Class _fe?^^-l'^ Book_J^i- — GoipghtF COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN The Chancellorsville Campaign Fredericksburg to Salem Church BY CHARLES RICHARDSON New York and Washington THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1907 ItiBRARYofCONeRESS Two Cooie? Received APR n 1907 ■ ji Copyright Entry ^ ilOLAS? A XXc., N&. Copyright, 1907, by THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY To THE SOLDIERS OF THOSE TWO ARMIES V/HO m MANLY CONTEST AMIDST THE FIRE OF BATTLE WROUGHT FOR THEM- SELVES IMMORTALITY. BRAVE MEN MADE THE HISTORY; NO EMBELLISHMENT IS NECESSARY TO GIVE IT LUSTER. CONTENTS PAGE Feedeeicksburg 9 The Field of Battle 14 Feedeeicksburg to Salem Chuech . . 20 Abstracts of Efforts 56 FREDERICKSBUEG ^'Glorious things are spoken of thee. ^'—Psalms. If you travel the globe over, wher- ever you meet an educated man, whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa, and of course in America, just mention Fredericksburg and instantly his countenance will beam with a light that speaks thus, ''Yes, I know of Fredericksburg, where Lee and Jack- son fought. ' ' Did sharp competition, now so rife, stop the wheels of every factory and close every store in Fredericksburg; did contagion spring forth — which is not likely in so healthy a town — and destroy the population, which may God avert, yet and ever, while the world is peopled, men, and women, too, will come to Fredericksburg, the rich- 9 10 Chancellor sville Campaign est field in great events on the earth's surface. Our historians tell us that in the year 1608 Capt. John Smith came up the Eappahannock in a boat, with twelve other white men and an Indian guide, to the falls near where Freder- icksburg was subsequently built. But even at so early a day the ground was difficult of access to a foe ; the Rappa- hannock Indians, courageous and for- midable, fearless of the daring adven- turers ' matchlocks, with their bows and arrows drove off the doughty Cap- tain and his crew, who retired down the river, somewhat disconcerted. Fredericksburg, named for Prince Frederick, son of George II, King of England, was founded in 1727. Col. William Byrd, visiting the place in 1782, says, ''I was obliged to rise early here, that I might not starve my land- lord, whose constitution requires him to swallow a beefsteak before the Sun blesses the World with his genial rays. However, he was so complaisant as to FredericJcshurg 11 bear tlie gnawing of Ms stomach, till eight o'clock for my sake. Colonel Waller, after a score of loud hem's to clear his throat, broke his fast along with ns. When this necessary affair was dispatched, Col. (Henry) Willis walked me about his town of Freder- icksburg. Though this be a commodi- ous and beautiful situation for a town, with the advantages of a navigable river, and wholesome air, yet the in- habitants are very few. Besides Colonel Willis, who is the top man of the place, there are only one merchant, a tailor, and an Ordinary Keeper; though I must not forget Mrs. Levis- tone, who acts here in the double ca- pacity of doctress and coffee woman; and were this a populous City, she is qualified to exercise two other callings. It is said the Courthouse and the Church are going to be built here, and then both religion and justice will help to enlighten the place." Colonel Byrd's prediction has been happily verified. 12 Chancellorsville Campaign The town lies along the south bank of the Eappahannock, its head (northern extremity) resting on the hillside and smiling at the village of Falmouth, just across the river; stretching south a mile and a half, it laves its foot in the Hazel behind the elegant home- stead Hazel Hill. The streets intersect each other at right angles. Caroline (commonly called Main) street is the principal thoroughfare, along which are the merchants ' shops ; it runs north and south from end to end of the town. Princess Anne is the next parallel street west of Caroline, then come Charles, Prince Edward, etc. The in- tersecting streets requiring mention here are William (better known as Commerce) street, which commences at the head of the bridge which crosses the Eappahannock to the Lacy House, and runs west to the boundary of the town, where it merges into the Orange Plank road leading to Chancellors- ville. George, Hanover, Charlotte, Frederichshurg 13 Wolfe, and Prussia are the successive parallel streets, the last named pass- ing the depot of the Eichmond and Fredericksburg Kailroad and out to- ward Willis Hill. THE FIELD OF BATTLE In prolongation of William (Com- merce) street the Orange Plank road extends westward, dipping gradually to tlie mill sluice, and then running straight three-fourths of a mile, to the first range of hills, which it climbs by an easy grade. If we pause here on top of the hill and face to the right (north) we see Stansbury's house, a mile away; half a mile beyond it is Dr. Taylor's, where the ridge ends — lifting its brow fifty feet above the Eappahannock. The river flowing from northwest curves around the bluff on which Dr. Taylor's house stands conspicuous, looking over Beck's Island at Falmouth, a mile dis- tant, and, in a military sense, com- mands the Heights and Valley, as far 14 The Field of Battle , 15 as a cannon-shot would reach. Banks' Ford is two miles up the river from Dr. Taylor's. Now if we face about and look south we see the stately Marye mansion, three hundred yards away. The ridge in that direction is cut, a hundred yards beyond the house, by a weather- worn rift dividing Marye 's from Wil- lis Hill— named after the original owner and first occupant. Col. Henry "Willis, whose remains lie buried in the little walled graveyard situated about midway of the hill. Three hundred yards south of the graveyard the ridge stops, the shoulder of the hill looming boldly above the valley of the Hazel. Two hundred and forty yards south of William (Commerce) street, and running parallel with it, is Hanover street. Where it leaves the town it is called the Telegraph road, and leads direct to Marye 's Heights, where, turning south, it cuts its way through the foot of the ridge for half a mile, acquiring the nom de guerre ^'Sunken 16 Chancellor sville Campaign road"; curving around the salient of Willis Hill, it crosses Hazel Kun and climbs, wearily, Lee's* Hill, then pursues its course southwestward, passing &ve hundred yards in rear of Howison's house, which nestles against the southern slope of the ridge — a mile from Fredericksburg (as the crow flies). A mile farther down the' road we come to Cox's house, thence \ away four miles south is Hamilton's \ Crossing. Eeturning, if we halt and face to the front on Lee's Hill, as the eye scans the prospect, to the left we see half of Fredericksburg, whose southern limit is defined by the Hazel, which, in wearing its way through the hummock to unite with the Eappahannock, gives the vertex its name — Hazel Hill. In a straight line to the right, nine hun- dred yards from Hazel Hill, is Ferney- hough's, fronting on the Bowling Green road. Another half-mile in the same direction is the gorge called Deep ♦Where General Lee stood in the battle, Dec. 13, 1862. The Field of Battle 17 Bottom on Bernard's Farm, adjoin- ing which is Mansfield (where General Franklin's headquarters were in the battle of December 13, 1862), and where were the bridge-heads of the pontoons over which General Sedg- wick's forces crossed to the attack. A mile southwest of Deep Bottom the Bowling Green road forks, its left branch coursing toward Richmond ; its right, called the Mine road, bearing west, intersects the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad at a point four miles from Fredericksburg called ^^ Hamilton's Crossing," where the extreme right of General Early's line rested. The plateau between the Bowling Green road and the foot of the ridge, on which is Lee's Hill, is open and for the most part level, cut in half by the Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail- road, and gashed in places by shallow streams and fissures. Returning now to the Orange Plank road at the point whence we started 18 Chancellorsville Campaign for our excursion on the Telegraph road, and facing northwest, we follow the road through open fields, dipping a mile onward to cross a tributary of the Hazel, which, welling on Stansbury's farm, disgorges into the Hazel behind Marye's Hill. Mounting the next slope, an extend- ed plateau opens to view, clear on the left, but fringed on its right for more than a mile by thick woods, which ex- tend back (north) to Stansbury's and Dr. Taylor's. We see Guest's house — two miles from Fredericksburg — on the left, standing midway between the road and the brow of the hill, overlook- ing the valley of the Hazel. Half a mile beyond Guest's, northwest, is Downman's, isolated by a narrow but deep valley, through which another tributary of the Hazel flows from near the Toll Gate. (N. B.— General Howe and his staff lodged in the Downman house the night of May 3, 1863.) It is a mile from Guest's house to the Toll Gate, and a mile farther to Sa- The Field of Battle 19 lem Heights. The intervening country is open and undulating, but en- croached upon by ravines, some of which cross the Orange Plank road. FEEDERICKSBURG TO SALEM CHURCH The Army of Northern Virginia had lain all winter upon the bleak hills of Spottsylvania, in rear of Freder- icksburg. Scantily clad were these men and poorly sheltered, yet warmed by the inextinguishable fire that glowed in their breasts, they patiently en- dured the many snows and rains that fell upon them. "Headquarters, "Army of Northern Virginia, "March 27, 1863. * ^ To the Honorable James A. Seddon, Secretary of War: "The troops of my army have for some time been confined to reduced rations. "Each regiment is directed to send a daily detail to gather sassafras buds, 20 To Salem Church 21 wild onions, garlic, lamb 's quarter and poke sprouts, but the supply obtained is very small. ' ' The men are cheerful and I receive but few complaints. ^^E. E.Lee, General.'' Endorsed: ^^ Referred to Commis- sary General for consideration and re- port. *'J. A. Seddon, * * Secretary of War. ' ' *' Respectfully referred to the Secre- tary of War. ' ' The appearance of the men in Gen- eral Lee's army and their health con- firms the opinion of Dr. Cartwright as to diminishing the ration, and it is rec- ommended that the bacon and pork ra- tion be accordingly reduced to one- fourth of a pound throughout the army. ^^L. B. NOKTHROP, ** Commissary General of Subsis- tence." 22 Chancellorsville Campaign On the morning of April 29, 1863, we (the Confederates) were aroused from our repose by a sudden and brisk fire of musketry and artillery, occur- ring in the rear of Bernard's Farm. A dense fog hung over the Eappa- hannock and the fields, obscuring the view, but we soon learned from our pickets that a body of the enemy had made a sudden dash across the river in pontoon boats and effected a lodg- ment near the mouth of Deep Eun, on Bernard's Farm, about two miles be- low Fredericksburg. Two pontoon bridges were soon thrown, and a large force under General John Sedgwick crossed, menacing the right of our army. During the day (29th) General Lee received intelligence from General Stuart that a large body of Union in- fantry and artillery was marching up the north side of the Eappahannock Eiver. ^^ Later in the day it was learned that General Hooker, with the main body of his army, had passed To Salem Church 23 the river and lodged in the woods near Chancellorsville. ' ' It was now (30th) apparent to Gen- eral Lee, ^^considering the inactivity of the enemy confronting us at Fred- ericksburg, that the main attack would be made against our left flank and rear.'' He ^^ therefore determined to leave sufficient troops to hold our lines near Fredericksburg and with the main body of the army to give battle to the approaching columns under General Hooker." Leaving General Early's division (four brigades) of Jackson's corps, and General Barksdale's brigade (of McLaws's division) and a number of batteries under General Pendleton to observe General Sedgwick, at mid- night of the 30th General McLaws marched with the rest of his command toward Chancellorsville, and was fol- lowed at dawn next morning (May 1) by General Jackson's corps, with the exception of General Early's division. General Early had a long line to 24 Chancellorsville Campaign protect, extending from the foot of Taylor's Hill, opposite Falmouth, to Hamilton's Crossing, more than six miles. He posted four brigades of his division (Hays, Smith, Hoke, Gordon) along the ridge from Howison 's house to Hamilton's Crossing, and covered his front from Dr. Taylor's to Howi- son 's — embracing Fredericksburg — with Barksdale's brigade of four regi- ments, acting as pickets. Eight guns were placed in earth- works on the crest of the heights in rear of Fredericksburg, to command the roads leading out of the town and the intervening ground. Lieutenant J. Thompson Brown, of Parker's Vir- ginia battery, with his section and two ten-pounder Parrotts, occupied the pits on the shoulder of Willis Hill; next on his left, immediately in front of the old Willis burying-ground, was Captain Squires, of the Washington Artillery, with two three-inch rifles. Two guns of the Washington Artil- lery, under Lieutenant Hero, to the To Salem Church 25 left of the Marye house (between the Telegraph road and Plank road), and two of the Washington Artillery, un- der Lieutenant Apps, to the left and near the Plank road. On Lee's Hill, six hundred yards in rear of Willis Hill, was Fraser's Georgia battery, four guns, and on the ridge back of Howison's, Patterson (Georgia), with three guns, ''in all, on both fronts, fif- teen guns, while twenty-two, including the heaviest, were marching to the rear, and eleven others were waiting orders to march in the same direc- tion. '^ (General Pendleton's report.) Carlton's Georgia battery, after being withdrawn from its position night of May 2, was recalled to occupy the original post in rear of Howison's, and actively participated in the battle of May 3. At this time Wilcox's brigade, five regiments, and two batteries of artil- lery (Lewis's Virginia, Lieutenant Penick; and Huger's Virginia, Cap- tain Moore), lay along the Eiver road. 26 Chancellorsville Campaign covering Banks ' Ford, the head of the column reaching near Dr. Taylor's. From day to day General Sedgwick threateningly deployed his skirmish- ers, opened his artillery, and dis- played his glittering infantry to incite General Early to exhibit his strength, but General Early was neither alarmed nor provoked by these dem- onstrations; he kept in the shade of the woods, while his men smoked their pipes and enjoyed the show. But General Sedgwick had serious work to do, and it is presumable that he was not a little perplexed by Gen- eral Early's dogged quietude; his ob- jective was the rear of General Lee's army at Chancellorsville, and he knew that General Hooker anxiously ex- pected him. At eleven o'clock the night of May 2 he received an order from General Hooker directing him to ''move immediately in the direction of Chancellorsville, until he connected with the major-general commanding; to attack and destroy any force on the To Salem Church 27 road, and be in the vicinity of the Gen- eral at daylight. ' ' ^'I commenced, therefore, to move by the flank in the direction of Fred- ericksburg, on the Bowling Green road" (says General Sedgwick), ^ ^ General Newton taking the advance, followed by the Light Brigade (Colo- nel Burnham) and Howe's division. I was ordered to take up all the bridges at Franklin's Crossing and below, be- fore daylight, which was done under direction of General Benham." General Barksdale gave prompt no- tice to General Early of the activity of the enemy, and was called in and his brigade disposed as follows, viz: Seven companies of the Twenty-first Mississippi, Colonel Humphreys, were posted in the road at the foot of Marye's Hill, their left extending to the Orange Plank road ; on their right the Eighteenth Mississippi, Colonel Griffin, and three companies of the Twenty-first Mississippi prolonged the line, extending down the Tele- 28 Chancellor sville Campaign graph road (at the foot of Willis Hill) to Hazel Eun. The Seventeenth Mis- sissippi, Colonel Holder, covered Lee 's Hill with the Thirteenth Missis- sippi. Colonel Carter on the right ex- tended in the direction of Howison's. A regiment of Hays's brigade was stationed on the right of the Thir- teenth Mississippi to cover the bat- teries on Howison's Hill. At dawn (third) General Wheaton's brigade of Newton's division entered Fredericksburg and immediately moved into position on the first ridge back of the town, near where the two railroads diverge, cutting their way through the hillock. General Wliea- ton threw forward the Sixty-second New York Eegiment ^^to learn some- thing of the nature of the defenses, etc., of the enemy; the regiment ad- vanced within two hundred and fifty yards of the heights (Willis Hill), when it was opened upon by a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Hav- ing in a few seconds lost sixty-four To Salem Church 29 officers and men, it fell back; thirty musket-balls pierced its flag'' (show- ing that the Mississippians knew how to shoot). General Sedgwick then put his bat- teries in position ^^to shell the enemy until the troops could be formed for another attack," McCarthy's, Harn's, and Butler's eighteen guns on the hills, near the railroads, behind Whea- ton's brigade, and Cowan's six guns in front of Ferneyhough's house (just south of the Hazel). These twenty- four cannon poured a terrible fire of shell and shrapnel upon Brown and Squires. ^'The practice was excel- lent," says Colonel Tompkins, Gen- eral Sedgwick's chief of artillery, as well it might be. Brown and Squires returned no reply; their orders were to reserve their fire solely for the in- fantry. Undaunted, they stood amidst the iron hail, awaiting the opportune moment. 30 Chancellor sville Campaign GIBBON CROSSES INTO rKEDERICKSBUEG A pontoon bridge having been thrown across the Eappahannock near the Lacy house about 6.30 a. m., two brigades of Gibbon's division — Hall's and Laflin's — accompanied by two batteries of artillery — Adams's and Brown's Ehode Island — crossed into the town and rested on Princess Anne street. About eight o'clock a column of white smoke rose from the hill in Staf- ford, where the Eichmond, Freder- icksburg and Potomac Eailroad cuts through (near north end of bridge) ; another column of smoke went up from near the church at Falmouth; these were signals immediately re- sponded to by the enemy's artillery in Falmouth, hitherto concealed from our view. They opened a brisk fire on Dr. Taylor's Hill, where were two guns (Cobbs's) of Wilcox's artil- lery. Simultaneously, Hall's and Laf- lin's brigades moved up the street and To Salem Church 31 debouched upon the plain north of the town, with the object to turn out left and seize Taylor's and Stansbury's hills. Wilcox's artillery, on Taylor's Hill, fired upon them. Lieutenant Hero, of the Washington Artillery, drew out his gun from the earthwork near the Plank road and, galloping up the ridge, opened upon the enemy. Then came two more guns from Lee's Hill, and whirled into battery, accom- panied by four regiments of Hays's brigade, double-quicking, sent by Gen- eral Early to disconcert General Gib- bon. Filing into line at the foot of Stansbury's Hill, the Louisianians peppered Hall and Laflin, who lost eighty-one men in a very short time. Brown's Ehode Island battery took position and opened fire close by the Mary Washington Monument, but the shades of that good woman did not protect them. They retired, after los- ing twenty-three officers and men. Checked and dismayed, Gibbon turned back into the town. 32 Chancellor sville Campaign SEDGWICK PREPAEES FOE CONCEBTED AT- TACK 01^ maeye's and lee's hills General Sedgwick was a soldier of indomitable determination ; reverses did not subdue Ms strong will. He formed in the town, from Newton's division, three ^^ storming columns of two regiments each, and a line of bat- tle of four regiments to assault Marye's Heights in front,'' and or- dered General Howe, who was on the south side of the Hazel, to advance at the same time his two brigades ; while Brooks, on the Bowling Green road, in front of Bernard's, threatened the right of our small force on Lee's and Howison's hills, thereby engaging the attention of Gordon and Hoke. the battle of m arye \s and lee 's hills At eleven o'clock ^ve batteries — thirty cannon — opened fire upon Marye's and Lee's hills, while out of To Salem Church ^ 33 Commerce street and Hanover and .Wolf streets Newton's dark columns poured at the double-quick, with bayo- nets fixed, and orders not to fire. They came like a storm cloud driven by the wind, ^YQ thousand sturdy men against our thin line in the road at the foot of the heights. They were only seven hundred men, but they were Barksdale's Mississippians, and be- hind them on the hills were only eight guns ; and now they gave tongue, hurl- ing solid shot and grape, shrapnel and canister, everything they had in store, tearing wide gaps in the advancing lines, plowing deep gashes in their thick columns, while the intrepid Mis- sissippians plied their task industri- ously. Eleven hundred and nine of the dashing Union soldiers fell, killed or wounded, but those remaining un- hurt closed up and pushed forward, carrying the heights and capturing the guns and two hundred of the Missis- sippians. Meantime, nine regiments (four 34: Chancellor sville Campaign thousand men), Howe^s brigade, run- ning across the fields and up in the mouth of the Hazel Valley, between Willis's and Lee's hills, overpowered the small force on Lee's and Howi- son's hills. There were but three reg- iments (two of Barksdale's and one of Hays's, and two batteries). They fell back and formed line across the Telegraph road behind Howison's, near Cox's, and checked Howe's men, who presently withdrew to Marye's Hill and followed Brooks's division, that at this time (one o'clock) had come up through Fredericksburg and was marching on the Orange Plank road toward Chancellorsville. BEOOKS IS CHECKED BY WILCOX When General Brooks reached the summit of the second eminence on the Orange Plank road, the country being open, he formed his division (on Guest's farm, two miles from Freder- To Salem Church 35 icksburg) in column of brigade fronts, with extended line of skirmishers on the front and flanks, in advance, and his artillery on the road, which dispo- sition prepared him to fight the enemy as soon as he was seen. "The formation was hardly com- pleted when he received the fire of two cannon'' (they were Lieutenant Cobbs's guns of the Lewis-Penick's battery, serving with Wilcox). General Wilcox had hastened from Taylor's Hill to aid General Barks- dale in defending Marye's Heights, but, unable to reach him in time, threw his brigade across the Orange Plank road, near the Toll Gate, deployed his skirmishers, and opened his artillery on Brooks. (''These two pieces of ar- tillery checked the advance a great deal," says General G. K. Warren, chief of engineers.) ''Several discharges were fired by the enemy from his artillery, one of which shots struck down Captain Eead, A. A. G. of this division, and 36 Chancellor sville Campaign killed a sergeant of Eigby's battery/' says General Brooks. ^^A section of artillery occupied every successive crest upon our line of march, and much annoyed our ad- vance/' says General John Sedgwick. ^^The fire of these two guns (Cobbs's) held the enemy in check some time, ' ' says General Wilcox. At length General Brooks brought up a battery (Eigby's six guns) and opened upon Wilcox, then slowly ad- vanced his solid lines. ^^My command then moved back to Salem Heights," says General Wil- cox, ' ^ and formed line of battle across the Orange Plank road at right angles with it; the Eleventh and Fourteenth Alabama regiments were on the left of the road, the Tenth Alabama on the right, next to the road, the Eighth Alabama on the right of the Tenth. There was an interval of seventy-five or eighty yards between the left of the Tenth and the right of the Eleventh. In this interval of the road four pieces To Salem Church 37 of artillery (Lieutenant Penick, Lewis's battery) were in position. The Ninth Alabama Eegiment was posted in rear of the Tenth Alabama.'' The ground in front of Salem Heights for a considerable space was open; the heights were covered with a thick wood extending right and left several miles. Where our line was formed the wood from front to rear was about two hundred and fifty yards deep. General Wilcox aligned his brigade abreast of the church, in the rear verge of the wood; his skir- mishers were in front of the wood, watching the enemy, who was forming near the Toll Gate, a mile distant. GENERAL BROOKS 's ORDER OF BATTLE Bartlett's (second) brigade, on the left of the Orange Plank road, in the following formation, viz.: From left to right, Fifth Maine, Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania, One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, Twenty-third 38 Chancellor sville Campaign New Jersey, with the Sixteenth New York in rear of Twenty-third New Jersey. First Brigade (Colonel B. W. Brown), First New Jersey, Third New Jersey, Fifteenth New Jersey, Ninety- fifth Pennsylvania, and One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania on the right of the road. General Wheaton, of Newton's di- vision, Ninety-third, One Hundred and Second and One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania regiments, on the right of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania. A field battery near the Toll Gate opened a brisk fire of shell upon our battery in the road near the church,, and threw shells to the right and left of the church, endeavoring to reach our infantry in the woods, but no cas- ualties resulted from the explosions of the shells. The enemy's artillery ceased firing about ^yq o'clock p. m. To Salem Church 39 BATTLE OF SALEM HEIGHTS About ^\e o'clock, Major-General McLaws arrived from Chancellors- ville with four brigades. He posted them as follows: Kershaw on the right of Wilcox, and Wofford on the right of Kershaw ; Semmes on the left of the Fourteenth Alabama (Wilcox's brigade), and Mahone on the left of Semmes. About 5.30 o'clock, ^^ before my command was well in position," says General McLaws, ^Hhe enemy ad- vanced, driving our skirmishers and coming forward with loud shouts, en- deavoring to force the center (Wil- cox) and left center (Semmes), ex- tending the attack somewhat to Ma- hone's brigade. One of Wilcox's regi- ments gave way, and, with the skir- mishers running back, created a little confusion. But General Wilcox him- self soon corrected this." *^When the front line of the enemy 40 CJiancellorsville Campaign reached the woods," says General Wilcox, ^ ' they made a slight halt, then giving three cheers, they came on with a rush, driving our skirmishers rap- idly before them. Our men held their fire till their men (the enemy) came within less than eighty yards, and then delivered a close and terrible fire upon them, killing and wounding many and causing many to waver and give way. *^The enemy still pressed on, sur- rounded the schoolhouse (thirty paces south of the church) and captured an entire company of the Ninth Alabama stationed in it, and pressing hard upon the regiment in rear of the schoolhouse threw it into confusion and disorder." General Wilcox gal- loped out, rallied his men, and made them lie down. Four Minie balls pierced his uniform and the equip- ment of his horse while he was thus engaged. * * The Ninth Alabama, in rear of this (the Tenth) regiment, sprang forward To Salem Church 41 as one man, and with the rapidity of lightning restored the continuity of our line, breaking the lines of the en- emy by its deadly fire and forced him to give way, and following him so that he could not rally, retook the school- house, freed the captured company, and, in turn, took their captors. ^^The entire line of the enemy on the right of the road (Bartlett's bri- gade) was repulsed, and our men fol- lowed in rapid pursuit. The regiment that had given way to the first onset of the enemy now returned to the at- tack and joined in pursuit. * ^ Thus ended the spirited conflict at Salem Church. The success, so bril- liant for our men, was dearly earned by the sacrifice of the lives of seventy- five of the noble sons of Alabama and the wounding of three hundred and seventy-two. *'I now," continues General Mc- Laws, *' strengthened the left of Ma- hone's, which was strongly threatened, with two regiments from Woiford's 42 ChancellorsviUe Campaign brigade on the right, and closed Gen- eral Kershaw to the left, strengthen- ing the center, supposing that the at- tack would be renewed; but no other assault was attempted, and as night drew on the firing ceased on both sides/' General Semmes, in his report of the battle, says : ' ' This battle was one of the most severely contested of the war. Every regiment of the (my) brigade came up to the full measure of duty; the loss of the brigade was severe." (Report of casualties is in- cluded in losses at ChancellorsviUe.) Now hear the gallant foe speak — the brave are ever truthful ! *^I was ordered to push forward through the woods and engage the en- emy. The regiment marched steadily to within fifty yards of the opening, when it was assailed by a heavy fire of musketry. The fire was received with- out creating the slightest confusion. The regiment moved forward with a cheer, Adjutant F. W. Morse bearing To Salem Church 43 the colors. The enemy opposite the center and left wing broke, but rallied again twenty or thirty yards in rear. The firing became very heavy on both sides and was maintained about fiYe minutes; it was impossible to remain longer. The regiment fell back.* ^'It was the first time the regiment had ever been in action. It went into the engagement with four hundred and fifty-three and suffered a loss of two hundred and sixty-nine." (Emory Upton, Colonel commanding% One Hundred and Twenty-first New York.) General Brooks says: ''Immediately upon entering the dense growth of shrubs and trees which concealed the enemy our troops were met by a heavy and incessant fire of musketry, yet our lines advanced until they reached the crest of the hill in the outer skirts of *An incident. Just at this moment a riderless bay horse, a noble animal, accoiitered in the blue trappings of a Union field officer of infantry, cralloped out from the death- ridden wood and ran into our lines ; he had a blpedincr erash in his breast that did not stay his fearless chargre ; his bold rider carryint? the colors of his reeriment had been stricken to the ground and lay gory in the folds of his flag amongst his fallen comrades. 44 Chancellor sville Campaign the wood, where, meeting with and be- ing attacked by fresh and superior numbers of the enemy, our forces were finally compelled to withdraw. In this brief but sanguinary conflict this division lost nearly fifteen hun- dred men.'' The Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania (on the right of the wood), with Brown's (First) brigade, lost all of its field offi- cers and one hundred and forty-eight line officers and men. General Wheaton's three regiments. Ninety-third, One Hundred and Sec- ond, and One Hundred and Thirt}^- ninth Pennsylvania, on the right of Brooks's, lost over three hundred men and officers. It was such spirit made the war glo- rious, illumining the brows of Union and Confederate soldiers with a light that shall shine more and more unto the perfect day. Let us halt and touch our limp hats in memory of those brave men. To Salem Church , 45 MAY 4, 1863 At daylight the morning of May 4 it was discovered that Lee's and Marye's hills had been abandoned by the enemy. General Gordon advanced his brigade and took possession of Marye's Hill without opposition. Barksdale's brigade moved into line in the road behind the stone wall at the foot of Marye's and Willis's hills, to observe Fredericksburg, which was occupied by Hall's brigade of Gib- bon's division. Smith's brigade was thrown over Hazel Run and took posi- tion on the plain between Marye's Hill and the second heights on the Orange Plank road (facing northwest). Hoke 's brigade, obliquing to the left (northwest), crossed the Hazel and halted at the foot of and behind Guest's Hill; Hays's brigade followed, deploying into line on Hoke 's right. General Early's forces, thus dis- posed, threatened the left and rear of General Sedgwick's corps. 46 Chancellorsville Campaign POSITION OF GENERAL SEDGWICK ^S CORPS, MAY 4, 1862 ^'My line was formed/' says Gen- eral Sedgwick, ^'with the left (Howe's division) resting on the river, about midway between Fredericksburg and Banks' Ford, then extending slightly beyond the Plank road (near Guest's house), where it (Newton's division) turned at right angles to the right, following the direction of the Plank road for a mile, and then again turn- ing to the right at right angles and re- crossing the Plank road (near the Toll Gate), in front of Salem Heights, my right (Brooks's division) resting where it had been placed in the en- gagement of the previous evening. Thus fronting in three directions, I was compelled to await attack. ^'I received a dispatch from Gen- eral Hooker," continues General Sedgwick, ^ informing me that he could not help me ; that I must look to To Salem Church 47 the safety of my corps, preserve my communications with J'redericksburg and Banks' Ford, and suggesting- that I fall back on the former place, or recross, in preference, at Banks' Ford. To fall back on Fredericksburg was out of the question; to adopt the other alternative, except under cover of night, was equally so, for the enemy (McLaws) still maintained his posi- tion on Salem Heights, and Early was threatening my flank and rear from the direction of Fredericksburg. ''My force yesterday was twenty- two thousand. I do not know my loss- es, but they were large, probably five thousand men." (Sedgwick to Hooker, 9 a. M., May 4, 1863.) About eleven o'clock General Early directed General Smith to make a reconnaissance in the direction of the heights northwest of Marye's Hill, for the purpose of developing the position and strength of the enemy in that quarter. General Smith advanced his brigade in echelon by regiments, com- 48 Chancellorsville Campaign ing in contact with NeilPs brigade of Howe's division. After a spirited fight, in wliich he lost the colors of one of his regiments (Fifty-eighth Vir- ginia) and more than a hundred men, he was ordered by General Early to retire. About 11.30 A. M. General Lee ar- rived at Salem Church, accompanied by General E. H. Anderson and his three brigades — Wright's, Posey's, and Perry's. General Anderson was directed to move his three brigades into position on the right of Wof- ford's brigade, and at right angles with it, facing east, and effect a junc- tion with General Early, to complete the continuity of the line. General Lee ordered that ^*at the signal — three guns fired in quick succession — the lines were to be advanced against the enemy." Commencing at a point on Salem Heights, about three-fourths of a mile from (west) Banks' Ford, the line extended west along the ridge, from To Salem Church 49 left to right, in the following forma- tion: Mahone, Semmes, Wilcox, Ker- shaw, Wofford (under McLaws, facing Brooks) ; on Wofford's right. Perry, Posey, Wright (under Anderson, fac- ing Newton), and extending in a southerly direction, touching Hoke's left (Early's division); Hays's on Hoke's right, these two brigades fac- ing Howe. Gordon, on Marye's Hill, threatened Howe's left rear; Barks- dale, in the road at the foot of Marye's and Willis 's hills, watched Fredericks- burg. Smith was on Barksdale's left. The Confederate lines were hid by woods that skirted three sides of the field — north, west and south. Sedg- wick's army was in the open. The adverse armies, thus confront- ing, abide the portentous moment. THE BATTLE OF MAY 4, 1863 The morning was fair, but toward noon a gray mist veiled the sky and 50 Chancellorsville Campaign settled on the fields. There was omi- nous silence. Wearily the day passes ; the shadows of night are falling when the Confederate brigades touch el- bows, and the three signal guns boom upon the still air. ''Then heard we the thunder of the captains and the shouting": ''Atten- tion! Forward! Guides center! March!'' The rebel yell, spontaneous rising, rent the skies, and the armies mix on Spottsylvania's echoing heath. The red-mouthed artillery belches hell. The musketry growls — the voice of death. "A thousand ghosts shriek at once on the hollow wind. ' ' Our left wing skirmishes with Brooks to entice him to linger, but he responds with a loud roar of his artil- lery, and, under cover of its smoke and noise, retires safely to Banks' Ford. Kershaw and Wofford, wheeling to the left, move through the tangled wood, harassed by shell and canister To Salem Church 51 from McCartney's battery (First Massachusetts), but when they emerge the enemy is gone. Wright's valiant Georgians circle Downman's Hill, face to the front, and, like a cyclone, rush upon the bristling foe; straight they make for Eigby's battery, scattering the cover- ing regiment; but let Rigby speak: ' ' The rebels attacked us with an over- whelming force, and compelled our troops to retire. I poured shell and shrapnel into them; they advanced steadily, and when about two hundred yards from the battery the regiment in my front broke and ran into the battery, frightening my horses, creat- ing so much confusion that I could do nothing." (J. A. Rigby, captain Bat- tery A, Maryland Artillery.) So Eigby limbered to the rear and fol- lowed Brooks. Hoke's splendid North Carolinians and Hays 's gay Louisianians were fill- ing their canteens from the rippling Hazel when the three cannons fired; 52 Chancellor sville Campaign quickly they form; spiritedly they climb Guest's Hill, '^surging forward like the waves of ocean against a shaggy rock,'' they dash full upon Neill's brigade. General Neill, in his report, speaks thus: ''The whole of Longstreet's corps [none of Long- street's corps; Hoke, Ha^^s and Gor- don only] attacked my right and front, massing large numbers of his in- fantry in the ravines, which were held by their troops. After losing about one thousand men, I was obliged to re- tire, my regiments being unable to cope with the overwhelming numbers." But behind Neill's was another line. Lying low upon the hill and hid by its mantling brow. Grant's brigade of Vermonters expectant wait. When Hays 's and Hoke 's men are but twen- ty paces from them they rise "fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell," then, above the din of war, was heard the command, ' ' Fire ! " A sheet of flame burst forth dense with death, tearing our serried ranks to shreds. Our men To Salem Church 53 recoil. General Hoke was badly wounded. ^'No thought of flight, none of re- treat, that argued fear, each on him- self relied. ' ' Quick rallying, they form again in Guest's field, and, ^4ike a re- turning tide, ' ' rush tumultuous on the blazing foe. Now Gordon, advancing his sturdy Georgians, galls the flank of the stub- born foe, who retires slowly, mutter- ing lead ! Night falls and the battle ceases. Grant, in his report, says: ^*The Vermont regiments remained firm and unbroken, closely hugging the crest and literally presenting a wall of fire. The enemy rushed desperately for- ward and nearly gained the crest, when the regiments suddenly rose and gave him a terrible volley ; the ground in our front was literally covered with the rebel dead and wounded. The en- emy rallied, however, pressing farther to the left, threatening to cut us off from the river, making desperate at- 54 Chancellor sville Campaign tempts to force our left. Darkness now came on and the firing ceased. ' ' genekaij Sedgwick's retreat across the rappahannock **By the bridges at and below Fred- ericksburg, General Sedgwick and a part of General Couch's corps (First and Second brigades of Gibbon's di- vision), some twenty-five thousand men with their artillery, passed over to the attack. ^^By the two bridges at Banks' Ford, our left wing, under General Sedgwick, of about seventeen thousand men and their trains, and fifty-five pieces of artillery, repassed the river in about forty-five minutes, between two o'clock and three o'clock a. m. on the 5th (May, 1863)."— B. W. Ben- ham, Brigadier, commanding Engi- neers. These were the three closing acts of a great drama. ^^The Campaign of Chancellorsville" was an epic poem, To Salem Church 55 written on the fair brow of Virginia, in the mingled blood of the sons of the Eleven Confederate Sisters. And sad, also, is it to tell, that in every State of the Union, from Maine to Minnesota, there were many moth- ers weeping for their sons who lay forever still on Virginia 's sanguinary lap. ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS The subjoined abstracts from re- ports of the operations of the Union Army of the Potomac will give the reader a general idea of the entire Chancellor sville Campaign^ of which the Battles of Fredericksburg to Salem Church are especially written about in the foregoing story. Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C, January 26, 1863. Major-General Hooker. General : I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of course I have done tliis upon what appears to me to be sufficient reasons, and yet I trust it best for you to know that there are some things in regard to which I am not quite satisfied with you. I believe you to be a brave and skilful soldier, which, of course, I like. I also be- lieve you do not mix politics with your pro- 56 ^Abstracts of Reports 57 fession, in which you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable if not indispensable quality. You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside's command of the army you have taken counsel of your ambition and thwarted him as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the Army and the Government needed a dic- tator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you command. Only those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictator- ship. The Government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticising their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can to put it down. Neither you nor Napo- leon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit pre- vails in it. And now beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go for- ward and give us victories. Yours very truly, A. LlN-COLN. 58 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Falmouth, Va., January 26, 1863. General Orders No. 1. By direction of the President of the United States, the undersigned assumes command of the Army of the Potomac. He enters upon the discharge of the duties imposed by this trust with a just appreciation of their re- sponsibility. Since the formation of this army he has been identified with its history. He has shared with you its glories and reverses with no other desire than that these relations might remain unchanged until its destiny should be accomplished. In the record of your achievements there is much to be proud of, and with the blessing of God we will con- tribute something to the renown of our arms and the success of our cause. To secure these ends, your commander will require the cheer- ful and zealous co-operation of every officer and soldier in the army. In equipment, intelligence, and valor the enemy is our inferior ; let us never hesitate to give him battle wherever we can find him. The undersigned only gives expression to the feelings of this army when he conveys to our late commander, Major-General Burn- side, the most cordial good wishes for his future. My staff will be announced as soon as or- ganized. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding Army of the Potomac. Abstracts of Reports 59 Washington, D'. C, January 31, 1863. Maj.-Gen. Joseph Hooker: In regard to the operations of your own army, you can best judge when and where it can move to the greatest advantage, keeping in view always the importance of covering Washington and Harper's Ferry directly or by so operating as to be able to punish any force of the enemy sent against them. H. W. Halleck:^ General-in-Chief. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 11, 1863. His Excellency the President of the United States : After giving the subject my best reflection, I have concluded that I will have more chance of afflicting a heavier blow upon the enemy by turning his position to my right, and, if practical, to sever liis connections with Eichmond with my dragoon force and such light batteries as it may be deemed advisable to send with them. I am apprehensive that he will retire from before me the moment I shall succeed in crossing the river, and over the shortest line toEichmond,and thus escape being seriously crippled. I hope that when the cavalry have established themselves on the line between him and Eichmond they will be able to hold him and check his retreat until I can fall on his rear, or, if not that, I will compel him to fall back by the way of 60 Chancellorsville Campaign Culpeper and Gordonsville, over a longer line than my own, with his supplies cut off. The cavalry will probably cross the river above the Eappahannock Bridge, thence to Cul- peper and Gordonsville and across to the Aquia Eailroad^ somewhere in the vicinity of Hanover Court House. I have given di- rections for the cavalry to be in readiness to commence the movement on Monday morn- ing next. I hope, Mr. President, that this plan will receive your approval. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 15, 1863. His Excellency the President of the United States : A letter from Major-General Stoneman, dated 1 p. m. yesterda}^, informs me that his command will be across the river before day- light this morning (the 15th). Meanwhile, I shall do what I can to keep the enemy up to their works in my front, and, if they should fall back, shall pursue them with all the vigor practicable. Up to late last night the enemy appeared to have no suspicions of our designs. I am rejoiced that Stoneman had two good days to go up the river, and was enabled to cross it before it had become too much swollen. If he can reach his position the Abstracts of Reports 61 storm and mud will not damage our pros- pects. Very respectfully, etc., Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C, April 15, 1863. Major-General Hooker : It is now 10.15 p. M. An hour ago I re- ceived your letter of this morning, and a few hours later your dispatch of this evening. The rain and mud, of course, were to be cal- culated upon. General S. is not moving rap- idly enough to make the expedition come to anything. He has now been out three days, two of which were unusually fair weather, and all three without hindrance from the enemy, and yet he is not twenty-five miles from where he started. To reach his point he still has sixty to go, another river (the Eapidan) to cross, and will be hindered by the enemy. By arithmetic, how many days will it take him to do it? I do not know that any better can be done, but I greatly fear it is another failure al- ready. Write me often, I am very anxious. Yours truly, A. Lincoln". 62 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquarters Army of the Potomac, April 17, 1863—9 A. M. His Excellency the President of the United States. Me. President: I have the honor to ac- knowledge your communication of the night of the 15th instant, and, in compliance with your request, transmit herewith a letter from General Stoneman, dated the 16th instant. His failure to accomplish speedily the ob- jects of his expedition is a source of deep re- gret to me, but I can find nothing in his con- duct of it requiring my animadversion or censure. We cannot control the elements. I do not regard him out of position, as, in case of an advance of so large an army, it would be necessary to throw the main por- tion of his forces well on to my right flank. It would take until doomsday to pass all this army over one or two lines. No one, Mr. President, can be more anxious than myself to relieve your cares and anxieties. We have no reason to suppose that the enemy have any knowledge of the design of General Stone- man's movement. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Joseph Hooker, Major-General Abstracts of Reports 63 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, April 22, 1863. Major-General Stoneman. Commanding Cavalry Corps, Warrenton Junction, Va. : Your telegram of this date received. It is hoped the arrival of the trains has enabled you to replenish your supplies, both of sub- sistence and forage, and it is expected that you are again prepared for a forward move- ment. The Commanding General therefore directs that you proceed across the river to- morrow morning, if the fords are practicable. The General does not look for one moment's delay in your advance from any cause that human effort can obviate, and directs me to add that this army is awaiting your move- ment. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 26, 1863. Commanding Officers, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps: I am directed by the Major-General com- manding to inform you that the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, in the order named, will begin their march at sunrise to-morrow morning, the former to encamp as near Kelly's Ford as practicable without discover- ing itself to the enemy, and the latter as nearly in its rear as circumstances will per- mit. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant- General. 64 Chancellor sville Campaign Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863—1 A. M. The Commanding Officer, Fifth Corps : The Major- General commanding directs me to inform you that your corps is to march to-morrow, so as to reach the vicinity of Kelly's Ford by Tuesday at 4 o'clock. The corps of Generals Slocum and Howard take the same direction (and will be on the same route, probably) from Hartwood. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863. Commanding Officer, Second Corps. General: The Major-General command- ing directs that you move at sunrise to-mor- row morning two divisions of your corps, to encamp as near as practicable to Banks' Ford without exposing your camps to the view of the enemy; that one brigade and one battery of one of these divisions take position at United States Ford; the movement to be made quietly. The division left in camp should be the one whose camps are most ex- posed to the view of the enemy. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General. Abstracts of Reports 65 Washington^ D. C, April 37, 1863—3.30 p. m. Major-General Hooker : How does it look now ? A. Lincoln". April 27, 1863—5 p. m. President Lincoln: I am not sufficiently advanced to give an opinion. We are busy. Will tell yon all soon as I can, and have it satisfactory. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863. Major-General Sedgwick, Commanding, etc. : The Major-General commanding directs that the Sixth Corps, Major-General Sedg- wick; First Corps, Major-General Eeynolds, and Third Corps, Major-General Sickles, put themselves in position to cross the river as follows: Sixth Corps at Franklin's Cross- ing; First Corps at the crossing below at Pollock's Mill Creek, and the Third Corps as a support to cross at either point. These movements to be made so that the respective corps are in position — the First and Sixth on or before 3.30 a. m. of the 29th and the Third Corps on or before 4.30 a. m. of the 29th. General Sedgwick, pending the operation, will be charged with the command of the three corps mentioned, and will make a dem- 66 Chancellor sville Campaign onstration in full force on Wednesday morn- ing upon the enemy's defences, with a view of securing the Telegraph road. In event of the enemy detaching any con- siderahle part of his forces against the troops operating at the west of Fredericksburg, he will attack and carry their works at all haz- ards, and establish his force on the Telegraph road, cutting off communication by the en- emy in order to prevent their turning his position on that road. In case the enemy should fall back on Eichmond he will pursue them with vigor, fighting them whenever and wherever he can come up with them. The General will give such other instruc- tions as may seem to him necessary to carry out the plans and wishes of the Major-Gen- eral commanding. By command of Major-General Hooker : S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General. Headquarters Armv of the Potomac, Morrisville, Va., April 28, 1863. Major-General Slocum, Commanding Eleventh and Twelfth Corps : I am directed by the Major-General com- manding to inform you that so long as the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps are operating on the same line, you will exercise the command of both. The General directs that the Eleventh Corps cross to the opposite side of the river Abstracts of Reports 67 to-night, and that the Twelfth Corps com- mence crossing at daylight to-morrow morn- ing, and to be thrown over with all possible rapidity, and both corps march by the most direct route without delay, and seize the bridge, if standing, and the ford at Ger- manna Mills. Major-General Meade (Fifth Corps) will move on almost a parallel line at the same time, and w^ill be in easy communication with you. He will cross at Ely's Ford. When the Fifth Corps is across, push on with both of your corps to Chancellorsville, at which point the three corps will come to- gether, and which you will command by vir- tue of your seniority. The enemy have a brigade holding the United States Ford, which they will abandon as soon as they hear of your approach; this will open the United States Ford to us, when bridges will at once be thrown across the river. If your cavalry is well advanced from Chancellorsville, you will be able to ascertain whether or not the enemy is detaching forces from behind Fredericksburg to resist your advance. If not in any considerable force, the General desires that you will endeavor to advance at all hazards, securing a position on the Plank road and uncovering Banks' Ford, which is also defended by a brigade of the rebel infantry and a battery. If the en- emy should be greatly reinforced you will then select a strong position, and compel him 68 Chancellorsville Campaign to attack you on your own ground. You will have nearly forty thousand men^ which is more than he can spare to send against you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Wm. L. Candler^ Captain and Aide-de-Camp. Balloon in the Air, April 29, 1863. Major-General Butterfield, Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac General: The enemy's line of battle is formed in the edge of the woods, at the foot of the heights, from opposite Fredericksburg to some distance to the left of our lower crossing. Their line appears quite thin, com- pared with our force. Their tents all remain as heretofore, as far as I can see. T. S. C. Lowe, Chief of Aeronauts. Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 30, 1863—12.30 p. M. Commanding Officer, Third Corps: Upon receipt of this order you will pro- ceed with your corps, without delay, by the shortest road, concealed from view of the enemy, to the United States Ford. The great- est promptness in executing this movement and arriving at yoiir destination is expected of you. After crossing you will take up your line of march toward Chancellorsville. ; Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Abstracts of Reports 69 Fort Monroe, Ya., April 30, 1863. Major-General Hooker, Conunanding Army of the Potomac: We are invested at Suffolk by a superior force. A successful movement on your part will be of great service to us by preventing Long- street from being further reinforced, and may compel him to withdraw. John" A. Dix, Major-General. April 30, 1863—12.30 p.m. Major-General John A. Dix, Fort Monroe, Ya. : The enemy has need of every man here. He has his hands full. Eely on this. I can say no more. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. Chancellorsville, Ya., May 1, 1863—8.45 p. M. Major-General Butterfield, (Headquarters Camp near Falmouth, Ya.) : . . . Telegraph all the information you have concerning the reinforcement of the enemy from Eichmond, to Washington, as it may have an important bearing on move- ments elsewhere. Say that all the enemy's cavalry are in my immediate presence, which, I trust, will enable Stoneman to do a land- office business in the interior. 70 Chancellor sville Campaign I think the enemy in his desperation will be compelled to attack me on my own ground. I am all right. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. Balloon in the Air, May 1, 1863—12.30 p.m. Major-General Sedgwick, Commanding Left Wing, Army of the Po- tomac. General: In a west-northwest direction, about twelve miles, an engagement is going on. T. S. C. Lowe, Chief of Aeronauts, Army of the Potomac. Balloon in the Air, May 1, 1863—2.15 p. m. Major-General Sedgwick, Commanding Left Wing. General: The enemy opposite here re- main the same as last reported. Immense volumes of smoke are rising where the battle is going on opposite United States Ford. A large force must be engaged on both sides. Very respectfully, etc., T. S. C. Lowe, Chief of Aeronauts, Army of the Potomac. Abstracts of Reports 71 Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863—1.55 A. M. Maior-General Butterfield: Direct all of the bridges to be taJcen up at Franklin's Crossing and below before day- light, and for Keynolds's (First) Corps to march at once, with pack train, to report to headquarters. Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. May 2, 1863—7.45 A. M. General Butterfield : . Heavy cannonading has just commenced m a westerly direction about twelve miles. T. S. C. Lowe, Aeronaut. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 2, 1863—10.10 P. M. Maior-General Sedgwick : The Major-General commandmg directs that you cross the Rappahannock at Freder- icksburg on receipt of this order and at once take up your line of march on the Chancel- lorsville road until you connect with him. You will attack and destroy any force you may fall in with on the road, and march to be in the vicinity of the General at daylight You will probably fall upon the rear of the forces commanded by General Lee, and be- 72 Chancellor sville Campaign tween you and the Major-General command- ing he expects to nse him np, Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Camp near Falmouth, Ya., May 2, 1863. General Sedgwick : I send a contraband who knows the Plank road leading to Chancellorsville. Push on without delay. I have ordered Gibbon over the river to-night, and to avoid interference with your column, will have the Pontoon bridge laid at the Lacy house for him. Look out that your troops do not come in contact with his. Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 2, 1863—10.20 A. M. Brigadier-General Gibbon : I have hardly time to post you fully in re- gard to the condition of affairs. As matters stand now, General Hooker is at Chancellors- ville with the Third, Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth, with two divisions of the Second Corps. Eeynolds is en route there from the lower crossing. Seclg\\dck will be at the lower crossing alone after Reynolds is gone. Twenty-eight or thirty pieces of the Reserve Artillery are at Banks' Ford, with one of your regiments and some engineers. Two Abstracts of Reports 73 bridges ready to be thrown across whenever the ford is uncovered. Stoneman's cavalry is supposed to be in the enemy's rear, on the line of his railroad. Sedgwick has one division of the enemy in front of him, and the balance are in front of General Hooker. Very respectfully, Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 2, 1863. Brigadier-General Gibbon : Your command must cross the river to Fredericksburg to-night. Pontoon bridge now at the Lacy house. Get under way soon. General Sedgwick is ordered to move through Fredericksburg toward Chancellorsville. Look out 3^ou do not come in contact with him. You must see to the laying of the bridges. Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. United States Ford, May 3, 1863. (Eeceived at 8.45 a. m.) General Butterfield, Headquarters, Camp Falmouth: A most terrible, bloody conflict has raged since daylight. Enemy in great force in our front and on the right, but at this moment 74 Chancellor sville Campaign we are repulsing him on all sides. Carnage is fearful. General Hooker is safe so far. Berry is killed. I return to the front, but will keep )^ou advised when in my power. EuFus Ingalls^ Chief Quartermaster. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—8.50 a. m. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States: Though not directed or specially author- ized to do so by General Hooker, I think it not improper that I should advise you that a battle is in progress. Dan'l Butterfield, Chief of Staff. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—12.45 p. M. General Butterfield: I think we have had the most terrible bat- tle ever witnessed on earth. I think our vic- tory will be certain, but the General told me he would say nothing just yet to Washington, except that he is doing well. In an hour or two the matter will be a fixed fact. I believe the enemy is in flight now, but we are not sure. RuFus Ingalls^ Chief Quartermaster. Abstracts of Reports 75 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—1.30 p„ M. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States: From all reports yet collected the battle has been most fierce and terrible. Loss heavy on both sides. General Hooker slightly but not severely wounded. He has preferred thus far that nothing should be reported and does not know of this, but I cannot refrain from saying this much to you. You may expect his dispatch in a few hours, which will give the result. Dan''l Butterfield, Maior-General. Washington, D. C, May 3, 1863—4.35 p. M. Major-General Butterfield : Where is Hooker? Where is Sedgwick? Where is Stoneman ? A. Lincoln. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—4.40 p. M. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President, etc. : General Hooker is at Chancellorsville. General Sedgwick, with fifteen thousand to twenty thousand men, at a point three or four miles out from Fredericksburg, on the road to Chancellorsville. Lee is between. 76 Chancellorsville Campaign Stoneman has not been heard from. This is the situation at this hour from latest reports, 4.30 p. M. Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—3.30 p. M. (Eeceived 4 p. m.) His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States : We have had a desperate fight yesterday and to-day, which has resulted in no success to us, having lost a position of two lines, which had been selected for our defence. It is now 1.30 o'clock (p. M.), and there is still some firing of artillery. If Sedgwick could have gotten up, there could have been but one result. I cannot tell when it will end. We will endeavor to do our best. My troops are in good spirits. We have fought desperately to-day. No general ever commanded a more devoted army. Joseph Hooker, Major-Greneral. May 3, 1863—2.35 A. M. Ma jor-General Sedgwick : An aide just arrived from General Hooker. Everything in the world depends upon the rapidity and promptness of your movement. Push everything. Da>t'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Abstracts of Reports 77 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—10.35 a. m. General Hooker: Sedgwick at this moment commences his assault. He is on our old ground of Decem- ber 13. The force in his front is small but active. Will post you speedily as to result. BUTTERFIELD^ Major-General, Chief of Staff. May 3, 1863—10.50 a. m. General Hooker: Am signaled that Sedgwick has carried Marye's Heights and, officer thinks, captured the guns. BUTTERTIELD. May 3, 1863—11.10 A. M. General Hooker: First range of hills ours. Batteries and prisoners taken. Enemy retreating. BUTTERFIELD. May 3, 1863—12.32 p. M. General Hooker: To the left and rear of Howison house the enemy have taken a position on Telegraph road, and are holding our forces in check. They are hotly contesting the ground at this point. BUTTERFIELD. 78 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863—7.15 p.m. Major-General Hooker : General Sedgwick was attacking the en- emy on a ridge at Salem Chnrch, six and one-half miles from Chancellorsville, the en- emy making a stand at that point. Infantry fire heavier than hitherto^ and our men fall back a little in the center. Heavy infantry fire reported. Time 6.05 to 6.15 o'clock. BUTTERFIELD. May 4, 1863—12 M. Col. Ambrose Thompson, Quartermaster, Aquia, Va. : Keep as much of the public property afloat as you can until further orders. Be prepared to act on your own judgment at short notice. See that your depot is constantly prepared. EuFus Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster. United States Ford, W. Va., May 4, 1863. Col. D. W. Eucker, Quartermaster's Department : Ship no more horses or other stores until further notice. Please advise Captains Stod- dard and Ferguson. My reasons are good. EuFUs Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster. Abstracts of Reports 79 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 4, 1863—13 m. Capt. M^illiam H. Kankins, At Old Headquarters Army of the Potomac: Do not come up here yourself. Perhaps no one had better come just yet. Keep quiet ; do not make any excitement. We are in great trouble, but we shall fight out. Do not com- municate with Washington on the subject. EuFus Ingalls^ Chief Quartermaster. Headquarters Sixth Corps, May 4, 1863—9 a. m. Major- General Hooker : I am occupying the same position as last night. I have secured my communications with Banks' Ford. The e^iemy are in pos- session of the heights of Frederichshurg in force. They appear strongly in our front, and are making efforts to drive us back. I do not know my losses, but they were large, probably 5,000 men. It depends upon the condition and position of your force whether I can sustain myself here. John Sedgwick. Washington, D. C, May 4, 1863—3.10 p. M. Major-General Hooker : We have news here that the enemy has re- occupied heights above Fredericksburg. Is that so? A. Lincoln. 80 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquaxters Army of the Potomac, May 4, 1863—4.20 p. M. His Excellency the President: I am informed that it is so, but attach no importance to it. Joseph Hooker, Major-General. May 5, 1863—12.30 a. m. Major-General Butterfield, Chief of Staff: Communication with General Sedgwick is at present full and open by two bridges. . . . His main body is, however, below the crest of the hill, opposite the ford, under full fire of artillery. I consider his command in great danger. E. 0. Tyler, Brigadier-General. Headquarters, May 5, 1863 — 1 A. M. General Sedgwick: . . . Withdraw. Cover the river, and prevent any force crossing. Aclmowledge this. By command of General Hooker : Dan'l Butterfield. In the Field, May 5, 1863—11 a. m. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States: General Hooker is not at this moment able, from pressing duties, to write of the condi- tion of affairs. He deems it his duty that you should be advised. The cavalry, as yet Abstracts of Reports 81 learned, have failed in executing their or- ders. . . . General Sedgwick failed in the execntion of his orders, and was compelled to retire, and crossed the river at Banks' Ford last night. . . . The First, Third, Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth and two divisions of the Second Corps are now on the south bank of the Rap- pahannock, intrenched between Hunting Run and Scotf s Dam. Position is strong, but cir- cumstances, which in time will be fully ex- plained, make it expedient, in the GeneraFs judgment, that he .should retire from this position to the north bank of the Rappahan- nock for his defensible position. Among these is danger to his communication by pos- sibility of the enemy crossing river on our right flank and imperiling this army. He may cross to-night, but hopes to be attacked in this position. Dan'l Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Near Chancellorsville, Va., May 5, 1863. Commanding Officer, Confederate Forces, Chancellorsville, Va. : I would most respectfully request the privi- lege of sending a burial party on the field of Chancellorsville to bury the dead and care for the wounded officers and soldiers of my command. Very respectfully, etc., Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. 82 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquarters Army of J^orthern Virginia, May 6, 1863. MaJ.-Gen. Joseph Hooker, ' Commanding Army of the Potomac. General : I have had the honor to receive your letter of yesterday requesting permis- sion to send a burial party to attend to your dead and wounded on the battlefield of Chan- cellorsville. I regret that their position is such, being immediately within our lines, that the necessities of war forbid my com- pliance with your request, which under other circumstances it would give me pleasure to grant. I will accord to your dead and wound- ed the same attention which I bestow upon my own; but if there is anything which your medical director here requires which we can- not provide, he shall have my permission to receive from you such medical supplies as you may think proper to furnish. Consideration for your wounded prompts me to add that, from what I learn, their comfort would be greatly promoted by additional medical at- tendance and medical supplies. I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, E. E. Lee^ General. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 6, 1863—1 p. M. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States : I have just returned from above, and find here your two dispatches to General Hooker, Abstracts of Reports 83 and one from him to me, directing me to tele- graph you that the army has recrossed the river; that the bridges are up, and that all are under orders to return to camp. Dan'l Butteefield, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 6, 1863. General Orders No. 49. The Major-General commanding tenders to the army his congratulations on its achievements of the last seven days. If it has not accomplished all that was expected, the reasons are well known to the army. It is sufficient to say they were of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or resource. In withdrawing from the south bank of the Eappahannock before delivering a gen- eral battle to our adversaries, the army has given renewed evidence of its confidence in itself and its fidelity to the principles it rep- resents. In fighting at a disadvantage, we would have been recreant to our trust, to our- selves, our cause and our country. Proudly loyal, and conscious of its strength, the Army of the Potomac will give or decline battle whenever its interests or honor may demand. It will also be the guar- dian of its own history and its own fame. By our celerity and secrecy of movement our advance and passage of the rivers were 84 Chancellor sville Campaign undispTited, and on our withdrawal not a rebel ventured to follow. The events of the last week may swell with pride the heart of every officer and soldier of this army. We have added new luster to its former renown. We have made long marches, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in his in- trenchments, and whenever we have fought have inflicted heavier blows than we have received. We have taken from the enemy 5,000 pris- oners, captured and brought off seven pieces of artillery, fifteen colors, placed hors de combat 18,000 of his chosen troops ; destroyed his depots filled with vast amounts of stores ; deranged his communications ; captured pris- oners within the fortifications of his capital, and filled his country with fear and con- sternation. We have no other regret than that caused by the loss of our brave companions, and in this we are consoled by the conviction that they have fallen in the holiest cause ever submitted to the arbitrament of battle. By command of Major-General Hooker : S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General. ^ May 7, 1863. Major-General Hooker. My Dear Sir: The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting its ob- ject, except some important breakings of the Abstracts of Reports 85 enemy^s communication. What next? If possible, I would be very glad of another movement early enough to give us some ben- efit from the fact of the enemy's communi- cation being broken ; but neither for this rea- son nor any other do I wish anything done in desperation or rashness. An early move- ment would also help to supersede the bad moral effect of the recent one, which is said to be considerably injurious. Have you al- ready in your mind a plan wholly or partially formed? If you have, prosecute it without interference from me. If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I may be, can try and assist in the formation of some plan for the army. Yours, as ever, A. Lincoln. Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, May 7, 1863. Major- General Hooker, Commanding Army of the Potomac. General : The reasons that prevented me from complying with your request with ref- erence to your wounded no longer existing, I have the honor to inform you that you can extend to them such attentions as they may require. All persons whom it may be neces- sary to send within my lines for this pur- pose will remain until the wounded are finally disposed of. The burial of your dead has already been provided for. 86 Chancellorsville Campaign I have directed that those of your wounded who desire it shall be paroled and transferred within your lines, should you be willing to receive them : those in the vicinity of Chan- cellorsville at the United States Ford, and those on the battlefield of Salem Church, at Banl^s' Ford or Fredericksburg. As your wounded generally occupy the few houses in the vicinity of the late battlefield, the trans- portation of this army cannot be employed in conveying them to the river until my own wounded have been removed to a place of shelter. As soon as this can be accomplished I will cause such of your wounded as may desire to be paroled to be delivered at the points above indicated, upon being advised of your willingness to receive them. In the meantime they shall have such care as is given to my own. I have the honor to inclose a copy of my letter of j^esterday, in case the original may not have reached you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. E. Lee, General. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 7, 1863 — 8 p. M. General R. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate Forces at Fredericksburg, Va. : I have the honor to acknowledge the re- Abstracts of Reports 87 ceipt of your two conmninications of May 6 and 7 this moment. If agreeable to yon, I wonld like to send medical supplies and at- tendance to my wonnded, and at sucli times as the state of the fords designated in your communication, viz., United States and Banks' fords. I will, with your consent, send parties to those fords with supplies at an early hour to-morrow. The swollen state of the Rappahannock probably preventing the crossing of any vehicles with supplies, I shall have to depend upon you for transportation for them. I will receive the wounded at the points named as soon as it can be done. ^ I will send an officer to Chancellorsyille, with your consent, to arrange the details, which, judging from your letter, with the state of the river, cannot now be determined by cor- respondence. Upon an intimation from you as to any deficiency in your immediate neces- sities of medical supplies of your own, by reason of their use for my wounded or other cause, I shall with pleasure replace them.^ I would be obliged for approximate information concerning the number of wounded, that a sufficient '^amount of supplies may be for- warded. I would be under obligations for an early reply. Very respectfully, etc., Joseph Hooker, Major-General Commanding. 88 Chancellor sville Campaign Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, May 11, 1863. Major-General Joseph Hooker, Commanding Army of the Potomac. General : The Medical Director of this army advises me that your wounded will avoid inconvenience and suffering if taken directly from the different hospitals in your own ambulances, instead of being subjected to the change of conveyance incident to their removal to the river by transportation. Should you see proper to adopt the sug- gestion, your ambulances will be permitted to cross the Rappahannock at the United States Ford to remove the wounded from Chancel- lorsville, at Banks' Ford for those at Salem Church, and at Fredericksburg for those in the vicinity. Instructions have been issued to the com- manding officers at the points above men- tioned to give free passage to your trains, and each of them, upon crossing the river, will be conducted to and placed under directions of your medical officers left in charge of 3^our wounded at the hospital to which it is destined. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. Lee, General. Abstracts of Reports 89 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 14, 1863. General R. E. Lee, Commanding Army of Northern Virginia : On learning yesterday afternoon, through my medical officers, who have returned from your lines, that permission would be given to throw a bridge across the river at United States Ford, to enable our ambulance trains to proceed to the hospitals in the vicinity of Chancellorsville for our wounded, I at once gave directions to have the bridge laid at an early hour this morning. I regret that I was not sooner informed that this facility would be afforded. The bridge will be used for no other purpose than bringing away the wounded, and, when this has been accom- plished, will be immediately removed and returned to the place from which it was taken. Very respeetfully, Joseph Hooker, Major-Greneral Commanding. 90 Chancellorsville Campaign Forces Under General Hooker in Chancel- lorsville Campaign. Abstract from Tri-monthly Eeturn of the Army of the Potomac, Major-G-eneral Joseph Hooker, TJ. S. Army, Commanding, for April 30, 1863. Aggregate officers and men present for duty (only those who are actually available for the line of battle) : INFANTRY. 1st Corps (Eeynolds) 15,782 3d Corps (Couch) 15,907 3d Corps (Sickles) 17,568 5th Corps (Meade) 14,867 6th Corps (Sedgwick) 22,427 11th Corps (Howard) 12,170 12th Corps (Slocum) 12,929 CAVALRY. 11,079. ARTILLERY. 412 Guns— 9,543 Men. General Summary of Casualties in the Union Forces during the Chancellorsville (Ya.) Campaign, April 27— May 11, 1863. Officers and men killed 1,606 Officers and men wounded 9,762 Officers and men missing 5,919 Abstracts of Reports 91 Epitome of General Eooher's Plan for Chan^ cellorsville Campaign. Abstract from Report of Brigadier-General Warren, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army of the Potomac. May 12, 1863. At the time operations resulting in the battle of Chancellorsville and those attend- ing it began, the enemy occupied in strong force the heights south of the Rappahannock River, from Skinker's Neck to Banks' Ford, having continnous lines of infantry parapets thronghont (a distance of abont twenty miles), his troops being disposed as to be readily concentrated on any threatened point. Interspersed along their lines of intrench- ments were battery epanlments advantageous- ly located for sweeping the hill slopes and bottom lands, on which our troops would have to march to assault. To turn the en- emy's right flank, and cross the river so as to gain the'heights below his intrenchments, re- quired a secret move of pontoon trains and artillery for more than twenty miles. Favor- able conditions of approach to the river from either side first present themselves about six miles by the road we had to take above Fred- ericksburg, at a place called Banks' Ford, 92 Chancellor sville Campaign not then fordable. A place of such impor- tance was guarded by the enemy with the ut- most care. The obstacles here were so great to onr forcing a passage that the enemy fore- bore to plant a redoubt on the summit of the hill, thus, as it were, inviting us to try it. The next point on the enemy's left which offered a practicable approach to the stream was at the United States Mine Ford. The plan which the Commanding General (General Hooker) formed was kept a pro- found secret until its successful initiative disclosed it to friend and foe. Three corps — the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth— were put in motion April 27 to pass around the ene- my's left flank, crossing the Eappahannock at Kelly's Ford, a distance of thirty miles from Fredericksburg, thence to cross the Rapidan by Germarma and Ely's fords. The Rappahannock was successfully crossed by the morning of the 28th on pontoon bridges, with but slight opposition from a small ob- serving force. To divert the enemy's attention from the main movement, the passage of the Rappa- hannock was forced by the Sixth Corps (Gen- eral Sedgwick) opposite our left at a place Imown as Franklin's Crossing (on Bernard's Farm) on the night of April 28th. Tw^o pontoon bridges were constructed here by General Benham and the troops crossed in force during the day. At 5 p. M. on the 29th I set out, as direct- ed, for the United States Mine Ford, to as- Abstracts of Reports 93 sist Major Spaulding, of the Engineer Brig- ade, if necessary, in throwing the pontoon bridge across at that place. On the morning of the 30th I reconnoitered the approaches to the crossing place. . . . The work on the road w^as pushed with all possible dis- patch, and by 1 p. m. was made practicable for artillery and pontoon wagons. By 3 p. M. the bridge was laid and the Second Corps (Couch) was crossing the river. Great was the enthusiasm of the men as they found we had turned these formidable intrenchments without losing a man, and gained the advan- tage of meeting the enemy in an open field. . . . The advantage of the initiative in a wood- ed country like this, obscuring all move- ments, was incalculable, and so far we had improved them. . . . On the morning of Saturday, May 2, the enemy, from the heights on our left, opened fire with his guns on our wagons in the open field near Chan- cellorsville. . . . He also made his appear- ance on the Plank road. . . . During the forenoon the enemy made several feints of at- tacks by a sudden rush upon our lines, draw- ing our fire, and getting the location of our line and its strength. These operations were repeated at intervals, gradually extending to our right. Later in the day the enemy be- came visible from our line to the right of Fairview, moving off still to our right. Gen- eral Sickles, with two of his divisions of the Third Corps, was sent out to make a demon- 94 Chancellorsville Campaign stration against this body, and he succeeded in capturing numerous prisoners cut oS from the rear of Jackson. General Pleasonton, with his cavalry and artillery, also moved out in this same direction, following General Sickles, and the effect of this was to place a considerable force of ours between the two wings of the rebel army. . . . The flank move in our very presence which General Lee had decided upon, and the exe- cution of which he had intrusted to General Jackson, was one of great risk under almost any circumstances. On the present occasion it offered more advantages than it generally does. His army found its line of intrench- ments, on which so much labor had been be- stowed, and on the strength of which he had so far relied as to submit to the detaching of a large force under General Longstreet for operations south of James River, most unex- pectedly turned and rendered of no value, and he was in the presence of an army great- ly outnumbering his. Advancing, then, promptly as he had done on the 1st, he was prepared to dispute with us the possession of Banks' Ford, which would have brought the two wings of our army together and gained time. Its conception was well adapted to the situation, and its execution by General Jackson was excellent, though the lateness of the day in which his blow was struck gave him but little advantage of the maneuver. Abstracts of Reports 95 Jackson's Flank Attack. Abstract from Eeport of Major-General Carl Schurz, Commanding Third Division, Eleventh Corps. Our right wing stood completely in the air . . . with no reliable cavalry to make reconnaissances, in a forest thick enough not to permit any view to the front, flank or rear, but not thick enough to prevent the approach of the enemy's troops. It was almost impossible to maneuver some of our regiments under fire of the enemy, hemmed in as they were on the old turnpike by embankments and rifle pits in front and thick woods in rear. . . . And this old Turnpike road w^as at the same time the only line of communication we had between the different parts of our front. Such was the position of the Eleventh Corps on May 2. ... It was nearly 6 o'clock when we sud- denly heard a sharp artillery and musketry fire on our extreme right. I at once ordered all regiments within my reach to change front. To change the front of the regiments, deployed in line on the old Turnpike road, was extremely difficult. . . . The officers had hardly had time to give a command when 96 Chancellor sville Campaign almost the whole of McLean^s* brigade, mixed up with a number of Von Gilsa'sf men, came rushing down the road in wild confusion, and the battery of the First Division broke in upon my right. The confused mass of guns, caissons, horses, and men broke lengthwise through the ranks of my regiments deployed on the line in the road. . . . The whole line deployed on the old turnpike, facing south, was rolled up and swept away in a moment. . . . The Twenty-sixth Wiscon- sin, flanked on both sides and exposed to a terrible fire in front, maintained the unequal contest for a considerable time, nor did it fall back until I ordered it to do so. . . . The enemy was now pouring in great force upon our right and left . . . and the position in and near the Church grove could no longer be held. . . . Behind the rifle-pit there was a confused mass of men belonging to all the divisions. . . . The enemy advancing on our right and left with rapidity the artil- lery ceased firing, and soon the rifle-pit was given up. . . . The retreat now became general, and the confusion increased as the troops marched through the woods. The losses suffered by my division in the action of May 2 were, in killed, wounded and missing, nine hundred and fifty-three. * McLean's and Von Gilsa's Brigades of First Division, t Howard's Eleventh Corps. Abstracts of Reports 97 Gen. Rohert E. Lee's Report of Chancellors- ville Campaign. Headquarters Army of Nortliern Virginia, September 21, 1863. Geneeal : After the battle of Fredericks- burg tlie army remained encamped on the south side of the Rappahannock until the lat- ter part of April. The Federal army occu- pied the north side of the river opposite Fredericksburg, extending to the Potomac. Two brigades of (R. H.) Anderson's division — those of Generals (William) Mahone and (Carnot) Posey — were stationed near the United States Mine (or Bark Mill) Ford, and a third, under General (C. M.) Wilcox, guarded Banks' Ford. The cavalry was dis- tributed on both flanks, Fitzhugh Lee's brig- ade picketing the Rappahannock above the mouth of the Rapidan and W. H. F. Lee's near Port Royal. Hampton's brigade had been sent into the interior to recruit. Gen- eral (James) Longstreet, with two divisions of his corps, was detached for service south of ^ James River in February, and did not re- join the army until after the battle of Chan- cellorsville. With the exception of the engagement be- tween Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and the ene- 98 Chancellor sville Campaign my's cavalry near Kelly's Ford on March 17, of which a brief report has been already for< warded to the Department, nothing of inter- est transpired during this period of inac- tivity. On April 14 intelligence was received that the enemy's cavalry w^as concentrating on the upper Eappahannock. Their efforts to es- tablish themselves on the south side of the river were successfully resisted by Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and two regiments of W. H. F. Lee's, the whole under the immediate com- mand of General Stuart. About the 21st, small bodies of infantry appeared at Kelly's Ford and the Eappahan- nock bridge, and almost at the same time a demonstration was made opposite Port Eoyal, where a party of infantry crossed the river about the 23 d. These movements were evi- dently intended to conceal the design of the enemy, but, taken in connection with the reports of scouts, indicated that the Federal army, now commanded by Major-General Hooker, was about to resume active opera- tions. At 5.30 A. M. on April 28 the enemy crossed the Eappahannock in boats near Fredericksburg, and, driving off the pickets on the river, proceeded to lay down a pontoon bridge a short distance below the mouth of Deep Eun. Later in the forenoon another bridge was constructed about a mile below the first. A considerable force crossed on these bridges during the day and was massed Abstracts of Reports 99 out of view under the high banks of the river. The bridges, as well as the troops, were effectually protected from our artillery fire by the depth of the river bed and the narrowness of the stream, while the batteries on the opposite heights completely command- ed the wide plain between our lines and the river. As in the first battle of Fredericks- burg, it was thought best to select positions with a view to resist the advance of the en- emy, rather than incur the heavy loss that would attend any attempt to prevent his crossing. Our dispositions were accordingly made as on the former occasion. No demonstration was made opposite any other part of our lines at Fredericksburg, and the strength of the force that had crossed and its apparent indisposition to attack indi- cated that the principal effort of the enemy would be made in some other quarter. This impression was confirmed by intelligence re- ceived from General Stuart that a large body of infantry and artillery was passing up the river. During the forenoon of the 29th that officer reported that the enemy had crossed in force near Kelly's Ford on the preceding evening. Later in the day he announced that a heavy column was moving from Kelly's toward Germanna Ford, on the Eapi- dan, and another toward Ely's Ford, on that river. The routes they were pursuing after crossing the Eapidan converge near Chancel- lorsville, whence several roads lead to the rear of our position at Fredericksburg. 100 Chancellorsville Campaign On the night of the 29th General Ander- son was directed to proceed toward Chancel- lorsville and dispose Wright^s brigade and the troops from the Bark Mill Ford to cover these roads. Arriving at Chancellorsville about midnight, he fonnd the commands of Generals Mahone and Posey already there, having been withdrawn from the Bark Mill Ford, with the exception of a small guard. Learning that the enemy had crossed the Eapidan and were approaching in strong force. General Anderson retired early on the morning of the 30th to the intersection of the Mine and Plank roads, near Tabernacle Church, and began to intrench himself. The enemy^s cavalry skirmished with the rear guard as he left Chancellorsville, but, being vigorously repulsed by Mahone's brigade, of- fered no further opposition to his march. Mahone was placed on the old turnpike, Wright and Posey on the Plank road. In the mean time General Stuart had been directed to endeavor to impede the progress of the column marching by way of Germanna Ford. Detaching W. H. F. Lee with his two regiments (the Ninth and Thirteenth Vir- ginia) to oppose the main body of the ene- my's cavalry, General Stuart crossed the Eapidan at Eaccoon Ford with Fitzhugh Lee's brigade on the night of the 29th. Halt- ing to give his men a few hours' repose, he ordered Colonel (Thomas H.) Owen wdth the Third Virginia Cavalr\^ to throw himself in front of the enemy, while the rest of the brig- Abstracts of Reports 101 ade attacked his right flank at the Wilderness Tavern, between Germanna Ford and Chan- cellors ville. By this means the march of his column was delaj^ed until 12 m.^ when, learn- ing that the one from Ely's Ford had already reached Chancellorsville, General Stuart marched by Todd's Tavern toward Spottsyl- vania Court House to put himself in com- munication with the main body of the army, and Colonel Owen fell back upon General Anderson. The enemy in our front near Fredericks- burg continued inactive, and it was now ap- parent that the main attack would be made upon our flank and rear. It was, therefore, determined to leave sufiicient troops to hold our lines and with main body of the army to give battle to the approaching column. Early's division, of Jackson's corps, and Barksdale's brigade, of McLaws's division, with part of the Reserve Artillery, under General (W. N.) Pendleton, were intrusted with the defense of our position at Freder- icksburg, and, at midnight on the 30th, Gen- eral McLaws marched with the rest of his command toward Chancellorsville. Gen- eral Jackson followed at dawn next morning with the remaining divisions of his corps. He reached the position occupied by General Anderson at 8 a. m. and immediately began preparations to advance. At 11 A. M. the troops moved forward upon the Plank and old Turnpike roads, Ander- son, with the brigades of Wright and Posey, 102 Chancellor sville Campaign leading on the former; McLaws, with his three brigades, preceded by Mahone's, on the latter. Generals Wilcox and Perry, of An- derson's division, co-operated with McLaws. Jackson's troops followed Anderson on the Plank road. Colonel Alexander's battalion of artillery accompanied the advance. The enemy was soon encountered on both roads, and heavy skirmishing with infantry and ar- tillery ensued, our troops pressing steadily forward. A strong attack upon General Mc- Laws was repulsed with spirit by Semmes's brigade, and General Wright, by direction of General Anderson, diverging to the left of the Plank road, marched by way of the un- finished railroad from Fredericksburg to Gordonsville and turned the enemy's right. His whole line thereupon retreated rapidly, vigorously pursued by our troops until they arrived within about one mile of Chancel- lorsville. Here the enemy had assumed a position of great natural strength, surround- ed on all sides by a dense forest filled with a tangled undergrowth, in the midst of which breastworks of logs had been constructed, with trees felled in front, so as to form an almost impenetrable abatis. His artillery swept the few narrow roads by which Jiis posi- tion could be approached from the front, and commanded the adjacent woods. The left of his line extended from Chancellorsville to- w?ird the Eappahannock, covering the Bark Mill Ford, where he communicated with the north bank of the river by a pontoon bridge. Abstracts of Reports 103 His right stretched westward along the Ger- manna Ford road more than two miles. Dark- ness was approaching before the strength and extent of his line could be ascertained, and, as the nature of the country rendered it hazardous to attack by night, our troops were halted and formed in line of battle in front of Chancellorsville, at right angles to the Plank road, extending on the right to the Mine road and to the left in the direction of the Catharine Furnace. Colonel (William C.) Wickham with the Fourth Virginia Cav- alry and Colonel Owen's regiment was sta- tioned between the Mine road and the Eap- pahannock. The rest of the cavalry was upon our left flank. It was evident that a direct attack upon the enemy would be attended with great dif- ficulty and loss, in view of the strength of his position and his superiority of numbers. It was, therefore, resolved to endeavor to turn his right flank and gain his rear, leaving a force m front of him to hold him in check and conceal the movement. The execution of this plan was intrusted to Lieutenant- General Jackson with his three divisions. The commands of Generals McLaws and An- derson, with the exception of Wilcox's brig- ade, which durino; the night had been ordered back to Banks' Ford, remained in front of the enemy. Early on the mornin.s^ of the 2d, General Jackson marched by the Furnace and Brock roads, his movement being effectually cov- 104 Chancellorsville Campaign ered by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, under Gen- eral Stuart in person. As the rear of the train was passing the furnace, a large force of the enemy advanced from Chancellorsville and attempted its capture. General Jackson had left the Twenty-third Georgia Regiment, under Colonel (E. F.) Best, at this point to guard his flank, and upon the approach of the enemy. Lieutenant- Colonel (J. T.) Brown, whose artillery was passing at the time, placed a battery in position to aid in checking his advance. A small number of men who were marching to join their commands, in- cluding Captain (W. S.) Moore, with two companies of the Fourteenth Tennessee Regi- ment, of Archer^s brigade, reported to Colonel Brown and supported his guns. The enemy was kept back by this small force until the train had passed, but his superior num- bers enabled him subsequently to surround and capture the greater part of the Twenty- third Georgia Regiment. General Anderson was directed to send a brigade to resist the further progress of this column, and detached General Posey for that purpose. General Posey became warmly engaged with a supe- rior force, but, being reinforced by General (A. R.) Wright, the enemy's advance was arrested. After a long and fatiguing march. Gen- eral Jackson's leading division, under Gen- eral Rodes, reached the old turnpike, about three miles in rear of Chancellorsville, at 4 p. M. As the different divisions arrived Abstracts of Reports 105 they were formed at right angles to the road — Eodes in front; Trimble's division, under Brigadier-General (E. E.) Colston, in the second, and A. P. HilFs division in the third line. At 6 p. M. the advance was ordered. The enemy were taken by surprise, and fled after a brief resistance. General Eodes's men pushed forward with great vigor and enthusi- asm, followed closely by the second and third lines. Position after position was carried, the guns captured, and every effort of the enemy to rally defeated by the impetuous rush of our troops. In the ardor of pursuit through the thick and tangled woods the first and second lines at last became mingled and moved on together as one. The enemy made a stand at a line of breastworks across the road, at the house of Melzie Chancellor, but the troops of Eodes and Colston dashed over the intrenchments together, and the flight and pursuit were resumed, and continued until our advance was arrested by the abatis in front of the line of works near the central position at Chancellorsville. It was now dark, and General Jackson ordered the third line, imder General (A. P.) Hill, to advance to the front and relieve the troops of Eodes and Colston, who were completely blended and in such disorder, from their rapid ad- vance through intricate woods and over broken ground, that it was necessary to re- form them. As Hill's men moved forward, General Jackson, with his staff and escort. 106 Chancellor sville Campaign returning from the extreme front, met his skirmishers advancing, and in the obscurity of the night were mistaken for the enemy and fired upon. Capt. (J. K.) Boswell, chief en- gineer of the corps, and several others were killed and a number wounded. General Jack- son himself received a severe injury and was borne from the field. The command devolved upon Major-General Hill, whose division, un- der General Heth, was advanced to the line of intrenchments which had been reached by Eodes and Colston. A furious fire of artil- lery was opened upon them by the enemy, under cover of which his infantry advanced to the attack. They were handsomely re- pulsed by the Fifty-fifth Virginia Eegiment, under Colonel (Francis) Mallory, who was killed while bravely leading his men. Gen- eral Hill was soon afterward disabled, and Major-General Stuart, who had been directed by General Jackson to seize the road to Ely's Ford, in rear of the enemy, was sent for to take command. At this point the right of Hill's division was attacked by the column of the enemy already mentioned as having pen- etrated to the furnace, which had been re- called to Chancellorsville to avoid being cut off by the advance of Jackson. This attack was gallantly met and repulsed by the Eigh- teenth and Twenty-eighth and a portion of the Thirty-third ISTorth Carolina regiments. Lane's bri grade. Upon General Stuart's arrival, soon after- ward, the command was turned over to him Abstracts of Reports 107 by General Hill. He immediately proceeded to reconnoiter the ground and make himself acquainted with the disposition of the troops. The darkness of the night and the difficulty of moving through the woods and under- growth rendered it advisable to defer further operations until morning, and the troops rested on their arms in line of battle. Colonel (S.) Crutchfield, chief of artillery of the corps, was severely wounded, and Colonel (E. P.) Alexander, senior artillery officer present, was engaged during the entire night in selecting positions for our batteries. As soon as the sound of cannon gave no- tice of Jackson's attack on the enemy's right, our troops in front of Chancellorsville were ordered to press him strongly on the left, to prevent reinforcements being sent to the point assailed. They were directed not to attack in force unless a favorable opportunity should present itself, and, while continuing to cover the roads leading from their respec- tive positions toward Chancellorsville, to in- cline to the left so as to connect with Jack- son's right as he closed upon the center. These orders were well executed, our troops advancing up to the enemy's intrenchments, while several batteries played with good ef- fect upon his lines until prevented by the increasing darkness. Early on the morning of the 3d, General Stuart renewed the attack upon the enemy, who had strensrthened his right during the night with additional breastworks, while a 108 Chancellor sville Campaign large number of guns, protected by intrench- ments, were posted so as to sweep the woods through which our troops had to advance. HilFs division was in front, with Colston in the second line and Rodes in the third. The second and third lines soon advanced to the support of the first, and the whole became hotly engaged. The breastworks at which the attack was suspended the preceding even- ing were carried by assault under a terrible fire of musketry and artillery. In rear of these breastworks was a barricade, from which the enemy was quickly driven. The troops on the left of the Plank road, pressing through the woods, attacked and broke the next linC;, while those on the right bravely assailed the extensive earthworks, behind which the enemy's artillery was posted. Three times were these works carried, and as often were the brave assailants compelled to aban- don — twice by the retirement of the troops on their left, who fell back after a gallant struggle with superior numbers, and once by a movement of the enemy on their right, caused by the advance of General Anderson. The left, being reinforced, finally succeeded in driving back the enemy, and the artillery under Lieutenant-Colonel (T. H.) Carter and (H. P.) Jones being thrown forward to occupy favorable positions secured by the advance of the infantry, began to play with great precision and effect. Anderson, in the mean time, pressed gallantly forward directly upon Chancellorsville, his right resting upon Abstracts of Reports 109 the Plank road and his left extending toward the furnace, while McLaws made a strong demonstration to the right of the road. As the troops advancing upon the enemy's front and right converged upon his central posi- tion, Anderson effected a junction with Jack- son's corps, and the whole line pressed irre- sistibly on. The enemy was driven from all his fortified positions, with heavy loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and retreated toward the Eappahannock. By 10 a. m. we were in full possession of the field. The troops, having become somewhat scat- tered by the difficulties of the ground and the ardor of the contest, were immediately re- formed preparatory to renewing the attack. The enemy had withdrawn to a strong posi- tion nearer the Eappahannock, which he had previously fortified. His superiority of num- bers, the unfavorable nature of the ground, which was densely wooded, and the condition of our troops after the arduous and sanguin- ary conflict in which they had been engaged, rendered great caution necessary. Our prep- arations were just completed when further operations were arrested by intelligence re- ceived from Fredericksburg. General Early had been instructed, m event of the enemy withdrawing from his front and moving up the river, to join the main body of the army with so much of his command as could be spared from the de- fense of his lines. This order was repeated on the 2d, but by a misapprehension on the 110 Chancellor sville Campaign part of the officer conveying it, General Early was directed to move "unconditionally. Leav- ing Hays's brigade and one regiment of Baxksdale's at Fredericksburg, and directing a part of General Pendleton's artillery to be sent to the rear, in compliance with the order delivered to him. General Early moved with the rest of his command toward Chancellors- ville. As, soon as his withdrawal was per- ceived, the enemy began to give evidence of an intention to advance, but the mistake in the transmission of the order being corrected, General Early returned to his original posi- tion. The line to be defended by Barksdale's brigade extended from the Eappahannock, above Fredericksburg, to the rear of Howi- son's house, a distance of more than two miles. The artillery was posted along the heights in rear of the town. Before dawn on the morning of the 3d, General Barksdale reported to General Early that the enemy had occupied Fredericksburg in large force and laid down a bridge at the town. Hays^s brigade was sent to his sup- port, and placed on his extreme left, with the exception of one regiment on the right of his line behind Howison's house. Seven companies of the Twenty-first Mississippi Regiment were posted by General Barksdale between the Marye house and the Planl?: road, the Eighteenth and the three other companies of the Twenty-first occupied the Telegraph road at the foot of Marye's Hill, the two re- Abstracts of Reports 111 maining regiments of the brigade being far- ther to the right, on the hills near Howison's house. The enemy made a demonstration against the extreme right, which was easily repulsed by General Early. Soon afterward a column moved from Fredericksburg along the river bank, as if to gain the heights on the extreme left, which commanded those im- mediately in rear of the town. This attempt was foiled by General Hays and the arrival of General Wilcox from Banks' Ford, who deployed a few skirmishers on the hill near Taylor's house, and opened on the enemy with a section of artillery. Very soon the enemy advanced in large force against Marye's and the hills to the right and left of it. Two assaults were gallantly repulsed by Barksdale's men and the artillery. After the second, a flag of truce was sent from the town to obtain permission to provide for the wounded. Three heavy lines advanced immediately upon the return of the flag and renewed the attack. They were bravely repulsed on the right and left, but the small force at the foot of Marye's Hill, overpowered by more than ten times their number, was captured after a heroic resistance and the hill carried. Eight pieces of the artillery were taken on Marye's and the adjacent heights. The remainder of Barksdale's brigade, together with that of General Hays and the artillery on the right, retired down the Telegraph road. The suc- cess of the enemy enabled him to threaten 112 Chancellorsville Campaign our communications by moving down the Telegraph road, or to come upon our rear at Chancellorsville by the Plank road. He at first advanced on the former, but was checked by General Early, who had halted the commands of Barksdale and Hays, with the artillery, about two miles from Marye's Hill, and reinforced them with three regi- ments of Gordon^s brigade. The enemy then began to advance up the Plank road, his progress being gallantly disputed by the brig- ade of General Wilcox, who had moved from Banks' Ford as rapidly as possible to the assistance of General Barksdale, but arrived too late to take part in the action. General Wilcox fell back slowly until he reached Sa- lem Church, on the Plank road, about five miles from Fredericksburg. Information of the state of affairs in our rear having reached Chancellorsville, as al- ready stated, General McLaws, with his three brigades and one of General Anderson's, was ordered to reinforce General Wilcox. He ar- rived at Salem Church early in the after- noon, where he found General Wilcox in line of battle, with a large force of the enemy — consisting, as was reported, of one army corps and part of another, under Major-Gen- eral Sedgwick — in his front. The brigades of Kershaw and Wofford were placed on the right of Wilcox, those of Semmes and Ma- hone on his left. The enemy's artillery played vigorously upon our position for some time, when his infantry advanced in three strong Abstracts of Reports 113 lines, the attack being directed mainly against G-eneral Wilcox, but partially involv- ing the brigades on his left. The assault was met with the utmost firmness, and after a fierce struggle the first line was repulsed with gx^eat slaughter. The second then came for- ward, but immediately broke under the close and deadly fire which it encountered, and the whole mass fled in confusion to the rear. They were pursued by the brigades of Wilcox and Semmes, which advanced nearly a mile, when they were halted to re-form in the pres- ence of the enemy's reserve, which now ap- peared in large force. It being quite dark, General Wilcox deemed it imprudent to push the attack with his small numbers, and re- tired to his original position, the enemy mak- ing no attempt to follow. The next morning General Early advanced along the Telegraph road, and recaptured Marye's and the adjacent hills without diffi- culty, thus gaining the rear of the enemy's left. He then proposed to General McLaws that a simultaneous attack should be made by their respective commands, but the latter officer not deeming his force adequate to as- sail the enemy in front, the proposition was not carried into effect. In the mean time the enemy had so strengthened his position near Chancellors- ville that it was deemed inexpedient to assail it with less than our whole force, which could not be concentrated until we were relieved from the danger that menaced our rear. It 114 Chancellorsville Campaign was accordingly resolved still further to rein- force the troops in front of General Sedg- wick, in order, if possible, to drive him across the Rappahannock. Accordingly, on the 4th, General Anderson was directed to proceed with his remaining three brigades to Join General McLaws, the three divisions of Jackson's corps holding onr position at Chancellorsville. Anderson reached Salem Church about noon, and was directed to gain the left flank of the enemy and effect a junction with Early. McLaws's troops were disposed as on the previous day, with orders to hold the enemy in front, and to push forward his right brigades as soon as the advance of Anderson and Early should be perceived, so as to connect with them and complete the continuity of our line. Some delay occurred in getting the troops into po- sition, owing to the broken and irregular na- ture of the ground and the difficulty of ascer- taining the disposition of the enemy's forces. The attack did not begin "until 6 p. m., when Anderson and Early moved forward and drove General Sedgwick's troops rapidly be- fore them across the Plank road in the direc- tion of the Rappahannock. The speedy ap- proach of darkness prevented General Mc- Laws from perceiving the success of the at- tack until the enemy began to recross the river a short distance below Banks' Ford, where he had laid one of his pontoon bridges. His right brigades, under Kershaw and Wof- ford, advanced through the woods in the di- Abstracts of Reports 115 rection of the firing, but the retreat was so rapid that they could only join in the pur- suit. A dense fog settled over the field, in- creasing the obscurity, and rendering great caution necessary to avoid collision between our own troops. Their movements were con- sequently slow. General Wilcox, with Ker- shaw's brigade and two regiments of his own, accompanied by a battery, proceeded nearly to the river, capturing a number of prisoners and inflicting great damage upon the enemy. General McLaws also directed Colonel (E. P.) Alexander's artillery to fire upon the locality of the enemy's bridge, which was done with good efl^ect. The next morning it was found that Gen- eral Sedgwick had made good his escape and removed his bridges. Fredericksburg was also evacuated, and our rear no longer threat- ened ; but as General Sedgwick had it in his power to recross, it was deemed best to leave General Early, with his division and Barks- dale's brigade, to hold our lines as before, McLaws and Anderson being directed to re- turn to Chan cellorsvi lie. They reached their destination during the afternoon, in the midst of a violent storm, which continued throughout the night and most of the follow- ing day. Preparations were made to assail the en- emy's works at daylight on the 6th, but on advancing our skirmishers it was found that under cover of the storm and darkness of the night he had retreated over the river. 116 Chancellor sville Campaign A detachment was left to guard the battle- field while the wounded were being removed and the captured property collected. The rest of the army returned to its former posi- tion. Particulars of these operations will be found in the reports of the several command- ing officers, which are herewith transmitted. They will show more fully than my limits will suffer me to do the dangers and difficul- ties which, under God^s blessing, were sur- mounted by the fortitude and valor of our army. The conduct of the troops cannot be too highly praised. Attacldng largely su- perior numbers in strongly intrenched posi- tions, their heroic courage overcame obstacles of nature and art, and achieved a triumph most honorable to our arms. I commend to the particular notice of the Department the brave officers and men men- tioned by their superiors for extraordinary daring and merit, whose names I am unable to enumerate here. Among them will be found some who have passed, by a glorious death, beyond the reach of praise, but the memory of those whose virtues and devoted patriotism will ever be cherished by their grateful countrymen. The returns of the medical director will show the extent of our loss, which, from the nature of the circumstances attending the en- gagements, could not be otherwise than se- vere. Many valuable officers and men were killed or wounded in the faithful discharge Abstracts of Reports 117 of duty. Among the former, Brigadier-Gen- eral Paxton fell while leading his brigade with conspicuous courage in the assault on the enemy's works at Chancellorsville. The gallant Brigadier- General ISTichoUs lost a leg. Brigadier-General McGowan was severely and Brigadier-Generals Heth and Pender were slightly wounded in the same engage- ment. The latter officer led his brigade to the attack under a destructive fire, bearing the colors of a regiment in his own hands up to and over the intrenchments with the most distinguished gallantry. General Hoke received a painful wound in the action near Fredericksburg. The movement by which the enemy's posi- tion was turned and the fortune of the day decided was conducted by the lamented Lieu- tenant- General Jackson, who, as has already been stated, was severely wounded near the close of the engagement Saturday evening. I do not propose here to speak of the charac- ter of this illustrious man, since removed from the scene of his eminent usefulness by the hand of an inscrutable but all-wise Provi- dence. I nevertheless desire to pay the trib- ute of my admiration to the matchless energy and slnll that marked this last act of his life, forming, as it did, a worthy conclusion of that long series of splendid achievements which won for him the lasting love and grati- tude of his country. Maj.-Gen. A. P. Hill was disabled soon 118 Chancellor sville Campaign after assuming command, but did not leave the field until the arrival of Major- General Stuart. The latter officer ably discharged the difficult and responsible duties which he was unexpectedly called to perform. Assuming the command late in the night, at the close of a fierce engagement, and in the immediate presence of the enemy, necessarily ignorant in a great measure of the disposition of the troops and of the plans of those who had preceded him. General Stuart exhibited great energy, promptness, and intelligence. Dur- ing the continuance of the engagement, the next day, he conducted the operations on the left with distinguished capacity and vigor, stimulating and cheering the troops by the example of his own coolness and daring. While it is impossible to mention all who were conspicuous in the several engagements, it will not be considered an invidious distinc- tion to say that General Jackson, after he was wounded, in expressing the satisfaction he derived from the conduct of his whole command, commended to my particular at- tention the services of Brigadier-General (now Major-General) Rodes and his gallant division. Major-General Early performed the im- portant and responsible duty intrusted to him in a manner which reflected credit upon him- self and his command. Ma j. -Gen. E. H. Anderson was also distinguished for the promptness, courage, and skill with which he and his division executed every order, and Abstracts of Reports 119 Brigadier-General (now Major-General) Wilcox is entitled to especial praise for the judgment and bravery displayed in impeding the advance of General Sedgwick toward Chancellorsville, and for the gallant and suc- cessful stand at Salem Church. To the skilful and efficient management of the artillery the successful issue of the con- test is in great measure due. The ground was not favorable for its employment, but every suitable position was taken with alac- rity, and the operations of the infantry sup- ported and assisted with a spirit and courage not second to their own. It bore a prominent part in the final assault which ended in driv- ing the enemy from the field of Chancellors- ville, silencing his batteries, and by a de- structive enfilade fire upon his works opened the way for the advance of our troo^os. Colonels Crutchfield, Alexander, and (R. L.) Walker, and Lieutenant-Colonels (J. T.) Brown, (T. H.) Carter, and (E. S.) Andrews, with the officers and men of their commands, are mentioned as deserving espe- cial commendation. The batteries under General Pendleton also acted with great gal- lantry. The cavalry of the army at the time of these operations was much reduced. To its vigilance and energy we were indebted for timely inform.ation of the enemy's move- ments before the battle, and for impeding his march to Chancellorsville. It guarded both flanks of the army during the battle at 120 Chancellor sville Campaign that place, and a portion of it, as has been already stated, rendered valuable service in covering the march of Jackson to the enem/s rear. The horse artillery accompanied the infan- try, and participated with credit to itself in the engagement. The nature of the country rendered it impossible for the cavalry to do more. When the enemy's infantry passed the Eappahannock at Kelly's Ford, his cavalry, under General Stoneman, also crossed in large force, and proceeded through Culpeper County toward Gordonsville, for the purpose of cutting the railroad to Eichmond. Gen- eral Stuart had nothing to oppose this move- ment but two regiments of Brig.-Gen. W. H. F. Lee's brigade (the Ninth and Thir- teenth Virginia Cavalry). General Lee fell back before the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and, after holding the railroad bridge over the Eapidan during May 1, burned the bridge and retired to Gordons- ville at night. The enemy avoided Gordons- ville, and reached Louisa Court House, on the Central Eailroad, which he proceeded to break up. Dividing his force, a part of it also cut the Eichmond and Fredericksburg Eailroad, and part proceeded to Columbia, on the James Eiver and Kanawha Canal, with the desisrn of destroying the aqueduct at that place. The small command of General Lee exerted itself vigorously to defeat this purpose, and the canal was saved from in- Abstracts of Reports 121 jury. The details of his operations will be found in the accompanying memorandum, and are creditable to officers and men. The loss of the enemy in the battle of Chancellorsville and the other engagements was severe. His dead and a large number of wounded were left on the field. About five thousand prisoners, exclusive of the wounded, were taken, and thirteen pieces of artillery, nineteen thousand five hundred stand of arms, seventeen colors, and a large quantity of ammunition fell into our hands. To the members of my staff I am indebted for assistance in observing the movements of the enemy, posting troops, and conveying or- ders. On so extended and varied a field all were called into requisition, and all evinced the greatest energy and zeal. The medical director of the army. Surgeon (L.) Guild, with the officers of his depart- ment, were untiring in their attention to the wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel (J. L.) Corley, chief quartermaster, took charge of the disposition and safety of the trains of the army. Lieutenant-Colonel (Eobert G-.) Cole, chief commissary of subsistence, and Lieuten- ant-Colonel (Biscoe G.) Baldwin, chief of ordnance, were everywhere on the field at- tending to the wants of their departments. General Chilton, chief of staff, Lieutenant- Colonel (E.) Murray, Major (Henry E.) Peyton, and Captain '(H. E.) Young, of the Adjutant and Inspector General's Depart- 122 Chancellorsville Campaign ment, were active in seeing to the execution of orders; Lieutenant-Colonel (William P.) Smith and Captain (Samuel E.) Johnston, of the engineers^ in reconnoitering the enemy and constructing batteries; Colonel (Armis- tead li.) Long in posting troops and artillery. Majors (Walter H.) Taylor, (T. M. R.) Talcott, (Charles) Marshall, and (Charles S.) Venahle were engaged night and day in watching the operations, carrying orders, etc. Eespectfully submitted. E. E. Lee, General. General S. Cooper, Adjt. and Insp. Gen. C. S. Army, Rich- mond, Va. Abstracts of Reports 123 Forces Under General Lee in Chancellors- mile Campaign. Abstract from Eeturns of the Army of Northern Virginia,, Under General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, for Month of March, 1863, Headquarters Fredericksburg, Va. (Latest Eeport rrior to Opening of the Campaign) . FIRST CORPS. Anderson's Division, effective totaL . . 7,665 McLaws's division, effective total 7,984 SECOND CORPS. A. P. HilFs division, effective total. . .10,601 Eodes's division (formerly D. H. HilFs), effective total 8,964 Early's division, effective total 7,638 Colston's division (formerlv Trim- 'ble's), effective total ". 6,130 CAVALRY. 6,509. Guns, 12. ARTILLERY. (Report February, 1865.) Officers and men, 4,064. Guns, 264. Report of Kille>d, Wounded and Missing, Chancellorsville Campaign, by Surgeon- 124 Chancellor sville Campaign General Guild, Medical Director, C. S. Army. Killed 1,581 Wounded 8,700 Missing 1,803 (Taken from Eeports of commanders of bri- gades and regiments.) APR 13 1907 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 'MMirrr 013 702 029 4 ;t^{i