THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.

161

Mott’s Run, with a considerable brushy ravine, cuts the turnpike three-fourths of a mile east of Chancellorsville. Two of Hancock’s regiments, underColonel Nelson A. Miles, subsequently the Indian fighter , were directed tooccupy the ravine. Continuing my way through the woods toward Chancel-lorsville, I came upon some of the Fifth Corps under arms. Inquiring for theircommanding officer, I told him that in fifteen minutes he would be attacked,msfore finishing the sentence a volley of musketry was fired into us from thedirection of the Plank road. This was the beginning of the battle of Chancel-kusville. Troops were hurried into position, but the observer required no^izard to tell him, as they marched past, that the high expectations whichr^d animated them only a few hours ago had given place to disappointment.Proceeding to the Chancellor House, I narrated my operations in front to■looker, which were seemingly satisfactory, as he said: “It is all right,' jf) Uch, I have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my ownground.” The retrograde movement had prepared me for something of theiClri d, but to hear from his own lips that the advantages gained by the suc-cessful marches of his lieutenants were to culminate in fighting a defensivea ttle in that nest of thickets was too much, and I retired from his presence^th the belief that my commanding general was a whipped man. The army^ as directed to intrench itself. At 2 A. M. the corps commanders reported togeneral Hooker that their positions could be held; at least so said Couch ,l°cum, and Howard.

. Until after dark on May 1st the enemy confined his demonstrations to find-lr 'g °ut the position of our left with his skirmishers. Then he got some gunsll k°n the high ground which we had abandoned as before mentioned, andcannonaded the left of our line. There were not many casualties, but that'/fy a shell severely wounded the adjutant-general of the Second Corps, nowe neral F. A. Walker. Chancellorsville was a strategic point to an offensiveretreating army, as roads diverged from it into every part of Virginia ; but° r a defensive position it was bad, particularly for such an army as Hooker

had

to

under him, which prided itself upon its artillery, which was perhaps equal

any in the world. There were no commanding positions for artillery, and

little open country to operate over; in fact, the advantages of ground foris arm were mainly with the attacking party.

'hiring the 29tli and 30th the enemy lay at Fredericksburg observinge dgwick’s demonstrations on the left, entirely unconscious of Hooker’s suc-cessful crossing of the right wing, until midday of the latter date, but thatight Lee formed his plan of operations for checking the farther advance^ the force which had not only turned the left flank of his river defensesHt Was threatening his line of communication with Richmond as well as theat of iq s ee nter at Fredericksburg. Stonewall Jackson , who was watchingffgwick, received instructions to withdraw his corps, march to the left,tire front of Hooker’s intrenched position, until its right flank wasauied, and assault with his column of 22,000 men, while his commandingp r| ci' a l would, with what force he could spare, guard the approaches to

1 edericksburg.