Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

A Sacked and Gutted Town

Fredericksburg: Timeless.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 12, 2020

1. A Sacked and Gutted Town Marker

Inscription.

A Sacked and Gutted Town. Fredericksburg: Timeless..

"We marched past the court-house, , past churches, schools, bank-buildings, private houses, , all lighted for hospital purposes, and all in use, though a part of the wounded had been transferred across the river. Even the door-yards had their litter-beds, and were well filled with wounded men, and the dead were laid in rows for burial. The hospital lights and camp-fires of burned buildings, with a mixture of the lawless rioting of the demoralized stragglers, and the suffering and death in the hospitals, gave the sacked and gutted town the look of pandemonium." , , A Union officer

, It started with a bombardment from 140 Union guns on the morning of December 11, 1862, two days before the battle of Fredericksburg. Whizzing shells and cannonballs ripped through buildings, tumbling walls and chimneys. Fires spread. "Nothing in war can exceed the horror of that hour," wrote a Mississippi soldier. Most civilians had fled; those who remained huddled in basements. Federal infantry forced a river crossing and close fightings raged through the streets until nightfall., The high casualties and the unexpected intensity of the street fighting had been terrifying. When the Confederates pulled back, infuriated Federal soldiers released their anger and stress in a rampage of looting. The next day, more Union soldiers crossed into the wrecked town. Regarding Fredericksburg as a prize of war, they further ransacked homes and businesses. Fighting resumed on December 13th and thousands of casualties clogged buildings and streets. When the Federal army retreated, Fredericksburg was a shambles., [Captions:] , As troops looted the town, a Union officer wrote: "Our troops... stole or destroyed everything they could lay their hands on.... Beautiful pictures, books, jewelry, ladies dresses, silverware and all kinds of household furniture. Every house was completely riddled.... I never felt so much disgusted with the war as I did that day.", Between the shelling and the looting, few buildings in Fredericksburg escaped damage. These shell ravaged homes stood at the intersection of Hanover and George Streets.

"We marched past the court-house, —past churches, schools, bank-buildings, private houses, —all lighted for hospital purposes, and all in use, though a part of the wounded had been transferred across the river. Even the door-yards had their litter-beds, and were well filled with wounded men, and the dead were laid in rows for burial. The hospital lights and camp-fires of burned buildings, with a mixture of the lawless rioting of the demoralized stragglers, and the suffering and death in the hospitals, gave the sacked and gutted town the look of pandemonium."
—A Union officer

It started with a bombardment from 140 Union guns on the morning of December 11, 1862—two days before the battle of Fredericksburg. Whizzing shells and cannonballs ripped through buildings, tumbling walls and chimneys. Fires spread. "Nothing in war can exceed the horror of that hour," wrote a Mississippi soldier. Most civilians had fled; those who remained huddled in basements. Federal infantry forced a river crossing and close fightings raged through the streets until nightfall.

The high casualties and the unexpected intensity of the street fighting had been terrifying. When the Confederates pulled back, infuriated Federal soldiers released their anger and stress in a rampage of looting. The next day, more Union

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soldiers crossed into the wrecked town. Regarding Fredericksburg as a prize of war, they further ransacked homes and businesses. Fighting resumed on December 13th and thousands of casualties clogged buildings and streets. When the Federal army retreated, Fredericksburg was a shambles.

[Captions:]
As troops looted the town, a Union officer wrote: "Our troops... stole or destroyed everything they could lay their hands on.... Beautiful pictures, books, jewelry, ladies dresses, silverware and all kinds of household furniture. Every house was completely riddled.... I never felt so much disgusted with the war as I did that day."

Between the shelling and the looting, few buildings in Fredericksburg escaped damage. These shell ravaged homes stood at the intersection of Hanover and George Streets.

Erected by Fredericksburg Economic Development and Tourism Office.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Fredericksburg: Timeless. series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is December 11.

Location. 38° 18.134′ N, 77° 27.591′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Princess Anne Street (Business U.S. 17) and George Street, on the

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 12, 2020

2. A Sacked and Gutted Town Marker

left when traveling south on Princess Anne Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 817 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: War Comes to Fredericksburg (here, next to this marker); The Court House (here, next to this marker); A Vast Hospital (here, next to this marker); Gen. Stonewall Jackson (a few steps from this marker); 1910 (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of Clara Barton (within shouting distance of this marker); Corporation Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Exodus From Bondage (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Courthouse (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named A Vast Hospital (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The “Demon of Destruction” (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named War Comes to Fredericksburg (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here

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for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 439 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.