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Battle of Fredericksburg

1862 in Virginia1862 in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War on the National Register of Historic PlacesBattles of the American Civil War in VirginiaBattles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
Confederate victories of the American Civil WarConflict sites on the National Register of Historic Places in VirginiaDecember 1862 eventsFredericksburg campaignNational Battlefields and Military Parks of the United StatesRappahannock RiverSpotsylvania County in the American Civil WarUse American English from December 2019Use mdy dates from December 2019
Gallant Charge of Humphrey's Division at the Battle of Fredericksburg LCCN2004661366
Gallant Charge of Humphrey's Division at the Battle of Fredericksburg LCCN2004661366

The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Robert E. Lee, included futile frontal attacks by the Union army on December 13 against entrenched Confederate defenders along the Sunken Wall on the heights behind the city. It is remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the war, with Union casualties more than twice as heavy as those suffered by the Confederates. A visitor to the battlefield described the battle as a "butchery" to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Burnside's plan was to cross the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg in mid-November and race to the Confederate capital of Richmond before Lee's army could stop him. Bureaucratic delays prevented Burnside from receiving the necessary pontoon bridges in time and Lee moved his army to block the crossings. When the Union army was finally able to build its bridges and cross under fire, direct combat within the city resulted on December 11–12. Union troops prepared to assault Confederate defensive positions south of the city and on a strongly fortified ridge just west of the city known as Marye's Heights. On December 13, the Left Grand Division of Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin was able to pierce the first defensive line of Confederate Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson to the south, but was finally repulsed. Burnside ordered the Right and Center Grand Divisions of major generals Edwin V. Sumner and Joseph Hooker to launch multiple frontal assaults against Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's position on Marye's Heights – all were repulsed with heavy losses. On December 15, Burnside withdrew his army, ending another failed Union campaign in the Eastern Theater.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Battle of Fredericksburg (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Battle of Fredericksburg
Sunken Road, Fredericksburg

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Wikipedia: Battle of FredericksburgContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 38.2995 ° E -77.4705 °
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Address

Sunken Road 1004
22401 Fredericksburg
Virginia, United States
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Gallant Charge of Humphrey's Division at the Battle of Fredericksburg LCCN2004661366
Gallant Charge of Humphrey's Division at the Battle of Fredericksburg LCCN2004661366
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Nearby Places

Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fredericksburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,982. It is 48 miles (77 km) south of Washington, D.C., and 53 miles (85 km) north of Richmond. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce combines the city of Fredericksburg with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes. Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War, Fredericksburg, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Fredericksburg. These battles are preserved, in part, as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. More than 10,000 African-Americans in the region left slavery for freedom in 1862 alone, getting behind Union lines. Tourism is a major part of the economy. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums, art shops, galleries, and many historical sites.Fredericksburg is home to Central Park (as of 2004, the second-largest mall on the East Coast). The Spotsylvania Towne Centre is located in Spotsylvania County, adjacent to the city. Major employers include the University of Mary Washington (named for the mother of George Washington, who lived here), Mary Washington Healthcare, and GEICO. Many Fredericksburg area residents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Washington, D.C., and Richmond, as well as Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington counties.