Fredericksburg Campaign, December 1862

Photographed by Kathy Walker, April 7, 2009

1. Fredericksburg Campaign, December 1862 Marker

Inscription. The Battle of Fredericksburg began on the morning of December 11, 1862, when Confederate sharpshooters opened fire on Federal engineers building a pontoon bridge by which the Union Army of the Potomac planned to cross the Rappahannock River. Fredericksburg's defenders consisted of approximately 16,000 men of Brigadier General William Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, McLaw's Division, Longstreet's Corps. With the threat of imminent combat, many of the town's residents had previously evacuated their homes and fled to safety. Union artillery, in trying to suppress the Southern marksmen, convinced the remaining residents to leave as well, as over 9,000 shells shrieked into town, knocking apart chimneys, houses, and fences; damage that sometimes remains visible to this day. When elements of the Union Army subsequently forced their way across the River and into the town, the opposing soldiers fought through the streets and around buildings that had been wrecked and left burning by the artillery. As darkness fell, the tired troops engaged in a final, vicious fire fight in this area before the Confederates pulled back, their day-long

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defense having given the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia time to concentrate on the heights beyond town.

Brochures for a walking tour of Civil War Fredericksburg that more fully describe these events are available at the City Visitor Center.

"Knowing there were many families occupying the houses on the margin od the river, I deemed it proper to notify all the women and children of their danger and give them time to get from under range of the enemy's guns. This being accomplished, about 5:00 a.m. I ordered my men to fire on the bridge builders, which they obeyed promptly and deliberately..."
Lieutenant Colonel of the 17th Mississippi Infantry

"My company was close to (the leading company) and we entered upon the main (Caroline) street within a moment of each other. that instant a tremendous and deadly fire swept down from the front nd left. The Rebels occupied the houses and were behind fences, and could not be seen except by the flash of guns. It staggered the column but in a moment they pressed on...."
A company commander in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Topics. This historical marker is listed

Close Up of the Keith Rocco Painting image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Walker, April 7, 2009

2. Close Up of the Keith Rocco Painting

in these topic lists: Military • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 11, 1790.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 18.37′ N, 77° 27.664′ W. Marker was in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was at the intersection of Caroline Street and Fauquier Street, on the right when traveling north on Caroline Street. The marker is in front of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of

Close Up of the Joe Umble Painting image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Walker, April 7, 2009

3. Close Up of the Joe Umble Painting

this location: Fire on Caroline Street (here, next to this marker); 1908 (within shouting distance of this marker); Kenmore (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Lewis Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Rising Sun Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Rising Sun Tavern (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Reformed Baptist Church (about 300 feet away); 1856 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Lewis Store (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "Fire on Caroline Street".

Photographed by Kathy Walker, April 7, 2009

4. Fredericksburg Campaign, December 1862 Marker

In front of the Library.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2009, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,946 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 10, 2009, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.