Battle of Fredericksburg

The Battle of Fredericksburg was a vicious military encounter of the American Civil War. It was fought between the Union Army, under Ambrose Burnside, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by Robert E Lee, from December 13 to December 15, 1862, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States of America. It was part of the Winter Campaign launched by the Northern Army's commander. The result of the battle was a Confederate victory.

Summary

Having replaced George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army of the Potomac after the Battle of Antietam, General Ambrose Burnside led the Army of the Potomac, marching southwards to Fredericksburg. Then he crossed the Rappahannock River, with 115,000 men, using pontoons, on December 11. On December 13, he launched a two-prong assault on the Rebel forces deployed and entrenched in high grounds behind the town of Fredericksburg.

After two days of ferocious fighting, all Northern Army attacks had been repelled by the Southern troops, who put up a stubborn resistance, forcing Ambrose Burnside’s troops to retreat and abandon the campaign. The Union Army had lost more than 13,000 men in a battle in which the dreadful carnage was matched only by its futility. Federal morale sank low and Ambrose Burnside was quickly relieved of his command.

A daguerreotype photo of the Rappahannock River, Virginia. Burnside used pontoon bridges to cross it.

Weapons used at the Battle of Fredericksburg

The infantry troops on both sides were armed with percussion-cap rifle-muskets firing Minié balls.

Union Army

Springfield M1861 Minié rifle (.58 caliber)

Enfield rifle-musket Pattern 1853 (.58)

Colt Second Model Dragoon .44 Pistol (1849)

Light cavalry saber M1860

Officer infantry sword M1850

12-pounder Napoleon M1857 field gun

3-inch ordnance rifle (rifled field gun)

Confederate Army

Enfield rifle-musket 1853 (.58 caliber)

LeMat .42 revolver

Confederate cavalry saber M1850

12-pounder Napoleon M1857 field gun.

Map of Fredericksburg, showing the deployment of the Union (blue) and Confederate forces (red) when the battle began.