Mud March
American Civil War / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mud March (January 20, 1863 – January 23, 1863) was an attempt by Union Army Major General Ambrose Burnside to attack Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.[1] After the disastrous defeat of the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Burnside was anxious to redeem himself.[2] He planned for his Army to make a winter march across the Rappahannock River on December 30, 1862.[2] But he had not informed President Abraham Lincoln of his plan. Lincoln called him back. Three weeks passed and this time, with Lincoln's implied approval, the army marched southward.[2] However, winter rains made the roads nearly impassable.[3] After four days the attempt ended in failure.