The battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11-15 1862. The union charged the confederates who were entrenched behind the town. It is known as one of the most one sided battles in the American civil war where the union losses were more than twice the amount of the confederate losses. Also occurring in the same area the battle of wilderness was fought May 5-7 1864. Both sides suffered heavy losses a harbinger from the war of attrition by Grant against Lee. At the end of the battle neither side really won Grant pulled back and continued his offensive.

In the movie it is where Mark was killed.