Having marshaled and prepared his forces for two days, Ambrose Burnside orders the Federal army to launch its attack at mid-morning. The main thrust centers initially on the southern end of the Confederate battle line five miles south of Fredericksburg. However, as initial success there gives way to an ultimate repulse, the attention of the…
Salem Baptist Church, a small commodious house of worship constructed in 1844, is situated on the Plank Road about five miles west of Fredericksburg. Established to serve a growing population in eastern Spotsylvania County, by late 1862 war-time demands have caused attendance to dwindle and services to be held only sporadically. This morning an unusually…
Delayed for nearly a month, Union Commander Ambrose Burnside finally launches his plan to cross the Rappahannock River, drive the Confederates from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and proceed south to Richmond. The first step of his plan requires the army engineers to construct pontoon bridges because the river is too wide and too deep to ford. In…