In November 1862, just four days after his promotion to commander of the Army of the Potomac, Ambrose Burnside moved his army to Fredericksburg, Virginia, en route to Richmond. Confederate commander Robert E. Lee responded by placing the Army of Northern Virginia directly across the Rappahannock River on Marye's Heights and Prospect Hill. The ensuing engagement climaxing on December 13, stretched for miles, involved hundreds of thousands of men, produced staggering unequal casualties (13,000 Federal soldiers compared to 4,500 Confederates), ruined the career of Burnside, embarrassed Abraham Lincoln, and distinguished Lee as one of the greatest military strategists of his era. This volume is the definitive military study of that controversial operation. Here, O'Reilly describes the gruesome struggle's tactical movements in vivid detail, integrating eyewitness accounts from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest private soldier to produce a seamless narrative. Woven within the broader military and political events are gripping stories from civilians trapped between the opposing armies. -- from publisher.

Prologue: "Poor Burn Feels Dreadfully" The Winter Campaign of 1862 --1 -- Chapter 1 "To Cripple the Rebel Cause" The Road to Fredericksburg -- 9 -- Chapter 2 "The Enemy Will be More Surprised" Countdown to Crossing -- 38 -- Chapter 3 "A Scene of Wildest Confusion" The Pontoon Crossings on December 11 -- 57 -- Chapter 4 "A Fierce and Deadly Contest" Fighting in the Streets -- 79 -- Chapter 5 "The Most Gothic of Goths" The Sacking of Fredericksburg -- 102 -- Chapter 6 "The Jaws of Death" The Battle Begins -- 127 -- Chapter 7 "A Terrible Slaughter in our Ranks" The Federal Breakthrough -- 166 -- Chapter 8 "Getting Hill out O'Trouble" The Confederate Counterattack -- 198 -- Chapter 9 "Cheer up, My Hearties!" French's Attack -- 246 -- Chapter 10 "The Valley of Death" Hancock's Attack -- 293 -- Chapter 11 "A Devil of a Time" Howard and Sturgis Attack -- 324 -- Chapter 12 "The Die is Cast" Deep Run and Griffin's Attack -- 355 -- Chapter 13 "The Gates of Hell" Final Assaults at Twilight -- 389 -- Chapter 14 "Deciding the Fate of our Country" The Aftermath of Battle -- 430 -- Chapter 15 "Played Out!" Dumfries Raid and the Mud March -- 457 -- Epilogue: "Not the Same Troops We Started With" -- 494.