Did Stonewall Jackson Get it Right?

whitworth · #1 08-22-2006, 06:45 PM

Did Stonewall Jackson place himself in danger at Chancellorsville, because he knew the battle wasn't the great victory that historians would later call it.

Why was Jackson scouting for the next day's battle? What did he see in the battle that most historians never grasped?

Jackson had run over a poor performing 11th Corps, and had not inflicted a defeat on the Army of the Potomac, that could end the war. Could he have been looking for the better results of the next day battle, that could more influence the result of the war?

What if in studing Stonewall Jackson's action in the dusk, we come to a conclusion that he endangered himself because Chancellorsville was not yet a great victory.

gary · #2 08-23-2006, 09:18 AM

Stonewall didn't do the scouting because it wasn't a great victory. He was doing the scouting because he knew the battle wasn't finished and that the fighting would begin afresh the next day. The first day was largely a success, but there were still fresh units that hadn't be routed like the XI Corps had been. Everyone knew that while mauled, the Army of the Potomac had plenty of fight left in it.

gary · #3 08-23-2006, 09:19 AM

I'm hesitant to say that Jackson endangered himself soley because he knew it wasn't a great victory. Rather, Jackson was doing what any good leader does - study the terrain so as to use it to his best advantage. Fool Tom was no fool.

Ter61 · #4 08-23-2006, 09:34 AM

Stonewall Jackson was never worried about putting himself in danger. He was a very religious man and believed that the date of his death had already been set and nothing could be done to change it, He often said that he felt as safe on the battlefield as he did laying in bed. Jackson was scouting for a night attack because he wanted to try to finish the job he started, he wanted to try to destroy Hooker's army. Also, he was worried that Hooker's army would regroup and destroy Lee's army while it was still divided.

gary · #5 08-23-2006, 06:54 PM

Good point Ter61. Jackson always felt his fate was in God's hands and if God wanted to spare him, he would be spared. His faith in God gave him strength on the battlefield and made him personally fearless.