Below are a several of the actual messages sent by Confederate General Robert E. Lee during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Notice how the perspective of these dispatches differ from the quick narrative cited earlier.
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA., December 11, 1862-12.30 p.m.
At 5 a. m. enemy commenced throwing three bridges across river-one at railroad bridge, one at ford above, and one below mouth of Deep Run. They were soon driven from first two, but at third their guns, sweeping the plain in all directions, have driven back our sharpshooters, and their men cannot be molested; bridge is reported nearly completed; our guns command plains should they cross; no attempt to cross yet General W. E. Jones reports Slocum's whole force left Harper's Ferry yesterday in cars for Washington. Milroy reached Petersburg, Hardy County, W. Va., Sunday night. Forces at New Creek moved down the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and entered Martinsburg at sundown yesterday.
R. E. LEE.
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, December 11, 1862.
Enemy, after cannonading Fredericksburg, and demolishing many houses next the river, succeeded in driving back our sharpshooters and occupying Fredericksburg. They crossed also on their bridge below Deep Run about dusk. We hold the hills around the city.
R. E. LEE.
FREDERICKSBURG, December 12, 1862.
The enemy passing over all of last night and to-day their troops by the different bridges. They are massed under protection of their guns on the north bank of the river, beyond the reach of which they have not yet ventured. They hold Fredericksburg with their pickets. Houses are being continually burned in the town.
R. E. LEE.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., December 13, [1862]-9 p. m.
About 9 a. m. the enemy attacked our right, and as the fog lifted the battle ran from right to left; raged until 6 p. m.; but, thanks to Almighty God, the day closed [with attacks] repulsed along our whole front. Our troops behaved admirably, but, as usual, we have to mourn the loss of many brave men. I expect the battle to be renewed at daylight. Please send this to the President.
R. E. LEE.
HEADQUARTERS, December 15, 1862
Yesterday was spent by the enemy in caring for his wounded and burying his dead. He retains his position under cover of his guns on the north bank of the Rappahannock.
R. E. LEE,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Near Fredericksburg, Va., December 16, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report that the army of General Burnside recrossed the Rappahannock last night, leaving a number of his dead and some of his wounded on this side. Our skirmishers again occupy Fredericksburg and the south bank of the river. Large camps and wagon trains are visible on the hills of Stafford, and his heavy guns occupy their former position on that bank. There is nothing to indicate his future purpose. I have sent one brigade of cavalry down the Rappahannock, and have put Jackson's corps in motion in the same direction. I think it probable an attempt will be made to cross at Port Royal. Another brigade of cavalry has been sent up the Rappahannock, with orders, if opportunity offers, to cross and penetrate the enemy's rear and endeavor to ascertain his intention. I learn from prisoners that the three grand divisions of General Burnside's army, viz, Hooker's, [E. V.] Sumner's, and [W. B.] Franklin's, crossed this side, and were engaged in the battle of the 13th. They also state that the corps of Generals [S. P.] Heintzelman and Sigel reached Fredericksburg Sunday evening. Should the enemy cross at Port Royal in force before I can get this army in position to meet him, I think it move advantageous to retire to the Annas and give battle than on the banks of the Rappahannock. My design was to have done so in the first instance. My purpose was changed not from any advantage in this position, but from an unwillingness to open more of our country to depredation than possible, and also with a view of collecting such forage and provisions as could be obtained in the Rappahannock Valley. With the numerous army opposed to me, and the bridges and transportation at its command, the crossing of the Rappahannock, where it is as narrow and winding as in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, can be made at almost any point without molestation. It will, therefore, be more advantageous to us to draw his farther away from his base of operations.
The loss of the enemy in the battle of the 13th seems to have been heavy, though I have no means of computing it accurately. An intelligent prisoner says he heard it stated in the army to have amounted to 19,000, though a citizen of Fredericksburg who remained in the city computes it at 10,000. I think the latter number nearer the truth than the former.
I hope there will be no relaxation in making every preparation for the contest which will have to be renewed, but at what point I cannot now state.
I have learned that on the side of the enemy Generals Bayard and Jackson were killed, and Generals Hooker and [John] Gibbon wounded; the former said to be severely so.
I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
These dispatches from Lee show that the Union attack lasted several days and that through the first several phases it was successful. When the battle was over, Lee considered the Union army still viable and threatening, and he balanced the necessity of staying in contact with the attackers with his search for forage and supplies needed to keep his own army going. All these details are necessary to really understanding what happened.
Happily, a level 4 expert in the American Civil War has easy access to all the documents needed. Probably the most useful, through and complete searcheable collection of war records is at The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Civil War collection at Ohio State University. Here’s the link:
https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records
The only disadvantage or limitation of this resource is that it is so voluminous. It can take hours and hours of searching to pinpoint a particular moment.
