Chancellorsville

Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker began a turning operation on April 27, 1863, to force Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia out of its positions at Fredericksburg. The operation was effective, and by April 30 portions of Hooker's Army of the Potomac had arrived nine miles to Lee's rear at the Chancellorsville crossroads. Hooker, who outnumbered Lee two to one, was prepared to kill the Confederates. Lee marched west after learning of Hooker's march and leaving a supporting army behind at Fredericksburg.

On May 1, fighting broke out, and the Federals eventually returned to Chancellorsville. With the upper hand, Lee would now divide his force once more and dispatch Lt. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson on a march to attack Hooker's right flank. Jackson was wounded by friendly fire and died eight days later when his soldiers attacked Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard's XI Corps, which had breached the Union line the previous evening. On May 3, Lee redoubled his assault and drove Hooker from Chancellorsville. At the height of his success, Major General John Sedgwick's VI Corps, which had made a breakthrough at Fredericksburg, compelled Lee to divide his army a third time. At Salem Church, the Confederates stopped Sedgwick's advance. On the evening of May 5, Hooker decided to withdraw and end his campaign after being stalled on two fronts. The conflict, which is regarded as Lee's biggest triumph, motivated him to mount a second invasion of the North.

Time: April 30, 1863 – May 6, 1863

Place: Virginia