In a hazy, wintry fog, Union engineers found themselves exposed to a brigade of Confederate rifles as they worked to lay pontoons across the Rappahannock River. While striving to complete the task which would allow the Union Army access to the Confederate Army beyond the town, Brigadier General William Barksdale's Mississippians fired from the homes of Fredericksburg, Virginia, thwarting the Federal engineers' determined efforts. In his official report, General Longstreet said of this effort, "Brigadier-General Barksdale with his brigade held the enemy's entire army at the river bank for sixteen hours, giving us abundance of time to complete our arrangements for battle. A more gallant and worthy service is rarely accomplished by so small a force" [11]

In response however, Major General Ambrose Burnside ordered nearly 150 guns to target the houses sheltering the Confederate infantry. After nearly two hours, many buildings were left in ruins. In his report to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee would describe this action by writing, "The narrowness of the Rappahannock, its winding course, and deep bed afforded opportunity for the construction of bridges at points beyond the reach of our artillery, and the banks had to be watched by skirmishers. The latter, sheltering themselves behind the houses, drove back the working parties of the enemy at the bridges opposite the city, but at the lowest point of crossing, where no shelter could be had, our sharpshooters were themselves driven off, and the completion of that bridge was effected about noon on the 11th. In the afternoon of that day, the enemy's batteries opened upon the city, and by dark had so demolished the houses on the river bank as to deprive our skirmishers of shelter, and under cover of his guns he effected a lodgment in the town. The troops which had so gallantly held their position in the city under the severe cannonade during the day, resisting the advance of the enemy at every step, were withdrawn during the night, as were also those who, with equal tenacity, had maintained their post at the lowest bridge." [9]

Once the Union soldiers crossed the river, many spent the day looting and ransacking the now undefended homes of Fredericksburg's citizens. The following day however, they formed ranks on the hard won ground and brigade after brigade would repeatedly charge the enemy's heavily fortified line.