Fredericksburg 1862: "Clear The Way" (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

In December 1862, the outcome of the Civil War hung in the balance. Antietam had been a tactical failure for both sides - although the Union army had brought the Confederates to bay, it had not been able to pin them in one place long enough to destroy them. In December 1862, General Burnside, newly appointed to command the Army of the Potomac, planned to seize and secure the town of Fredericksburg, and then take the Confederate capital of Richmond. Carl Smith's book details the epic struggle that engulfed the Union side as it crossed the Rappahannock on December 11, encountering stiff opposition from Lee's men. In December 1862, things were still confused for the Union. Antietam had been a tactical failure for both sides, and although the battle showed that the Union army could bring the Confederates to bay, it couldn't pin them in one place long enough to destroy them. McClellan was slow in pursuing the withdrawing Lee, not acting until October 1862. Still, Lee's invasion had been stalled and repulsed. In the West General Grant was closing on Vicksburg, and the Mississippi was under greater Union control. Lincoln appointed General Burnside to command the Army of the Potomac, and it was the latter who planned to seize and secure the town of Fredericksburg, and then take the Confederate capital of Richmond. Carl Smith's book details the epic struggle that engulfed the Union side as it crossed the Rappahannock on December 11, encountering stiff opposition from Lee's men.