Chapter 3: A Brilliant Win at Chancellorsville Comes at a High Cost

The reckless Hooker promises an immediate assault, along with a famous boast: May God have mercy on General Lee for I shall have none.

Hooker crosses the Rappahannock River and concentrates his 133,000 troops in the vicinity of Chancellorsville intending to crush the 60,000 man opposition. But Lee violates conventional military dictates by dividing his army in the presence of a larger force, and completes a double envelopment of the Union troops late on May 2. Hooker suffers some 17,000 casualties in the ensuing action which military historians regard as “Marse Robert’s” most brilliant victory.

However, tragedy follows when Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning from a nighttime reconnaissance of the lines. He is struck twice in his left arm and once in his right hand. Surgeon Hunter Maguire amputates the arm, but pneumonia sets in and Jackson dies eight days later on May 10.