Major General Burnside's plan to attack the rebels is approved

The new commander, Major General Ambrose Burnside, issued a plan to attack the Confederate army during this week.  The plan was intended to confuse General Robert E. Lee by making it look like the Army of the Potomac was attacking General Longstreet's troops,while instead crossing the Rappahannock River and attack Fredericksburg.  Burnside's 120,000 Union soldiers were awaiting the president's approval. Mr. Lincoln liked the plan and gave the go ahead saying in a telegram sent by General in Chief Henry Halleck "He (the president) thinks it will succeed if you move rapidly; otherwise not."

Unfortunately, while General Halleck wired the approval for the action, he failed to order the needed pontoon boats for the army to cross the river.  The army was halted on the wrong side of the river and had to wait. In the meantime, the Confederates bolstered their position at Fredericksburg.

The president was also the guest of the Navy Department, going with Secretaries Chase and Seward to witness the demonstration of the Hyde rocket on November 14. The rocket, developed by Joshua Hyde, contained a war head and an adjustable timed fuse.  Lt. Commander Mitchel set up the demonstration by placing the rocket in a perforated cylindrical iron launching tube. Instead of firing, the rocket exploded in the tube. The president and secretaries miraculously were not injured in the accident.  the Hyde rocket project was scrapped.