After the Union Army successfully took Falmouth, General Lee anticipated that their next course of action would be to take Fredericksburg. General Lee moved troops from Culpepper and Winchester and assembled them on the high ground surrounding Fredericksburg (Yandoh, 2001). Knowledge of the area put General Lee's forces at the advantage, as they took the high ground along Marye's Heights. A defensive position provided the best fields of fire, cover, and concealment, which proved to be a major disadvantage for the Union forces. Weather was a factor for both sides as snowfall limited travel and early morning pre-dawn fog obscured vision (Franklin, 1998). Neither side had an advantage over the poor