Chancellorsville

• Satellite Image: 2013 Target Properties

  

  The Civil War Trust is currently working to preserve two tracts at Stonewall Jackson's Flank Attack. These two parcels, totaling more 37 acres, adds to the more than 115 acres we have saved along this famous attack route.

  Google Earth

• Jackson's Flank Attack

  

  The Civil War Trust and it's partners are working to save 37 acres of Stonewall Jackson's famous flank attack. One of this parcels, just south of modern Route three, can be seen across the street from this NPS property.

  Douglas Ullman, Jr.

• Chancellorsville: 2013 Target Property

  

  View of one of the Trust's 2013 target properties at Chancellorsville from the NPS land along the Orange Plank Road.

  Douglas Ullman, Jr.

• Saved in 2012: Jackson's Flank Attack

  

  The Civil War Trust preserved this 14-acre portion of the Chancellorsville battlefield in 2012. This property is located next to one of the Trust's current target properties along modern day Route 3.

  Rob Shenk

• Historic Map of Jackson's Flank Attack

  

  Jackson's cartographer, Jed Hotchkiss, sketched this map of the May 2 flank attack. The Trust's target property is plainly visible near the intersection of the Orange Turnpike and the Orange Plank Road.

  Library of Congress

• Stampede of the Eleventh Corps

  

  Illustration showing the collapse of the Union Eleventh Corps as a result of Jackson's Flank Attack.

  Library of Congress

• On the March

  

  This Edwin Forbes sketch shows the Army of the Potomac marching into position on April 30, 1863. Hooker's crossing of the Rappahannock had placed his army in a strong position to threaten Lee's much smaller force.

  Library of Congress

• The First Day's Battlefield

  

  This view of the May 1, 1863 battlefield is looking back towards the main Union lines that were in the woods near the Chancellor House. The Civil War Trust worked to save this endangered part of the battlefield.

  Rob Shenk

• Fighting for Chancellorsville

  

  Civil War Trust President Jim Lighthizer speaking at a press conference at the Chancellorsville battlefield in 2003. Lighthizer was announcing the Trust's opposition to a plan to place 2,000 homes on the First Day's battlefield.

  Civil War Trust

• Victorious Advance of Genl. Sykes (regulars) May 1st

  

  This sketch by Alfred Waud shows Sykes' regulars marching towards the fighting on May 1, 1863.

  Library of Congress

• Historical Signs at Chancellorsville

  

  The Civil War Trust has developed a walking trail, populated with historical signs, for its First Day at Chancellorsville site.

  Rob Shenk

• The Constant Threat of Development

  

  Chancellorsville is ground zero in the modern battlefield preservation movement. Aggressive development pressures continue to threaten much of the battlefield.

  Rob Shenk

• Chancellorsville Reenactment

  Photograph showing a reenactment held on the First Day's battlefield. Civil War battlefields can be important assets in supporting local tourism.

  Bob Lanier

• Tourism and Visitation

  

  By saving and preserving the First Day's battlefield, the Civil War Trust has ensured that visitors can still walk the fields where the soldiers fought on May 1, 1863.

  Rob Shenk

• The Meeting

  

  Lee and Jackson met here on the night of May 1, 1863 to hatch their ambitious plan to send Jackson around the Union right flank the next day.

  Rob Shenk

• The Last Meeting

  

  Chancellorsville is considered to be Lee's greatest victory. But was the loss of thousands of seasoned veterans and Stonewall Jackson too high a price?

  Library of Congress

• The Catharine Furnace

  

  Stonewall Jackson's flanking column passed by this pig iron facility on their way to the Union right flank. Union forces later fought the rearguard of Jackson's column near here.

  Rob Shenk

• Battlefields as Classrooms

  

  Teachers attending the 2009 Civil War Trust Teacher Institute visit the Catharine Furnace as part of a battlefield tour.

  Rob Shenk

• In Jackson's Footsteps

  

  The 17 mile Jackson Flank March trail allows you to follow in Jackson's footsteps.

  Rob Shenk

• The Jackson Flank March Trail

  

  View of the Jackson Flank March trail as it passes over Poplar Run. Many Confederate soldiers took their last drink of water here before beginning their attack on May 2, 1863.

  Steve Stanley

• Poplar Ford in Autumn

  

  One can still follow in the footsteps of Jackson's flank march trail.

  Rob Shenk

• The Chancellorsville Battle App

  

  The Civil War Trust developed and launched its Chancellorsville Battle App for iPhone and Android in 2011. This GPS-enabled tour feature historian videos and in-depth information for stops throughout the battlefield.

  Rob Shenk

• Jackson's Attack

  

  Autumn view of the Jackson Flank Attack property owned and preserved by the National Park Service.

  Rob Shenk

• Jackson's Flank Attack

  

  This painting by Don Troiani shows the Confederate attackers pouring out of the forest to attack the unsuspecting right flank of the Union XI corps on May 2, 1863.

  Don Troiani (www.historicalimagebank.com)

• Saving Jackson's Flank Attack

  

  Jackson's forces passed over this land as they worked to attack and flank the Buschbeck Line near Dowdall's Tavern. The Civil War Trust saved this land in 2009.

  Rob Shenk

• The Big Check for Preservation

  

  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, standing between the Civil War Trust's John Nau and Jim Lighthizer, presents a check to help offset some of the expense of the newly acquired Wagner Tract at Chancellorsville.

  Rob Shenk

• Walking the Buschbeck Line

  

  Historian Bob Krick is standing near the Buschbeck Line - which is where the Federal army attempted to slow Jackson's May 2nd juggernaut. Bob is standing on land that the Civil War Trust has recently saved.

  Rob Shenk

• The Orange Turnpike Today

  

  Expanded to four lanes, the path of the historic Orange Turnpike still bisects the Chancellorsville Battlefield today. Jackson's attack used this road as their guide towards the Union center on May 2, 1863.

  Rob Shenk

• The Orange Turnpike Then

  

  Civil War era image of the Orange Turnpike/Plank Road with the Wilderness Church in the background. The land on the far side of the fence was saved by the Civil War Trust

  Library of Congress

• The Wilderness Church Today

  

  View of the rebuilt Wilderness Church during a fine autumn day.

  Rob Shenk

• The Wilderness Church Then

  

  Jackson's forces swarmed past this small, rural church as they continued their attack towards the Chancellorsville intersection.

  Library of Congress

• Path to Catastrophe

  

  Returning from his evening reconnaissance, Stonewall Jackson was struck by friendly fire and was mortally wounded on the night of May 2, 1863. Jackson's loss proved to be a high cost for this Confederate victory at Chancellorsville.

  Rob Shenk

• The Stonewall Jackson Monument

  

  Dedicated in 1888, this monument was placed where Jackson was mortally wounded. More recent scholarship has shown that Jackson was wounded about 100 yards away.

  Rob Shenk

• Jackson Monument Dedication - 1888

  

  Virginia Governor Fitzhugh Lee, who was at the Battle of Chancellorsville, sits in his carriage (far, back seat) in front of the newly dedicated Stonewall Jackson Monument.

  Robert K. Krick Collection

• Treasured Memories of Jackson

  

  The loss of Stonewall Jackson was deeply felt in the South. This framed portrait includes a snip of his hair and uniform coat.

  Rob Shenk/National Park Service

• Carriages instead of Cars

  

  This old postcard gives one a sense of what it was like to visit the sites of Chancellorsville before the Orange Turnpike (Highway 3) was filled with traffic.

  Robert K. Krick Collection

• The Wilderness of Chancellorsville

  

  Like The Wilderness battlefield to its west, much of Chancellorsville was covered in dense trees that hindered visibility and movement.

  Rob Shenk

• Towards Fairview and Hazel Grove

  

  View from the Chancellor House back towards Fairview and the Hazel Grove positions.

  Rob Shenk

• Attack on the Union Position

  

  This sketch by Edwin Forbes purports to show the Confederate attack upon the strategic intersection in front of the Chancellor House.

  Library of Congress

• Chancellor House Ruins

  

  View of the foundation of the Chancellor House - Maj. Gen. Joe Hooker's headquarters and the center of the Union position at Chancellorsville.

  Rob Shenk

• Ruins of the Chancellor House

  

  This photograph shows the ruins of the Chancellor House.

  National Park Service

• Hazel Grove

  

  View from the strategic Hazel Grove position towards Fairview and the Chancellor House intersection. Confederate artillery here dominated the May 3, 1863 battlefield.

  Rob Shenk

• The Guns of Fairview

  

  Union artillery at Fairview attempted to stop the May 3, 1863 Confederate attack moving towards the Chancellorsville intersection.

  Rob Shenk

• The Battle of Chancellorsville

  

  "The Battle of Chancellorsville" by Frederick Chapman.

  National Park Service

• Hooker's Last Line

  

  Joseph Hooker had his forces retreat to this position closer to his fords and route of retreat. With both flanks anchored on the river, the Confederates demurred from attacking this strong position.

  Rob Shenk

• Once a Rural Landscape

  

  This old postcard shows what the landscape around Salem Church used to look like before it was engulfed in modern development.

  Robert K. Krick Collection

• Salem Church Then

  

  Salem Church in the 19th century.

  National Park Service

• Salem Church Today

  

  View of Salem Church on the Chancellorsville Battlefield. Casualties on just this portion of the battlefield rivaled those suffered at Bull Run.

  Rob Shenk

• Surrounded by Development

  

  This satellite image shows just some of the extensive modern development that has engulfed the Salem Church area of the battlefield.

  Google Earth