The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought from December 11 to December 15, 1862, during the American Civil War, between the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General Ambrose Burnside, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, under General Robert E. Lee. Following a lengthy succession of battles, Burnside sought to seize the initiative and capture the strategic town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, which would facilitate further Union advances into the South. However, the Union's numerical superiority was rendered ineffective by poor planning, harsh weather, and an entrenched Confederate army positioned on the heights behind the town.

The Union troops attacked on December 13, resulting in fierce combat but largely unsuccessful assaults against well-fortified Confederate positions. The assault resulted in significant casualties for the Union, with over 12,000 troops lost, while Confederate losses numbered around 5,000. Faced with heavy resistance and deteriorating conditions, Burnside, overwhelmed by the scale of the defeat and the necessity of regrouping his forces, opted to withdraw across the Rappahannock River on the night of December 15, marking a retreat characterized by the somber realization of lost hopes for a quick conclusion to the conflict.

The Union's defeat at Fredericksburg was not just a loss of ground but also a blow to Northern morale. Burnside's reputation suffered greatly as a result, leading to his eventual replacement. This engagement highlighted the operational challenges and complexities of Civil War battles, where strategy often faltered against the formidable range of veteran formations and defensive tactics employed by the Confederate army. Fredericksburg became emblematic of the war's brutal realities and the high costs of inexperience in leadership on the battlefield.