In December 1862, things were still confused for the Union. General Burnside was appointed by Lincoln as commander of the Army of the Potomac, and he laid plans to seize and secure the town of Fredericksburg, and then take the Confederate capital of Richmond. Carl Smith's book details the epic struggle that engulfed the Union side as it crossed the Rappahannock, encountering stiff opposition from Lee's men

Campaign Origins6 -- Opposing Commanders 9 -- Union Commanders -- Confederate Commanders -- Union Army -- Confederate Army -- Burnside's Approach 20 -- Fredericksburg Order of Battle 23 -- Opening Moves 31 -- Marye's Heights 46 -- 12-13 December 1862 -- Sumner's Six Assaults -- First Assault: 1200-1300 hours -- Second Assault: 1300 hours -- Assault of the Irish Brigade -- Third Assault: 1400 hours -- Fourth Assault: 1500 hours -- Last Assault 1700 hours -- Franklin's Front 69 -- Closing Moves 81 -- Mud March -- Analysis 88 -- Gaming Fredericksburg 90 -- Fredericksburg Today 93. Burnside Takes Command -- Commanders and Armies -- Chronology -- Moving to Winter Quarters -- 15 November through 10 December -- Orders of Battle -- The wait: 10–12 December: Burnside's Plan of Attack -- The Six Assaults: 13 December (Sumner's Front) -- Franklin's Front and Meade's Attack -- The Final Union Assault On Marye's Heights That Never Was -- The Closing Moves -- Gaming Fredericksburg -- Fredericksburg Today -- Bibliography and Further Reading