On April 30, 1863 General Joseph Hooker led part of his huge army onto the flank of General Robert Edward Lee’s army of Northern Virginia which consequently turned out to be a major battle in the American Civil War. The battle took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Although Hooker’s Army of the Potomac outnumbered Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia with approximately 130,000 men against 60,000, Lee had to send about 15,000 of his soldiers to gather food due to the fact that they had to face significant supply challenges. These 15,000 soldiers did not return until the Battle of Chancellorsville was over, leading to the fact that the other 45,000 veterans soldiers hat to face an army with the size of 130,000 soldiers. Lee knew the Wilderness of Virginia and took their chance by fighting against the opponents in there. Lee decided to divide his army into two, and gave half of his troops to General Stonewall Jackson. On May 6, 1863, the day of the battle’s conclusion, the Battle of Chancellorsville became the bloodiest battle in American history. Although Lee decided to carry out his risky plan, he won the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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General Robert Edward Lee