Near Fredericksburg in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Mud March

Photographed by Kevin White, August 30, 2007

1. The Mud March Marker

Inscription. In Jan. 1863, after the Federal defeat at the First Battle of Fredericksburg on 13 Dec., Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside sought to restore the army’s morale by crossing the Rappahannock River at Banks’s Ford two miles south and attacking the rear of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army. The march began on 19 Jan.; that night a warm front thawed the frozen road with 48 hours of pouring rain. Confederates across the river taunted the sodden Federals with large signs: “This Way to Richmond” and “Burnside Stuck in the Mud.” Burnside canceled the march on 23 Jan., and two days later President Abraham Lincoln replaced him with Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number N-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1863.

Location. 38° 21.616′ N, 77° 31.191′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Stafford County. It is on Warrenton Road (U.S. 17) 0.1 miles east of Greenbank and Berea Church Roads (County Route 656), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29 Banks Ford Pkwy, Fredericksburg VA 22406, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fredericksburg Campaign (here, next to this marker); Civilian Conservation Corps Company 2363 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Mud March (approx. 1.7 miles away); War Balloons (approx. 1.7 miles away); Original Bell of Hulls Memorial Baptist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away); Hulls Memorial Baptist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lake Mooney Reservoir (approx. 2.3 miles away); Milton Snellings (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. This marker replaces a marker dating from the 1940s with the same number and title that was located on the old alignment of Route 17, now Fleet Road, just north of Berea Church Road. It read, “Here passed a part of the Army of the Potomac moving westward toward the fords of the Rappahannock, January 20-21, 1863. Burnside, commanding, sought to get in the rear of Lee, who was at Fredericksburg. A storm, making the roads deep in mud, forced the abandonment of the movement.”

The Mud March and two other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin White, August 30, 2007

2. The Mud March and two other Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,946 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on August 7, 2023, by Anonymous of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.