Cooke, the historian, tells us that one day, while talking with a member of his staff about the great battle which he knew would soon take place, he said: “My trust is in God.” A brief silence followed these words, and then, rising to his feet, he exclaimed, with flashing eyes, “I wish they would come.”
The spirit of battle was upon him, and he longed to go forward to the fray, which proved to be the last, but not least, of his wonderful exploits.
General Burnside had been removed from command of the Federal army after the battle of Fredericksburg, and General Hooker, “Fighting Joe,” as he was called, was put in his place. His army now numbered about one hundred and fifty thousand men.
General Lee’s army, to the number of forty-five thousand men, lay entrenched upon the southern banks of the Rappahannock river. General Longstreet’s corps was now absent in Suffolk county, so Lee had not one-third as many men as Hooker.
Hooker’s plan was to divide his army into two parts. The smaller part was to cross the river near Fredericksburg and engage the Confederates in battle, while the larger part would march up the northern bank of the Rappahannock river, and, crossing over, reach the flank of Lee’s army, which would thus have the foe in front and also in the rear. At the same time Hooker planned to send a large troop of cavalry to reach and destroy the railroads leading to Richmond, thus cutting General Lee off from the capital.
This was a bold plan, but one that was easily guessed by such soldiers as Lee, Jackson, and Stuart. The last named kept watch, and as soon as a movement was made, reported it to Lee. Lee at once fell back to Chancellorsville, but not until the main army under General Hooker himself had reached “The Wilderness” beyond Chancellorsville, and thrown up strong earthworks. The left wing of Hooker’s army, under General Sedgwick, crossed the river below Fredericksburg on the 29th of April, and was at once met by Jackson, who was ever watchful. Sedgwick, however, did not intend to fight, but merely to keep General Lee at Fredericksburg while Hooker was gaining the point on Lee’s flank. General Lee promptly guessed the plan, and ordered General Jackson to leave only one division in front of Sedgwick, to proceed at once in search of Hooker, and to attack and repulse him. This order reached Jackson about eight P. M., and by midnight his troops were on the march. Early the next day they reached the battle-field, where the troops of General Anderson were already engaged with the enemy.
Lee, Jackson, and Stuart at the battle of Fredericksburg.
Jackson halted his column, and sending four brigades to the support of Anderson, drew up the remainder of the corps in line of battle upon a ridge near by. The battle raged fiercely all day, and when night came, the Confederates had reached Hooker’s first line of entrenchments, in the midst of the dense forest.
Meanwhile General Lee had come up with the remainder of the army, and a sharp fight had taken place in front of Hooker’s right wing. Night put an end to the contest, when, weary and worn, both armies lay down to rest upon the battle-field.