Who was the general of the Battle of Fredericksburg?

Answer 1

For the North, there was General Ambrose E. Burnside. The generals for the South were Robert E. Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, and James Longstreet. I'm almost positive that those are the only generals involved.

Answer 2

The main commanders for the battle of Fredricksburg were Robert E. Lee for the Confederates and Ambrose Burnside for the Union. Under the command of General Burnside, Union Troops crossed the Rappahannock River and occupied Fredericksburg. Confederate troops withdrew and occupied the heights above the town. The Confederates were well situated. In assaults south of the town, as well as above the town, in Marye's heights, Union troops failed to dislodge the Confederates. Union troops suffered massive casualties and were forced to withdraw. In late November, General Ambrose Burnside led the Union army south towards Richmond. Burnside's plan called for crossing the Rappahannock river at Fredericksburg, Virginia. His plan called for an immediate crossing of the river and the seizing of the town and the surrounding heights. Unfortunately, the pontoon bridges that Burnside had counted on did not arrive for seventeen days. The seventeen days gave Lee's army plenty of time to prepare for an assault. In the meantime the two armies faced each other waiting with a just the River separating them. Finally the bridges arrived. On December 11th Union forces began shelling the town whose residence had fled. After setting the town on fire, the Union forces began crossing the river on six pontoon bridges. The Union troops crossed under the cover of a massive artillery barrage. The Confederates used snipers to harass the Union advance, but had withdrawn their army to the heights above the town.

On the morning of December 13th Union troops began an assault on Confederate line. South of the town four divisions under General William Franklin attacked the troops under General Jackson. Well placed Confederate artillery managed to blunt the Union's assault.

The main Union assault however, was commanded by General Hooker. His goal was to capture Marye's Heights. Many of Burnside's officers opposed the assault. They claimed it would be impossible to capture in a frontal assault. They were right. Seven separate Union divisions, attempted to scale the Marye's Heights. Each assault was halted in its tracks.

A confederate officer William Miller Owens describes the scene: "The enemy, having deployed, now showed himself above the crest of the ridge and advanced in columns of brigades, and at once our guns began their deadly work with shell and solid shot. How beautifully they came on! Their bright bayonets glistering in the sunlight made the line look a huge serpent of blue and steel. The very force of their onset leveled the broad fences bounding the small fields and gardens that interspersed the plain. We could see our shells bursting in their ranks, making great gaps; but on they came, as though they would go straight through and over us. Now we gave them canister, and that staggered them. A few more paces onward and the Georgians in the road below us rose up, and, glancing an instant along their rifle barrels, let loose a storm of lead into the faces of the advance brigade. This was too much; the column hesitated, and then turning, took refuge behind the bank."

Thousands of Union men were trapped on the fields leading to the heights. All night the dying lay untended on the battlefield. With staggering Union casualties, General Burnside ordered a general withdrawal back across the river. Union casualties totaled 12,653, while Confederate casualties stood at 5377.

Answer 3

General Robert E. Lee and Major General Ambrose E. Burnside General Robert E. Lee and Major General Ambrose E. Burnside

Answer 4

Ambrose Burnside for the north and Robert E. Lee for the south

Answer 5

For the Confederates, Robert E. Lee was the commanding officer. The Federals had Ambrose Burnside as their general.