Dec 13, 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg
148 years ago today, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia repulses a series of attacks by General Ambrose Burnside's "Army of the Potomac" at Fredericksburg, Virginia. The defeat remains one of the most decisive loses for the United States Army, and it dealt a serious blow to Federal morale in the winter of 1862-63.
Ambrose Burnside. And yes, "sideburns" as we understand the term, was coined based on Burnside's sidewhiskers.
Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac in November after George McClellan failed to pursue Lee into Virginia following the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg on September 17.
Burnside immediately crafted a plan to move against the Confederate capital at Richmond. This called for a rapid march by the Federals from their positions in northern Virginia to Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock River. Burnside planned to cross the river at that point and then continue south.
The campaign began promisingly for the Union. The army moved quickly down the Rappahannock, but then stalled across the river from Fredericksburg. Due to poor execution of orders, a pontoon bridge was not in place for several days.
The delay allowed Lee to move his troops into place along Marye's Heights above Fredericksburg. The Confederates were secure in a sunken road protected by a stone wall, looking down on the open slopes that stretched from the edge of Fredericksburg. So strong was the Confederate position that one Rebel officer claimed that "a chicken could not live on that field when we open on it."
Unfortunately for the Union, Burnside decided to attack anyway. On December 13.
The 20th Maine Volunteer Infanty, led by Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain goes in. The 20th Maine would achieve eternal glory at Gettysburg the following July.
Burnside hurled 14 attacks against the Confederate lines. Although the Union artillery was effective against the Rebels, the six-hundred yard field was a killing ground for the attacking Federals. No Union soldiers reached the wall at the top of Marye's Heights, and few even came within fifty yards of it.
Rebs fire on attacking Federals from behind a stone wall on the heights above Fredercicksburg
Contemporary photo of area behind the stone wall (Confederate side) after the battle
"It is well that war is so horrible, or else we should grow too fond of it," Lee observed to General James Longstreet as they watched the carnage. A bitterly cold night froze many of the Union dead and wounded.
Burnside considered continuing the attack on December 14, but his subordinates urged him to cease the madness. On December 15, a truce was called for the Union to collect their dead and wounded soldiers. Burnside retreated northward under the cover of darkness and rain.
The one-sided nature of the battle was reflected in the casualty figures. The Federals suffered 12,653 killed and wounded while Lee lost only 4,200. General Joseph Hooker replaced Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac in January 1863.
