Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Chancellorsville Intersection

The Battle of Chancellorsville

— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —

The Chancellorsville Intersection Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007

1. The Chancellorsville Intersection Marker

Inscription.
The intersection in front of you was the focal point of the Chancellorsville Battlefield. From here roads radiated in five directions. Four of them are visible; the fifth, River Road, lies just beyond the trees to your left. From this intersection on May 1, Union troops advanced eastward (to your left) in a failed attempt to get behind the Confederates at Fredericksburg.

Our movements up to the arrival at Chancellorsville were very successful & were well planned. Everything after that went wrong, and Fighting Joe sunk into a poor driveling cur.
-Union Major General Henry Slocum

The Chancellor family's house dominated the intersection, which had become known as Chancellorsville. For three days Union commander Joseph Hooker directed his army from the building. But on May 3, victorious Confederates swarmed over this ground, pursuing Hooker and his defeated army as they retreated to a new line farther north - leaving behind what had become one of the most famous intersections in America.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

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War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1868.

Location. 38° 18.566′ N, 77° 38.077′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is at the intersection of Plank Road (State Highway 3) and Elys Ford Road (County Route 610), on the right when traveling west on Plank Road. Located at stop three of the driving tour of Chancellorsville Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8840 Elys Ford Rd, Fredericksburg VA 22407, 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Chancellorsville Intersection Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007

2. Chancellorsville Intersection Map

of this marker: A different marker also named Battle of Chancellorsville (within shouting distance of this marker); Climactic Struggle (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee's Greatest Triumph (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chancellor Slaves (within shouting distance of this marker); Civilians in the Crossfire (within shouting distance of this marker); Chancellorsville Clearing (about 600 feet away); Chancellorsville Campaign (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union Earthworks (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Chancellorsville (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Battle of Chancellorsville (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Chancellorsville Home of Mrs. Sanford Chancellor (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Battle of Chancellorsville (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The background

Driving Tour Stop Three at the Chancellorsville House Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007

3. Driving Tour Stop Three at the Chancellorsville House Site

of the marker is a drawing which shows that "In 1863, Chancellorsville was a simple but important, country crossroads. In this view, the Orange Turnpike (modern Route 3) runs in front of the house, from left to right." The relative location of the marker is indicated on the drawing by a "You Are Here" tag. On the upper right a map details the tactical situation, "On May 1, the Second and Third Corps reinforced Hooker at Chancellorsville. Hooker started eastward with 30,000 men but when confronted by Lee fell back to a new line around Chancellorsville."

Regarding The Chancellorsville Intersection. This is one of several markers for the Battle of Chancellorsville at the Chancellorsville Intersection, scene of considerable fighting in the battle. See the Chancellorsville Intersection Virtual Tour by Markers in the links section for a listing of related markers on the tour.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Virtual Tour by Markers of the Chancellorsville Intersection

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Chancellorsville. National Parks Service site. (Submitted on November 29, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Chancellorsville Intersection Virtual Tour by Markers.

Traffic at "One of the Most Famous Intersections in America" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 10, 2007

4. Traffic at "One of the Most Famous Intersections in America"

In the right foreground is the west bound lane of the Plank Road or Germania Highway (Va 3). The Federal troops arrived marching down the Elys Ford Road (Route 610) on the left, then turned left, heading east in the direction of Fredericksburg. In the later stages of the battle, Federal forces, pursued by Confederates, retreated back north on Elys Ford Road towards the Bullock House near the anchor point for Hooker's last line.

The Chancellorsville Intersection portion of the battlefield (stop three on the driving tour of the battlefield) includes markers at the intersection of the historic Plank and Ely's Ford Roads. Considerable fighting occurred here on May 3, 1863. (Submitted on December 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,809 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 29, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.