Fredericksburg Campaign

On December 11, 1862, with the peacetime bridges destroyed, engineers of Burnside’s Federal Army began laying pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock. Overlooking the upper pontoon site, Confederates of Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade, sheltered in houses and cellars along this street, stopped the work. Bombardment by Federal cannon failed to dislodge the sharpshooters. Finally, the 7th Michigan Regiment, followed by the 19th Massachusetts, crossed the river in boats to establish a bridgehead. The pontoon bridges were completed, the 20th Massachusetts secured the streets, and Barksdale’s Mississippians fell back during the night. The next day thousands of Federals poured over two bridges here and others downriver in preparation for the attack against Lee’s main line.

Fredericksburg, Virginia · United States