Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/29

 General Lee's Strategy ut Chancellor sville. 21

by his subordinate commanders, but is chiefly due to Jackson, to whom the more difficult task was assigned. Whatever credit is due for suggesting what was done belongs to General Fitzlutgli Lee, and Colonel Henderson truly says that to his skill and activity the victory of Chancellorsville was in great part due.

All this responsibility rested on General Lee, and more, for as Colonel Henderson says, "To take advantage of the opportun- ity, the first rule of war must be violated." Could either Fitz- hugh Lee or Jackson relieve him of such responsibility? Em- phatically, No! All that any subordinate could do was to lay be- fore the commanding general the facts ascertained, by him on his part of the field, and when the chief, with his witler knowledge of conditions, had matured his plans, undertake with confidence the part allotted to him, and execute with his utmost skill and vigor the designs of his superior.

The claim that General Jackson at the last moment hastily proposed to take his entire command and execute a hazardous movement of his own devising and practically dictated to General Lee what he was to do meanwhile, is a reflection on the soldierly qualities of General Jackson, and General Lee resented such an imputation when he said to Dr. Bledsoe:

"Every movement of an army must be well considered and properly ordered, and everyone who knew General Jackson must know that he was too good a soldier to violate this fundamental military principle."

Three hours before sunset General Lee was on the Plank Road, two miles east of Chancellorsville. At four P. M., he sent a dispatch to General Stuart, of which the following copy is taken from the official records :

"PLANK ROAD, 2 MILES FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE, "May ist, 1863, 4 o'clock.

"Major General Stuart, Commanding Cavalry;

"The captured prisoners agree in stating that this is Meade's corps with which we are now engaged, and that Howard's corps preceded them across the Rapidan, and has taken some other