Battle of Chancellorsville • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments & Markers • The Armies
The Battle of Chancellorsville Orientation Marker provides a basic background to the Battle of Chancellorsville. It is next to the parking lot in front of the Chancellerorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
The marker is one of three along the parking area in front of the Visitor Center at Chancellorsville
From the marker:
Chancellorsville
The Civil War had entered its third year, and the Army of the Potomac was again on the march. Led by its new commander, “Fighting Joe” Hooker, the 134,000-man Union juggernaut crossed the Rappahannock River beyond Lee’s left flank on April 28, 1863, and descended upon a former country inn known as Chancellorsville. Although reduced to just 60,000 men, Lee responded with his accustomed audacity, attacking Hooker here in the gloomy thickets of the Wilderness.
Four days of pitched battle followed, in which Lee outmaneuvered and outfought his opponent, ultimately forcing him to retreat. It was the Southern leader’s greatest triumph of the war, but it came at great cost. On May 10, 1863, his top general, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, died of wounds received in the battle. Without Jackson to carry out his plans, Lee never again achieved such stunning success.
From the caption to the upper painting:
“The Battle of Chancellorsville”
Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia
From the captions to the photos (left to right):
Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson:
This photo was taken just a week before Chancellorsville, his last and greatest battle.
Robert E. Lee: by 1863, much of the Confederacy saw Lee as the best, and perhaps only, hope for Confederate victory.
Joseph Hooker: Chancellorsville was Hooker’s only battle as a commander of an army.
From the caption to the lower painting:
Chancellorsville was not a village but a tavern at a strategic crossroads. Frances Chancellor and her six children stayed in the house until May 3, when, at the height of the battle, flames engulfed the house and drove the Chancellors away.
Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia
From the caption to the small inset map:
Jackson fell wounded near where the modern visitor center now stands. Follow the driving tour to reach the remainder of Chancellorsville Battlefield.
Location of the Marker
The Marker is in front of the parking lot on the way into the Chancellorsville Visitor Center
(go to the main Stop 1 page)
(go to the main Chancellorsville Battlefield Auto Tour page)