Daily Quiz for June 12, 2008

Ambrose E. Burnside. Ambrose E. Burnside commanded the Army of the Potomac in its disastrous assault on Lee’s positions at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Burnside, newly appointed commander of an army of over 120,000, planned to cross the Rappahannock River and advance on the Confederate capital of Richmond. Some 78,000 troops under Confederate General Robert E. Lee took a strong position on the high ground near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Burnisde`s assault resulted in over 12,500 casualties for the Union compared with about 5,000 for the entrenched Confederates. Burnside was relieved of command the following month.