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Simply Murder: The Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 (Emerging Civil War Series) Kindle Edition

by Chris Mackowski (Author), Kristopher D. White (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 132 ratings
This Civil War history and guide offers a vivid chronicle of this dramatic yet misunderstood battle, plus invaluable information for battlefield visitors.

The battle of Fredericksburg is usually remembered as the most lopsided Union defeat of the Civil War. It is sometimes called “Burnside’s folly,” after Union commander Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside who led the Army of the Potomac to ruin along the banks of the Rappahannock River. Confederates, fortified behind a stone wall along a sunken road, poured a hail of lead into them as they charged. One eyewitness summed it up saying, “it is only murder now.”

But the battle remains one of the most misunderstood and misremembered engagements of the war. Burnside started with a well-conceived plan and had every reason to expect victory. How did it go so terribly wrong?

Authors Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White have worked for years along Fredericksburg’s Sunken Road and Stone Wall, and they’ve escorted thousands of visitors across the battlefield. Simply Murder not only recounts Fredericksburg’s tragic story of slaughter, but includes vital information about the battlefield itself and the insights they’ve learned from years of walking the ground.
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  1. Part of series
    Emerging Civil War
  2. Print length
    388 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Savas Beatie
  5. Publication date
    January 19, 2013
  6. File size
    35.4 MB
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Simply Murder is an affordable and readable overview of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Those looking to better understand this battle . . . would do well to purchase this book."
Bret Schulte, TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog

"The presentation of an intelligent, readable, and original account at each location is wonderful. Time after time, I wished this book was with me during my visit to the battlefield."
Jim Durney, Suncoast Civil War Round Table

About the Author

Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in New York, where he also serves as the associate dean for undergraduate programs. He is also the historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield in Virginia. Chris, an award-winning author, has written or edited more than a dozen books. His latest is The Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863. He is the managing editor of the Emerging Civil War Series published by Savas Beatie.

Kristopher D. White is the deputy director of education at the American Battlefield Trust and the co-founder of Emerging Civil War and the Emerging Civil War Series. White is a graduate of Norwich University with an M.A. in Military History and a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in History. For nearly five years, he served as a ranger-historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B1GSKIQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Savas Beatie (January 19, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 35.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Chris Mackowski

    Chris Mackowski

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    "It's in me and it gots to get out," legendary guitarist John Lee Hooker said of his music. Chris Mackowski says the same thing about his writing: "It's in me, and it gots to get out."

    Chris is a writing professor in the School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, NY, and historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania battlfield. He is also editor in chief of Emerging Civil War (www.emergingcivilwar.com). The author of more than a dozen books about the Civil War, Chris's writings have appeared in all the major Civil War magazines.

    Chris has worked as a historian with the National Park Service at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park and still gives tours of the area's four major Civil War battlefields (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania). He serves on the board of directors of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, a preservation organization that focuses on saving endangered property associated with the four battlefields.

    Chris has an M.F.A. from Goddard College and a Ph.D. from Binghamton University.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Kristopher D. White

    Kristopher D. White

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Kristopher D. White is the deputy director of education at the American Battlefield Trust. White is a graduate of Norwich University with an M.A. in Military History, as well as a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in History. For nearly five years, he served as a ranger-historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. White is the co-founder and former chief historian of Emerging Civil War and is also the co-creator of the Emerging Civil War and the Engaging the Civil War Series. White has authored, co-authored, or edited nearly two-dozen books; and he frequently leads tours in the United States and abroad. He also served as a historian for the Penn-Trafford Recreation Board and a continuing education instructor for the Community College of Allegheny County near Pittsburgh, PA. He also passed the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides at Gettysburg guide test.

    Kris is the author and co-author of numerous articles that have appeared in America’s Civil War, Blue & Gray Magazine, Hallowed Ground Magazine, and Civil War Times.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
132 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning it keeps them engaged until the end. Moreover, the information quality receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as informative and captivating, and one noting it serves as a great battlefield guide. Additionally, the narrative receives praise for its engaging storytelling.

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29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well written, with a concise description of the battle, and one customer mentions it keeps them engaged until the end.

"...Their explanation of the battle in all its detail makes it real and engaging...." Read more

"...The authors provide an informative, concise description of the battle, which suited my needs perfectly...." Read more

"Good book" Read more

"A good book. Was looking for something a little more in depth, but that is my fault as I didn't look closely enough at the book before purchasing...." Read more

23 customers mention "Information quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and captivating, describing it as a great battlefield guide. One customer notes that it serves as a good starting point for exploring the battlefield itself.

"...NOPE! There is so much more to discover about the battle and everything that leads up to it...." Read more

"...of these events, details, and viewpoints are buttressed by an amazing array of diaries, letters, and so forth, which help bring the battle..." Read more

"...This book will guide me around, for after all, it is primarily a guidebook with driving directions going from stop to stop along with battle..." Read more

"...The book gives a lot of insight into the Generals and senior officers on both sides, their strengths and weaknesses. Well worth reading." Read more

4 customers mention "Narrative quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative quality of the book, with one customer highlighting its best historical stories and another noting its lengthy chapters.

"...book focuses on the southern flank, although there is a detailed, lengthy chapter on the more famous, doomed assault on Marye's Heights...." Read more

"One of the best historical stories about the civil war I have read. It always amazes me about the tactics used...." Read more

"A great read, with an incredible combination of narrative and guide...." Read more

"Interesting book and contained just enough details and narrative too make the battle understandable from many thousands of miles away!..." Read more

A MUST READ before visiting!
5 out of 5 stars
A MUST READ before visiting!
I thought Fredericksburg was a pretty "open and shut" battle when I first visited Maryes Heights a year ago (2018). NOPE! There is so much more to discover about the battle and everything that leads up to it. The eastern half of the battlefield (Slaughter Pen Farm) doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves and I IMMENSELY regret not reading this before my visit last year. Now I want to go back! I want to see the places Chris and Kris highlight in the driving tour because their book made me understand the value of the sites. Their explanation of the battle in all its detail makes it real and engaging. Even the appendices at the end of the book made me eager to book a flight and take myself back to Virginia. The image attached with this review is taken at Maryes Heights during my first expedition in 2018, one of the many notable places during the battle that indeed was "simply murder".
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Sheritta B
    5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ before visiting!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I thought Fredericksburg was a pretty "open and shut" battle when I first visited Maryes Heights a year ago (2018). NOPE! There is so much more to discover about the battle and everything that leads up to it. The eastern half of the battlefield (Slaughter Pen Farm) doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves and I IMMENSELY regret not reading this before my visit last year. Now I want to go back! I want to see the places Chris and Kris highlight in the driving tour because their book made me understand the value of the sites. Their explanation of the battle in all its detail makes it real and engaging. Even the appendices at the end of the book made me eager to book a flight and take myself back to Virginia.
    The image attached with this review is taken at Maryes Heights during my first expedition in 2018, one of the many notable places during the battle that indeed was "simply murder".
    Customer image
    Sheritta B
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A MUST READ before visiting!

    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019
    I thought Fredericksburg was a pretty "open and shut" battle when I first visited Maryes Heights a year ago (2018). NOPE! There is so much more to discover about the battle and everything that leads up to it. The eastern half of the battlefield (Slaughter Pen Farm) doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves and I IMMENSELY regret not reading this before my visit last year. Now I want to go back! I want to see the places Chris and Kris highlight in the driving tour because their book made me understand the value of the sites. Their explanation of the battle in all its detail makes it real and engaging. Even the appendices at the end of the book made me eager to book a flight and take myself back to Virginia.
    The image attached with this review is taken at Maryes Heights during my first expedition in 2018, one of the many notable places during the battle that indeed was "simply murder".
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Magnitude
    4.0 out of 5 stars Books like this about war should be less delightful, lest they make us grow too fond of it
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This short book was a charming surprise. Frankly, I got it in the recent Amazon holiday sale, and I wasn't expecting much.

    The Fredericksburg battle was a bloodbath, and a lop-sided Confederate victory. The authors provide an informative, concise description of the battle, which suited my needs perfectly. Plenty of quotes from generals, soldiers, and civilians are sprinkled throughout. Sources are provided for those looking for a more scholarly approach to this battle; having just read Sears's "A Landscape Turned Red," I wasn't looking for that level of detail on this battle yet. So, this book provided a good introduction -- just what I wanted. Interestingly, the book focuses on the southern flank, although there is a detailed, lengthy chapter on the more famous, doomed assault on Marye's Heights.

    The book also provides a type of local history and a battlefield tour. It offers directions from the tour center to the key points of the battlefield. I haven't done the tour yet, but if I did, I would certainly find this book helpful as a refresher and walking guide. Among other things, it certainly is good to know where to find restrooms and where to avoid snakes.

    There were some excellent appendices on civilians and slaves in Fredericksburg, and how the soldiers celebrated the Christmas of 1862. There was also interesting analysis of how the battle of Fredericksburg has evolved in the collective memory. In that section, and throughout the book, the authors point out various details about the battlefield and how its memorialization has changed over time and to suit various purposes; fitting the rest of the book, it's an appropriately light critique. For example, the authors point out that the Irish Brigade gets a lot of attention for its assault on Marye's Heights, but that's mainly because the Irish themselves publicized their participation in it.

    The authors even defend Burnside at points, who they argue was pressured by Lincoln to secure a victory before the Emancipation Proclamation. Lee, in comparison, didn't do much with the victory (just like his prior victory, at Antietam), probably because he couldn't, or maybe didn't have to.

    All of these events, details, and viewpoints are buttressed by an amazing array of diaries, letters, and so forth, which help bring the battle (and all of its awful consequences) to life. I couldn't find footnotes for these citations, but I didn't let that bother me.

    I read the Kindle version, and there were many distracting typos (not reflected in my star rating). Making up for this were plenty of photos and quite excellent battle maps. The maps, and some photos, were easy to read on my Kindle, which was much appreciated. Photos of the modern battlefield were mixed with historical illustrations and photos of the actual sites of the time.

    To sum up, "Simply Murder" is like a long magazine article or two with sidebars. All in all, the book packs a lot in and is a good starting point for exploring the battlefield itself and for deeper reading.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Rodney Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sunken road
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Good book
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  • RKM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book. Was looking for something a little more ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A good book. Was looking for something a little more in depth, but that is my fault as I didn't look closely enough at the book before purchasing. This book would be an excellent source for someone DRIVING to different highlights of the battle as it gives precise instructions on how to get from one point of the battle to another. It even includes easy places to park. If you are driving/touring the battlefields of the Civil War this series of books would be an excellent resource (hence why I gave it 5 stars, even though for my purposes it only deserves 3 but that is my fault and not the authors). When or if I have the time and resources to travel the Civil War battlefields by car I will definitely be purchasing the rest of this series.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Percy Dovetonsils
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great update with new info.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The first time I visited Fredericksburg, Va was in May of 1960. Standing at the stone wall of the Sunken Road, I looked down and saw where the Federals attempted to break lee's line. I was 13. Once again 20 years later I was there. But the entire story of the battle had not been discovered yet. Now it has and you can read about it in this book.
    Historians have reevaluated the battle that, in his defeat, cost Burnside his military fame only to be remembered for the term "side burn". Today, one can look back and see that he virtually had little if any chance of victory, McClelland and Hallack had seen to that and to some extant Lincoln himself. But any chance he did have was dashed by "the puzzle of the map" which I will let the reader discover for himself.
    Interestingly, this book throws doubt of the Generalship of two Lost Cause icons who are memorialized in granite on the face of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Both Lee and Longstreet approved a battle line with a fatal flaw in it that could have turned the battle against them both. Reynolds, who would die at Gettysburg the following July 1 is also heavily criticized for under performance under fire. Again, Burnside was defeated by his own side.
    Based on this book, I am planning to revisit Fredericksburg soon. I will be seeing it from a totally different point of view now. This book will guide me around, for after all, it is primarily a guidebook with driving directions going from stop to stop along with battle descriptions thereof.
    The only criticism I have is that the two authors and editor did not do a good job of proof reading. There are quite a few obvious errors that should have been easily caught, they take nothing away from the story. See how many jump out at you!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • sireatsalot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history lesson
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best historical stories about the civil war I have read. It always amazes me about the tactics used. Simply throwing hordes of men, massed together in open terrain against the entrenched opposition was just nuts. The book gives a lot of insight into the Generals and senior officers on both sides, their strengths and weaknesses. Well worth reading.
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