General Barksdale's Mississippians along the riverbank delay the crossing. Union bombardment damages the city. Civilians seek refuge west of town. Late in the afternoon, Union soldiers row across the river and establish a beachhead. After a bloody fight in the streets of Fredericksburg, Barksdale withdraws.
Engineers then finish building the bridges.
Army of the Potomac crosses the river and the soldiers vandalize the city. Burnside decides to make a two-prong attack the next day. The main attack at Prospect Hill breaks through a gap in the Confederate line, but Southern reinforcements drive the Federals back after a competitive fight. The Union assaults on the Stone Wall at the base of Marye's Heights are easily repulsed in a bloody disaster. Minor skirmishing along the front line.