On May 3 Lee’s army drove Union forces from the Chancellorsville clearing after several hours of intense fighting. As Hooker withdrew to a new defensive position close to the Rappahannock, Lee learned that Union troops under Major General John Sedgwick had captured Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg and were advancing on Chancellorsville. Leaving about 20,000 men to face Hooker, Lee attacked Sedgwick on May 4 at Salem Church, four miles west of Fredericksburg. After an inconclusive battle, Sedgwick withdrew across the Rappahannock on the night of May 4–5. Hooker retreated across the river the following night, ending a campaign in which the Union lost about 17,000 men killed, wounded, or missing, and the Confederates about 13,000. Catherine Edmondston followed reports of the fighting from her plantation home in Halifax County, North Carolina.
MAY 5, 1863
News last night principally rumours. The enemy under General Stoneman have made a dash into our lines and emulous of Stuart have penetrated into the heart of Va, cutting Telegraph wires, tearing up R R tracks, but as I do not know whether the particulars are authentic I will wait until they are confirmed. Rumour has it that we fought on Sunday the 3d & repulsed the enemy at every point save one & took five thousand prisoners. Stonewall Jackson and A P Hill both wounded, the first slightly, the latter severely, but we do not know whether it be true or not; in fact we do not know that there has been a fight—not even a Telegram. Matters in the West more confused than ever. I cannot keep up with them—a skirmish here at some unpronounceable unheard of before name in which we are successful & another there at some equally unknown place from which we retire. Morgan, Van Dorn, and Forrest destroy R R Bridges & tear up tracks until one would think there were none left to be destroyed. They capture one waggon train only to make room for another, but our eyes are bent now on Fredericksburg & Gen Lee. God grant him the victory. Rachel Jones came to make us a visit last night.
MAY 6, 1863
News of a Victory at Fredericksburg! Hooker is repulsed & is in retreat. More than that we cannot tell, but that fills our hearts with grateful praise. Lee telegraphs that by “the blessing of God we have gained a great Victory”—10,000 prisoners are captured, no details of our loss in either killed or Wounded. The Cavalry expedition sent out to beat up our quarters carry dismay and surprise to an unexpectant country. They have torn up the R R track between Gordonsville & Richmond, stolen horses, & captured an old engine. Beyond that they have effected nothing, but the insult is great & a burning shame which must be wiped out in blood ere it can be atoned. One of the Col’s, one Davis, boasts that he is a Virginian, is familiar with the country over which he has often fox hunted! More shame to him a traitor & a renegade! Their movements are wrapped in obscurity, & they have cut the Telegraph wires so that our intercourse with the Army is destroyed for the present. The next news we hear of them will, I hope, be that they are all in the Libby Prison, but it is the most daring thing the Yankees have as yet attempted & should put us on our guard against despising our enemy.
Where is Stuart? “One blast upon his bugle horn were worth ten thousand men.” Where is he that he allows the Abolitionists thus to careen through our lines & pluck his Laurels unwithered from his brow?
MAY 7, 1863
News from the Rappahanock! A victory, tho dearly bought! The Abolitionists crossed, as I before stated, about 15 miles above Fredericksburg after making a feint at that point. He strongly entrenched that wing of his army which rested upon the River, but Jackson making a rapid march got into his rear beyond Chancellorsville whilst Lee made an attack in point at that point. Thus pressed, his left Flank was doubled up upon his right which lay on the River (the Rapid Ann) which he crossed in great confusion, the slaughter being terrific. In the mean time Early who had been left in command of Fredericksburg & the intrenchments there was attacked by over whelming odds under Gen Sedgwick (I wonder if he is any kin of mine) & driven from the post, Sedgwick even gaining Marye’s Hill. But let me tell the rest in Lee’s own words—“At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville on Sunday the enemy was reported as advancing from Fredericksburg in our rear. General McLaws was sent back to arrest his progress & repulsed him handsomly that afternoon. Learning that this corps consisted of his corps under General Sedgwick I determined to attack it & marched back yesterday with General Anderson & uniting with McLaws & Early in the afternoon, succeeded by the blessing of Heaven in driving Gen Sedgewick over the River. We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, & no enemy remains south of the Rappahanock in its vicinity.” Dated May 5th.
Hooker is on the South bank of the Rappahanock, reported as entrenching & receiving reinforcements, but he is a beaten man. His prestige is gone and to God are our praises due. “With His own right hand and His holy arm hath He gotten Himself the victory.” Fill our hearts with grateful praise, and may we as a nation ascribe unto God the praise due unto His name.
Jackson’s wound was in this wise. At midnight on Saturday night, his troops being drawn up in line of battle, a body of men were seen a short distance in advance of our line. It being doubtful whether they were friends or enemies, Gen Jackson & staff rode forward to reconnoitre. Whilst thus engaged, his own men being unaware of his movements, mistook himself & staff for enemies & fired a volley into them instantly killing one & severely wounding Gen Jackson & Major Crutchfield. One ball struck his left arm below the elbow & ranging upwards shattered the bone near the shoulder. Another passed through his right hand. He instantly fell to the ground. His brother in Law laid down by his side to ascertain what were his wounds. In a moment the unknown troops in front who proved to be the enemy advancing captured two of his staff who were standing over him without, however, perceiving him. A stretcher was procured & four of his men were bearing him to the rear when they were all shot down. His arm has been amputated above the elbow, and the injury to his right hand is severe, one of the bones having been shot away, but it is beleived that he will recover the use of it. He is reported as doing well & Mrs Jackson—who was in Richmond has joined him. He is a heavy loss to us & the Yankees will think their defeat cheaply purchased with his life. Of course they will say that his men did it purposely & that they were demoralized—but who will beleive them?
The Cavalry raid in the vicinity of Richmond is most annoying & insulting, but they have done but little real damage besides destroying a span of the R R Bridge over the Chickahominy & delaying our communication with Fredericksburg. The damage will soon be repaired, but the additional suffering to our wounded is a serious consideration. They captured an ambulance train, destroyed the engine & paroled the wounded. A young lady having heard of their advance informed Col Duke of Wise’s Legion who was, with a small detachment of men—infantry, fortunately within reach. He placed his men on the train & reached Tunstall’s at the very moment that they did. Taking them thus by surprise, he killed several & captured fifteen of the marauders. They came within two miles of Richmond, stealing Mr John Young’s horse from before his door in his sight. He, poor man, offered no resistance thinking Gen Lee was beaten and that this was the advance of Hooker’s army. He had no time for “an abstraction” then, fond as he used to be of them.
MAY 9, 1863
Gen Lee’s dispatch to the President dated Chancellorsville May 7th tells us that “After driving Sedgewick across the Rappahanock on the night of the 4th I (he) returned on the 5th to Chancellorsville. The march was delayed by a storm which continued all night and the following day. In placing the troops in position on the morning of the 6th to attack Gen Hooker, it was ascertained that he had abandoned his fortified position. The line of skirmishers was pressed forward until they came in range of the enemies batteries planted on the north of the Rappahanock which from the configuration of the ground completely commanded this side. His army, therefore, escaped with the loss of a few additional prisoners.” Signed R E Lee, General. So he is gone, driven back, beaten ignominiously by a far inferior force, for we had but 80,000 (eighty thousand) men all told, whilst he has 158,000 (one hundred and fifty eight). Our loss is stated on the best authority now attainable at nine hundred killed & six thousand wounded many of them slightly so. We lost some prisoners, but all told killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing—eight thousand covers it. Theirs is estimated at thirty thousand. We have nine thousand prisoners! We took fifty three canon & lost five on Marye’s Hill, belonging to the Washington Artillery. The no of muskets captured & picked up on the battlefield is enormous. Were Lee now to advance, a large part of Hooker’s Army could not fight for want of a weapon. They are piled by the side of the R R track—a wonder to the beholder. The enemies loss in generals is heavy, including the infamous Sickles. Six are enumerated, but they are not of consequence enough to interest me. We lose one—Gen Paxton—in command of the old Stonewall Brigade. We have lost several Colonels, but as yet the details are not published. Stoneman is reported as encamped in heavy force near Gordonsville. Ah that we could capture him! No news of importance from the West. Van Dorn is dead, but how we hear not. Forrest, Wheeler, & Morgan continue to annoy Rosencrans & capture his marauding parties. In Louisianna we have had a repulse. At Grand Gulf Gen Taylor was forced to retreat, which he did fighting, after two days battle. He had 3000, the enemy 20,000 men, yet he came off in good order, bringing guns & stores. One waggon (whose mule gave out) only was captured. Our loss not heavy. All quiet before Vicksburg.
MAY 11, 1863
Went out Hascosea after dinner with Mr E on horseback. Everything is terribly backward there. The garden wants work & the flowers resent the neglect by refusing to bloom. A little girl ran out from the house of one of our neighbours & stopped us to ask for some flowers for their May party next Friday. Promised to send them, much to her gratification. Ah! me what happiness have May Queen’s conferred on me in times gone by & what a contrast to the times does a Queen of May now present.
The mail came in after tea & heavy news it brought us. A chill went through my heart as Mr Edmondston unfolded the paper & I saw that it was in mourning. I felt that Jackson was dead! & so it proved! He died of pneumonia on Sunday the 10th, eight days after the amputation of his arm, died in the fulness of his reputation, the brightness of his glory, a Christian patriot, unselfish, untiring, with no thought but for his country, no aim but for her advancement. I have no heart to write more, tho the paper is full of news. I care for nothing but him. It is as tho a Divine voice has said again “Little children keep yourselves from idols.” He was the nation’s idol, not a breath even from a foe has ever been breathed against his fame. His very enemies reverenced him. God has taken him from us that we may lean more upon Him, feel that He can raise up to Himself instruments to work His Divine Will.
MAY 12, 1863
Woke up this morning with a sense of a heavy misfortune. Asked myself what had happened & remembered that Jackson was dead! Omitted to write yesterday that my nephew Thomas Jones had brought his wife to fathers. We go up to see her this morning. I shall offer her a home until the war is ended—for she cannot return into the lines of the hated enemy & since Hill’s repulse at Washington, they have grown more stringent & oppressive. The papers are full of McClellan’s & Burnside testimony respecting the command & conduct of the Army of the Potomac. I take little interest in any of them, or anything they say. They only offer an additional proof, if proof were wanting, that neither Lincoln, Halleck, Stanton, McClellan, Burnside, or Hooker understand the first principles of a gentleman. Deficient alike in self respect & respect for each other, they know not what is due themselves from their subordinates, or their subordinates from their own hands. Faugh! they disgust me, a set of cold blooded quill drivers. They have neither the instincts or the impulses of gentlemen.