Under command of General Ambrose Burnside, the first elements of the Army of the Potomac began to arrive in Falmouth, Virginia on November 17th, 1862; Burnside's plan of operations called for pontoon bridges to be sent ahead and assembled so that the AotP could cross the Rappahannock and take Fredericksburg.
Due to bureaucratic ineptitude on the part of the Union supply system, the pontooons didn't arrive on time and Burnside was forced to wait until they did; we all know what happened next.
However, what if the bridging equipment arrived when Burnside needed it?
The AotP would certainly have been able to take Fredericksburg, as there were only 500 Confederate troops in the town. Then, Burnside would have been able to take up positions on Mayre's Heights west of town and very possibly, defeat General Longstreet's 1st Corps.
Due to bureaucratic ineptitude on the part of the Union supply system, the pontooons didn't arrive on time and Burnside was forced to wait until they did; we all know what happened next.
However, what if the bridging equipment arrived when Burnside needed it?
The AotP would certainly have been able to take Fredericksburg, as there were only 500 Confederate troops in the town. Then, Burnside would have been able to take up positions on Mayre's Heights west of town and very possibly, defeat General Longstreet's 1st Corps.