attack on the stone wall

[MikeyB]

What was Burnside's tactical rationale for focusing the attack on the northern flank and the stone wall versus the south where they actually had some success? There must have been something in the terrain or approaches or logistics that made attacking the stone wall appealing?

 

[rpkennedy]

What was Burnside's tactical rationale for focusing the attack on the northern flank and the stone wall versus the south where they actually had some success? There must have been something in the terrain or approaches or logistics that made attacking the stone wall appealing?

The plan was for Franklin to make the primary attack in the south while the attacks against the stone wall were distractions to pin the defenders in place. Unfortunately, William Franklin was the exactly wrong commander to rely on for aggressive actions and the attack by his wing sputtered out quickly with Meade's assault and retreat. Even more unfortunately, Franklin never communicated his halting of the attack and so Burnside continued to throw troops at Marye's Heights and they organically grew far beyond what they were initially intended to be.

Ryan