The Confederate victory at Fredericksburg is evident to all. Commanding strategic locations in and around the city, Southern forces have slaughtered their Northern counterparts thus far, and are prepared to continue the slaughter today. For his part, Union General Ambrose Burnside yet wishes to press his offensive against Confederate General Robert E. Lee‘s forces, but…
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…
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…