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| Burnside | Lee |
| 1824-81 | 1807-70 |
FREDERICKSBURG
Other Names: Marye’s Heights
Location: Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg
Campaign: Fredericksburg Campaign (November-December 1862)
Date(s): December 11-15, 1862
Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]
PRELUDE
On November 14, Burnside, now in command of the Army of the Potomac, sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg. The rest of the army soon followed. Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town.
FIRST DAY
On December 11, Union engineers laid five pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock under fire. On the 12th, the Federal army crossed over.
SECOND /THIRD DAY
On December 13, Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye’s Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. Meade’s division, on the Union left flank, briefly penetrated Jackson’s line but was driven back by a counterattack. Union generals C. Feger Jackson and George Bayard, and Confederate generals Thomas R.R. Cobb and Maxey Gregg were killed.
FOURTH DAY
On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and recrossed the river, ending the campaign.
AFTERMATH
Burnside initiated a new offensive in January 1863, which quickly bogged down in the winter mud. The abortive “Mud March” and other failures led to Burnside’s replacement by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker in January 1863.
RESULT
CONFEDERATE VICTORY
CASUALTIES
UNION TROOPS..................................116683 KILLED.......................................1284 WOUNDED.................................9600 CAPTURED OR MISSING.........1769 |
CONFEDERACY TROOPS...................................78000 KILLED........................................608 WOUNDED...............................4116 CAPTURED OR MISSING.........653 |
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FREDERICKSBURG STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION