Fredericksburg City Dock, Bridges and Biscuits - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

Why was Fredericksburg important to the Union war effort? The answer lies in logistics. The Union army, numbering more than 100,000 troops, required tons of food, clothing and other supplies to operate. Wagon trains could supply the army for short distances, but they were cumbersome and difficult to protect. Longer supply lines required either water or rail transportation. Fredericksburg, with its railroad and close proximity to the Potomac River, provided the Union Army with an ideal base for an “On to Richmond” drive.
Three bridges spanned the Rappahannock here in 1861: the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad bridge (which stood at the same location as the modern bridge ahead of you) and the two wagon bridges located farther upstream. Retreating Confederates destroyed these spans in April 1862, making it necessary for the Union army to cross the river on pontoon bridges the following December during the battle of Fredericksburg. The middle pontoon bridge stood here at the city dock.

Type of site: Battlefield Address: 120 Sophia St. Fredericksburg, VA USA 22401 Admission Charged: No Charge Website: [Web Link] Phone Number: Not listed Driving Directions: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/19/2023 Don.Morfe visited it 05/14/2019 ORDIMIC visited it 08/05/2009 La de Boheme visited it

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