Battle of Fredericksburg facts for kids

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Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle of Fredericksburg: the Army of the Potomac crossing the Rappahannock River in the morning of December 13, 1862,
by Kurz and Allison (1888)

Date	December 11–15, 1862
Location	Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg, Virginia 38°17′58″N 77°28′14″W / 38.2995°N 77.4705°W / 38.2995; -77.4705
Result	Confederate victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

Confederate States

Commanders and leaders

Units involved

Army of Northern Virginia

Strength

122,009

114,000 engaged (estimated)

78,513

72,500 engaged (estimated)

Casualties and losses

12,653

1,284 killed
9,600 wounded
1,769 captured/missing

5,377

608 killed
4,116 wounded
653 captured/missing

The Battle of Fredericksburg was a huge fight during the American Civil War. It happened from December 11 to 15, 1862, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Nearly 200,000 soldiers took part, making it one of the biggest battles of the war. It was also the first time in U.S. history that a large army had to cross a river while the enemy was actively fighting them.

Why the Battle Happened
The Battle Begins
What Happened After
Interesting Facts About the Battle of Fredericksburg
Images for kids
See also

Why the Battle Happened

After the Battle of Antietam, General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate army went back to Virginia. The Union General George B. McClellan didn't follow them closely. President Abraham Lincoln wanted McClellan to attack the Confederates. But McClellan kept saying he didn't have enough soldiers or supplies.

Finally, in November 1862, Lincoln replaced McClellan. He put General Ambrose Burnside in charge of the Union's Army of the Potomac. Burnside didn't really want the job.

Burnside's new plan was to move his army towards Richmond, Virginia, which was the Confederate capital. He decided to go through Fredericksburg. This way, the Union Navy could bring him supplies by river. This would be safer than moving supplies over land.

The Battle Begins

Crossing the River

Burnside planned to cross the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg using special pontoon bridges. But these bridges arrived two weeks late. This delay gave General Lee plenty of time to gather his Confederate forces. The Union army lost its chance to surprise the enemy.

On December 11, Union soldiers started building the pontoon bridges. Confederate soldiers fired at them, slowing them down. Union cannons fired back from Stafford Heights, damaging the town. But the Confederates didn't leave.

Finally, the bridges were finished that evening. More than 120,000 Union troops crossed into Fredericksburg. Lee's army fought just enough to give General Stonewall Jackson's troops time to get into position. The Confederate line stretched for about three miles.

Waiting and Looting

On December 12, the morning was foggy. Burnside sent more troops into the town. But he didn't organize an attack. Instead, his soldiers spent the day looting and damaging houses and shops. This wasted valuable time.

Map of the Battle of Fredericksburg

The Main Attack: December 13

Marye's House upon Marye's Heights was the center of the Confederate position during the battle. Confederate troop encampments are visible to the right

Burnside finally gave his attack orders on December 13. He told General William B. Franklin to attack Jackson's troops. Then, General Edwin Vose Sumner was to attack a strong Confederate position called Marye's Heights.

However, Burnside's orders were not very clear. Franklin was told to attack with "a division at least." He sent only one division, led by General George G. Meade, with 4,500 men. They marched towards Jackson's line.

Two small Confederate cannons fired at Meade's advancing troops. Even though he was told to stop, Major John Pelham kept firing for over an hour. When he ran out of ammunition, he pulled his cannons back.

Meade's division kept moving. When they were about 500 yards away, Jackson's hidden 14 cannons opened fire. Many Union soldiers were cut down. An artillery battle began and lasted for an hour.

Meade's troops found a 600-yard gap in Jackson's line in the woods. They pushed into it. A South Carolina brigade at first thought Meade's troops were retreating Confederates. So they didn't fire. This allowed the Union soldiers to get deep into Jackson's line. But Jackson quickly ordered a counterattack. He drove the Union troops back to their own lines.

Meanwhile, Burnside was waiting at his headquarters. He expected to hear that Meade had pushed Jackson back. When no news came, he ordered the attack on Marye's Heights to go ahead anyway.

Cannons on Marye's Heights and nearby hills made it almost impossible to attack the Heights. But Sumner ordered many attacks all afternoon. Confederate artillery rained shells down on the Union soldiers.

One after another, three Union divisions tried to climb Marye's Heights. All of them failed. Nearly 3,000 men were lost in just one hour. But the attacks kept going with no success.

General Lee watched the Union soldiers being destroyed. He famously said, "It is well that war is so terrible. We should grow too fond of it."

Out of 12,600 Union soldiers who were killed, wounded, or missing, almost two-thirds were lost attacking Marye's Heights. The Confederates lost about 5,000 men in the battle.

What Happened After

Even though Lee won a big victory, he lost soldiers and equipment that were hard to replace. Burnside's losses were huge, but the Union could replace their soldiers more easily.

The Battle of Fredericksburg was very bad news for the North. But it didn't change the overall course of the war much. It did, however, make the Confederates feel much better about their chances.

In January 1863, Burnside was replaced as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. General Joseph Hooker took his place. But Hooker would also be replaced after another terrible battle, the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Interesting Facts About the Battle of Fredericksburg

Model of a portion of the pontoon bridge built for the film Gods and Generals, displayed at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

This was the first time in the Civil War that fighting happened right in the streets and houses of a town.
After the battle, many buildings were destroyed. Union soldiers then looted the town.
The Union generals didn't talk to each other very well. Also, the special pontoon bridges arrived late. This gave the Confederates lots of time to get more soldiers ready.
The Confederates had 4,201 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing. The Union had 12,653.
Some history books say it was freezing during the battle. But it wasn't that cold; it was about 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13.3 degrees Celsius).
More soldiers fought in this battle than almost any other in the Civil War.

Images for kids

Virginia, 1862
Fredericksburg campaign, situation November 19, 1862 and movements since October 10
Skinkers Neck on the Rappanhannock below Fredericksburg, VA, 1862 sketch by Alfred Waud
Overview of the battle, December 13, 1862
Part of Franklin's "Left Grand Division" charges across the railroad
Attack on the Rebel Works, 1862 sketch by Alfred Waud
Sumner's assault, 1:00 p.m., December 13, 1862. The sequence of Union division attacks was French (II Corps), Hancock (II), Howard (II), and Sturgis (IX).
Hooker's assault, 3:30 p.m., December 13, 1862. The sequence of Union division attacks was Griffin (V Corps), Humphreys (V), and Getty (IX).
The Confederate troops behind the stone wall
The sunken road at Marye's Heights in 2010. Approximately 3,000 Georgians under Thomas R. R. Cobb were lined up in multiple ranks behind the stone wall, and another 3,000 were atop the slope behind it, along with their artillery.
Genl. Humphreys charging at the head of his division after sunset of Dec 13, 1862 sketch by Alfred Waud
Civil War Trust President Jim Lighthizer at Slaughter Pen Farm
Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, (Commanding)
Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, Right Grand Division
Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, Center Grand Division
Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, Left Grand Division
Gen. Robert E. Lee, (Commanding)
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, First Corps
Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, Second Corps
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Cav. Div.
Union Army pontoon boats mobilized for deployment
Pontoon bridges at Franklin's Crossing
Barksdale's Mississippi brigade fires at the Union engineers
Overview of the battle, December 13, 1862 (additional map 1)
Overview of the battle, December 13, 1862 (additional map 2)
Western view from Fredericksburg down Telegraph Road with Marye's Heights visible in the distant center
Burnside's headquarters at Phillips House during the battle
Sumner's headquarters, Chatham Manor, on Stafford Heights; Burnside observed the battle primarily from this location
Brig. Gen. John Gibbon, wounded
Brig. Gen. Nathan Kimball, wounded
Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell, wounded
Brig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg, mortally wounded
Brig. Gen. Thomas R. R. Cobb, mortally wounded
Brig. Gen. William D. Pender, wounded
Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke, wounded