Battle of Chancellorsville

Yet, Another Union Commander

The Battle of Chancellorsville was fought between April 30th and May 6th, 1863, near the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the Confederates had scored a major victory in December. Union General Joseph Hooker, recently named Commander of the Army of Potomac, planned to launch a massive assault against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia by attacking them at the front and the rear. Hooker's Army was roughly twice the size of Lee's and was well rested and provisioned.

Lee Outsmarts Hooker

On May 1, 1863, Hooker launched his attack on Lee's Army at Chancellorsville. Lee, in an unconventional military move, decided to split his smaller army into two parts, leaving a small force at nearby Fredericksburg, Virginia, and confronting Hooker's assault with roughly 80% of his army. Union General Hooker, inexperienced and perhaps unconfident in handling such a massive force, ordered his forces to withdraw to defensive positions in the nearby forests around Chancellorsville in the wake of Lee's assaults.

Jackson Crushes the Union Right; but is Shot by Friendly Fire

On May 2, 1863, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson attacked the right flank of the Union Army entrenched around Chancellorsville. Jackson marched his forces of 28,000 men 12 miles undetected to reach the Union right flank. At dinnertime, Confederate forces screaming their "rebel yell" stormed out of the forest and attacked the Union right flank. Union forces were totally unprepared and many were eating dinner. Within an hour, the right flank was totally disintegrated and was in full retreat. They suffered at least 2,500 casualties. Later that evening, however, General Stonewall Jackson was mistaken for Union cavalry and was shot in the arm as he rode out to investigate the feasibility of launching a nighttime attack on the Federals. Jackson contracted pneumonia and died on May 10th. Jackson's death was devastating to the Confederate cause and to Lee's battle strategies through the remainder of the war.

Hooker's Incompetence

Despite the initial setback, Union forces were still in control. Nearly 76,000 Union soldiers were still in positions defending Chancellorsville compared to 43,000 soldiers available to the Confederacy. The two largest parts of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia were positioned on either side of Union forces that occupied an area of high ground known as Hazel's Grove. Luckily for the Confederacy, General Hooker ordered those soldiers, under the command of General Sickles, to a different position on a local road called the Plank Road. Confederate forces proceed to occupy the high ground, where they placed thirty heavy guns. At 5:30 in the morning on May 3, Confederate forces now under the leadership of J.E.B. Stuart (after Jackson was wounded and after the next in command, A.P. Hill, was also wounded) launched a massive attack on the Federal positions around Chancellorsville, aided by the newly installed guns. Fires were sparked in the woods around Chancellorsville, confusing soldiers and killing wounded soldiers rendered immobile. Confederate forces overwhelmed their Union counterparts and Hooker ordered a retreat. Hooker was wounded in the fighting, but refused to turn over command, despite being rendered unconscious for over an hour. Meanwhile, Union forces under John Sedgwick were defeated in their attempts to salvage the battle and the Union Army ultimately withdrew across the Rappahannock River on May 6.

Lee's Greatest Victory; Time to Invade the North

In what is considered one of the most decisive Confederate victories of the Civil War, Confederate forces suffered over 13,000 casualties, while Union forces suffered over 17,000. Confederate forces, however, suffered a much greater percentage of casualties. Hooker's reputation was forever tarnished in his handling of the battle. After the battle, he blamed the "incompetence" of his subordinate generals despite the fact that over half of his available soldiers were never deployed into combat. On the Confederate side, the battle is often called “Lee's greatest victory,” and gave him the feeling his army was destined to win the war. The victory at Chancellorsville gave Lee the confidence that his army could win in the North and resulted in his invasion of Pennsylvania and ultimately the Battle of Gettysburg.

Which statement about the Battle of Chancellorsville is false?
1. Stonewall Jackson was shot by Union forces during the battle.
2. The battle was a Confederate victory.
3. The Union suffered a greater number of casualties than the Confederacy.
4. The battle was fought in less than two weeks.
What can be inferred about General Joseph Hooker from the passage?
1. Hooker was renowned as a great general after the battle.
2. Hooker was weak-willed and dropped out of leadership as soon as he was injured.
3. His lack of experience caused him to lead his side to defeat.
4. He was highly assertive and confident about leading his army.
Which event happened first?
1. Stonewall Jackson leads an attack on the right side of the Union army in Chancellorsville.
2. Union forces retreat along the Rappahannock River.
3. Hooker attacks Confederate forces at Chancellorsville, and Lee splits his forces into two parts.
4. The Confederates experience one of their greatest victories of the war.
Who did not lead the Confederate army at some point during the Battle of Chancellorsville?
1. Stonewall Jackson
2. J.E.B. Stuart
3. John Sedgwick
4. A.P. Hill
Which of the following was a consequence of the Battle of Chancellorsville?
1. The Confederate army was forced to retreat and regroup.
2. Hooker solidified his position as leader of the Union forces.
3. The Union forces are decimated to a point where they can no longer fight.
4. Lee begins his invasion of the North.
Fill in the blank.
CAUSE: _______
EFFECT: The Confederate forces catch the Union by surprise and cause them to suffer at least 2,500 casualties.
1. Lee leads his full army to an assault on Chancellorsville.
2. Jackson surprises the Union forces with an attack while they are still eating dinner.
3. Union forces scream their rebel yell, revealing their presence to the Confederates.
4. Hooker betrays the Union’s location to the Confederate army.
Which was not a strategy used by the Confederate army during the battle?
1. Surprise ambush
2. Army splitting
3. Heavy weaponry
4. Bayonet attack