April 30 - May 6 1863

The Battle of Chancellorsville, more than any other battle, illustrated the superiority of Confederate generals such as Lee, Jackson, and Jeb Stuart and the incompetence of many Union generals. Despite being outnumbered more than two to one, Lee and Jackson devised a plan that called for the Confederate Army to split into two corps and launch surprise attacks on different sections of the Union Army. Incredibly, the plan worked - thanks in part to poor preparation and communication in the Union ranks. Union forces were forced to retreat across the Rappahannock. Despite the convincing Confederate victory, over 30,000 total casualties were reported. In addition, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, one of Lee's most respected officers, was mistakenly killed during the battle by one of his own soldiers.