Friday, May 1, 1863
In the evening Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson met along the Orange Plank Road to discuss a bold plan to divide the Confederate army once again, with Stonewall leading a force around the flank of the Union army and striking it from the rear as General Lee's main force attacks the Union army from the front. Jackson's plan was bold and risky, as it necessitated another division of the Confederate army. General Lee approved the plan and Jackson began his flanking move.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Lee Takes the Initiative
Friday, May 1, 1863
General Joseph Hooker took a defensive position around the intersection at Chancellorsville to the surprise and dismay of his senior officers. In a bold and daring action General Robert E. Lee divided his army to take an offensive position around Chancellorsville.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.
General Joseph Hooker took a defensive position around the intersection at Chancellorsville to the surprise and dismay of his senior officers. In a bold and daring action General Robert E. Lee divided his army to take an offensive position around Chancellorsville.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.
Regimental Matters – Promotions for George Macy and Henry Abbott
Friday, May 1, 1863
Major George Macy was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Twentieth Massachusetts, succeeding Frederick Dreyer, who died of his wounds on May 1. Captain Henry Abbott of Company I was promoted to Major.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Major George Macy was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Twentieth Massachusetts, succeeding Frederick Dreyer, who died of his wounds on May 1. Captain Henry Abbott of Company I was promoted to Major.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Hooker's Bold Plan
Thursday, April 30, 1863
The movements of the Union army around Chancellorsville revealed General Joseph Hooker's intentions to surround and destroy the Confederate army. General Robert E. Lee, reading Hooker's intentions, removed the main body of his army from Fredericksburg.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.
The movements of the Union army around Chancellorsville revealed General Joseph Hooker's intentions to surround and destroy the Confederate army. General Robert E. Lee, reading Hooker's intentions, removed the main body of his army from Fredericksburg.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Advancing toward Chancellorsville
Wednesday, April 29, 1863
Beginning their advance on Monday the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps crossed the Rappahannock River at Kelly's Ford twenty-seven miles from Fredericksburg this morning. The First and Third Divisions of the Second Corps reached the Rappahannock River at the United States Ford. The Twentieth Massachusetts, in the Second Division of the Second Corps under the command of General John Gibbon, remained in Falmouth as a diversion to the movements of the Union army. 1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 238. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 231.
Beginning their advance on Monday the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps crossed the Rappahannock River at Kelly's Ford twenty-seven miles from Fredericksburg this morning. The First and Third Divisions of the Second Corps reached the Rappahannock River at the United States Ford. The Twentieth Massachusetts, in the Second Division of the Second Corps under the command of General John Gibbon, remained in Falmouth as a diversion to the movements of the Union army. 1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 238. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 231.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sumner Paine Commissioned as Second Lieutenant
Thursday, April 23, 1863
Eighteen-year old Sumner Paine, great-grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Robert Treat Paine and cousin of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was commissioned as a second lieutenant from civilian life.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 228. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Eighteen-year old Sumner Paine, great-grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Robert Treat Paine and cousin of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was commissioned as a second lieutenant from civilian life.1
References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 228. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Letters from the Front - Nathan Hayward
Sunday, April 19, 1863
In a letter to his father Doctor Nathan Hayward expressed the belief that the Army of the Potomac would be on the move again within a few days and that eight days rations were kept on hand in necessity of a quick movement. He relayed that they currently held a strong position along the Rappahannock River but was unsure if they would hold that position in favor of another. He mentioned that they may advance on Richmond by way of the Pamunkey River. He ended with high praise for General McClellan, whose popularity with the Army of the Potomac was still very strong. 1
References:
1Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 418-421, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
In a letter to his father Doctor Nathan Hayward expressed the belief that the Army of the Potomac would be on the move again within a few days and that eight days rations were kept on hand in necessity of a quick movement. He relayed that they currently held a strong position along the Rappahannock River but was unsure if they would hold that position in favor of another. He mentioned that they may advance on Richmond by way of the Pamunkey River. He ended with high praise for General McClellan, whose popularity with the Army of the Potomac was still very strong. 1
References:
1Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 418-421, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Union Cavalry Advances
Monday, April 13, 1863
In an attempt to cut off Confederate General Robert E. Lee from Richmond Union Cavalry General George Stoneman began a movement around the left flank of the Confederate line. Stoneman's advance was impeded by severe rainstorms, and the cavalry was unable to cross the Rappahannock River for two weeks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 237.
In an attempt to cut off Confederate General Robert E. Lee from Richmond Union Cavalry General George Stoneman began a movement around the left flank of the Confederate line. Stoneman's advance was impeded by severe rainstorms, and the cavalry was unable to cross the Rappahannock River for two weeks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 237.
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