- Abraham Lincoln replace McClellan as General with Ambrose E. Burnside because of McClellan's lack of aggression.
- November 1862, Burnside set out with an army of 120,000 troops.
- The Confederate commander divided his force of 78,000 men. Neither side of confederate troops were prepared to defend Fredericksburg.
- Burnsides' troops were delayed which gave Generals Lees army to reunite and entrench themselves properly around Fredericksburg.
- Finally the Unions Army crossed Rappahannock and made a series of attacks.
- These attacks all failed to break the confederate line.
- After about 12,600 casualties Burnside retreated.
- Burnside stepped down from his position and Lincoln made Joseph Hooker the commander of the army.
- Late April of 1863, Hooker and his army of about 138,000 troops launched a frontal attack Federicksburg.
- Hooker then ordered about 115,000 of his troops To split and approach the confederates "flank" or side
- Hookers hesitated for some reason and had his flanking troops take a defensive position at Chancellorsville which was a town located a few miles west of Fredericksburg.
- The next day Lee used about 60,000 troops to attack troops at Chancellorsville.
- Stonewall Jackson led an attack on Hookers flank while Lee led an assault on the Union front.
- The Union managed to form a defensive line in which they held for three day, soon Hooker ordered a retreat.
- Lee's Army won Great victory but there was severe casualties when Lee's trusted General Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own troops and died a few days later.