 • Union General Joseph Hooker has an Army twice the size of Lee • Lee divided his army and attacks Hooker • A major no-no in military tactics • Attack catches Hooker totally off guard • Hooker was not expecting to be attacked • A very embarrassing loss for the Union • Casualties: 17,000+ for Union, 13,000+ for Confederate
Marching to Gettysburg • Lee wants to fight in the North • Live off their supplies instead of Virginia • Marches his army into Pennsylvania • Lee sends General Jeb Stuart to check the Union position • Stuart doesn’t return until third day of battle • Lee is furious as he is “blind” without cavalry • Union replaces Hooker with George Meade
Search for Shoes • Confed. General Henry Heth sends a unit to Gettysburg • Heth’s memoirs say they were looking for supplies, especially shoes • While searching, they find soldiers they believe are militia • Were under orders not to fight but fight anyway