Civil War

Period hand-drawn Union Army map showing the geographical features and Confederate military movements of the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 2-5, 1863. 1pp sheet of white paper measuring 15.25” x 9.75” drawn and inscribed overall in graphite and red pen. In very good condition, the paper bright and the inscriptions clear. With expected wear including five vertical folds and central horizontal crease punctuated with minor tears.

Entitled “Map of Battle Ground, May 2d, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 1863”, the map shows the physical layout and battle lines of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Numerous significant geographical features are depicted on the map, including the Rappahannock River, the Rapidan River, Germanna Ford, Ely’s Ford, Ely’s Ford Road, U.S. Ford, the city of Chancellorsville, Hooker’s Union Army headquarters at Chancellor House, and Fairview. In addition, the map maker has indicated in the lower left legend that “dotted places [indicate] thick woods”, alluding to the heavily forested area known as the Wilderness of Spotsylvania. The map’s “Hunting Creek”, “Plank Road”, and “Andersonville Plank Road” are also known by the alternate appellations Hunting Run, Orange Turnpike, and Orange Plank Road. These rivers, fords, cities, and roads comprised the battle ground.

This is undoubtedly a Union army map, for two reasons. First, the map shows details of three ford locations on the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers that featured prominently in the initial crossing and later retreat of the Army of Potomac. Second, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia is simply labeled as “Rebel Army” at bottom center.

The Battle of Chancellorsville was another unsuccessful attempt by the Union Army to threaten the Confederate capital at Richmond. Union General Joseph Hooker (1814-1879) led the 130,000 strong Army of the Potomac against Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) and his 60,000-member Army of Northern Virginia. The Union Army was larger, better equipped, and more rested than Confederate forces, yet it was soundly defeated over the seven-day-long battle. Overall, there were 30,000 combined casualties, making the Battle of Chancellorsville the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. 

The map shows first and second Confederate battle lines on the most destructive days of fighting and during the subsequent Union retreat. On May 2nd, Lee audaciously split his army, allowing Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (1824-1863) to mount a surprise dinner hour attack on oblivious Union forces. During an evening patrol, Jackson was shot by friendly fire, taking him out of the fighting and eventually leading to his death eight days later. On May 3rd, the heaviest fighting of the battle occurred on three separate fronts at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Salem Church. The Union Army responded defensively, and began a three-day-long retreat over the northern Virginian rivers that culminated on May 6th.

An outstanding period map of one of the costliest battles of the Civil War!

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