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Article: Fredericksburg, Battle of
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
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FREDERICKSBURG, BATTLE OF
FREDERICKSBURG, BATTLE OF
(13 December 1862), the scene of a decisive Southern victory against great odds. After the defeat of Union General George B. McClellan at Sharpsburg, Maryland, command of the Army of the Potomac was given to General Ambrose E. Burnside, who made Richmond, Virginia
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instead of the Army of Northern Virginia
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his objective. General Robert E. Lee outmarched him to Fredericksburg and placed his army of about 78,000 on the high ground from one to two miles south of the Rappahannock River. Lee's lines roughly paralleled the river for more than six miles. Burnside slowly concentrated his 122,000 troops on the northern bank, with ...