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almost the whole of McLean's* brigade, mixed up with a number of Von Gilsa'st men, came rushing down the road in wild confusion, and the battery of the First Division broke in upon my right. The confused mass of guns, caissons, horses, and men broke lengthwise through the ranks of my regiments deployed on the line in the road. The whole line deployed on the old turnpike, facing south, was rolled up and swept away in a moment. The Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, flanked on both sides and exposed to a terrible fire in front, maintained the unequal contest for a considerable time, nor did it fall back until I ordered it to do so.

The enemy was now pouring in great force upon our right and left . . . and the position in and near the Church grove could no longer be held. Behind the rifle-pit there was a confused mass of men belonging to all the divisions. The enemy advancing on our right and left with rapidity the artillery ceased firing, and soon the rifle-pit was given up. The retreat now became general, and the confusion increased as the troops marched through the woods.

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The losses suffered by my division in the action of May 2 were, in killed, wounded and missing, nine hundred and fifty-three.

* McLean's and Von Gilsa's Brigades of First Division. Howard's Eleventh Corps.

Gen. Robert E. Lee's Report of Chancellorsville Campaign.

Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, September 21, 1863.

GENERAL: After the battle of Fredericksburg the army remained encamped on the south side of the Rappahannock until the latter part of April. The Federal army occupied the north side of the river opposite Fredericksburg, extending to the Potomac. Two brigades of (R. H.) Anderson's division -those of Generals (William) Mahone and (Carnot) Posey-were stationed near the United States Mine (or Bark Mill) Ford, and a third, under General (C. M.) Wilcox, guarded Banks' Ford. The cavalry was distributed on both flanks, Fitzhugh Lee's brigade picketing the Rappahannock above the mouth of the Rapidan and W. H. F. Lee's near Port Royal. Hampton's brigade had been sent into the interior to recruit. General (James) Longstreet, with two divisions of his corps, was detached for service south of James River in February, and did not rejoin the army until after the battle of Chancellorsville.

With the exception of the engagement between Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and the ene

my's cavalry near Kelly's Ford on March 17, of which a brief report has been already for warded to the Department, nothing of interest transpired during this period of inactivity.

On April 14 intelligence was received that the enemy's cavalry was concentrating on the upper Rappahannock. Their efforts to establish themselves on the south side of the river were successfully resisted by Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and two regiments of W. H. F. Lee's, the whole under the immediate command of General Stuart.

About the 21st, small bodies of infantry appeared at Kelly's Ford and the Rappahannock bridge, and almost at the same time a demonstration was made opposite Port Royal, where a party of infantry crossed the river about the 23d. These movements were evidently intended to conceal the design of the enemy, but, taken in connection with the reports of scouts, indicated that the Federal army, now commanded by Major-General Hooker, was about to resume active operations.

At 5.30 A. M. on April 28 the enemy crossed the Rappahannock in boats near Fredericksburg, and, driving off the pickets on the river, proceeded to lay down a pontoon bridge a short distance below the mouth of Deep Run. Later in the forenoon another bridge was constructed about a mile below the first. A considerable force crossed on these bridges during the day and was massed

out of view under the high banks of the river. The bridges, as well as the troops, were effectually protected from our artillery fire by the depth of the river bed and the narrowness of the stream, while the batteries on the opposite heights completely commanded the wide plain between our lines and the river. As in the first battle of Fredericksburg, it was thought best to select positions with a view to resist the advance of the enemy, rather than incur the heavy loss that would attend any attempt to prevent his crossing. Our dispositions were accordingly made as on the former occasion.

No demonstration was made opposite any other part of our lines at Fredericksburg, and the strength of the force that had crossed and its apparent indisposition to attack indicated that the principal effort of the enemy would be made in some other quarter. This impression was confirmed by intelligence received from General Stuart that a large body of infantry and artillery was passing up the river. During the forenoon of the 29th that officer reported that the enemy had crossed in force near Kelly's Ford on the preceding evening. Later in the day he announced that a heavy column was moving from Kelly's toward Germanna Ford, on the Rapidan, and another toward Ely's Ford, on that river. The routes they were pursuing after crossing the Rapidan converge near Chancellorsville, whence several roads lead to the rear of our position at Fredericksburg.

On the night of the 29th General Anderson was directed to proceed toward Chancellorsville and dispose Wright's brigade and the troops from the Bark Mill Ford to cover these roads. Arriving at Chancellorsville about midnight, he found the commands of Generals Mahone and Posey already there, having been withdrawn from the Bark Mill Ford, with the exception of a small guard.

Learning that the enemy had crossed the Rapidan and were approaching in strong force, General Anderson retired early on the morning of the 30th to the intersection of the Mine and Plank roads, near Tabernacle Church, and began to intrench himself. The enemy's cavalry skirmished with the rear guard as he left Chancellorsville, but, being vigorously repulsed by Mahone's brigade, offered no further opposition to his march. Mahone was placed on the old turnpike, Wright and Posey on the Plank road.

In the mean time General Stuart had been directed to endeavor to impede the progress of the column marching by way of Germanna Ford. Detaching W. H. F. Lee with his two regiments (the Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia) to oppose the main body of the enemy's cavalry, General Stuart crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford with Fitzhugh Lee's brigade on the night of the 29th. Halting to give his men a few hours' repose, he ordered Colonel (Thomas H.) Owen with the Third Virginia Cavalry to throw himself in front of the enemy, while the rest of the brig

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