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People You Should Know A Conversation with Ross Howard, A Cure for Kirby, Meet Monica Davis and Geir Ness. The Beauty of Change Series Historical Romance Column and Book Reviewer: Kaye Hatfield NEW! Sam DeMarco Have you dreamed of starting your own business? Sam DeMarco, owner of Compliance Team, did and he tells us how he made his dream a reality! Photo Gallery Romance & You (Articles) Romantic Memoir
Quotes & Poetry Expand your quotes and poetic horizons by visiting our various Quotes & Poetry categories: Thought of the Week: Time for New Beginnings A series of 8 articles by Melissa Hamilton comprising a collection of principles that will allow you to make your vision for the future a reality. Read about the Amish, India, Philippines, Greece, & Rome.
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The Battle of Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville was the opening major battle of the 1863 military campaign in the east. After the Union’s humiliating defeat at Fredericksburg, December 1862, Lincoln had transferred command of the thoroughly demoralized Army of the Potomac from Ambrose Burnside to Joseph Hooker. Many initially doubted the capabilities of "Fighting Joe," but, through a series of reforms, he was able to restore the army to a high level of readiness. The plan he devised to destroy Lee’s Army of northern Virginia once and for all was well designed. Hooker was sure of his success when he gloated, "My plan is perfect." Hooker arrived at Chancellorsville with an overwhelming
number of troops and succeeded in deploying them in positions that should have
allowed him to crush Lee in a pincer movement. However, in an unconventional
move, the desperate Lee split his army in the face of Hooker’s superior force
and sent Stonewall Jackson on a flanking maneuver around Hooker’s right.
Jackson was able to get around Hooker’s right by using a hidden road, which he
learned about from a local chaplain. The following morning at 6:00 a.m., Jackson’s
Confederates burst out of the dense underbrush (known as The Wilderness) to push
the unsuspecting Union force back. Although there would still be a great deal of
fierce fighting, Jackson’s forced march around Hooker’s army would give Lee
the chance he needed to turn to a sure defeat into possibly the most brilliant
Confederate victory of the war. Area at Chancellorsville
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The victory came at a great cost to the Confederacy. Jackson and a small escort returning from a reconnaissance mission in front of the Confederate lines were mistakenly fired upon by their own men. Stonewall was hit three times. Later that evening, his left arm was amputated at a field hospital. A few days later, he was moved south to Guinea Station. He appeared to be recovering, but developed pneumonia and died eight days after being wounded. When visiting the Chancellorsville battlefield, I was
struck by the emotion of our guide as we walked through the area. He led us to
the location where Stonewall was shot by his own men. Many historians believe
his death was the turning point in the war because of his superior abilities in
battle as well as his talent for collaborating with Lee. His influence with Lee
was unmatched by any other general in the confederacy. Return to Thomas Stonewall Jackson Return to Historical Romance Column
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