Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/432

 426 Southern Historical Society Papers.

he boldly issued his orders. Barksdale was ordered to hold back any Federal force left in Fredericksburg, Stuart and Anderson were ordered to threaten Chancellorsville, while, in person, Lee advanced with McLaws and Wilcox and a portion of Anderson's division, com- posed of Posey's and Perry's brigades, to attack Sedgwick in front, while Early attacked in the rear. Sedgwick, finding himself attacked front and rear by fifteen thousand men, instead of being able to at- tack Lee in his rear, hurriedly and rapidly retired by his right flank toward Banks's ford, and recrossed the Rappahannock that night. Lee, thus relieved of the presence of Sedgwick, moved McLaws and Early toward Chancellorsville to support Anderson and Stuart, who had been threatening, but were now ordered to engage Hooker. Early on the 5th, Hooker, perplexed by his " Dutch entanglement," and alarmed by the failure of Sedgwick, declined the fight and re- treated toward the Rappahannock and crossed at the United States ford. Thus, Lee, with an army of less than fifty thousand men, all arms — ragged, half-rationed, and badly equipped — successfully met an army of over one hundred and twenty thousand men, magnifi- cently equipped, and on ground chosen by themselves and partly fortified. For five long days he maintained the unequal contest — skillfully foiled every effort of the enemy to gain his rear — drove Sedgwick from his flank — gained the rear of Hooker's ninety thou- sand men at Chancellorsville by the brilliant movement of Stonewall Jackson, and, by bold and gallant daring and heroic assaults, drove back the "finest army on the planet," routed and in disorder, be- yond the Rappahannock.

The loss of the entire brigade was six hundred and six officers and men ; Washington Artillery, about seventy officers and men ; Par- ker's Battery, about ten officers and men.

The battle of Chancellorsville, fought from Fredericksburg to the Wilderness, along two almost parallel roads — the "Plank Road" and the " Old Turnpike" — is justly regarded one of the proudest achievements of Southern arms. Military critics are puzzled at the result. Lee knew with absolute certainty that Hooker had over 120,000 men. Hooker knew with equal certainty that Lee had less than 50,000 men. Hooker moved over go,ooo to Chancellorsville, and left .Sedgwick in front of Fredericksburg with over 30,000. Why did Sedgwick cross a portion of his army over the river at