Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Chancellorsville Campaign (Illustrated)

In early May 1863, the Army of the Potomac was at the height of its power as it bore down on Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia near Fredericksburg, where the Confederates had defeated the Union the previous December. Although heavily outnumbered, Lees army persevered and went on to win the Battle of Chancellorsville, perhaps its most impressive tactical victory. The battle is famous for Lees decision to split his army in the face of the Army of the Potomac, despite being outnumbered, having Stonewall Jackson march around the Unions right flank and surprising the XI Corps with an attack. The bold tactics eventually resulted in General Hooker ordering his armys retreat, paving the way for Lee to invade Pennsylvania. However, Lee would lose his right arm at the Battle. Stonewall Jackson had become famous for his role at the First Battle of Bull Run, the 1862 Valley Campaign, and Second Manassas, but the flank attack at Chancellorsville may have been his greatest feat in the Civil War. But Jackson was struck down the very night of the attack, mortally wounded by his own men during the night of May 2, 1863 after conducting scouting ahead of his own lines. Jackson would die 8 days later, forever crippling the Army of Northern Virginia. One of the most prominent generals during the battle was Darius N. Couch. After the war, he wrote an account of the Chancellorsville campaign that was eventually published in the well known Battles & Leaders series. As was his custom, Couch pulled no punches, analyzing the campaign and offering his suggestions on what should have been done better. This edition of Battles & Leaders of the Civil War: The Chancellorsville Campaign is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and pictures of the battles important commanders.