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(Wednesday, May 6, 1863; during the Battle of Chancellorsville, part of the American Civil War) — The Battle of Chancellorsville — a major battle of the American Civil War fought in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville, — ended today in a significant Confederate victory over Union forces.
When Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker learned that Union Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick had retreated back over the Rappahannock River on May 5, 1863, Hooker felt he was out of options to save the campaign.
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He called a council of war and asked his corps commanders to vote about whether to stay and fight or to withdraw. Although a majority voted to fight, Hooker had had enough, and on the night of May 5–6, he withdrew back across the river at U.S. Ford.
It was a difficult operation. Hooker and the artillery crossed first, followed by the infantry beginning at 6:00 a.m. on May 6. Meade’s V Corps served as the rear guard. Rains caused the river to rise and threatened to break the pontoon bridges.
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The Chancellorsville campaign ended on May 7 when Union Maj. Gen. George Stoneman’s cavalry reached Union lines east of Richmond. Both armies resumed their previous position across the Rappahannock from each other at Fredericksburg.
The Confederate victory, a product of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s audacity and Union Hooker’s timid decision-making was tempered by heavy casualties, including Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.
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Jackson was hit by friendly fire, requiring his left arm to be amputated. He died of pneumonia eight days later, a loss that Lee likened to losing his right arm.
With the loss of Jackson, Lee reorganized his army, and flush with victory began what was to become the Gettysburg campaign a month later.
