Chancellorsville 1863: Jackson's Lightning Strike (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

By Carl Smith

Book Overview

Following the debacle of the battle of Fredricksburg in December 1862, Burnside was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac by General Joseph Hooker. Having reorganized the army and improved morale, he planned an attack that would take his army to Richmond and end the war. Although outnumbered 2:1, the Confederate commander Robert E. Lee split his forces: Jubal Early was left to hold off Sedgwick's Fredericksburg attack, and Stonewall Jackson was sent with 26,000 men in a wide envelopment around Hooker's right flank. At dusk on May 2, Jackson's men crashed into the Federal right flank, and despite stiffening Federal resistance the next day, the victory at Chancellorsville was Lee's masterpiece. Following the debacle of the battle of Fredricksburg in December 1862, Burnside was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac by General Joseph Hooker. Having reorganised the army and improved morale, Hooker planned an attack that would take his army to Richmond and end the war. Although faced by an army twice the size of his own, the Confederate commander Robert E. Lee split his forces: Jubal Early was left to hold off Sedgwick's Fredericksburg attack, and Stonewall Jackson was sent with 26,000 men in a wide envelopment around Hooker's right flank. This title details how at dusk on May 2, Jackson's men crashed into the Federal right flank, and how stiffening Federal resistance slowed the Confederate advance the next day. This victory was Lee's masterpiece - but also deprived him forever of Stonewall Jackson, his most capable commander, who died of wounds incurred during the battle.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275984451
• ISBN13: 9780275984458
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 0.5" x 7.3"