Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Chancellorsville Campaign

by Darius N. Couch

*Illustrated with maps and pictures of the battle’s important commanders In early May 1863, the Army of the Potomac was at the height of its power as it bore down on Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia near Fredericksburg, where the Confederates had defeated the Union the previous December. Although heavily outnumbered, Lee’s army persevered and went on to win the Battle of Chancellorsville, perhaps its most impressive tactical victory. The battle is famous for Lee’s decision to split his army in the face of the Army of the Potomac, despite being outnumbered, having Stonewall Jackson march around the Union’s right flank and surprising the XI Corps with an attack. The bold tactics eventually resulted in General Hooker ordering his army’s retreat, paving the way for Lee to invade Pennsylvania. However, Lee would lose his “right arm” at the Battle. Stonewall Jackson had become famous for his role at the First Battle of Bull Run, the 1862 Valley Campaign, and Second Manassas, but the flank attack at Chancellorsville may have been his greatest feat in the Civil War. But Jackson was struck down the very night of the attack, mortally wounded by his own men during the night of May 2, 1863 after conducting scouting ahead of his own lines. Jackson would die 8 days later, forever crippling the Army of Northern Virginia One of the most prominent generals during the battle was Darius N. Couch. After the war, he wrote an account of the Chancellorsville campaign that was eventually published in the well known Battles & Leaders series. As was his custom, Couch pulled no punches, analyzing the campaign and offering his suggestions on what should have been done better. This edition of Battles & Leaders of the Civil The Chancellorsville Campaign is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and pictures of the battle’s important commanders. 

Genres: Civil War

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2011

Reviews

[Kathleen Celata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well stated

General Couch is able, in a clear, professional & gentlemanly manner to illuminate Hooker's absolute stupidity and lack of ability at Chancellorsville. He also gives credit where due to the successful strategies of Gen'ls Lee and Jackson. Darius Couch writes well and plainly.