By May of 1863, the Stone Wall at the base of Maryeâ??s Heights above Fredericksburg loomed large over the Army of the Potomac, haunting its men with memories of slaughter from their crushing defeat there the previous December.

The success at Second Fredericksburg was one of the Union army's few bright spots in the campaign, while the setback at Salem Church stands as its most devastating lost opportunity. With extensive newspaper, archival, and firsthand research, this is a compelling narrative that helps readers to better understand these combats.