Fredericksburg | Slaughter Pen Fighting | Dec 13, 1862

The Opportunity

Today we can save five parcels totaling more than 340 acres at four important Civil War battlefields: Cedar Mountain, Chickasaw Bayou, Fredericksburg, and The Breakthrough.

The total for all the land is worth nearly $4 million, but thanks to anticipated grants and other funding sources, we only need to raise the final $115,000 to preserve this land in perpetuity. That means every dollar you give today can be matched $35-to-$1!

Want to learn more? Visit this page for more information and history related to this campaign.

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The History

Burnside’s plan called for Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin’s Left Grand Division of 60,000 Union soldiers to make the main attack on December 13. However, his written orders, delivered to Franklin that morning, were more conservative. Burnside thought only “a division at least” would be needed to dislodge Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s men.

Franklin obeyed the orders to the letter. Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s I Corps division was selected to advance, supported by the division of Brig. Gen. John Gibbon. Preceded by an artillery assault, Meade moved forward around 1:00 p.m.

The young Confederate artilleryman Maj. John Pelham countered Meade’s advance with two guns pushed forward to the Bowling Green Road. Meade’s Pennsylvania Reserve brigades, commanded by William Sinclair, Albert Magilton and Feger Jackson, struck a swampy, brush-covered gap between Jackson’s brigades.

Turning left and right, the Pennsylvanians opened a 1,000-yard breach in the Confederate position. Jackson’s defense-in-depth strategy paid dividends, however. The rear divisions of Jubal A. Early and William B. Taliaferro were quickly moved to the front and counterattacked.

Gibbon advanced on Meade’s right, but his brigades were under heavy fire of their own and could do little to support Meade’s breakthrough. Eventually, both Union divisions fell back. Feger Jackson and Confederate Maxcy Gregg were killed.

Dismayed by Franklin’s failure, Burnside ordered an all-out attack in that sector, which Franklin largely ignored. More than 5,000 casualties were inflicted in the area, which became known as the “Slaughter Pen.”

Five Congressional Medals of Honor for valor were awarded for actions taken during the attacks.