MAY 1, 1863:
The
Battle of Chancellorsville (Day Two):
Robert E. Lee, outnumbered at better than
2 to 1, with only 61,000 troops, divided his army---violating a cardinal rule
of textbook warfare that stipulates that one never divides one’s army in the face of a superior force---and left
a covering force under Major General Jubal Early in Fredericksburg. He then
marched the rest of his army to confront the Federals. As Hooker’s army moved
in a great loop back toward Fredericksburg they encountered increasing
Confederate resistance. Reports of an overwhelming Confederate force in his
path caused “Fighting Joe” Hooker to timidly order his army to suspend their
advance toward Fredericksburg. Attacked by Lee and Early on the wings, Hooker
then ordered his men to fall back to Chancellorsville, where they remained
overnight and dug in.
Hooker had planned all along to act in a defensive posture,
thus ceding the initiative of the battle to Lee. Many historians feel that Hooker thus lost
the battle even before it began. The shooting began in earnest around noon on
May the first, but Hooker’s tepid withdrawal tipped the balance of the battle.
Instead of throwing his superior force against Lee and easily crushing him
while leaving his Fredericksburg reserve to deal with Early, Hooker ordered
that Union forces were not to attack until attacked---causing confusion and
consternation throughout the Federal army.
On this day, the Confederate Congress approves a new
national flag for the Confederacy. The Stars and Bars is replaced by the
Stainless Banner.
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