Battles of Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville
The Union tried to
divide the Confederate
Army at
Fredericksburg, but
the attempt failed.
Ambrose Attacks
• November 1862
• General Ambrose E. Burnside sent to
replace McClellan as leader of Army of the
Potomac.
• Strategy: attack Richmond by way of
Fredericksburg
• Burnside caught Lee by surprise but delays
in crossing the river left Lee enough time to
organize and entrench Confederate forces.
• The Union lost the battle and suffered
heavy casualties.
– Union army was forced to charge uphill
– Union Casualties = 12,600 and Confederate
Casualties = 5,300
Chancellorsville
Hooker Attacks
• April 1863
• General Joseph Hooker sent to replace
Ambrose as leader of Army of the
Potomac.
• Strategy: outflank the Confederate army
at Fredericksburg
– Hooker planned to attack the flank of Lee’s
Army while it was stationed at
Fredericksburg
– Ended up entrenching his men at
Chancellorsville
– Lee attacked the entrenchment
– Lee almost manages to divide the Union line,
but after 3 days of attack Hooker will call for
a retreat.
• The Confederates win a major victory.
– This battle was Lee’s tactical masterpiece, as he
flanked Hooker’s flank. Hooker had been
knocked off his horse and was not thinking
clearly in the battle.
At the Battle of
Chancellorsville on May 2,
1863, Stonewall Jackson was
killed by friendly fire.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chancellorsville/maps/first-day-atchancellorsville.html