The two Battles of Fredericksburg in the Second Great War were part of the failed attempt by United States troops to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond in early 1942. The first attack was a complete failure. The short bombardment before the attack did not suppress the Army of Northern Virginia under General Hank Coomer. U.S engineers attempted to build bridges across the river, but were under constant fire by C.S. artillery and Confederate dive-bombers, and were unsuccessful.