FREDERICKSBURG, BATTLE OF, Dec. 13-14, 1862. After the battle of Antietam, in the middle of Sept., the union commander (McClellan)remained inactive so long that the people demanded a movement from him or his deposition from command. Near the end of Oct., his forces began to cross the Potomac, while the confederates moved to the valley of the Rappahannock. Early in Nov., the union forces concentrated near War renton, and the confederates near Culpepper, 20 m. south. Before McClellan was ready to make an attack he was removed (Nov. 7) and Burnside took his place. The objects at the time were to cover Washington, to take Richmond, or to break up the confederate army. By the middle of Nov., Lee had concentrated the whole of the confederate forces. The union army was organized in three divisions, the right under Sumner, the left under Franklin, the center under Hooker. Burnside resolved to cross the Rappa hannock at Fredericksburg, Dec. 11. Three bridges were to be made; Sumner to cross by the upper, Franklin with a part of Hooker's men at the lower; the remainder of Hooker's men to be held in reserve. On the 12th the crossing was effected. The next
morning was foggy. The forces were rated at 100,000 unionists, and 80,000 confeder-, ates. The attack began early and continued all day. There was a great deal of severe fighting, but all efforts to carry the strong points of the confederates failed. The con federates lay under arms through the night, expecting another attack in the morning. Although Burnside had determined to renew the attack and gave his orders to that effect, he desisted at the earnest persuasion of Sumner, who, with every other corps commander, looked upon such an assault as hopeless. The armies remained in their respective positions up to the night of the 15th, when taking advantage of a violent storm, Burnside led his forces to the n. bank of the river. The official report of the union loss at Fredericksburg was 1138 killed, 9,105 wounded, and 2,078 missing; total, 12,321; while on the confederate side the loss was 5,309-595 killed, 4,061 wounded, 563 missing.