Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Federals led by James G. Blunt attack John S. Marmaduke’s small Confederate cavalry force in a skirmish in northwestern Arkansas.
Ambrose Burnside’s Federals are finally poised to cross the Rappahannock River in northern Virginia, while Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederates hurry to reinforce Robert E. Lee’s army behind Fredericksburg.
A Federal division isolated in northwestern Arkansas becomes prey to Confederates poised to not only wipe the Federals out of the state but to reenter Missouri as well.
Ambrose Burnside continues waiting for all his pontoons to arrive, while Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederate corps hurries east from the Shenandoah Valley to reinforce Robert E. Lee’s army outside Fredericksburg.
Federals threaten to bombard Fredericksburg, Virginia, while men of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia hurry to strengthen the town’s defenses.
Braxton Bragg reorganizes his Confederate army in Middle Tennessee, and William S. Rosecrans plans to oppose him.