"Was it really a diversion?" Topic

"What was Burnside thinking? The question has been posed by innumerable battlefield visitors, historians, and even Civil War veterans in regards to Fredericksburg. The notable Union defeat leads many to ponder the Federal commander's intent. Burnside indeed had a plan, however its premise has been debated since 1862.

One hypothesis regarding the Union plan postulates a primary effort by Major General William Franklin's Left Grand Division against the Confederate right, while Major General Edwin Sumner's Right Grand Division conducted a diversion on the Confederate left at the Sunken Road and Marye's Heights. On the surface, this notion appears to explain an otherwise misunderstood tactical plan. But is it really that simple? How did an intended diversion result in 30,000 troops launching all-out attacks for six hours? A closer look at the facts seems to refute the diversion theory…."
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Armand

One problem in analyzing Burnsides' intents is that he was notorious for issuing complicated and confusing orders. If it is tough for us, with the benefit of hindsight, to figure out what Burnside had in mind, imagine to difficulties his generals had.

I was a Engineer at the 150th reenactment. I stood on the heights and watched the river crossing and the battle as it unfolded. From that vantage point, Marye's heights really doesn't seem all that formiable. The river not so wide. In fact I had even been in the water the day before. Cold, but not unreasonably deep. With plus 100 heavy guns right where I was standing and so many men pouring across the river, I can see where it didn't look like a foregone loss.

I was a company commander at the 150th event. I also spent some time looking at the heights. While pondering this, a guy from the 20th Maine said it was his opinion that if the attacks hadn't been piecemeal, one brigade at a time, the heights could have been stormed successfully.

Confusing orders led to piecemeal attacks which led to disaster.