Hooker Retreats from Chancellorsville

See all posts about the Battle of Chancellorsville.

End of the Chancellorsville campaign

With Sedgwick back across the river, Lee got his section of the army moving to try to resume the offensive on Hooker's main body. The night before Hooker had called a meeting of his corps commanders to consider what should be done. He stated the situation and his responsibility to guard Washington, DC. It was obvious to everyone that Hooker favored a retreat. Nevertheless  he left the generals along to discuss the situation among themselves. After a time they voted, with Meade, Reynolds and Howard for a resumption of the attack, and Sickles and Couch against it. Even though a majority of his subordinates disagreed with him, Hooker declared that he would order a retreat across the river. John Reynolds complained "What was the use of calling us together at this time of night when he intended to retreat anyhow?" The next day Hooker crossed the river, followed by his army. By the next morning the retreat had been complete. Lee had been poised to attack Federals, who were in strong entrenchments. It may have turned the campaign around, but Hooker didn't want to take the risk.

Hooker

Lee had been victorious. Although the ultimate victory had slipped from his grasp, he had, when surrounded by two forces twice his numbers, converged on one, switched corps commanders in the middle of the fighting, pushed Hooker against the river, drove back Sedgwick, and finally convinced Hooker to retreat as well. This victory was gained not only through the brilliance of the Confederate army, but the many mistakes of the Federals. The man who made the most mistakes was Joe Hooker. During the beginning of the campaign he had advanced and talked boldly, but then he faltered. He would not press the advance, instead retreating until he was eventually across the river. Some blamed it on drunkenness, or from withdrawal from alcohol, others on an injury from his close call with a shell. Publicly he blamed the defeat on anyone he could, but privately he acknowledged the source of the defeat, saying according to one source, "It was not hurt by a shell, and I was not drunk. For once I lost confidence in Joe Hooker, and that is all there is to it."

Confederate dead from 2nd Fredericksburg

In the battle of Chancellorsville the North lost 1,606 killed, 9,672 wounded and 5,919 missing. The Confederates 1,665 killed, 9,081 wounded and 2,018 missing. The fighting had been very heavy. On May 3 alone over 20,000 men had been lost. It was the bloodiest day of the Civil War second only to Antietam.

Battle of Salem Church

See all posts about the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Battle of Salem Church

In the battles of the last three days, Lee had beaten back Hooker, but he was still in a dangerous position. Sedgwick on his flank, advancing from Fredericksburg. 150 years ago today he would adopt another daring plan. While Stuart kept Hooker's men contained with Jackson's old Second Corps, Lee, with the contingent of the First Corps present, would deal with Sedgwick. Confederate General Jubal Early was able to reoccupy Marye's Heights at 7:00 am. Sedgwick was forced back into a horseshoe position with both flanks on the river, very much like Hooker's position to the west. He had received no aid or orders from Hooker, other than an authorization to fall back across the river if he thought it necessary.

Union troops in a tench at Fredericksburg

Lee pushed Sedgwick throughout the day, but the attacks were disorganized, and were unsuccessful in breaking the Union line. Fighting raged around Salem Church. Many bullets struck the church, and their marks can still be seen to this day. Lee ordered a night attack be made, but it was morning before they were able to reach the Union lines. They found Sedgwick's trenches empty. With Hooker's permission he had retreated across Bank's Ford during the night.

Battle of Chancellorsville – Day 3

See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville

Wounded Union soldiers

Although Howard's XI Corps of the Union army had been destroyed on May 2, Hooker still had many more men than Lee for the fighting the next day. He also had the better position, with Sickles holding the high ground at Hazel Grove that separated Stuart and Lee. From there his line curved back like a horseshoe, with each side anchored on a river, the right on the Rapidan and the left on the Rappohannock. There would be no more flanking today.

But Hooker did not recognize the importance of the position he held. He ordered Sickles to abandon Hazel Grove and fall back to the Plank Road. Sickles protested, but Hooker believed that it had to be done to simply the defense. Once Sickles fell back, the Confederates occupied Hazel Grove. It proved not only an opportunity to reunite the Confederate army, but also the key to the entire battlefield. Confederate artillery commander Col. E. Porter Alexander had spotted the site during the night and was ready to occupy it as soon as Sickles fell back. Over the winter Alexander had reorganized the Confederate artillery into battalions, and this centralized system allowed guns to be brought up quickly to man the valuable position. The Confederate cannons placed at Hazel Grove soon opened on the Union artillery position at Fairview, 1200 yards distant. 30 cannons converged with 54 elsewhere on the line, creating a very destructive fire. Some have called it the Army of Northern Virginia's best artillery position in the war, and Hooker had given it up without a fight.

Confederates attack Hazel Grove

With the powerful support of this artillery Stuart began his attack. His three divisions pushed in three lines through the woods, along side the field running between Fairview and Hazel Grove. He had abandoned the idea of cutting the Federals off from the river fords, as Meade's corps had been positioned to block the way. The first two divisions, those of Heth and Colston, met hard resistance by the Federal troops. J.E.B. Stuart rode along his lines, encouraging the men. As usual, he was in very showy apparel, wearing a brand new uniform, cape and plumed hat. He looked the ideal caviler. As he rode he sang a favorite song:

Ol' Joe Hooker, won't you come out of The Wilderness? Come out of The Wilderness, come out of The Wilderness? Ol' Joe Hooker, won't you come out of The Wilderness? Bully boys, hey! Bully boys, ho!

Finally the Federal lines broke under a charge by the last division, that of Rhodes, combined with the effects of the tremendous bombardment. The victorious Confederates plunged forward with shouts of "Remember Jackson!"


It was at this moment, in the height of the battle, that the most important casualty of that day of fighting occurred – Joe Hooker himself. The Chancellor house, for which the battle would be named, was being used as Hooker's headquarters as well as a field hospital. The Confederate artillery pieces began throwing their shells into the area to disrupt Union communications and supplies. Just after 9:00 Hooker was standing on the porch of a house when a solid Confederate cannonball struck the pillar on which he was leaning, knocking him to the ground and throwing splinters everywhere. His staff put him down on a blanket and gave him some brandy. Eventually he felt well enough to stand up. Just as he did that another ball flew into the area and struck the blanket on which he had just been lying, demonstrating that this was no place for the commander of the army. Riding off, Hooker soon sent a message to summon Darius Courch. He turned over the command, as he had been badly shaken by the shock. Hooker said, "Couch, I turn the command of the army over to you. You will withdraw it and place it in the position designated on this map."

But even as he turned over the command, he gave Couch orders which Couch disagreed with. The army's new commander wanted to try to continue to hold the ground they still had. But Hooker had made up his mind to abandon the field, and there was little anyone else could do about it.

Lee cheered by his men

As the advancing Confederates reached the Chancellor House, the two corps of the army were reunited. One Confederate staff officer remembered the moment:

The scene can never be effaced from the minds of those that witnessed it. The troops were pressing forward with all the ardor and enthusiasm of combat. The white smoke of musketry fringed the front of battle, while the artillery on the hills in rear shook the earth with its thunder and filled the air with the wild shrieking of the shells that plunged into the masses of the retreating foe. To add greater horror and sublimity to the scene, the Chancellorsville House and the woods surrounding it were wrapped in flames. It was then that General Lee rode to the front of his advancing battalions. His presence was the signal for one of those uncontrollable bursts of enthusiasm which none can appreciate who has not witnessed them. The fierce soldiers, with their faces blackened with the smoke of battle, the wounded crawling with feeble limbs from the fury of the devouring flames, all seemed possessed with a common impulse. One long unbroken cheer, in which the feeble cry of those who lay helpless on the earth blended with the strong voices of those who still fought, rose high above the roar of battle and hailed the presence of a victorious chief. He sat in the full realization of all that soldiers dream of—triumph; and as I looked at him in the complete fruition of the success which his genius, courage, and confidence in his army had won, I thought that it must have been from some such scene that men in ancient days ascended to the dignity of gods.

The Southerners continued to press forward, routing the in some places and almost catching Howard's XI Corps in the flank as they had done the day before.

Sedgwick breaks through on May 3rd

A great victory had been won. The only thing preventing Lee from following up on it was news from Fredericksburg. Early had been left to watch the large Union force there under Sedgwick. This morning Sedgwick had advanced. Early had beaten back two attacks on Marye's Heights had been done at Fredericksburg in December, but a truce was called to remove casualties and the Federals saw how empty the Confederate position was. A third attack was launched and this one was successful. Early, obeying orders, retreated as slowly as possible. Lee had to delay a further attack on Hooker to shift troops to meet this threat.

Skeletons in the woods at Chancellorsville 

Battle of Chancellorsville – May 2, Jackson's Wounding

See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville

Jackson Wounded

Riding past the Confederate line, Jackson, A. P. Hill and their staffs heard Federals up ahead around Fairview and Chancellorsville cutting down trees for breastworks. After he listened to the sounds for a time, Jackson turned around to ride back to the safety of the southern lines. But then a volley of musketry crashed from the Confederate lines through the dark woods. Seeing the horsemen ahead and thinking they were from a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment that had just been sighted, a jumpy Confederate officer had ordered his men to open fire. Many bullets hit their marks. The road was filled with dying horses and men. Hill yelled out to the men to cease fire, as they were friends. "Who gave that order?" the Confederate officer shouted, "It's a lie! Pour it into them, boys!"

The Plank Road, near where Jackson was shot

The Confederate soldiers reloaded and fired again, and the Confederate officers continued to fall. Stonewall Jackson was hit with three of the smoothbore bullets, two in the left arm and a third in his right palm. His horse, spooked by the noise, took off through the woods, and branches ripped across the general's face. Surviving staff officers were able to catch the horse and help Jackson to the ground. Putting him on a litter, they began to carry him towards the main road.

But now the Union artillery near Fairview, hearing the confused noise between the lines, opened fire, filling the air with bursting shells. Jackson's litter bearers came under this fire, and they dropped the wounded man several times. Finally they were able to make it to a field hospital near the rear, and Hunter McGuire, Jackson's staff doctor arrived to care for him.

A. P. Hill

Jackson's wounding created a command crisis in the Army of Northern Virginia. His corps could not be taken over by A. P. Hill as Hill had been wounded in the same volleys, hit in both legs. There were no other veteran commanders on the Second Corps that Hill could trust to take over, so he turned over the command to J.E.B. Stuart. Stuart war was a cavalry officer and he had never commanded any number of infantry, let alone an entire corp of them. But as a natural leader of men, he adapted very quickly to the role. Even with his skill, the night attack Jackson planned was out of the question. Stuart worked through the night to acquaint himself with the situation and commanders with whom he had never worked in this setting. Lee wrote to him at 3:00 in the morning of May 3rd regarding the battle plan for that day:

It is necessary that the glorious victory thus far achieved be prosecuted with the utmost vigor, and the enemy given no time to rally. As soon, therefore, as it is possible, they must be pressed so that we can unite the two wings of the army. Endeavor, therefore, to dispossess them of Chancellorsville, which will permit the union of the whole army. I shall myself proceed to join you as soon as I can make arrangements on this side, but let nothing delay the completion of the plan of driving the enemy from his rear and from his position.

Battle of Chancellorsville – May 2, Jackson's Attack

See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville

By 5 pm, the Confederates were finally ready to attack. Soon Jackson gave the order, and the grey line surged forward through the woods, across the fields, onto the completely unsuspecting Federals. Ahead of the thousands of advancing Confederates came a wave of animals, frightened from the woods by the advancing Confederates. On after them came the rebels, screaming the terrifying rebel yell.

The surprised Federals broke at once. But as the Confederates swept through the camps pockets of resistance began to form. Union officers urged their men to stand with their personal examples. Howard himself grabbed a flag in his one remaining arm and stood on a stump waving it to rally his men. But the Yankee troops that stood and fought were not able to make a cohesive resistance, and they were soon overwhelmed. Most of Howard's force turned into a mob, desperate for survival. Jackson was at the front of the pursuit, urging the men on. By nightfall Jackson's corp had driven Howard's XI corps over a mile, inflicting 2,500 casualties, about 1/4 of Howard's men. Some of Jackson's men could even see the Union headquarters at the Chancellor house. However, the Confederates were disorganized from their rapid advance and a further advance in their present condition was out of the question.

Union retreat

Jackson planned to get his troops moving again and make a night attack. Under the light of a full moon he would strike the Federals while they were disorganized, driving further into Hooker's rear. He planned to get between Hooker and the United States Ford to cut off his retreat. This would leave Hooker surrounded, ready to be crushed by Jackson and Lee. To make this attack he had four brigades of A. P. Hill as a reserve. After ordering A. P. Hill to advance, Jackson went forward with A. P. Hill and their staffs to investigate the Union position. But that ride brought one of the greatest disasters of the war for the Confederate arms.  

Battle of Chancellorsville – May 2, Jackson's March

See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville

Throughout the day on May 2, 150 years go today, Jackson's corps pressed along on their move around Hooker's right flank. Jackson's march had begun much later in the morning than had been intended. The roads were good and the march progressed quickly. Jackson rode along the column, urging his men to hurry saying "Press forward, press forward." They did not go entirely unnoticed. Most of the Union cavalry was far away on a raid, but the Confederate column was sighted by infantry pickets. Some reports made it all the way to Hooker's headquarters at the Chancellor House, but the army commander did not act on the information. He was convinced that Lee was moving across his front in a retreat. It didn't even occur to him that the Confederates could be so bold as to attack.

Howard

The force Jackson was positioning to strike was the XI Corps of Oliver O. Howard. Howard was from Maine and had attended West Point. While in the army he was converted, and considered resigning from the army to become a minster. However he remained and during the Civil War was known as the Christian General. The corps he commanded may have been the worst in the Union army. Most of them were German immigrants, many of them unable to speak English. They disliked Howard because he had replaced their hero, Franz Sigel. By placing these poor quality troops here with their flank in the air, Hooker had shown little concern for his right flank. Howard told Hooker he was prepared for an attack on his right. These preparations consisted of only two cannon and two regiments of infantry guarding the turnpike. He thought the woods were too thick to permit an attack. On his left there was a half mile gap in the Union line where a brigade had been pulled out and not replaced. Howard had been receiving messages of a large Confederate force in his front, but, like Hooker, he ignored them. The Union high command thought they knew the Confederate strategy, but it wouldn't be long before they found out how wrong they were.

Fitzhugh Lee

As Jackson's troops approached their destination, Fitzhugh Lee of the cavalry was out in front scouting. He later wrote,

Upon reaching the Plank road ... my command was halted and ... I made a personal reconnaissance to locate the Federal right for Jackson's attack. With one staff officer I rode across and beyond the plank road .... Seeing a wooded hill in the distance, UI determined, if possible, to get upon its top, as it promised a view of the adjacent country. Cautiously I ascended its side, reaching the open spot upon its summit without molestation. What a sight presented itself before me. Below me, and but a few hundred yards distant, ran the Federal line of battle. ... There were lines of defense, with abatis in front, and long lines of stacked armies in rear. Two cannon were visible in the part of the line seen. The soldiers were in groups in the rear, laughing, chatting, smoking and probably engaged here and there in games of cards and other amusements indulged in while feeling safe and comfortable.... So impressed was I with my discovery, that I rode rapidly back to the point of the Plank Road ... until I met Stonewall himself. 'General,' I said, 'if you will ride with me, halting your column here, out of sight, I will show you the enemy's right and you will perceive the great advantage of attacking down the Old Turnpike instead of by the plank road; the enemy's lines will be taken in reverse. ....' Jackson assented, and I rapidly conducted him to the point of observation. ... I watched him closely as he gazed upon Howard's troops. ... His eyes burned with a brilliant glow, lighting up a sad face. His expression was one of intense interest, his face was colored slightly with the paint of approaching battle, and radiant at the success of his flank movement.

Jackson had to adjust his movement based on this new information, which took more time. It takes a long time for the thousands of men to file in position.

O. O. Howard's Headquarters

Battle of Chancellorsville – May 1, Council of War

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.

Battle of Chancellorsville – May 1, First Blood

See all posts on the Battle of Chancellorsville

On May 1, 150 years ago today, Lee's Confederates got moving to meet the Union force which had positioned themselves on their flank. Waiting for them in the thick woods around Chancellorsville was the main Union force under Gen. “Fighting Joe” Hooker, much larger than the Confederates in numbers. The rebels were leaving behind in Fredericksburg just a token force to resist the powerful Union detachment under John Sedgwick.

Already facing Hooker were the divisions of Anderson and McLaws, the remnant of Longstreet's corps which had been detached to southern Virginia. Since their corps commander was absent, Lee was directing these divisions personally. These greybacks were joined by the corps of Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson. Together they advanced to meet the Federals, who were also moving forward in a general advance under orders from Hooker. Fighting broke out around 11:30 am, but it wasn't long before Hooker called a halt.

Up to this point in the campaign he had been successful. He had boldly moved around the Confederate position, and was admirably positioned to drive back the smaller Confederate force opposing him. But at this point he lost his nerve. Instead of continuing to pursue an active attack, he ordered his troops back before they reached their objectives, having determined on taking up a defensive position around Chancellorsville. Hooker's subordinates were disgusted with this decision. They were abandoning the high ground for little reason. In a few hours Hooker had completely changed his plans from a bold offensive to waiting to receive Lee's attack. Perhaps he thought that he had made to much progress against Lee, and that he was falling into a trap. On the other hand he may have simply been scared and unprepared too control the huge army.

Couch

Union Corps commander Darius Couch made his way to headquarters to report on his movements. He later wrote:

Proceeding to the Chancellor House, I narrated my operations in front to Hooker, which were seemingly satisfactory, as he said: 'It is all right, Couch, I have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my own ground.' The retrograde movement had prepared me for something of this kind, but to hear from his own lips that the advantages gained by the successful marches of his lieutenants were to culminate in fighting a defensive battle in that nest of thickets was too much, and I retired from his presence with the belief that my commanding general was a whipped man.

Couch was right. Hooker's decision to halt the advance was one of the major turning points of the campaign. He was giving Lee the opportunity he needed to launch one of the greatest attacks of his career.

Hooker

Lee Moves to Counter Hooker

It wasn’t long after Joseph E. Hooker crossed the Rapidan that Robert E. Lee got word of the movement. He was in a dangerous position – three Union corps were moving to his flank, while he was still facing a large Union force at Fredericksburg. Most generals in this position would have instantly decided to retreat, but not Robert E. Lee. He would go on the offensive. He decided to leave a skeleton force of 10,000 men to watch Sedgwick at Fredericksburg, while he moved with the other 50,000 men of the army to crush Hooker around Chancellorsville. The Confederates would begin moving on April 30^th, 150 yeas ago today, and only the next day the armies would meet in the thickets of the Wilderness.