University of Virginia Library

THE BATTLES OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHANCELLORSVILLE AND FREDERICKSBURG.

It was now the month of April, and Hooker, the successor of Burnside,
busied himself with the reorganization of his powerful army. Its
grand divisions were substituted by seven corps: the 1st (Reynolds),
2d (Couch), 3d (Sickles), 5th (Meade), 6th (Sedgwick), 11th (Howard),
and 12th (Slocum). His forces numbered 120,000 infantry and
artillery, 13,000 cavalry, and 400 pieces of artillery. Confronting him
on the south side of the river lay the Army of Northern Virginia,
62,000 strong. It consisted of Jackson's corps in four divisions, commanded
respectively by A. P. Hill, Rodes, Colston and Early; two
divisions of Longstreet's corps, those of Anderson and McLaws; Longstreet
himself, with the remainder of his command, having been sent to
the south side of James river. Of Lee's force, the cavalry numbered
3,000 men.

The 27th of April at length arrived, and it seemed that the "grand
hesitation" was at an end, for Hooker on that day ordered a general
advance. With a view of concealing his real intention he sent Sedgwick,
30,000 strong, to make a feint of crossing the river at Burnside's
Ford, three miles below Fredericksburg, while he was to move secretly
and rapidly to the right of his column, and, crossing both the Rappahannock
and Rapidan above their confluence, take a position near
Chancellorsville. This town, consisting of a hotel and several private
residences, is situated on the road leading from Orange Court House to
Fredericksburg, and is eleven miles north-west of the latter. Here the
roads leading from German Mills and Ely's, United States and Banks'
Fords, intersect.

The battle-plan of Hooker was not a simple one, but a combined operation
consisting of three parts: first, his own movement and flank
attack of Lee; second, Sedgwick's attack upon Fredericksburg; and
third, Stoneman's cavalry movement to the rear of the Confederate
position.

Lee was not slow to divine the designs of his enemy, and at once set
about disposing of his little army to the best advantage for repelling
the shock of battle which he now knew was at hand. General Barksdale's
brigade and General Early's division were left to face Sedgwick's
advance upon Fredericksburg, and Lee with his entire remaining available
force began the march to Chancellorsville, where by throwing the
bulk of his army in front of Hooker, he expected to check his advance.

On Saturday, May 2d, the town was reached, and Jackson in the
front began the work assigned him in the mighty contest. For two
hours his division passed in review of Sickles' position on the left. The
23d Georgia regiment was guarding the flank of his train, and upon
this regiment was poured the first fire. Sickles ordered General Birney
to open fire and then charge the passing train; the order was executed

FOLEY'S STATUE OF "STONEWALL" JACKSON,

in the Capitol Grounds, Richmond.

The Inscription reads "Presented by English gentlemen as a tribute of admiration for the
soldier and patriot, THOMAS J. JACKSON, and gratefully accepted by Virginia, in the
name of the Southern people. Done A. D. 1875. In the Hundredth Year of the
Commonwealth." ook there is Jackson, standing like a Stone Wall."

and the greater part of the Georgia regiment were made prisoners. But
Jackson's division was already far to the right and in position; at 5 P. M.
the attack was made upon Howard's division, which broke and ran at
the first fire. Sickles was preparing to renew Birney's attack with greater
force, and for that purpose had just ordered up Pleasanton's cavalry,
1,000 strong, when the movement was changed to check the panic-stricken
lines from Howard's right. The action now became general,
and the Confederates charged from all points. The 8th Pennsylvania
attempted to check the advance of Jackson's column and was entirely
overwhelmed. It was the same old story. The Grand Army of the
Potomac, in three hours from the first fire, was falling back before the
charging columns of that army thrice its victors.

In the meantime Sedgwick with a force of two to one had succeeded
in driving Barksdale and Early from their position at Fredericksburg,
and they were now slowly falling back to join the main forces at Chancellorsville.
Sedgwick was in pursuit, and intelligence of his approach
reached Lee just as he was making preparations for a final attack upon
Hooker. Something must be done to stay the unexpected force in his
rear, and he accordingly dispatched four brigades under McLaws and
Anderson to reinforce Barksdale and Early, and check Sedgwick. They
encountered his advance near Salem Church, but it was now night and
darkness put an end to the conflict, both parties retaining their ground.
This movement did not prevent Lee from keeping a furious cannonade
on Hooker's front.

On the next morning, Monday, May 4th, Sedgwick sent a messenger
to Hooker informing him of his beleaguered condition and asking support
from the main army. Hooker replied that no aid could be given.
Thereupon Sedgwick fell back rapidly to Banks' Ford, and under a
heavy fire from his victorious pursuers succeeded in crossing the river,
but leaving 5,000 dead behind him—one-third as many as the commands
of Barksdale and Early numbered.

Lee had not given Hooker a moment's rest, and on Tuesday night,
having placed straw and brush upon the bridge to prevent a noise, the
whole Federal army escaped under cover of the darkness to the other
side, and on Wednesday morning when the Confederates moved forward
to the attack, no enemy was to be seen. Thus ended the battles on the
Rappahannock, in which Hooker lost 17,197 men, of whom 5,000 were
unwounded prisoners. He had also lost thirteen cannon and 20,000
stand of small arms. Lee's loss was 13,000, of whom 1,581 were
killed, 8,700 were wounded, and nearly 3,000 prisoners. Among the
killed was the lamented "Stonewall" Jackson—a sketch of whose
life will be found in Volume I of Virginia and Virginians.