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The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought December 11–15, 1862, was a major engagement of the Civil War between the Army of the Potomac, led by General Ambrose Burnside, and the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee.  Burnside planned to quickly cross the Rappahannock River and advance on Richmond, but delays in receiving pontoon bridges allowed Lee to fortify strong defensive positions on the heights behind Fredericksburg.  When Union forces finally crossed the river, Confederate troops were well entrenched on high ground, giving them a significant tactical advantage.

The battle is best remembered for the disastrous Union assaults on Marye’s Heights, where wave after wave of Union soldiers were cut down by Confederate rifle and artillery fire.  Despite repeated attacks, Union forces could not break the Confederate lines, resulting in heavy casualties.  By the end of the battle, the Union suffered over 12,000 casualties, while Confederate losses were much lower, around 5,000.  The decisive Confederate victory boosted Southern morale and highlighted the deadly effectiveness of defensive warfare during the Civil War, while also damaging Northern confidence in Burnside’s leadership.