Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Battle of Chancellorsville

One of the two battlefields that we visited today was Chancellorsville. Ms. Edwards didn't know a lot of information about this location. One thing that Ms. Wood and Ms. Edwards had to help them on this tour was a driving tape tour. The tape was made by the Eastern National Company.



We visited the following locations using the tape: Chancellorsville visitors center, McLaws Drive, Lee-Jackson Bivouac, Maury Birthplace, Catherine Furnace, Jackson Trail East - Brock Rd., Jackson Trail West - Brock Rd., Block Road/Plank Rd. Intersection, Eleventh Corps Flank, Jackson's Wounding, Hazel Grove, Fairview, and Chancellorsville visitors center again.

For the majority of our tour we followed Jackson and his troops.

We learned the following information about the Battle of Chancellorsville:

• The dates of this battle were April 30 - May 6, 1863.


• The Union was led by Joseph Hooker and the Confederacy was led by Robert E. Lee as well as Stonewall Jackson.


• The Union soldiers numbered 133,868 and the Confederate soldiers numbered 60,892.


• The casualties of the Unions were 17,197 (1,606 killed, 9,672 wounded, and 5,919 missing). The casualties of the Confederacy were 13,303 (1,665 killed, 9,081 wounded, and 2,018 missing)


• At this battle Lt. General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded and killed. It was discovered that Jackson was killed by friendly fire.


• This battle should have been an easy win for the Union army. They outnumbered the Confederates, had more supplies and were well rested.


• Jackson was shot in the arm on May 2nd. His arm was amputated, and he died on May 10th.


• A.P. Hill took command of Jackson's men after his injuries. Hill was incapacitated and requested that J.E.B. Stuart take command.


• May 3, 1863 was one of the most bloodiest battles. 18,000 men died.


• Lee lost 25% of his forces due to this battle. The Confederacy was unable to replace these numbers.


• Hooker was relieved of command on June 28th

Below are some pictures that Ms. Edwards took at the battlefield today.


Here is a picture of a monument to Matthew Fontaine Maury. It shows the direction of his birthplace. He was considered to be the Father of modern Oceanography.




Near this pathway was a marker that showed the direction that Thomas Jackson was in when he was mortally wounded.

Here is one of the markers on the pathways we travelled. This one shows Jackson's marching plans and where his troops were to be placed.

Below is a photograph of a drawing of the last meeting to take place between Jackson and Lee.


These two trees were planted on the final spot that Jackson and Lee ever met again. Notice that there are two bears in the picture.

Here is a picture of the foundation of the house of the Chancellor family.