Battle of Chancellorsville – May 1, Council of War

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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

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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