| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Civil War Earthworks |
| | Federal soldiers of the 12th Corps built these earthworks on May 1, 1863. "Stonewall" Jackson's flank attack the following day placed them in Confederate hands. At about 6:00 a.m. on May 3, North Carolinians under William Dorsey Pender and Georgians commanded by Edward L. Thomas left the safety of these trenches to attack the Union line about ½ mile east of here, behind you as you face this sign. — Map (db m5457) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — The Wilderness of Spotsylvania County |
| | The armies fought the Battle of Chancellorsville in the heart of a 70-square-mile region of tangled undergrowth known locally as the Wilderness. This inhospitable terrain added a new dimension of horror to the fighting on May 3. Fires erupted from muzzle blasts of rifles and cannon and spread rapidly through the thick woods. Some wounded soldiers, unable to escape the flames, faced a gruesome fate. Union general John C. Caldwell described the scene: "It was pitiful to see the charred bodies . . . — Map (db m5458) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Junction of Earthworks |
| | Maj. Gen. Hiram G. Berry's division formed the front of the Union defense north of the Orange Turnpike on the morning of May 3. Although virtually all of Berry's entrenchments have disappeared, this small segment of works on the right marks the location of Berry's line. Confederates constructed the intersecting trenches later on May 3 to face the final Federal position. — Map (db m12785) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Confederate Breakthrough |
| | At about 7:00 a.m. on May 3, a dangerous gap in the Union line opened near the Orange Turnpike, 1/4 mile to your right. Federal troops on your right, led by Hiram Berry, retreated about 1/2 mile and established a new position. The blue-clad soldiers on your left under Brig. Gen. Joseph Revere, grandson of the Massachusetts patriot, did not withdraw in time. Three Confederate brigades swept across the ground in front of you and smashed into Revere's exposed flank. Separated from the rest of the . . . — Map (db m12789) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Flanking of Hays' Brigade |
| | On this ridge, the Union brigade of Brig. Gen. William Hays, supported by artillery, temporarily stopped the Confederate advance across the ground below you. A member of the 12th New Jersey described what happened next: "We were in open sight, without earthworks or protection of any kind, except a few trees...when an unfortunate break to the rear of the regiment on our right left a vast hole in our line, through which the Rebels, unseen by us, got in our flank and rear and rolled our line up . . . — Map (db m12794) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Union Counterattack |
| | On the morning of May 3, Col. Emlen Franklin's Union brigade shifted from south of the Orange Turnpike to this vicinity. Here, they met Pender and Thomas head on. Lt. Col. Jonathan H. Lockwood of the 7th Virginia (Union) remembered what happened when his brigade arrived and attacked the Confederate left flank: "We opened on them a volley of musketry that apparently shook the ground they walked on. We immediately charged them, putting them to flight." The Confederates fell back all the way to . . . — Map (db m12847) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Chancellorsville Clearing |
| | Vicious fighting surged back and forth across this large clearing on the morning of May 3. From here, you can clearly see the two key Union positions; Fairview, to your right front near the brick wall of the Chancellor Cemetery; and the Chancellorsville Inn site to your left front. The Confederates renewed their advance across the scene of their earlier success while three additional Southern brigades extended the Confederate line across the Turnpike. In this vicinity, the 5th Maine Battery . . . — Map (db m3785) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Chancellorsville Campaign |
| | April 10 - May 3, 1863. These Trenches were part of Hooker's original line. On May 2, Couch's II Corps skirmishers, under command of Col. Nelson A. Miles, beat off repeated Confederate attacks launched to draw attention from Jackson's flanking movement. Seriously wounded on May 3, Miles was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for services here. He also distinguished himself at the Wilderness and became famous as an Indian fighter after the War. These trenches were abandoned on May 3 when Hooker fell back toward the Rappahannock. — Map (db m3866) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Union Earthworks |
| | Men of Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock's division manned the earthworks which are located just inside this woodline. Hancock's troops confronted two Confederate divisions advancing from the south (from your right front) and east as well as the Rebels attacking from the west. Lee's relentless pressure forced the Union army to withdraw from Chancellorsville about mid-morning and establish a new line protecting the river crossings. Hancock's men in those trenches and in the Chancellorsville clearing covered the Union retreat. — Map (db m3867) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Apex of Hooker’s Last Line |
| | Earthworks to your right rear mark the apex of Hooker's last line of defense. The Federals retreated to this position late in the morning of May 3, guarding the roads to Ely's and United States Fords. The defensive minded Union commander sat virtually idle in his stronghold while Lee dispatched reinforcements to outgunned Confederates at Salem Church, seven miles east. Early on the afternoon of May 4, Union general Amiel W. Whipple fell mortally wounded while inspecting earthworks on the skirmish line in a field in front of this spot. — Map (db m3695) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — Stone's Reconnaissance |
| | Union soldiers on the front line probably utilized these rifle pits on May 3-5. Trenches on the other side of the creek possibly served Confederate skirmishers. While the fighting raged near Salem Church, Union Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds believed that the Federal army of 75,000 should attack the 25,000 Confederates facing it here at Chancellorsville. After Hooker refused to assume the offense, Reynolds ordered Col. Roy Stone's brigade on a reconnaissance, hoping this would lead to a general . . . — Map (db m12856) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — A Midnight Conference |
| | After being driven from the Chancellorsville crossroads by Lee on May 3, 1863, Hooker retreated to a new line of defenses covering U.S. Ford, 3.5 miles to your rear. For two days, Hooker strengthened his defenses and awaited attack. Lee took advantage of Hooker's passiveness to reinforce Confederate troops fighting John Sedgwick at Salem Church. When Sedgwick retreated across the Rappahannock on May 4, Lee again turned his attention to Hooker. But "Fighting Joe" had had enough. In a council of . . . — Map (db m12857) |
| Virginia (Spotsylvania County), Chancellorsville — The Union Army Escapes |
| | After dark, May 5, 1863, Union soldiers left their trenches and began making their way toward U.S. Ford. A cold rain drenched the soldiers to the skin and turned the woodland roads to mud. At the ford, the Rappahannock River rose five feet in three hours, overflowing its banks. Union engineers hastily dismantled one of the three pontoon bridges in order to lengthen the other two. Hooker's generals advised him to cancel the movement, but still the retreat continued. At dawn, Confederate troops . . . — Map (db m12858) |
Subscribe
— Privacy Policy
— Terms of Use
— About Us
— Contact Us
HMdb.org