See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville
As
the fighting wound to a close on May 1, 150 years ago today,
Stonewall Jackson met with Robert E. Lee near the Confederate line.
Jackson told Lee he thought that Anderson and McLaws were making too
easy progress. He thought that Hooker would soon retreat across the
river. Lee disagreed. “But,
General,” he replied, “we
must get ready to attack the enemy, if we should find him here
tomorrow, and you must make all arrangements to move around his right
flank."
 |
| Stuart |
Lee and Jackson began planning what
would go down as one of the greatest Confederate feats of the war. If
Hooker remained, Lee planned to again break the established rules of
warfare and divide his force in the face of the superior enemy. While
this conference was progressing, JEB Stuart arrived with a report
from his cavalry. He said that Fitz Lee, a cavalry general and Robert
E. Lee's nephew, had discovered that the Federal right flank was in
the air. There was nothing to stop Jackson from marching around and
surprising the Federals. Lee decided that he would take this
opportunity. Studying the maps, they agreed on a route that Jackson
would take in his march early the next morning. Lee asked him what
troops he proposed to make the attack with. "With my whole
command," Jackson answered. Lee responded, "What will you
leave me here to hold the Federal army with?" "The two
divisions you have here," replied Jackson. Lee paused for a
moment, doubtless to consider the tremendous risks the plan would
entail. Jackson wished to leave Lee only two divisions to hold back
Hooker's fifteen. Lee quickly made up his mind. "Well, go
ahead," he said. This would be Jackson's most brilliant attack
of the war.
1 comments:
War is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.
Your article is very well done, a good read.
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