Posted on 05/06/2023 6:42:33 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, NEAR CHANCELLORSVILLE, Sunday Evenings, May 6, 1863.
At this hour of writing, it is impossible to estimate the loss in to-day's battle on either side. We know that ours is heavy -- heavier than ever before in a battle of so short duration. We further know that the loss of the enemy is admitted by themselves to be perfectly frightful. We had the advantage in artillery, and our shells and canister tore and mangled their ranks fearfully. The prisoners are silent as to the loss of prominent officers, but some of the Alabamians in A.P. HILL's division say that he was killed early in the day, and that Gen. RAYNOR is now in command of the division.
Probably no battle was ever fought upon ground more unfavorable for the manœuvring and deploying of troops. Nearly the whole country in this vicinity is covered with dense forest, much of it being of the same character as "The Wilderness," lying only a short distance west of this point. The timber is mostly dead, and still very dense; then, to make the forest still more impenetrable, there is a denser growth of dead underbrush, so that it is hardly passable for man -- certainly not for beast -- and the worst place conceivable for handling troops. Yet a very great part of to-day's terrible battle was fought in this almost impenetrable jungle, and many dead and wounded on both sides still lie there, concealed in the gloomy depths of "The Wilderness." The only open ground upon which the battle was fought, was the plain on the south side of the plank-road, near Chancellorsville, half a mile long, and perhaps three hundred yards wide. The only open ground in our present position is a semi-circular crest,
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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From Hooker’s Army: Further Details of the Great Battles of Saturday and Sunday – 2-5
Important from Mississippi: Some of the Results of the Great Cavalry Raid – 5
Important from Vicksburgh: Preparations for an Attack on the Rebel Stronghold – 5
Important from Suffolk: Two Reconnoissances Across the Nansemond on Monday – 5
Important Arrest: Hon. Clement Vallandigham Apprehended – 5
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 5
Editorial: Aspect of the Campaign – 5-6
Vicksburgh – 6
Editorial: The Rebel Loss of Slaves – 7
Editorial: Copperheadism and the War-Spirit Abroad – 7
Virginia 1861 - 1863 Engagements to date
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18-19 | Sewell's Point, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| May 29- June 1 | Aquila Creek, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Fairfax Court House, VA | detachments from CSA & USA armies | 8 on each side, 1 each killed | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Arlington Mills, VA | detachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armies | Union 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 wounded | inconclusive |
| June 10 | Big Bethel, VA | Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400 | Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 15 | Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VA | Union schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Grays | none -- Christina Keen captured and burned | CSA |
| June 17 | Vienna, VA | Detachments from both Union & CSA armies | Union: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reported | CSA |
| June 27 | Matthias' Point, VA | Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500 | Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none | CSA |
| July 18 | Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas) | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100 | Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total | CSA |
| July 21 | Bull Run/Manassas, VA | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Patterson) -54,000 (18,000 engaged) vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -34,000 (18,000 engaged) | Union: 2,708-total (481-killed); CSA 1,897-total (387-killed) | CSA |
| Aug 7 | CSA burned Hampton, VA | Union (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | CSA |
| Aug 8 | skirmish at Lovettsville, VA | Union vs. Confederate | Union unknown; Confederates 6-total | USA |
| Aug 25 | Mason's Hill, VA | Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Aug 31 | Munson's Hill, VA | Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA | Union 5-total; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Sep 3 | Bailey's Cross Roads, VA | Union & Confederat detachments | Union 8-total; Confederates none | CSA |
| Sep 11 | Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County) | Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400) | Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates none | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Oct 21 | Ball's Bluff, VA | Union MA, NY, MI, MN & CA Infantry, RI Artillery (Stone -1,720) & Confederate VA & MS Infantry, VA cavalry & artillery (Evans -1,709) | Union 1,002-total, including Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes (223-killed including US Senator Edward Baker R-OR)), Confederates 155-total (36-killed) | CSA |
| Nov 26 | Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VA | Union 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120) | Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0? | CSA |
| Dec 20 | Drainsville, VA | Union Pennsylvania Volunteers (Ord ~5,000) & Confederate VA, KY & NC Volunteers (Stuart ~4,000) | Union 71-total (?-killed), Confederates 230-total (?-killed) | USA (1st larger Union victory in VA) |
| Jan 3, 1862 | Cockpit Point, VA | Union gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50) | none | Inconclusive |
| Mar 8-9 | Hampton Roads, VA | Union Navy (Marsten, Worden, USS Monitor +11 ships) & Confederate Navy (Buchanan, Jones CSS Virginia +5 ships) | Union 369 total (261 killed, 7 ships sunk), Confederate 24 total (7- killed) | Inconclusive (Strategic USA) |
| Mar 23 | Kernstown, VA | Union Army of Potomac V Corps (Kimball ~9,000) & Confederate Stonewall Division (Jackson ~4,200) | Union 590 total (118-killed), Confederate 718 total (80- killed) | USA tactical, CSA strategoc |
| April 5 - May 4 | Yorktown, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~103,000) & Confederate Army (Magruder, JE Johnson ~72,000) | Union 182-total (unkn-killed), Confederate 300-total (unkn killed) | Inconclusive, Confederates retreated |
| May 5 | Williamsburg, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~41,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston, Longstreet ~32,000) | Union 2,283-total (~342-KIA), Confederates 1,682-total (~252 kia) | Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew) |
| May 7 | Eltham's Landing, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Franklin ~11,300), Confederate Army of Northern VA (GW Smith ~11,000) | Union 194-total (~29 killed), Confederates 48-total (~7-killed) | Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew) |
| May 8 | McDowell, VA | Union OH & WVA infantry (Milroy, Schenck ~6,500), Confederate Virginia Infantry (Stonewall Jackson, E Johnson ~9,000) | Union 259-total (~28 killed), Confederates 532-total (~146-killed) | CSA |
| May 15 | Fort Darling, VA | Union VA River Squadron (Rogers 5-river warships), Confederate fort (Farrand, Mahone -fort artillery) | Union 27-total (14-killed), Confederates 15-total (7-killed) | CSA |
| May 23 | Front Royal, VA | Union Dept of Shenandoah (Kenly ~1,063), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~3,0000) | Union 773-total (83-killed), Confederates 36-total (unkwn-killed) | CSA |
| May 25 | Winchester, VA | Union Dept of Shenandoah (Banks ~6,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~16,0000) | Union 2,019-total (62-killed), Confederates 397-total (68-killed) | CSA |
| May 27 | Hanover Court House, VA | Union V-Corps (Porter ~12,000), Confederate NC Infantry (Branch ~4,0000) | Union 397-total (62-killed), Confederates 930-total (70-killed) | USA |
| May 31 - June 1 | Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~34,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston ~39,000) | Union 5,431-total (790-killed), Confederates 6,134-total (980-killed) | Inconclusive (both sides claimed victory) |
| June 6 | Good's Farm, Harrisonburg, VA | Union PA Inf, NJ Cav, Confederate Steuart's VA Inf (Ashby+) | Unknown | CSA |
| June 8 | Cross Keys, VA | Union Mountain Dept, (Fremont ~11,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Ewell ~5,800) | Union 684-total (114-killed), Confederates 287-total (42-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 9 | Port Republic, VA | Union Dept of Rappahonnock (Tyler ~3,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~6,000) | Union 1,002-total (150?-killed), Confederates 816-total (122?-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 25 - Jul 1 | Seven Days, near Richmond, VA | Union Army of Potomac (McClellan ~115,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~92,000) | Union ~18,000-total (2,100-killed), Confederates ~19,000-total, (~3,200-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| July 3 | Evelington Heights, VA | Union Army of Potomac, Confederate Army of N VA -- monor skirmish | no casualties reported | USA |
| Aug 9 | Cedar Mountain, VA | Union Army of VA (Banks -8,030, Confederate Army of NVA ("Stonewall" Jackson -16,868) | Union 2,353-total (314-killed), Confederates ~1,338-total (231-killed) | CSA |
| Aug 23-25 | Rappahannock Station, VA | Union Army of VA brigades (Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA brigades (Longstreet) | Union ~180-total, Confederates ~90-total | Inconclusive or CSA Victory? |
| Aug 26-27 | Manassas Station, VA | Union Army of VA (Taylor-killed, Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA (Stonewall Jackson, Ewell) | Union ~450-total, Confederates ~173-total | CSA |
| Aug 28 | Thoroughfare Gap, VA | Union Army of VA, (Ricketts -5,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Longstreet -28,000) | Union ~50-total, Confederates ~50-total | CSA |
| Aug 28-30 | 2nd Bull Run, Manassas, VA | Union Army of VA, (Pope ~62,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Lee -51,000) | Union ~14,462-total (1,747-killed), Confederates ~7,298-total (1,096-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Sep 1 | Chantilly, VA | Union Army of the Potomac, (Kearny+, Stevens+ ~6,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, JEB Stuart -20,000) | Union 1300-total (195-killed?), Confederates 800 total (120=killed?) | CSA |
| Sep 12-15 | Harper's Ferry, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Miles+, White ~14,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, AP Hill ~25,000) | Union 12,636-total (44-killed), Confederates 286-total (39-killed) | CSA (fort held) |
| Sep 20 | Blackford's Ford, Sheppardstown, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Porter, ~2,000), Confederate Army of the N VA (Pendleton, AP Hill ~2,000) | Union 363-total (55?-killed), Confederates 298-total (45?-killed) | CSA |
| Oct 31-Nov 2 | Unison, Loudoun County VA | Union Army of the Potomac, (McClellan, divisions), Confederate Army of Northern VA (Stuert, brigade) | Union 12-total (2?-killed), Confederates 18-total (3?-killed) | inconclusive |
| Dec 13 | Fredericksburg, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Burnside ~122,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (RE Lee ~78,500) | Union 12,653-total (1,284-killed), Confederates 5,377-total (608-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Mar 17,1863 | Kelly's Ford, VA | Union Cavalry, Army of the Potomac (Averell ~2,100), Confederate Cavalry, Army of North VA (Fitzhugh Lee ~800) | Union 78-total (6-killed), Confederates 133-total (11-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Apr 11-May 4 | Suffolk I, VA | Union Dep of VA (Peck 17,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Longstreet 20,000) | Union 260-total (44-killed), Confederates 900-total (75?-killed) | USA? (Confederates withdrew) |
| Apr 19 | Suffolk II, VA | Union Dep of VA (Peck 17,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Longstreet 20,000) | Union 17-total (6-killed), Confederates 148-total (1-killed) | USA |
| May 3 | Fredericksburg II, VA | Union Army the Potomac (Sedjwick ~27,100), Confederate Army of N VA (Early, ~12,000) | Union 1,100-total (165?-killed), Confederates 700-total (105-killed) | USA |
| May 3-4 | Salem Church, VA | Union Army the Potomac (Sedjwick ~23,100), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee, ~10,000) | Union 1,100-total (165?-killed), Confederates 700-total (105-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| May 1-6 | Chancellorsville, VA | Union Army the Potomac (Hooker 133,868), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee, 60,298) | Union 12,145-total (1,082-killed), Confederates 12,764-total (1,665-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of May 6, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 10 | 23 | 12 | 52 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Florida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 7 | 1 | 17 |
| Arkansas | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Texas | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alabama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 52 | 49 | 18 | 119 |
Engagements in Union states/territories:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Missouri | 14 | 13 | 1 | 28 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Engagements in Union | 38 | 33 | 6 | 77 |
| Total Engagements to date | 90 | 82 | 24 | 196 |
Casualties were high on both sides -- both sides lost two generals killed and several wounded, including the CSA's star, Stonewall Jackson.
In victory, Lee's casualties were 22% of his smaller force, while Hooker's were 9% of his much larger force. Casualties of both sides totaled over 25,000 including over 2,700 killed in action, with Confederate casualties slightly outnumbering Union casualties.
These bring the war's totals to ~347,000 casualties including over 40,000 killed in action.
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