University of Mary Washington history professor Jeffrey McClurken talked about the Civil War leading up to December 1862. He discussed the political situations in the North and South, and traced changes in the Union and Confederate commands to that point in the war. Using the words of politicians, military officers, journalists, and people living in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia during that period, Professor McClurken set the stage for the Battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought from December 11-13, 1862.