Jackson's night attack at Chancellorsville

[brett4733]

"But I know of no attack Lee's Army of Northern Virginia made on any large scale, that started after dusk?"

True, there are probably no planned night attacks that actually stepped off, on purpose; however, thinking back to December 13th, 1862, I am not so sure Jackson wasn't thinking of pushing his men forward after the sun set on May 2nd.
With the easy repulse of Burnside's effort at Fredericksburg, Stonewall had gone to Lee with the idea of pitching in to the Army of the Potomac, after dark, in order to negate the huge advantage the Yank artillery enjoyed from across the river on Stafford Heights. After thoroughly scouting the position of the AoP, it was deemed impractical. A couple of days later, the Federals were safely back across the Rappahannock.
I have no doubt, Old Jack was out in front of his corps on May 2nd looking for the same sort of opening he sought out six months before. If there was ANY chance to keep the AoP off balance, he wanted to exploit it. If resistance had stiffened in the final minutes of his charge that afternoon, whatever it was out front was, by necessity, still a patchwork affair. The Cornfeds were within a few hundred yards of the rear of the entire enemy line. Hill's Division was relatively unbloodied, and for the most part, had passed to the front, ready to go. All in all, I am fairly certain, from everything I've read, T.J. Jackson would have ordered a charge if he thought it had ANY chance.
Would it have worked? I doubt it. The men were skitish, on both sides. A snapping twig would ignite a massive, blind, firefight. The officers could only have relied upon a compass and a road entirely commanded by the Yanks for guidance when sent forward.
With that said, it probably wasn't the worst tactical choice. From reports, the Union I Corps had disappeared from Fredericksburg, and for all anyone in the Reb ranks knew, they could be squarely across their path in the morning. If the chopping of trees out front was any indication, the Feds would have a stout line of fieldworks, facing the correct direction, waiting with dawn.
Anyway...I digress...
As I stated earlier, I have no doubt that Stonewall was out there trying to figure out which way to send in A.P. Hill's Division, that night, if it seemed practicable.
Was it? Probably not...
Just my two cents worth...
Cheers and Fairwinds,
Brett Silver