The Battle of Fredericksburg

Fought on 13 December 1862, the battle of Fredericksburg ended in a stunning defeat for the Union. Confederate general Robert E. Lee suffered roughly 5,000 casualties but inflicted more than twice that many losses — nearly 13,000 — on his opponent, General Ambrose Burnside. This Civil War Short offers George Rable’s gripping account of the battle itself. The selection is drawn from Rable’s comprehensive book, Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!, which traces the impact of the battle well beyond the end of the fighting, offering a sense of how the horrific carnage haunted survivors — both civilian and military — on both sides.

UNC Press Civil War Shorts excerpt rousing narratives from distinguished books published by the University of North Carolina Press on the military, political, social, and cultural history of the Civil War era. Produced exclusively in ebook format, they focus on pivotal moments and figures and are intended to provide a concise introduction, stir the imagination, and encourage further exploration of the topic. For in-depth analysis, contextualization, and perspective, we invite readers to consider the original publications from which these works are drawn.