There was little fighting early in 1863 as both sides sought to shore up their forces from the heavy losses of the previous year. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on
January 1 but had no immediate impact on the progress of the war. Ironically, the Emancipation Proclamation technically freed no slaves at all-only those under control of the Confederacy, although those who were able took advantage of Lincoln's declaration. But the proclamation eventually started a flood of runaways that led to thousands of former slaves joining the Union armies starting in 1863.
On March 3 the Union put into effect the first national Conscription Act. Men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for the draft, but any male who could hire a substitute or pay a $300 fee could be exempted. That provision angered many in the North, especially working-class people, who now saw the conflict as a "rich man's war and a poor man's fight." The draft would lead to trouble later in the year.
Following the Battle of Fredericksburg Lincoln appointed General Joseph Hooker to command the Army of the Potomac. Hooker, like McClellan, had many good qualities. Some of his innovations, such as distinctive unit patches of the kind soldiers still wear on their sleeves, were created to increase unit cohesion and morale. But Hooker, known as "Fighting Joe," was something of a blowhard. Officers, including Confederates, who had played poker with him in the old days, suspected that Hooker could be bluffed when all the chips were on the table. An excellent corps commander, Hooker proved inadequate to the demands of top command of the Army of the Potomac.
Chancellorsville. On May 2-4 the Battle of Chancellorsville turned out to be what is known as Lee's "greatest victory." Lee was in Fredericksburg, and Hooker decided to move against him, but then lost his nerve and retreated across the Rappahannock River. Lee attacked. He had divided his army in the face of his numerically superior opponent, but the speed of Jackson's advance caught Hooker's army by surprise. The Confederates rolled up the Federal flank. General Hooker, stunned by a cannonball that struck near him, became confused and pulled his army back, leaving the field to Lee. While the victory was indeed one of Lee's greatest achievements, it was an extremely costly victory. His most trusted commander, General Stonewall Jackson, was accidentally shot by his own men and died a few days later. Lee, devastated, said, "I have lost my right arm." Historians who have examined the battle place substantial blame for the loss on Hooker while still giving well-deserved credit to Lee. But it may be noted that Chancellorsville was Lee's last victory. Stonewall Jackson could not be replaced.
Stonewall Jackson Statue, Manassas
With two large and significant victories behind him, Lee once again decided to invade the North through Maryland in hope of bringing the war to a conclusion. Before they set off, however, General Jeb Stuart requested a review to show off the skill and flash of his cavalry. For most of the early part of the war Confederate cavalry had been unquestionably superior to the Union horsemen. But following Stuart's impressive review, the largest cavalry battle of the war was fought at Brandy Station, with a disappointing outcome. On June 9 at 4:30 a. m. Union Major General Alfred Pleasanton attacked Stuart's cavalry. The battle lasted ten hours, and Stuart's cavalry was fought to a draw by Pleasanton's horse soldiers. Stuart was saved from an embarrassing defeat by the actions of Brigadier General W. H.F. "Rooney" Lee. For the remainder of the war, Union cavalry more than held its own against their Confederate counter-
Parts.
Late in June Lee crossed into Maryland and was nearing the Pennsylvania border. Lee was being tracked by the new commander of the Army of the Potomac, General George Gordon
Meade. Part of Lee's army was heading in the direction of Harrisburg, while the bulk of his forces were west of the little town of Gettysburg. Lee had sent Jeb Stuart out to keep an eye on the Union Army, giving his cavalry commander what might have seemed to be ambiguous orders. Stuart, wishing to redeem himself from his embarrassing performance at Brandy Station, traveled across the Potomac toward Rockville, Maryland. There he harassed Union support units. He seized a number of Union supply wagons, thinking the captured material would be welcomed by General Lee. What his commander needed, however, was not so much extra supplies as knowledge of the Union Army's whereabouts. Union cavalry under the command of General John Buford was, by contrast, keeping a much closer eye on Lee's movements and reporting information back to Union commanders.
World History
