Burnside's Blunder

(This is a brief summary of the Battle of Fredericksburg that occurred from December 11-15 in the year 1862. The American Civil War was raging on and mistakes made by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside resulted in one of the Union Army's worst defeats during the war.) In 1862, Burnside had a plan of attack. He marched his army across the river Rappahannock. It was a foolish move. He should have known it then. But he ordered his troops across a field that became known as the Great Slaughter Pen.