The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought on December 11-15, 1862, was a devastating Union defeat in the American Civil War. The battle took place in and around the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was a key conflict in the war's Eastern Theater. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General Ambrose Burnside, launched a series of frontal assaults against the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, which was heavily entrenched on the high ground behind the town.
The battle was marked by a series of brutal and futile Union attacks, particularly against the Confederate positions on Marye's Heights, a steep hill that dominated the town. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Confederates were able to inflict crippling casualties on the Union army, which suffered over 12,000 losses. The Confederates, on the other hand, lost around 5,000 men.
The Battle of Fredericksburg was a significant Confederate victory, and it marked a low point in the war for the Union army. The defeat led to widespread criticism of General Burnside and the Union high command, and it ultimately resulted in Burnside's removal from command. The battle also had a profound impact on the soldiers who fought in it, with many Union troops becoming disillusioned with the war and the leadership of their army.
Despite the Union defeat, the Battle of Fredericksburg played an important role in the larger context of the war. It marked the end of the Union's 1862 campaign in the Eastern Theater, and it set the stage for the Battle of Chancellorsville, which would take place in the spring of 1863. The battle also highlighted the growing strength and confidence of the Confederate army, which would go on to win several key victories in the coming year.