Chancellorsville Day One...

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,626
Reaction score
4,544
As we know one of the big questions coming out of the Battle of Chancellorsville was General Hooker's order on Day One for his units to return to their previous positions after they had made contact an engage Jackson's forces.

It is argued by historians at this moment General Hooker lost his nerve or a character fault was revealed.

It is argue that General Hooker thought Lee would retreat in face of his great flanking move and being caught between Hooker's and Segewicks forces. As we know Lee chose to face Hooker's flanking movement.

A want to note Hooker never fully revealed his plans to his generals just as Jackson used to do. It is noted he was surprised Lee was not in full retreat as Hooker thought he would do.

I also want to note that he had false info that Longstreet forces had return form southern Virginia information offer by two deserters(Lee's spy's). Hooker seem to accept this as truth from two deserters stories.

I say, I do not see as yet a Hooker lossing his nerve or a character fault showing up.

I think Hooker chanced his plan. Why?

Hooker saw he had Lee. Jackson and most likely Longstreet in front of him so he choose to return his forces and dig in. He ordered Sedgwick to march towards him thinking it would either force Lee to attack his dug in forces or retreat.

It is known that the information traveling between Hooker command and Sedgwick's command as bad. Messages took hours to travel between the two commands and many times the newer messages would arrive before the order ones. This time delay and messages arriving out of order kept Sedgwick confused so he was late in moving towards Hooker.

Again, Hooker did not inform anyone of his full plan so no one knows if he chose to change it or not. I again Do not see him falling apart as the leader of the army but I do see an over confident person on Day One of Chancellorsville Battle.

I ask.. where does this loss of nerve or Character fault story comes form. I do know once Jackson's flanking move happen. One could say Hooker acted out of character that was Day two not Day one.

Again, On Day One I believe Hooker changed his plans reacting to what was happening at the time real or presumed. Nothing more then that....
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,626
Reaction score
4,544

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,626
Reaction score
4,544
Chancellorsville gave a false sense of success to the AoNV…

Snip... two false notion... http://personal.tcu.edu/swoodworth/Furgurson-C.htm

Furgurson concludes with some astute analysis. He finds that the Chancellorsville was “Lee’s greatest victory,” coming through “daring . . . skill . . . [and] luck,” and it “would evoke tactical brilliance for decades to come” (320). At the same time, Hooker’s attack proved to be a “psychological blow to Richmond,” temporarily cut communications between Lee and the Confederate capital, but did “little more” (324). Ultimately, Furgurson faults Hooker for the outcome of the battle, finding that Hooker served admirably as a corps commander but failed to see the larger picture from the Army of the Potomac’s central headquarters. Even so, Furgurson notes that the battle along the Rappahannock influenced the subsequent encounter at Gettysburg for two reasons. First, Jackson’s death forced Lee to replace him with fellow Virginian Richard Ewell, whose hesitancy allowed Union forces to capture the high ground at Cemetery Ridge on 1 July. Second, Furgurson conjectures that Lee overly confided in his men’s ability to defeat larger forces, as they did at Chancellorsville, resulting in his ordering George Pickett’s division forward on 3 July.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,626
Reaction score
4,544
Here is something rarely mention was the action the Buschbeck Brigade at Chancellorsville.... So Chancellorsville was save by two Germans officers one in artillery(Dilger Battery) and one in the Infantry (Buschbeck Brigade)

snip...

At Chancellorsville, the XI received much of the blame for the events that occurred; however, Buschbeck’s brigade received praise in their stubborn defense as the rest of the Corps was rolled up. His brigade withstood four assaults from “Stonewall” Jackson’s men until he was forced to withdraw. General Oliver Howard was sure to mention Buschbeck’s “praiseworthy firmness” in his reports. Even those who constantly criticized German troops praised Buschbeck and his men. Buschbeck would go on leave after Chancellorsville and miss the Battle of Gettysburg.

History now calls it the Buschbeck line...

https://npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/4426/

snip...

1630260392003.png

Here is this....


At 6:30 p.m. Rodes’ and Colston’s infantry reached the XI Corps’ last line of resistance, Colonel Adolphus Buschbeck’s 2nd Division brigade. Four Federal regiments, plus support from Devens and Schurz, now totaled less than 5,000 men. They occupied the works abandoned earlier by Barlow just east of Dowdall’s. The Confederate front line formed a semicircle with both ends past the Federal flanks. The last XI Corps line held the longest, but could not stop Jackson’s two oncoming divisions. By 7:15 p.m., both flanks were crushed, and Buschbeck’s front completely collapsed.

The XI Corps fought on for another hour and a half without support. After breaking Buschbeck, Jackson’s advance petered out at about 7:30. The halt, plus the fading light, enabled Howard’s men to escape. Near the Chancellor house, Buschbeck placed his regiments south of the Plank Road. Close by were 150 men from McLean’s brigade under Colonel Lee. Having recovered from being pinned by a wounded horse, Lee had caught up with 2nd Brigade at Buschbeck’s line. Other survivors from Devens’ and Schurz’s divisions retreated to the northeast. As night approached, Schurz re-formed the battered regiments. Three miles away, Reynolds’ 1st Corps divisions were finally crossing the Rappahannock at U.S. Ford. Hooker used them in a new defensive line he succeeded in pulling together before midnight.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,626
Reaction score
4,544
These are the regiments that made up of Buschbeck Brigade ...( 29th NY. Inf. Reg., 154th NY. Inf. Reg., 27th PA. Inf. Reg., 73rd PA. Inf. reg.)
 
Top