Fredericksburg, a Documentary Film

Fredericksburg, A Documentary Film (Bluray edition), is the complete story of the Union army's attempt to force a river crossing in front of the town of Fredericksburg, and dislodge the Confederates from their defenses, which would have opened the road to Richmond. It is a unique film for a unique battle, featuring the riverine assault by the 7th Michigan Infantry, house-to-house fighting in the streets of the town, and a massive assault by dense Union formations on the open ground...
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Fredericksburg, A Documentary Film (Bluray edition), is the complete story of the Union army's attempt to force a river crossing in front of the town of Fredericksburg, and dislodge the Confederates from their defenses, which would have opened the road to Richmond. It is a unique film for a unique battle, featuring the riverine assault by the 7th Michigan Infantry, house-to-house fighting in the streets of the town, and a massive assault by dense Union formations on the open ground leading to the base of Marye's Heights. Many of these scenes, including the river crossing and the rebel defense of the Sunken Lane, were filmed in the actual locations where the fighting took place. Dramatic scenes involving the two principal Confederate commanders, R. E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, depict key moments during the fighting. A three hundred-foot. Civil-war era pontoon bridge was built from scratch - the only one of its kind in the world. The actual Sunken Road stone retaining wall was used to depict the Confederate defense, and additional sections were crafted to represent other portions of that famous wall at the bottom of Marye's Heights. Fredericksburg features a number of historians with expertise on the Fredericksburg area campaigns specifically. Well-know Civil War historians, such as James McPherson and Gary Gallagher put the campaign and some of its controversies in perspective; while Fredericksburg park historians, such as Frank O'Reilly and Donald Pfanz provide insight into the thinking and actions of both sides. Animated maps bring clarity to the complex movements that brought on the battle, and digital compositing recreates many of the famous buildings there, such as the courthouse and the prominent churches, recreating the town as a set and backdrop for the action, including the bombardment by Union artillery, and the burring and occupation of the buildings. Fredericksburg was filmed in 35 and super-16 mm motion-picture film, and digitally remastered, both visually and with a new stereo audio track, in high-definition. The Bluray disc offers special features, including trailers for the other productions offered by Historical Films. The program itself runs an hour and eight minutes.