The Battle of Chancellorsville

Dec 18

2 min read

Are you a student learning about the Civil War? Are you a teacher preparing to teach about the Civil War? This website is for both of you! It will even be helpful if you are just curious about the Civil War.

If you are a student, you can read about the Battle of Chancellorsville in the sections below. If you have questions as you read, you can send me a message, and I will do my best to get back to you.

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Battle of Chancellorsville reading passage for Civil War units

The Battle of Chancellorsville

April 30 - May 6, 1863

Lee’s greatest victory of the war occurred at Chancellorsville just five months after the Battle of Fredericksburg. After their loss, the North had retreated across the Rappahannock River. The two sides spent the rest of the winter in a stalemate.

Lincoln appointed “Fighting” Joe Hooker to lead the Union army. He hoped this new general would be able to turn the tide of the war. On April 30, 1863, Hooker led his troops once again across the Rappahannock River. He hoped to use his superior forces to attack Lee and drive him back to Richmond. Lee, realizing he was outmatched but refusing to retreat, decided to split his troops and attack Hooker.

Lee attacked the North within the Wilderness, a forested area outside Chancellorsville. The Northern artillery wasn’t suited to fighting in the forest, and Hooker’s army was pushed back. That night, Lee and Stonewall Jackson had come up with a plan. Jackson would take thirty-thousand troops on a twelve-mile march around the Northern line for a surprise attack.

Lee and Jackson’s plan worked, and the North retreated across the Rappahannock River. However, the South faced a devastating casualty. While returning from a scouting trip, Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men. His left arm was amputated, but his wound got infected. The brilliant military leader died from pneumonia on May 10, 1863.

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