Sunday, December 11, 2011

The Vortex Expands

Ok.  The first battle at Fredericksburg was December, 1862, Lee against Burnside

The next battle was five months later, April 27 - May 6, 1863, Lee against Hooker.  It was actually a dual attack at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.  I suppose it's referred to only as Chancellorsville so as not to confuse folks with the first battle.

Union General Sedgwick DID take the stone wall on Sunken Road at Fredericksburg this time - only to have it taken back by the rebels pretty quickly.



Meanwhile, 10 miles west, Lee discovered Hooker's main force trying to advance in the area around Chancellorsville.  Now, just because a name ends in "ville" doesn't mean it's a village.  Chancellorsville was actually nothing more than a huge home at a crossroad.

Those Southern ladies stood on their balcony throwing verbal misery at Hooker and the Union army that was taking over their home.  Ultimately, the house would burn down and those same ladies would be begging those same Union soldiers to save them - and they did.

Everyone was jubilant about Hooker's plan - so much so that Lincoln tried to moderate feelings by saying, "The hen is the wisest of all creation animals - she doesn't cackle until after she's laid her egg."

Lee realized Hooker's weak spot was his right flank.  So, Lee sent one of his favorite general's, "Stonewall" Jackson, meandering in the dark (but very, very quickly in the dark) down 12 miles of skinny backroads to strike at that Achille's heel.  (Does everyone know why it's called an Achille's heel?  Check your mythology.)


In the dark, Jackson came upon some other Confederates and was shot by friendly fire.  His arm was amputated and buried there (a shrine was built over the spot ) (eeew), and Jackson died shortly thereafter from pneumonia from the injury and surgery.  Lee won a great victory because of Jackson's late night ride, but lost a great general in the process.

These back to back victories propelled Lee to the North in June to a little town called Gettysburg...

No comments: