The Battle of Chancellorsville, Day Three - May 3, 1863 - 157 Years Ago Today - Morning

Despite the success of Jackson's flank attack the previous afternoon, the Union Army of the Potomac still held a formidable position around the important crossroads of Chancellorsville. With the arrival of the I Corps that morning, the Army of the Potomac's overall strength had increased to 76,000 men. The Army of Northern Virginia's total strength on the morning of May 3 was about 43,000 men.

To make matters even more complicated for the Confederacy, Lee's army was very much divided. Jackson's corps, now commanded by Jeb Stuart, was astride the Orange Turnpike to the west of the Union defenses, while the divisions of Richard Anderson and Lafayette McLaws - now under Lee's direct supervision - were astride the Orange Turnpike to the east of the Union defenses. He needed to reunite his forces if he had any chance of survival or victory. To do that...he would need to assault the center of the Union position - which was held by the XII, II, and III Corps.

Hooker inadvertently gave Lee a much needed break before the fighting even started. The area known as Hazel Grove, a raised platform excellent for artillery, was presently held by the Union III Corps. That morning, before dawn, Hooker ordered Sickles to vacate the position and fall back 1,600 yards to the north to a point known as Fairview Hill. Sickles obeyed. The astonished Confederates watched as the Union army vacated one of the highest, most open points on the battlefield and quickly moved their artillery into position on the now empty ground. 30 guns under the command of Porter Alexander would eventually pack into Hazel Grove. Their actions in the morning battle would go on to be decisive.

The Battle of Chancellorsville, Day Three - Morning Phase (May 3, 1863)


Jeb Stuart, in command of Jackson's corps, kicked off the fighting at 5:30 AM as his men advanced through the dense forest toward the Union defenses at Fairview. The North Carolina brigade of James H. Lane was the first to go forward and, within a matter of minutes, the brigade had sustained over 900 casualties assaulting the Union positions in just 20 minutes of fighting. Twelve of Lane's 13 field officers had been killed or wounded and only one of his five regiments - the 23rd North Carolina - could claim any semblance of still being a unit.

Next up was the Stonewall Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Elisha F. Paxton. Within moments of stepping off and beginning the attack, Paxton is shot through the heart and killed. The men of Stonewall Jackson's first command would advance bravely but suffer a similar fate to the North Carolinians. Over 600 of the brigade's 2,000 men were shot down and the brigade was forced to retreat after less than a half hour of combat.

This was the fighting around Fairview - arguably the most intense fighting of the war. From two sides the Confederate army attacked the Union position. To defend the position, the Union army was supported by 40 guns of artillery and the elements of three different army corps. Confederate infantry attacks, coupled with the 50 artillery pieces sighted on Fairview from Hazel Grove and the Plank Road, made this area "hot as hell."

For five hours the two sides battled for supremacy in this small area, and in those five hours something close to 18,000 men fell attacking or defending Fairview - an average of one man falling dead or wounded every second. Despite repeated Confederate attacks against the Union position that were unrivaled in intensity, the Federals maintained control of the position. The tide was soon about to turn.

From their position atop Hazel Grove, Confederate artillerists had a panoramic view of the Chancellorsville crossroads, as well as a view of the Union army headquarters at Chancellor mansion. Battery commander Porter Alexander ordered shells to be lobbed at that general location.

Watching the battle around Fairview from the front porch of the Chancellor mansion, Joseph Hooker - commanding general of the Army of the Potomac - was no doubt caught by surprise when his position came under fire of enemy artillery. He had no time to reposition himself, however, as a shell struck the column he was leaning against. The force of the blast sent him flying and not him unconscious.

Around that same time, the Confederate division of Robert Rodes was making an all out push for the crest of Fairview Hill. This offensive finally succeeded in taking Fairview and Confederate reinforcements streamed into the position so they could hold against a possible counterattack. That counterattack came and, though the Confederates fought bravely, they were forced to vacate the position.

It was now close to 10 AM and Hooker had regained consciousness in the front yard of the Chancellor mansion. Whatever taste for battle Hooker may have had before getting blasted by cannon ball, he had lost it. Still woozy and no doubt suffering from a severe concussion, Hooker turned to his second-in-command, Major General Darius Couch, and ordered a retreat to a new position just north of Chancellorsville. Despite the protests of both Couch and George Meade, the order was reluctantly carried out.

A half hour later, Lee and Stuart reunited the two halves of the Confederate army amidst the burning wreckage of the Chancellor mansion. Lee's men cheered him most vehemently and a sense of invincibility began to swim over the commanding general. That sensation was about to be tested, however, for at that moment Lee received disturbing news from Fredericksburg. Major General John Sedgwick and his force of 40,000 infantry, had broken through the Confederate lines on Marye's Heights and were marching directly for Lee's rear.

The Battle of Chancellorsville was still far from over...