May 1-6, 1863 - Confederate forces win a stunning victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Taking command of the Army of the Potomac in early 1863, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker devised a strong plan for renewing hostilities late that spring. Intending to march northwest then south to get in the rear of Gen. Robert E. Lee's army at Fredericksburg, VA, Hooker sought to catch him between two pincers as a second Union force would attack the Confederate front. Successfully making the march, Hooker began moving through a pine thicket known as the Wilderness as Lee responded. Badly outnumbered, Lee left a holding force on the heights west of the town and marched west with the bulk of his men. Blocking the Union advance on May 1, Lee and Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (right) devised a daring flank attack for the next day. Taking near three-quarters of the army, Jackson marched 12 miles and completely surprised the Union right flank late on May 2. Driving them back two miles, Hooker's army was soon bottled up in a tight defensive position. In the fighting, Jackson was wounded by friendly fire and taken from the field. Assaulting Hooker's lines on May 3, Lee was forced to detach troops to block Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick's advance from Fredericksburg. With Hooker effectively beaten, Lee focused his attention on Sedgwick and forced him to retreat across the Rappahannock River on May 5. Not seeing a way to renew the campaign, Hooker recrossed the river the next day. Chancellorsville is widely seen as Lee's greatest victory and the success encouraged him to attempt a second invasion of the North.
Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration
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