Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Midnight Conference
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 18, 2008
1. A Midnight Conference Marker
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 war, he asked his corps commanders whether the army should offer Lee battle south of the river or withdraw. By a majority vote, they elected to stay and fight it out. Hooker listened quietly as the council made its recommendation then announced his decision to withdraw. It was his last and perhaps greatest mistake of the campaign.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1863.
Location. 38° 18.974′ N, 77° 38.772′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It can be reached from Bullock Road south of Elys Ford Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker stands at trail stop ten on the Chancellorsville History Trail, at the Chancellorsville Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9100 Elys Frd Rd, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Chancellorsville Campaign (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Chancellorsville Campaign (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. Above the text is a drawing with the caption, Artist Edwin Forbes sketched this Union soldier on May 6, the day of the retreat. Beneath the mule Forbes has scribbled the words, "I've got enough of Chancellorsville," a sentiment apparently shared by Joe Hooker.
Also see . . . Battle of Chancellorsville. National Park Service page detailing the battle. (Submitted on October 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 18, 2008
2. Chancellorsville History Trail - Stop Ten
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 18, 2008
3. Confederate Earthworks
Roughly 100 yards west of the marker are the trenches of the main Confederate line.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,280 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
