606, Stonewall Jackson Road for about 3 miles. On May 7 Lee wrote to Jefferson Davis requesting cavalry and infantry reinforcements from other parts of the Confederacy. They beat back multiple attacks before Jacksons lengthy lines again threatened to wrap around the defenders. After the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation the enslaved residents crossed into to Union lines in Stafford except for one young girl who remained behind. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. This tour explores the story of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Sickles troops would instead wait until morning for the fighting to resume. I shall be after them." Stop 3 - Chancellor House Site on the Chancellorsville Battlefield Auto The trench was over two feet deep, wide enough for a line to stand in and with the embankment the total depth was five feetIn the morning General Hooker inspected our lines and as he passed, he was heartily cheered by the Regiment. Chancellorsville Battlefield Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center: 9001 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553 Take Exit 130B from I-95, and head west on VA Route 3. Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center is located off modern-day Route 3, at the location where Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded. The Confederacy was cracking from the inside by 1863 and the weaknesses of a political experiment premised on proslavery ideals and dedicated to the idea that all men were not created equal, were on full display. Part 3 of the driving tour explores the role of the Chancellor House in the battle that unfolded there in the spring of 1863. Map of the battlefield of Chancellorsville, Va., 1863. | Library of At 9:30am Hooker issued a circular to 11th Corps commander O. O. Howard instructing him to strengthen the defenses on the right of his line. 22405. But, what end did those risks serve? Chancellorsville Battlefield - Virginia is for Lovers Major Jeremiah Williams, of the 25th Ohio recalled: The attack was made by the enemy with suddenness and great fury upon the right flank of our brigade. The Chancellorsville Campaign included three engagements between the Army of the Potomac and Army of Northern Virginia: around the Chancellorsville intersection, at Fredericksburg, and at Salem Church. May 1-5 marks the 160th anniversary of the battle. Chancellorsville, VA Map & Directions - MapQuest The Chancellor house served as Hookers headquarters during the battle and was the central point around which the battle raged. Jackson was eager to maintain the momentum that he had gained thus far and wanted to turn his defeat of the 11th Corps into a crushing blow to the Army of the Potomac. Drive 0.6 miles to Tour Stop #3, Chancellor House Site, and park in the lot to your right. The execution of this plan was entrusted to Lieutenant General Jackson, with his three divisions. Staff officers discovered a route that would allow the Confederates to march around the US army and strike its vulnerable flank. It was therefore resolved to endeavor to turn his right flank and gain his rear, leaving a force in front to hold him in check and conceal the movement. Robert E. Lees dash north offered up that possibility. Within 10 minutes, the position fell. Moreover, the future of the U.S. war effort still depended on the success of its armies in the field and the continued support of voters at home. Turn left into the parking lot. While the story of Jacksons wounding is arguably the most famous incident that occurred during the battle, it is a story that has frequently overshadowed and obscured the historical consequences of the Chancellorsville Campaign Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. Illustrates the placement of Union and Confederate forces during the Chancellorsville Campaign of April-May, 1863, culminating in the battle of Chancellorsville fought May 1-4, 1863. The head of Jacksons column reached Catharine Furnace around 8am on May 2. Sickles soldiers were preparing to pursue the remaining Georgians who had fled south when they were assailed with an unexpected fire from the east. This location was once the site of the Bullock House, a small farming operation run by the Bullock family and five people they enslaved. Turn from the left turn lane, and proceed through downtown Fredericksburg and across the Rappahannock River. Take the second left from Constitution Highway onto the gravel driveway, about 0.5 miles down the road. Chancellorsville Battlefield Sites by Harrison, Noel G. Call Number: REF E475.35 .H246 1990a. Feb 9, 2018. A little after 5 oclock, Jacksons men began lining up and would test how far they could push that advantage. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The Confederates did not know that Hooker had ordered a retreat. Stonewall Jackson. For building hours and tour times, stay up to date with our Operating Hours and Seasons. On the evening of May 1 Confederates held a battle line that stretched along this road, currently the park road, from the Orange Turnpike south along the Furnace Road to Catharine Furnace. I suppose they mistook us for Yankees and were preparing to guard against cavalry. When the Army of the Potomac started moving in late April, Confederates noticed the increasing activity across the Rappahannock. Jacksons flank attack was one such movement. In his report of the battle Lee described his situation: the enemy had assumed a position of great natural strength, surrounded on all sides by a dense forest, filled with a tangled undergrowth, in the midst of which breastworks of logs had been constructed, with trees felled in front so as to form an almost impenetrable abattis. But what the USCTs proved was that the United States was willing to evolve, even if only gradually, to realize the countrys founding belief that all men are created equal. Plank Road is a divided highway, but both sets of lanes have access to . Over time, USCTs efforts on the battlefield increasingly proved to white Americans that black men should be equal citizens. Meanwhile, though the US troops in Fredericksburg were making a lot of noise, they did not advance. Axes and shovels were furnished and we were soon hard at work. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Confederates at the river crossings offered only minor resistance, but did send word to Lee about the US movements. Private Rice Bull of the 123rd New York described building these earthworks: A line was laid out by our Engineers and we were ordered to fortify our position. Turn left and take the next left at the traffic light at General Semmes. With these factors in mind, Hooker planned to split his army and surround Lee, force Lee out of his defensives at Fredericksburg, and cut the Confederate supply line. Turn right on Brock Road; continue for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto Grant Drive. more information on current conditions Take Exit 130A from I-95, and drive east on VA Route 3 for approximately 2 miles. The Confederates suffered minimal casualties, while capturing numerous prisoners and prizes. I wish I had the ability to describe as I saw it but I cannot do it. Spotsylvania County, VA | Apr 30 - May 6, 1863 Despite the heavy casualties sustained there, the Battle of Chancellorsville is considered Gen. Robert E. Lee 's greatest military victory. Lee recognized the severity of his losses and just how precariously positioned his army was in the aftermath of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Continue along Slocum Drive for 0.3 miles until it dead ends at Old Plank Road. The question of provisioning the army is becoming one of greater difficulty every day. Thinking back to that winter, one Confederate officer declared, That winter was probably the most dreary and miserable we had. As a result, Confederate forces in and around Fredericksburg dwindled from 78,000 men to about 60,000 by the end of April. Here at the Bullocks clearing, about 1 mile from Chancellorsville, they collided with the 12th Virginia Infantry in a very brief engagement from which the Virginians quickly backed away. At this location, US Regulars under General George Sykes encountered advancing Confederate troops on the morning of May 1. By the time the armies arrived, many of these formerly deforested areas were filled with young, dense, second growth forests. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Preserve 32 Acres at Chickasaw Bayou and Champion Hill, Help Save 125 Battlefield Acres in Virginia, Help Restore History at Gettysburg, Cold Harbor & More, Help Us Save Hallowed Ground in Tennessee and Kentucky, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Support the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act, Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, Tour American Battlefield Trust-Preserved Battlefields in Three Days, Tour Fredericksburg-Area Battlefields in One Day, Tour Fredericksburg-Area Battlefields in Three Days. . They were ready to fight the Army of Northern Virginia again, and would get the chance on the fields of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania. Their musket-balls soon gave me the proper direction, and I changed front, and, sending out skirmishers, soon found their line on the thickly wooded hill in the rear of their breastworks No sooner had the enemy's line vanished than their batteries poured a most terrific fire of grape and canister into my lines. After 5 hours of intense fighting, at around 10:30am, the US defenses gave way and Confederates raced forward to Fairview and Chancellorsville. However, the same papers also took some satisfaction that the Army of the Potomac inflicted heavy casualties on the Confederates. Several thousand US soldiers made a stand on the Buschbeck Line. From his lines to the east, Lee had heard the shooting and commotion around the furnace, and realized that Hooker was on Jacksons trail. At dawn on May 6, the Confederates prepared to launch their assault, only to find Hookers entrenchments abandoned, and the US army gone. Fredericksburg, His artillery swept the few narrow roads by which his position could be approached from the front, and commanded the adjacent woodsDarkness was approaching before the strength and extent of his line could be ascertained, and as the nature of the country rendered it hazardous to attack by night, our troops were halted and formed in line of battle in front of Chancellorsville, at right angles, to the plank road, extending on the right to the mine road, and to the left in the direction of the Catharine furnace. Drive 0.4 miles to Tour Stop #10, Fairview. By Steve5863. By 9 pm night had fallen and both sides moved about in the darkness. View map in 3D Hide 3D map More Info. Proceed approximately 7 miles, and the Visitor Center is on the right (north) side of the road. Take the first left on Chatham Lane, and continue until you reach Chatham Manor. High winds and rain occasionally prevented the balloons from flying. Maj. Gen. Here Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeated the much larger army of Union Major General Joseph Hooker. Show more Show less View full map Proceed 1 mile west to the intersection with Salem Church Road. Robert E. Lee assessed his options and waited to see where Hookers troops would go. As the US forces began crossing Kellys Fords on April 28, the US 6th Corp, stationed across from Fredericksburg provided a distraction by loudly crossing the river and creating the illusion for observant Confederates that they would replicate the same mistakes made in December. Once across Kellys Ford, the US troops split into two columns and raced to cross the Rapidan River at Germanna and Elys Ford. Tour Stop 4 on the Battle of Chancellorsville Auto Tour is on the north side of McLaws Drive 0.3 mile southwest of Plank Road. Over the coming days Hooker would watch the battle swirling around him from this spot. Confederate forces around Chancellorsville were split between Jacksons flanking column 1 mile to the west of the Chancellor house site and the forces that stayed back with Lee, located to the south and east of the Chancellor house site. May 04, 2023. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park has an immense number of sites to explore! Though some troops were still arriving, Jackson began his advance at around 5:15 pm. The crossing at Elys Ford is a little over 4 miles northwest of this location, up Elys Ford road. Following the disaster at Fredericksburg, President Abraham Lincoln struggled to maintain support for the war. He left about 10,000 men with General Jubal Early to watch the US troops in Fredericksburg and turned about 50,000 of his troops towards Chancellorsville. The Army of Northern Virginias survival depended on reuniting its divided forces as quickly as possible. From here, the Confederates occupied and distracted Federal forces at Chancellorsville, while maneuvering into position elsewhere on the battlefield. The head of Jacksons column would start down the Furnace Road at 7:30 am on the morning of May 2. This 10-stop tour focuses on the Chancellorsville engagement. Nearly 40% of the Southern population was enslaved, and the prospect of this population standing against slavery and aligning its interests with those of the United States Army was the Confederacys worst nightmare. A North Carolina Brigade was just forming into line on the left as we galloped up, and as seen by the flash of their guns, seemed to be stooping down or on their knees as they fired. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository Media in category "Maps of the Battle of Chancellorsville" The following 46 files are in this category, out of 46 total. On May 2, Wellford and his son, also named Charles, helped Jacksons flanking column navigate the unmapped trails through the tangled thickets of the ironworks property. Lee hoped his forces at Salem Church would destroy a sizeable chunk of the Army of the Potomac, but these hopes were disappointed when Sedgwick managed an escape across the river at Banks Ford. Because of the high concentration of Germans both in the ranks and in leadership positions, the rest of the Army of the Potomac frequently associated the 11th Corps with German culture and the wider community of German immigrants in the United States. Just then, the Federals received word that the rest of the 11th Corps was retreating in disorder from attacking Confederates. His victory at Fredericksburg boosted his soldiers morale, but the unpleasant reality of food shortages sobered these feelings quickly. Taking this ground proved critical to Confederate forces on the morning of May 3, 1863, and from here, the most intense fighting of the Battle of Chancellorsville took place. The Confederates dispatched towards Fredericksburg collided with Sedgwicks approaching Federal column at Salem Church. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. The last part of the Chancellorsville Driving Tour discusses the last actions of the battle and the circumstances that led to US General Joseph Hooker's decision to retreat. In the early hours of May 3, Hooker also had Hazel Grove on his mind. Catharine Furnace was part of the reason why the area around Chancellorsville was known as the Wilderness. Terrain360 - Chancellorsville Battlefield As US forces moved past the Bullock House and arrived at the Chancellorsville intersection on April 30th they found a plantation with a large brick house, surrounded by smaller outbuildings and agricultural fields, and 16 civilians including the Chancellors, a few of their neighbors, and 2 enslaved people. Heavy rain postponed Lees assault until the morning of May 6. The Army of Northern Virginia would occupy this location for the rest of the battle.On May 2, McLaws launched a series of diversionary attacks across this ground, keeping US forces occupied while Jackson led a flank march around the Federals. Facing troubles at home, Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia became a beacon of hope for Confederates. Captain Richard E. Wilbourne, a Signal Officer travelling with Jackson, recalled when we had gotten well into the woods and about twenty yards to the left of the road, the troops on the left, who were only about thirty yards distant -, commenced firingBy this fire General Jackson was struck in three places: in the left arm, left wrist, and in the right hand. The order to retreat was met with dismay by some of the US corps commanders who felt they had momentum on their side and anticipated an easier time holding ground in more open countryside. Park in the pull out on your right. Jackson drove his attack relentlessly for 2 miles. They halted near where the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center stands today. With Hookers forces split, Lee perceived a chance to do just that. Catharine Furnace first blast into production in 1837, but closed after John Wellford, the primary owner, died ten years later. Chancellorsville Battlefield Tour - U.S. National Park Service Save 42 acres at Chancellorsville Battlefields. By the end of May the Northern papers focus was shifting to Grants campaign in Mississippi, actions in Tennessee and Kentucky, and movements along the coast. The Emancipation Proclamation declared enslaved persons in places still in rebellion to be free and approved the enlistment of black regiments. However, the communications Hooker received on May 1 indicated that a Confederate column, estimated at 2 corps, were marching towards Chancellorsville, on a collision course with Hookers troops at that moment heading towards Fredericksburg. Battle Map - May 1, 1863. . Northern papers also covered the formation of the black regiments. By 1863, thousands of refugees from slavery had poured into U.S. lines and aligned themselves with the Federal government in opposition to the Confederacy, but their status was often unclear. As Confederates moved towards the Federal lines at dawn, the US soldiers abandoned the high ground and retreated to Fairview. Hookers forces retreated to a V-shaped line that extended from the Bullock House back to the river. Take Exit 130A from I-95, and drive east on VA Route 3 for approximately 1 mile. (3817'53.9N 7737'05.7W) Directions to the next stop on the Auto Tour: Continue 0.5 mile ahead on McLaws Drive. Brimming with confidence, Hooker reportedly declared, The rebel army is now the legitimate property of the Army of the Potomac. Park in the pull out on your right. Lee sent his cavalry to impede the progress of the US troops. Some sites are only open seasonally. Hooker sent Sickles reinforcements: the rest of the 3rd Corps, as well as parts of the 11th and 12th Corps. Today all that remains of Catharine Furnace is the stone furnace stack that sits at the intersection of the Furnace Road and the Jackson Trail East.
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