Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville, fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, was a significant engagement during the American Civil War, notable for the tactical brilliance displayed by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the tragic loss of his key lieutenant, General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Major General Joseph Hooker led the Union forces with a strategic plan that initially seemed promising, involving a large troop maneuver to flank Lee's army near Fredericksburg. However, after an early engagement, Hooker unexpectedly retreated into the dense Wilderness, which hindered his forces' effectiveness.
On May 2, Jackson executed a surprise attack on the Union's exposed right flank, leading to a decisive Confederate victory. Despite suffering wounds himself during this assault, Jackson’s offensive contributed greatly to the disarray among Union troops. By May 3, Lee continued to press the attack, ultimately forcing Hooker to retreat across the Rappahannock River, marking a significant setback for the Union. The battle resulted in heavy casualties, with Union losses exceeding 17,200 and Confederate losses around 13,000. While Chancellorsville is often hailed as Lee's greatest victory due to the audacious tactics employed against a numerically superior force, it also came at a high cost for the Confederacy with the death of Stonewall Jackson shortly thereafter.
Battle of Chancellorsville
Date: May 1–4, 1863
Location: Northern Virginia (between Fredericksburg and the Wilderness)
Combatants: 134,000 Union vs. 60,000 Confederate troops
Principal commanders:Union, Major General Joseph Hooker (1814–1879); Confederate, General Robert E. Lee (1807–1870)
Result: A Confederate victory that thwarted another Union move toward Richmond.
Major General Joseph Hooker formulated an excellent tactical plan. He would hold General Robert E. Lee’s army near Fredericksburg with 40,000 troops under John Sedgwick while he marched around Lee’s left flank with 75,000. If Lee moved against Hooker, Sedgwick would advance against the Confederate rear.
Initially, the plan worked perfectly, but on May 1, Confederates struck the advancing Union soldiers near Chancellorsville. Inexplicably, Hooker surrendered the initiative, ordering his army back into the Wilderness’s wooded maze, which neutralized his manpower and artillery advantages. On May 2, Stonewall Jackson and 28,000 Confederates marched across and around the Union front and delivered an early evening surprise attack against Hooker’s exposed right flank, which crumbled before the onslaught. Despite the wounding of Jackson, Lee renewed his attack on May 3, convincing a dazed and whipped Hooker to retreat.
Having turned back Hooker, Lee on the afternoon of May 3 marched back toward Fredericksburg where he met and stopped Sedgwick. By May 6, Hooker’s army had retreated north of the Rappahannock River, leaving the Union with another humiliating defeat. Union casualties exceeded 17,200, and Confederate losses numbered nearly 13,000.
This Confederate victory against an army twice its size is recognized as Lee’s greatest battle. His audacity and boldness allowed him to exploit Hooker’s loss of nerve and timidity; nevertheless, Chancellorsville cost the South the invaluable services of Stonewall Jackson, who died on May 10.