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Chancellorsville Day One
Acquisition of 215 acres, in partnership with the Civil War Preservation Trust, has protected the scene of the opening engagement of the battle of Chancellorsville. The CVBT identified this area as critical terrain for acquisition, but had to work with the owner for years before preservation became possible. An initial 140 acres was saved in 2004, in partnership with Tricord Homes and the CWPT. Another 75 acres was protected by the CWPT, in partnership with the County of Spotsylvania and a developer called Toll Brothers. Housing development will occur north of the preserved property, but the historic tree line will be reestablished, based on contemporary maps. The new trees as well as the rolls in the terrain will screen this modern presence from the 1863 landscape.
Understanding the battle of Chancellorsville requires an understanding of the first day’s fighting. In the opening stages of the campaign, the Union army stole a march on the Confederates when it swung far to the west and crossed both the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. As the Union columns moved toward Fredericksburg, Stonewall Jackson gathered whatever troops were available and pushed them west. The two sides collided on May 1st, 1863, on the land just preserved. At the end of the day, the army that occupied the high ground would eventually win the battle. Being able to walk this ground and see the importance of the terrain features is a critical step in being able to understand the overall battle. This rolling, open ground is also a dramatic gateway to the Chancellorsville battlefield and a prime location for a new visitor center. |
