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

A Missed Opportunity

The Battle of Chancellorsville

By Craig Swain, May 9, 2009

1. A Missed Opportunity Marker

Inscription. The morning of May 3d found the Confederate army heavily outnumbered and dangerously divided. "Stonewall" Jackson's flank attack the evening before had staggered the Union army but had not irretrievably damaged it. As the day broke, Jackson's corps, now under J.E.B. Stuart, lay one-half mile to your left; the rest of the army, personally led by Lee, was one mile to your right. Between them lay this large, open plateau known as Hazel Grove.

Hazel Grove was the key to the battlefield. Had Hooker strongly defended the plateau, he could have kept the Confederate army divided and defeated it one piece at a time. But the Union leader had lost the will to fight. Before dawn he ordered his troops to evacuate Hazle Grove and fall back toward Chancellorsville, forfeiting what was perhaps his best chance for victory.

"...The battle was still Hooker's, had he fought where he stood. But about dawn he made the fatal mistake of [evacuating Hazel Grove.] There has rarely been a more gratuitous gift of a battle-field."
Col. E. Porter Alexander, CSA

Erected by Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park - National Park Service - Department of the Interior.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38°

A Missed Opportunity Marker Panel image. Click for full size.

By Shane Oliver, October 7, 2017

2. A Missed Opportunity Marker Panel

The marker itself is missing, and has not been replaced. However, since the panel/base is still standing, there is a possibility that the NPS will replace the marker in the near future.

18.201′ N, 77° 39.071′ W. Marker was near Chancellorsville, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker was on Stuart Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Located at stop nine of the driving tour of Chancellorsville Battlefield. Marker was in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22407, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Hazel Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); A Very Hot Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee Renews the Attack (within shouting distance of this marker); Hazel Grove—Fairview Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Bloody Morning (approx. ¼ mile away); Night-time Horror (approx. 0.3 miles away); The 27th Indiana Infantry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chancellorsville Campaign (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chancellorsville.

Also see . . . Battle of Chancellorsville. National Park Service site. (Submitted on May 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Categories. • War, US Civil •

Close Up of the Map image. Click for full size.

By Craig Swain, May 9, 2009

3. Close Up of the Map

By Craig Swain, May 9, 2009

4. A Missed Opportunity Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2018. This page originally submitted on May 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,359 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on January 5, 2018, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on May 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 5, 2018, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on May 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.