Fredericksburg - Marye's Heights Part 2

December 13, 1862

24th North Carolina

     This is the view along the line of the 24th North Carolina which held the line to the left of Cobb's Brigade.  On the right of the picture is the Marye House, around which stood Confederate artillery batteries.  This portion of the Confederate line was assaulted by Howard's division in a failed attempt to flank Cobb's brigade.  As the fighting wore on, more troops from both sides were put into the fight, but the Confederate line held.  The Innis House on the left of the road existed during the battle.  For a similar view after 2nd Fredericksburg (I think taken from just down the road), click here to go to the National Archives.

From Cemetery

     This is the view from Marye's Heights on the right of the Confederates' Marye's Heights  position, an area which is now a national cemetery.  This view gives a better idea of the commanding nature of the heights.  Later in the battle, Getty's Union division attacked the flank of the Confederate line along the Sunken Road but was pushed back like all the rest.  A Confederate battalion was sent into the valley on the right of the picture to guard against any potential Union movement  here.
 


      When the sun went down that day, the Confederates still held the Sunken Road.  Six thousand Southerners and 20 artillery pieces had held off over 40,000 Yankees in seven divisions.  Although Burnside ordered continued attacks for the next day, his subordinates convinced him of the futility of this, and the army withdrew on the 15th.  The Army of the Potomac lost over 12,000 men of the 106,000 engaged, with nearly 8,000 of these casualties in front of Marye's Heights.  Lee lost around 5,300 men in the battle, less than 2,000 of which were at Marye's Heights.  Burnside admitted his responsibility for the failure and was relieved of command.  He returned to the IX Corps and served as its commander for much of the rest of the war.
 

topo map   These photos were taken from the area of the National Cemetery and Vistors Center.  Lee's line extended into what is now Mary Washington college.
 

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