Lee

“Therefore, Burnside would flank Lee by crossing the Rappahanock at Fredericksburg via pontoon bridges... In truth, the pontoon bridges were still in their assembly yard, upriver from Washington. The November 14th message actually said that the pontoons were built, but there were no horses to transport them.”

“Therefore, Burnside would flank Lee by crossing the Rappahanock at Fredericksburg via pontoon bridges and use the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad as his supply line to swiftly capture Richmond.”

“In one sense, Chancellorsville was Lee’s perfect battle. He’d repeatedly divided his army in the face of superior numbers and overcome his primary foe through audacity, exceptional scouting, and superior morale.”

“Moreover, Lee was convinced that an invasion of the North was a war-winning strategy. Lee believed that Northern morale was nearing collapse.”

“Consequently, Lee incorrectly believed that the Union war effort was as close to collapse as the Confederacy’s. Therefore, a victory on Northern soil would finally win international recognition and force the war to end.”

“Lee’s plan was characteristically audacious. Longstreet’s corps would assemble with Pickett in the lead behind Seminary Ridge while Stuart moved around the Union right flank. Following a mass artillery barrage, both would charge the Union center somewhere near where Cemetery Hill became Cemetery Ridge, splitting the army in half.”

“Lee’s plan was characteristically audacious. Longstreet’s corps would assemble with Pickett in the lead behind Seminary Ridge while Stuart moved around the Union right flank. Following a mass artillery barrage, both would charge the Union center somewhere near where Cemetery Hill became Cemetery Ridge, splitting the army in half.”