Lee Made A Rare Error In Judgment That Helped The Union Cause At Rappahannock Station

Throughout the late afternoon, Sedgwick continued to shell the Confederates, but he otherwise exhibited no desire to fight. Sedgwick stationed his artillery on high ground to the north of Rappahannock Station after driving in Early's skirmishers and pounding the Confederate bridgehead. At Kelly's Ford, the entire Union Third Corps moved across the Rappahannock. Lee was certain that Sedgwick's advance was merely a ruse and that French's was the primary assault as night fell. Less than 2,000 soldiers were left at Rappahannock Station, where Lee concentrated on fending off the French. Around dusk, Sedgwick's infantry suddenly surged on the Confederate works while his artillery suddenly went silent. The southerners retreated across the river after being taken by surprise and failing to see any reinforcements. Lee had lost the bridgehead because of his blunder.

Skirmishers from the 6th Maine Infantry advanced before Col. Peter Ellmaker's brigade along the railroad. The National Park Service claims that "no Union unit won more medals that day or lost more soldiers." They rushed over the Confederate lines at the order "Forward, double-quick!" and attacked Hays's men in hand-to-hand fighting. The 6th Maine broke through the Confederate line on their own and raised its flags on the easternmost redoubt's parapet. A short while later, the 5th Wisconsin broke through the western redoubt's fortifications and freed it from Confederate control. That's all about the fifth fact about the battle of Rappahannock Station Toplist want to share!