The battle was fought from December 11th to the 15th in 1862, primarily along a six mile stretch of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg. The battle is known for having the highest number of soldiers involved in any Civil War battle, with nearly 114,000 Union soldiers combating 72,500 Confederates. On the 11th, the Union army placed five pontoon bridges across the River, and used them to march over the next day. The main assaults occurred on December 13th, resulting in the deaths of nearly 13,300 Union soldiers and 4,500 Confederate soldiers. The majority of the Union casualties were suffered at nearby Marye’s Heights, just along the stone wall that can still partly be seen on the historic battlefield site. The Union troops were also severely disadvantaged when they were forced to cross the canal. For a more detailed description of the campaigns and events of the Battle of Fredericksburg, please visit the information page by the National Park Service.
Section of the stone wall along Sunken Road
Photo Credit: http://www.civilwarbattlefields.us/fredericksburg/
Sunken Road after the battle.
Photo credit: National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/frsp/fredhist.htm
This past year marked the 150th anniversary of the historic Battle of Fredericksburg. To honor this event, the Battle of Fredericksburg Commemoration Committee held a reenactment entitled “Fire on the Rappahannock.” From December 7th to 9th, troops marched through downtown streets, and canon fire boomed from the lawn of historic Brompton on Sunken Road. In addition to the free events, the committee raised nearly $11,000 through donations and sales of commemorative coins and DVDs. The money was then donated to several Civil War Preservation organizations. More information on the reenactment and the Battle of Fredericksburg Commemoration Committee can be found by visiting their website.
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