5. Battle of Fredericksburg (1862)
In December of 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg unfolded as one of the war’s most lopsided and tragic engagements.
Under General Ambrose Burnside, Union forces launched repeated frontal assaults against entrenched Confederate troops positioned securely on Marye’s Heights. Each futile charge met devastating rifle fire, resulting in staggering Union casualties—nearly 13,000 compared to fewer than 5,000 Confederate losses. This resounding Confederate victory severely shook Northern morale and underscored the brutal costs of misguided tactics. Fredericksburg became a stark symbol of wartime futility, highlighting the immense human toll exacted by entrenched positions and tactical miscalculations.
