Influence of Chancellorsville on Civil War

Introduction

The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. After the defeat at Fredericksburg in the winter of 1862, the Union was wondering on what was the secret of Lee's success in every battle, mostly with fewer soldiers and artillery. Lincoln was appointed by then as supreme commander of the Union to Joe Hooker, who was responsible for all costs of restoring morale among his troops, as a confrontation seemed imminent for spring, also wanted to strike Fredericksburg again, preventing it head-on tactics that generated the earlier defeat. Lee, the leader of the Confederates, had been planning the invasion of Pennsylvania; a fact that was delayed because the enemy had moved first, and had tried to open a route to Richmond (Sears, 134).

Preparations for the Battle

Like much fighting in the Civil War, Southern troops were less than their federal peers, but of course, they had the genius Lee with them. The major initiative of the Union attack came as part of his army that crossed the Rappahannock River on April 17, 1863. The Union plan was simple: wrap the southerners, then pretending to bet most of the army (they were actually two bodies of infantry), while the bulk of his forces would go to the north (three infantry corps), crossing the rivers, Rappahannock and Rapidan at several points, including the village of Chancellorsville. Between 27th to 30th April, the allied forces were about to execute the plan. On the first day, everything went well, but it was not well on the second day, when the cavalry of Lee detected a strange movement of forces to the North (Bigelow, 112).

As a loyal soldier, he changed the battle plan and decided to risk everything. Divided, leaving stunned the rest of his officers, and his army. The strongest of these was headed west to intercept the passing troops, trying to surround the north and were unaware that their plan was already ruined. In Fredericksburg, Southerners lower forces left, to deal with the federal distracting.

As Hooker, his scouts were immediately informed about the movement of Lee and certainly demoralized. Then, on 1st May, about 70,000 troops gathered around Chancellorsville. Lee moved to this place, accepted the challenge, and delivered about 40 thousand soldiers. Fortunately for them, the fog hid his every move, the dust and Unionists would prove the genius of Lee fighting in all its glory. The Hooker had no other option rather than relying on their prime numbers. Although his plan was discovered, the Union troops were almost certain they would win that battle, their morale was high (Cullen, 45).

The Start of the Battle

Hooker's plan was to wait for Lee to attack, and that was a crucial mistake by him. On May 2nd, Lee decided to face the battle plan of the enemy. Stonewall Jackson would go to attack the right flank of the Unionists with 28,000 soldiers, since they were the weakest. For operating the ...