Mud March (American Civil War)

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38°21′35″N 77°31′09″W / 38.3596°N 77.5191°W / 38.3596; -77.5191

The Mud March was an abortive offensive by Union Major General Ambrose Burnside and his Army of the Potomac in January 20-22, 1863 during the American Civil War. Burnside had been repulsed by the Army of Northern Virginia under Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Burnside's first attempt to cross the Rappahannock River during the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. The Mud March was Burnside's second attempt at crossing the Rappahannock to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

The strategy was sound in theory, but it failed because of dissension among generals in the Army of the Potomac, compounded by severe winter storms.