chancelersville+Block+4

Chancellorsville Brittany Ritchey Josh Crellin
 * The name of the battle is The Battle of Chancellorsville
 * The battle occured from April 26 to May 26
 * Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania county, VA
 * The officers in charge were Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]
 * There were 134,000 troops and over 400 artillery pieces used.
 * Joseph Hooker wanted to use his forces to hopefully end the war. His plan was to catch Robert Lee's army in between the Union army. Hooker planned to use half of his army cross the Rappahanock River below Fredricksburg because of the weather conditions. The other half would also cross the Rappahanock River upstream and attack Lee's army from behind.Hooker's army finally crossed the river on April 26. Robert Lee's army was outnumbered because the forces were coming from both directions. Robert Lee did not retreat, instead he decided to go on the offensive side and divide his army into two armies so that his army could harass Hookers army. Hookers and his troops arrived in Chancellorsville on April 30. Lee and Jackson came up with a dangerous plan to split the remainder of Lee's army. Lee took 30,000 troops to march along back roads and wooded trails so that he would be in position to attack Hooker from his right side. Jackson took the remaining 14,000 across a three mile stretch in attempt to divert Hooker from Jacksons movement.Early on the morning of May 2, Jackson led his troops through the area known as the Wilderness along back trails. At one point Jackson's troops were observed and attacked by Union artillery. General Hooker was advised of the spotting of Jackson's troops and correctly viewed this as a hostile movement against his right flank. He advised General Oliver Howard, who was in charge of that area, to be on the lookout. As the day advanced, Hooker came to believe that Lee was actually retreating and that Jackson's troops were the rear guard of Lee's retreating army.Fighting continued the next day with J.E.B. Stuart with the worst being in the morning. Hooker commanded his forces to fall back against the aggressive posture of the Confederates until they recrossed the Rappahanock in defeat. Robert E. Lee, with lesser forces and artillery, had defeated a Union army over twice the Confederate army. He had lost a brilliant commander in "Stonewall" Jackson. The Battle of Chancellorsville illuminates some of the finest leadership of Robert E. Lee. Joseph Hooker was relieved of his command of the Union forces in June 1863.
 * Hooker’s surprised flank was routed.  The Union general withdrew, and Lee’s pressure over the next three days forced a Union retreat north of the river.
 * Confederate Victory
 * The Confederates suffered 14,000 casualties, while inflicting 17,000.
 * This battle was considered by many historians to be Lee’s greatest victory. At the same time, the South lost one of its greatest strategic minds with the death of Stonewall Jackson



This picture is if Robert E Lee the general for the confederates

This is a picture of Joseph Hooker the general for the union The Union and Confederate armies were haphazardly raised, badly organized, poorly trained, inadequately fed, clothed and housed, and almost wholly without comforts, sports, entertainments or proper medical care.

Sources from

http://americanhistory.about.com

http://www.civilwarhome.com/chancell.htm

http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/va/va032.html