Fredericksburg, Battle Of

(December 13, 1862), bloody engagement of the American Civil War fought at Fredericksburg, Virginia; its outcome - a crushing Union defeat - immeasurably strengthened the Confederate cause. General A.E. Burnside, newly appointed commander of the Northern forces, planned to cross the Rappahannock River with an army of more than 120,000 troops and advance on the Southern capital at Richmond.