On April 27, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker led the V, XI, and XII Corps on a campaign to turn the Confederate left flank by crossing the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers above Fredericksburg. Passing the Rapidan via Germanna and Ely's Fords, the Federals concentrated near Chancellorsville on April 30 and May 1. The III Corps was ordered to join the army via United States Ford. Sedgwick's VI Corps and Gibbon's division remained to demonstrate against the Confederates at Fredericksburg. In the meantime, Lee left a covering force under Maj. Gen. Jubal Early in Fredericksburg and marched with the rest of the army to confront the Federals. As Hooker's army moved toward Fredericksburg on the Orange Turnpike, they encountered increasing Confederate resistance. Hearing reports of overwhelming Confederate force, Hooker ordered his army to suspend the advance and to concentrate again at Chancellorsville. Pressed closely by Lee's advance, Hooker adopted a defensive posture, thus giving Lee the initiative. On the morning of May 2, Lt. Gen. T.J. Jackson directed his corps on a march against the Federal left flank, which was reported to be "hanging in the air." Fighting was sporadic on other portions of the field throughout the day, as Jackson's column reached its jump-off point. At 5:20 pm, Jackson's line surged forward in an overwhelming attack that crushed the Union XI Corps. Federal troops rallied, resisted the advance, and counterattacked. Disorganization on both sides and darkness ended the fighting. While making a night reconnaissance, Jackson was mortally wounded by his own men and carried from the field. J.E.B. Stuart took temporary command of Jackson's Corps. On May 3, the Confederates attacked with both wings of the army and massed their artillery at Hazel Grove. This finally broke the Federal line at Chancellorsville. Hooker withdrew a mile and entrenched in a defensive "U" with his back to the river at United States Ford. Union Generals Berry and Whipple and Confederate general Paxton were killed; Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded. On the night of May 5-6, after Union reverses at Salem Church, Hooker recrossed to the north bank of the Rappahannock. This battle was considered by many historians to be Lee's greatest victory.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Other Names: None
Location: Spotsylvania County
Campaign: Chancellorsville Campaign (April-May 1863)
Date(s): April 30-May 6, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]
Forces Engaged: 154,734 total (US 97,382; CS 57,352)
Estimated Casualties: 24,000 total (US 14,000; CS 10,000)
CWSAC Reference #: VA032
Source:
Following the Fredericksburg I debacle, President Abraham Lincoln replaced Burnside with Joseph Hooker. Hooker, on the east bank of the Rappahananock at Fredericksburg had more than 130,000 troops and 412 artillery pieces, more than twice the strength of Lee in all three combat arms: infantry, cavalry, and artillery. He intended to use these superior numbers to effect a plan whereby he would employ a pincer movement against Lee. One half of the army under Sedgwick would cross the Rappahanock River below Fredericksburg and the other half would cross upstream to move against Lee's rear. Each Federal wing would be almost the size of Lee's entire command. The Federal cavalry meanwhile, would attempt to create confusion by operations behind Lee's lines, west and south of Chancellorsville.
Bad weather prevented the execution of the plan until late April. Hooker initially misled Lee as to his true intentions by leaving Gibbon's division in camp while moving the rest of the army. On April 27, 1863, the new commander marched the right wing of his army, under temporary comand of Slocum, and crossed shallow fords upstream on the Rappahanock at Kelly's Ford and the Rapidan at Germanna and Ely's Fords. Within three days Slocum was at the Chancellorsville crossroads with 60,000 men at which point Hooker took command.
Lee quickly discerned Hookers's true intentions however. After watching Sedgwick's men consolidating their bridgeheads at Franklin's Crossing and Pollock's Mill (Fitzhugh's Crossing) of the Rappahanock below Fredericksburg, Lee decided that the main threat was Hooker's right flanking column. Lee therefore moved the bulk of his army westward towards Hooker and left Major General Jubal Early with about 10,000 men to contain Sedgwick at Fredericksburg.
After Lee discovered this threat to his position he rushed westward prompting Hooker to abandon the initiative and establish a defensive line, which was vulnerable on his right flank. Stonewall Jackson exploited this weakness on May 02 by leading his corps on a risky 12-mile march around the Union Army and destroying Hooker's right in a spectacular surprise attack. Ironically, the day ended in tragedy for the Confederates when Jackson was unwittingly shot and mortally wounded by his own troops. For three more days Lee pressed his advantage and eventually drove the Federals back across to the east bank of the river.
Source:
Last Updated 04 May 2002
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
Click on any [Item] below to go to that page
[Return to Glossary Page]
[Return to 43rd Pennsylvania Home Page]
© 1998-2004 Benjamin M. Givens, Jr.