Near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Missed Opportunity
The Battle of Chancellorsville
— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —
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 National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1946.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 18.201′ N, 77° 39.071′ W. Marker was near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker was on Stuart Drive, on the right when traveling south. Located at stop nine of the driving tour of Chancellorsville Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,512 times since then and 11 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.