On November 7 th of 1862, President Lincoln had had enough of General McClellan’s incompetence. He relived him of his command and turned it over to General Ambrose Burnside. Burnside planned to take Richmond, the confederate capitol, by Fredericksburg. After getting his plan approved, his army of 115, 000 went to Fredericksburg and arrived on November 11 th. The Confederate camp in Fredericksburg had only a few thousand defenders. But Burnside could not attack because the pontoon bridge equipment has not arrived.
General Robert E. Lee took advantage of this delay and reinforced the confederate positions at Fredericksburg. Now the Confederates had 78, 000 troops at Fredericksburg. The equipment arrived and Burnside’s army crossed into Fredericksburg on December 11 th. The Confederates fell back from the town. The Union troops started to loot the evacuated town.
On December 13 th Burnside decided to launch an attack that would drive back Lee’s force from some hills just outside Fredericksburg. The main attack took place south of the city. Confusion, bad leadership, and misunderstandings by the Commander of the Federal left, Major General William B. Franklin, broke the attacking force into two smaller divisions. Major General George G. Meade was leading to attack and Major General John Gibbon was General Meade’s support.
Meade sighted and broke through a week point in the Confederacy’s line. This resulted in heavy losses. General Jackson’s troops destroyed the unsupported Union troops. Burnside launched a second attack from Fredericksburg against the Confederate left located on Marye’s Heights. Waves of Union attackers were sent in.
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Each wave was slaughtered by Confederate troops taking position on a sunken road behind a large stone wall. No fewer than fourteen consecutive Federal Brigades attacked the wall of enemy fire. But none of the Union troops ever made it passed the wall and to Longstreet’s line. Burnside called back his battered army on December 15 th and crossed back over the Rappahannock River.
The Union troops had suffered a large amount of casualties totaling up to 12, 700 union troops. The Confederacy didn’t even suffer half the number of casualties the union did. The Confederacy suffered 5, 300 troops. This destroyed the Union’s morale.
Burnside was relieved of his command at his own request. This battle greatly boosted the Southern Morale and led to the Northern invasion.
