2. Setting of Battle
Chancellorsville site lies in the northeastern section of Virginia in
Spotsylvania County
About 10 miles west of Fredericksburg
Battle of Wilderness would later take place
In the same region of Virginia
Battle took place from April 30th to May 6th, 1863
Large part of the battle is fought in forested region
3. Union Commander:
Joseph Hooker
Born in Massachusetts in 1814
Attended West Point, graduating in 1837
Fought in Mexican-American War
Rose through ranks with distinction
Served under Ambrose Burnside
Eventually promoted to Burnside’s position
after Lincoln removed him from command
Takes command of the Army of the Potomac
Resigns a month after Battle of Chancellorsville
4. Confederate Commander:
Robert E. Lee
Born in Virginia in 1807
Attended West Point, graduating in 1829
Fought in Mexican-American War
Rose through ranks with distinction
Put down John Brown’s rebellion at
Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in one hour
Took command of the Army of Northern
Virginia after the outbreak of the Civil War
Most prominent military member of Confederacy
5. Background
Lee commands about 60,000 soldiers
Lee is defending Fredericksburg along the Rappahannock River
Joseph Hooker had recently been given command of the Army of
the Potomac and revitalized the unit
Hooker commands about 130,000 well-equipped soldiers
6. Hooker’s Plans
The Army of the Potomac is marching east towards Lee’s army at
Fredericksburg
Hooker sends 40,000 troops around the back of Fredericksburg and
plans to march his army east to meet them there in a pincer attack
The Army of the Potomac has momentum, but Hooker decides to
wait at Chancellorsville (about 6 miles west of Fredericksburg) to set
up a defensive position instead of pressing an opportunistic attack
on the Virginian Army
This indecisive pause of Hooker’s allows Robert E. Lee to formulate
and execute a plan to overcome Hooker’s defenses
7. Lee’s Plans
After Hooker sets up a defensive position at Chancellorsville, Lee
consorts with General Thomas Jonathon “Stonewall” Jackson
Lee sends Jackson and 30,000 troops on a 12-mile hike around the
right flank of the enemy at Chancellorsville
Lee marches his band of about 15,000 troops towards
Chancellorsville head-on to divert Hooker’s attention
This plan would create a pincer attack of Hooker’s army at
Chancellorsville
9. Outcome
Jackson successfully makes it around Hooker’s flank and presses an
attack against an unsuspecting Union Army
Union Army suffers losses, and instead of sending reinforcements,
retreats key ground to Virginian Army, another display of Hooker’s
timidity
Armies fight for a few days at Chancellorsville, but the initial shock of
Jackson’s attack proves to be too much for the Union Army
Union Army retreats back across the Rappahannock River for a
Confederate victory
10. Losses
Union Army: 17,000 casualties total
Confederate Army: 13,500 casualties total
“Stonewall” Jackson dies of friendly fire
during the battle
Robert E. Lee compares losing Jackson to
losing his right hand
11. Significance
Robert E. Lee’s division of his troops when
facing a much superior force defies all
military teachings
Stunning Union defeat is considered
Lee’s “greatest victory”
Aids in Lee’s decision to push north in a
counterattack that ends in Gettysburg
Boosted Confederate moral
Caused Joseph Hooker to resign
from his position soon after
