Lincoln Presidential Museum explores one of the Civil War's
bloodiest battles
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[April 19, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- When Union forces
clashed with a much smaller Confederate army in the Battle of
Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee seized victory with what many
consider to be his strategic masterpiece. But Lee also paid a
terrible price, as a presentation on May 2 at the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum will explain.
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Dr. Mark DePue, historian and director of the oral history program
at the presidential library, will discuss the battle in a PowerPoint
presentation, using quotes from Civil War veterans, maps,
photographs and illustrations.
The free event, part of Illinois' observance of the 150th
anniversary of the Civil War, takes place in the museum's Union
Theater beginning at 7 p.m.
Reservations can be made by visiting
www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov and clicking on "Special
event tickets and reservations."
Union commander Joseph Hooker rebuilt a demoralized Army of the
Potomac and then took them across the Rappahannock River in pursuit
of Lee in April 1863. He outnumbered Lee's forces 2-to-1.
But the Confederate commander made bold moves over several days
of fighting in early May. Notably, he kept Hooker occupied with
skirmishes and feigned attacks while Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
took about 28,000 troops around to the Union's right flank and
launched a devastating surprise attack.
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In the end, Lee won -- but 22 percent of his soldiers were dead,
wounded or missing. And Jackson, his most able lieutenant, was
mortally wounded by his own troops.
Chancellorsville proved to be one of the bloodiest battles of the
Civil War, with more than 30,000 casualties among the two armies.
The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is providing a series
of free presentations on major Civil War battles. Still to come in
2013 are Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga
campaign. Presentations on the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, Kennesaw
Mountain and Atlanta, and the siege of Petersburg will occur in
2014. Then the pursuit to Appomattox and Lee's surrender wrap up the
series in 2015.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency] |