Favorite battles or campaigns...POLL

[Henry Moon]

Yes Micky, I've thought of the comparison between Pickett's charge and storming Omaha beach many times. If you've seen "Saving Private Ryan" then you get an idea of what it was like to charge, so to speak, a fortified enemy in an era of modern weaponry. Truly devastating. Of course I'm not trying to minimize the soldiers heroic efforts at Gettysburg and Cold Harbor at all. But many of those boys in the landing crafts weren't even able to take their first step forward when the gates splashed down.

As far as the dead soldier speaking I think it would be rather cruel, and this is just my opinion, for whatever Force there is on the other side, to put a dead soldier's spirit through the torturous pangs of sorrow ("I could not progress or find happiness until time had healed their sorrow".) and grief for loss of loved ones, after going through so much sacrifice in his physical form.  Of course I have no clue what happens on the other side and don't want to start up on religion, so I'll just leave it where it is. Thanks for the thoughtful post Micky.

Terry

[StevenCone]

My Vote goes to Franklin ..

Two miles of open field.. with Darkness fast approaching.

I set on top of winstead hill or walked through the confederate cemetery there and have shed a many of tears..

How could one march into the gates of hell like   and then then continue yo do so time after time after the sun has long fad.. ed in the weatern sky.. The shear brutality of the  breakthrough  surpasses anything I have read on any other battle.

biting, clawing ,  throwing dirt & rocks,  swinging clubed muskets, using hatches, picks,  rammers. 

The wounded bleating like calfs  and some chewing there thumbs to bit so they would scream.

Then there was the lone Division that went in after dark with torches  as there only  source of light besides the flashes of the guns at the works.  All the while stumbling over their diead dying and wounded comrades  beging them for help.. Then when the sun rises to see horrors that was left on the field. Bodies upon bodies  .. the dead not even able to fall  to the ground in some places because of the dead around piled around them. Lifes blood running in the ditches like a stream ..

All this in little over 5 hrs  of fighting  on  a peice of land  thats about 1 mile x 2 mile  (I believe it is the smallest major battle of the civil war.) 

[Gary of CA]

Hi Gary why was Fredericksburg fascinating fiasco,i live in sweden and have no idea please give me a hint

Opps #1.  Burnsides stole a march on Lee and snuck down to the Rappahannock across from Fredericksburg.  His pontoon bridge train was supposed to be there waiting for him, but it had been delayed.  By the time it arrived, Lee was aware of Burnsides' move and marched his army to Fredericksburg - opposite of Burnside.

Opps #2.  Burnsides crosses at Fredericksburg instead of upstream and away from the entrenched Confederates.  Instead of a simple task, it turns out to be an all day affair as the Confederates shoot down the pontineers.  In response, Brunsides opens a heavy artillery barrage to drive out the Confederates.  It only drives them into shelter and they reemerge, fresh as ever, to shoot down more pontineers.  After many hours passed, an amphibious assault was conducted by volunteers drawn from four regiments.  These brave men, including the Harvard Regiment (20th Massachusetts) drives out Barksdale's Mississippians (who had been ordered to withdraw by then).  Credit must be given to that handful of Confederates who delayed the crossing and bought time for Jackson's Corps to march up and position itself on Lee's right.

Opps #3.  The Assault on Marye's Heights.  It was supposed to be a distraction but instead became an obsession as wave after wave of brave men attempt to storm Marye's Heights.  The Confederates are sheltered behind a stone wall and mow the charging Federals down like grass.  Earlier Longstreet had told Lee that given the ammunition, he could hold his position indefinitely.  E. Porter Alexander, one of the artillery commanders, reinforced this belief when he said, "When we open on that field, a chicken couldn't live through it."  (or something along those lines).  Funny enough, but Capt. J. Amos of the 11th U.S. Infantry (Regulars) said that the Confederates were joking and shooting at chickens - over the backs of prone Union Infantrymen!  Amos didn't think it was so funny and tried to be as invisible as possible.

[cavsgt]

I have always been fascinated by Grierson's raid and Shiloh. 
Phill

[Company G]

Of the major campaigns I find Atlanta and Vicksburg the most interesting.  My in-laws live near Atlanta so I have been in and through that area a number of times. I suppose it is the lenth of time involved and the varied action that appeals to me.  Both were also decisive actions with far reaching consequences.

When reading about the CW sas a youth I would skip all the marching and campaigning and go straight to the big battles.  As I have gotten older I find myself more captivated by the small engagements and everyday travails of the ordinary soldier.

[Webmaster]

Of the major campaigns I find Atlanta and Vicksburg the most interesting.  My in-laws live near Atlanta so I have been in and through that area a number of times. I suppose it is the lenth of time involved and the varied action that appeals to me.  Both were also decisive actions with far reaching consequences.

When reading about the CW sas a youth I would skip all the marching and campaigning and go straight to the big battles.  As I have gotten older I find myself more captivated by the small engagements and everyday travails of the ordinary soldier.

Welcome to the board Company G, i hope that you will find this place intressting

[laxdoc]

Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N.C.  it marked the last round. (and it is near to me) It closed the last blockade running port, so no more supplies to Lee and co.
laxdoc

[NewJerseyYankee]

For me it has to be the Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing) because it was the most bloodiest battle in the United States up to that point.

EDIT: I'm also interested in Antietam (Sharpsburg) because more Americans died on September 17, 1862 than on D-Day (June 6 1944) or the 9/11 attacks (September 11 2001).