Chancellorsville, Battle of

In the American Civil War, comprehensive victory of General Robert E Lee's Confederate forces over Joseph Hooker's Union troops 4 May 1863. Lee intercepted an intended Union attack on Richmond at Chancellorsville, Virginia, USA, and shattered the Union forces. Lee secured a remarkable victory, defeating a force three times the size of his own, but Thomas (‘Stonewall’) Jackson, perhaps his best general, was accidentally shot by one of his own men during the battle and his loss was a grave blow to the Confederate campaign.

Lee's choice of terrain The Union forces, intending to attack Richmond, Virginia, swung west and crossed the Rapahannock and Rapidan rivers with a view to outflanking Lee. Lee had foreseen the move and positioned cavalry scouts to detect it, and as soon as he had confirmation, moved his forces west to confront Hooker. The two armies met at Chancellorsville, on the edge of a heavily wooded area known locally as ‘The Wilderness’. This gave Lee an advantage since the close country prevented effective use of Union artillery. At the start of battle, Hooker had his lines in open country, with open fields of fire which could have slaughtered the Confederates, but he lost his nerve and pulled his line back to the shelter of the Wilderness.

Death of Jackson Hooker left his right flank open, and Lee sent Stonewall Jackson's corps around the open flank by a concealed route to fall on the encampments in the rear of the Union position. Within an hour of his attack, Jackson had shattered the Union right, but shortly afterward was mortally wounded. Lee attacked frontally, as much to prevent Hooker from turning on Jackson as for direct gain. Losing Jackson slowed down his corps until Lee sent Jeb Stuart to take command and, if possible, drive in and split Hooker's army in two. This was achieved the next day, and Hooker withdrew to a defensive position. Lee was forced to divert his attention to another Union force under General Julian Sedgwick which was moving out from Fredericksburg, but having disposed of this, turned back for a final blow at Hooker. But Hooker had had enough and on 5 May withdrew across the Rapahannock River to safety.