Number of casualties at the Battle of Chancellorsville 1863

The Battle of Chancellorsville has been described as General Robert E Lee's "perfect battle," as his strategical maneuvers and tactical risks paid off and led to a Confederate victory, despite the Union armies outnumbering the Confederacy by 40,000 men. This victory paved the way for Lee to launch his second invasion of the north during the American Civil War, where they would eventually be defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Lee outmaneuvers Hooker

This battle began when Union Major General Joseph Hooker moved his armies behind Lee's position at Fredericksburg, in an attempt to outflank Lee's men as they engaged another Union force. In a surprise move, Lee left roughly 20 percent of his men to defend Fredericksburg, and took the rest to meet Hooker's armies, removing Hooker's element of surprise - the subsequent fighting then forced Hooker back to Chancellorsville where he took up a defensive position. Lee then divided his army again, sending another force, led by Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, to flank one of the Union armies at Chancellorsville. The risky decision was a success, although Jackson was wounded by friendly fire while on a reconnaissance mission, and died eight days later.

High-risk and high reward

The heaviest fighting of the battle (and the second-bloodiest day of the American Civil War) was on May 3, 1863, where Lee finally pushed the Union forces out of Chancellorsville, before he was yet again forced to divide his army to face the Union force that had defeated the men Lee had left at Fredericksburg. The decision was another success, and despite the inferior numbers, Lee's decisions to split his armies at pivotal times took his enemies by surprise, and gave him an overall victory.