The 43rd North Carolina was nowhere near Fredericksburg in December 1862. The regiment was part of Junius Daniel's Brigade and part of the lower Richmond defenses on the James River at that time. Quoting from the regimental history,

Shortly after quarters were prepared for the winter, the brigade was ordered to Goldsboro, in December, 1862, to reinforce the Confederates in opposing the advance of the Union troops from New Bern under General Foster; but on the day before its arrival they succeeded in burning the railroad bridge over the Neuse river, and, after a sharp engagement with the Confederates on the south side of the river, retreated to their base of operations at New Bern. The bridge was immediately rebuilt on trestles by a detail of men from the brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis superintending the work.

During the spring of 1863 it was stationed at Kinston and detachments sent out to prevent the approach of the enemy into the interior.

Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, 1861-1865, vol. III, pp. 4-5.