Anderson's Division 8,100
McLaws' Division 8,600
Artillery 1,000
CAVALRY
Fitzhugh Lee's Brigade 1,500
W.H.F. Lee's Brigade (two regiments) 900
Reserve Artillery 700
Add for reinforcements received since
March 1, date of last return 4,000
------
Total 62,000
and l70 guns.
Thus the road to Richmond, threatened by a host of 130,000 men and
428 guns, was to be defended by a force of less than half the size.
Ninety-nine generals out of a hundred would have considered the
situation hopeless. The Confederate lines at Fredericksburg were
certainly very strong, but it was clearly impossible to prevent the
Federals outflanking them. The disparity in strength was far greater
than at Sharpsburg, and it seemed that by sheer weight of numbers the
Southern army must inevitably be driven back. Nor did it appear, so
overwhelming were the Federal numbers, that counter-attack was
feasible. The usual resource of the defender, if his adversary
marches round his flank, is to strike boldly at his communications.
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