The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia was fought on December 13th, 1862 during the American Civil War. Ambrose E. Burnside had been appointed to the command of the Army of the Potomac on November the 7th. He resolved to make a direct march on Richmond, and moved his troops to the heights opposite Fredericksburg, on the north side of the Rappahannock. His force numbered about 125,000. The right was commanded by Sumner, the centre by Joseph Hooker, the left wing by Franklin. The army of Robert E Lee, 80,000 in number, was strongly entrenched on the heights behind Fredericksburg, the right being commanded by Jackson, the left by James Longstreet. A road connected these wings. A stone wall ran along the foot of the heights between the left wing and the town.
The Federal forces crossed the river by three pontoon bridges during the two days preceding the battle. Ambrose E. Burnside's plan was that Franklin should make the chief attack and seize the road, and that Sumner and Joseph Hooker should then carry the stone wall and the heights behind it. Franklin did not employ enough troops to effect the object assigned him. Sumner's troops attacked the fortifications on Marye's Heights with great bravery and persistency, but were finally repulsed with great slaughter at the stone wall. The assault made by Joseph Hooker's forces at another portion of the wall was also repulsed with terrible slaughter, lacking support from Franklin. Despite repulsing the Federals, the Confederates under Robert E Lee was unable to follow up the advantage. The Federal loss in the battle was 12,800, the Confederate 4300. Two days later Ambrose E. Burnside withdrew from Fredericksburg. On the thirtieth he and Franklin were relieved of their commands. Research Battle of Fredericksburg
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