Near Falmouth in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Little Falls
Photographed By Dawn Bowen, July 14, 2007
1. Little Falls Marker
Inscription.
Little Falls. . On 11 December 1862, Union engineers began the construction of pontoon bridges here so the army could cross the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg. They began in the morning, hidden by fog. Soon the fog lifted, however, and Confederate sharpshooters drove them off. A heavy Union artillery barrage and an amphibious assault finally secured the crossing and the engineers completed the bridges. Two days later, Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin’s Left Grand Division, including divisions led by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday, crossed over the bridges when the Battle of Fredericksburg began. They were defeated by Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s corps.
On 11 December 1862, Union engineers began the construction of pontoon bridges here so the army could cross the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg. They began in the morning, hidden by fog. Soon the fog lifted, however, and Confederate sharpshooters drove them off. A heavy Union artillery barrage and an amphibious assault finally secured the crossing and the engineers completed the bridges. Two days later, Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin’s Left Grand Division, including divisions led by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday, crossed over the bridges when the Battle of Fredericksburg began. They were defeated by Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s corps.
Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-93.)
Location. 38° 16.301′ N, 77° 25.269′ W. Marker is near Falmouth, Virginia, in Stafford County. Marker is at the intersection of King’s Highway (Business Virginia Route 3) and County Route 1402, on the right when traveling east
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on King’s Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Little St, Fredericksburg VA 22405, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,084 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.