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newspaper 'Stonewall' Jackson from the flank, as was his custom
Date published: Sat, 05/18/2002 Part 11 of a series on the 1863
Battle of Chancellorsville AT MIDDAY ON May 1, 1863, several
thousand Federal soldiers in a dozen regiments occupied a strong
position astride the Orange Turnpike (modern State Route 3) not
far west of where Chancellor Elementary School now stands. The
north-south ridge they occupied afforded good cover, and they
knew that some friendly troops were on the parallel Orange Plank
Road to the south. The Northerners, commanded by Gen. George
Sykes, also could see strong Confederate columns arriving in the
vicinity of Zoan Church. The general had orders from army
commander Gen. Joseph Hooker that limited his potential for
aggression and independent action. Although his front looked
solid, Sykes had cause to worry about both of his flanks. To the
northeast, beyond hi