. Field, fort and fleet ... lleck. Halleck knew Burnsides plans, and heknew that the river would stop him. He promised that pontoonsshould be at Falmouth Heights with the advance of the army, butit was three weeks before a single section was on the ground. Callit what you will, but that delay soaked the streets and lanes ofFredericksburg with Federal blood. Lee swung into position,intrenched, and was ready for battle fifteen days before it came. December had come, the country was impatient, and Burnsidehad scarcely fired a gun since succeeding McClellan. He felt thathe must strike a blow befor
. Field, fort and fleet ... lleck. Halleck knew Burnsides plans, and heknew that the river would stop him. He promised that pontoonsshould be at Falmouth Heights with the advance of the army, butit was three weeks before a single section was on the ground. Callit what you will, but that delay soaked the streets and lanes ofFredericksburg with Federal blood. Lee swung into position,intrenched, and was ready for battle fifteen days before it came. December had come, the country was impatient, and Burnsidehad scarcely fired a gun since succeeding McClellan. He felt thathe must strike a blow before going into winter quarters, and theonly chance was to strike it here. And yet what a chance! Overbeyond the town Lees army was hidden behind breastworks andstone walls and ridges, and to reach it the river must be crossed,the town carried, and the battle lines must reform under a fire ofgrape and canister, and advance across open fields and up highwaysunder such a fire as was met only at Malvern Hill and Gettysburg. 1318]. w^%
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