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 166 Southern Historical Society Papers.

but from within her borders came many of the bravest men who fol- lowed the fortunes of the South. Her best blood stood in the fore- front of most of the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. In numbers she may not have furnished her quota, but in heroism and self-denial they were peerless among the troops that followed the colors of the South.

E. H. MCDONALD. Charlestown, W. Va.

. [From the Atlanta, Ga., Journal, November, 1901.]

CHANCELLORSVILLE.

The Fight Well Described by a Georgia Colonel.

FIGHTING JOE" HOOKER BOASTED.

He was Confident and Restless, but Ultimately Learnt his Lesson

How Jackson Lost his Life Some Brilliant Strategic

Movements Old Salem Church Parts Played

by Lee and Gordon.

General Hooker, commanding the Federal army in 1863, occupied the hills north of the Rappahannock river in rear of Fredericksburg, Va., with a force of about 125,000 thoroughly equipped and well seasoned troops. It was by far the best furnished body of soldiery at that time in the field on either side. It was commanded by " Fighting Joe Hooker," who had boasted " that while in command of the army of the west he had only been able to see the backs of the Confederate soldiers." He had been transferred to the army of the Potomac for the express purpose of taking Richmond. So san- guine was he of accomplishing this feat that he dated his general orders " Headquarters in the Saddle." General Lee's army of 59,000 veterans occupied the south bank of the river and in front of Fredericksburg. It was composed of Stonewall Jackson's and A. P. Hill's corps and McLaws' and Anderson's divisions of Longstreet's corps (Longstreet, with the balance of his corps, being at Suffolk, Va., some 200 miles away.)