Fighting Amongst Flames at the Orange Turnpike: Chancellorsville 160

The Battle of Chancellorsville raged for more than five hours near the crossroads "town." Fighting in the woods north of the Orange Turnpike was confusing and vicious throughout May 3, 1863. Fires engulfed part of the woods while Robert E. Lee's and Joseph Hooker's armies clashed for control of the Chancellorsville Crossroads. Jeb Stuart pushed the Army of the Potomac from the west, while Robert E. Lee attacked from the east. Join Chris Mackwoski, Sarah Kay Bierle, Steward Henderson, Greg Mertz, and Kris White as they examine this heartbreaking clash of arms at Chancellorsville.
This video is part of our coverage commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville. View the entire tour series here: • Chancellorsville: 160t...
#chancellorsvilletour #civilwartour
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@user-tv3id2nf5o]

I have watched your entire 160th series 5 times. TERRIFIC PRESENTATION for a complex battle. APPRECIATE YOU ABT!!

[@chrishaines8842]

I watched the entire 160th series on Chancellorsville and I just wanted to say you guys rocked it! I learned so much more about this battle than I ever had. Who knew the battle did not end with Jackson’s wounding😂. Truly great work from everyone at ABT and their partnerships!

[@pimhoff]

Got to love the Civil War drone in the battle scene at 6:17 of the video. I didn’t realize DJI drones were used in the Civil War. 😂

[@herecomesaregular8418]

But of course. "Hooker's Hoverers".

[@dadsongs]

The BMI used a DJI. 😊

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Whoops lol. We had a lot of editing to do that's our defense 😁

[@pimhoff]

@@AmericanBattlefieldTrust No worries. I am not sure how many will even notice it.

[@basilfoster5245]

@@pimhoff I did!

[@chrisdavern9482]

The real horrors of war really brought home in this video

[@ktd9]

Great informative presentation as ALWAYS!! And special thanks to Sarah who Always brings her unique "special sauce" viewpoint to all her presentations...

[@bigsarge2085]

Incredible.

[@leonidaslantz5249]

22:40 min the description written by Colin Battle is as descriptive as it is haunting and tragic.What an episode of true history showing the absolute hell that is war.Thank you @americanbattlefieldtrust.

[@user-sg7eh4yf1y]

You are all doing a fabulous job at bringing this battle up an close for all of us. Outstanding job and very much appreciated. I have wanted to see this battlefield for some time and watching this series has given me a much greater understanding of the battle and the area. I am making plans to visit. I had two family members in the 148th PA that fought there with one being killed and sadly was left unidentifiable. I believe it was due to the fires that you have spoken of. Thank you so much for your years of dedication to your work!

[@genes.3285]

It's one thing to lose an arm or a leg, but to have permanent facial damage is of another order. I would imagine a visit to an old soldiers' home or just walking the street for decades after the war could be an unsettling experience for the faint of heart. This has been an excellent series by the ABT.

[@chevy3gm]

I never realized how significant General Revere's pulling his troops back was. The explanation and maps you show definitely details how his withdrawal lead to the remaining Union troops being out right flanked. Thanks again for your great work.

[@earlyriser8998]

I agree with John_Durst. You are doing a great job bringing the battle to life. You know the nightmares the soldiers had when they can still recall events that happened 50 years earlier.

[@shirltucker3326]

Ty for doing this bc people act like it doesn’t matter but it does matter and I am proud of the civil war

[@timfrye3586]

Wonderful discussion guys! love it!

[@Metal-Detecting-NC]

Colonel Purdee, whose troops shot Stonewall Jackson and who was KIA at Chancellorsville, is buried in a family plot near Tarheel, North Carolina. I helped restore the cemetery and I cleaned his stone marker. Crazy things happen during war, it was a tragic mistake.

[@herecomesaregular8418]

Major John Decatur Barry of the 18th NC Inf actually gave the order that wounded Jackson. He would never forgive himself, and would die in Wilmington, NC not long after the war, and his family claimed he had died of a broken heart. He was one of the founders of Star News, which is Wilmington and the surrounding region's largest newspaper.

[@tonyk1584]

Just excellent guys!

[@donaldvandergriff2196]

Good job and great maps.

[@alexdejesus7322]

Well, that turned my stomach and made me weep. Thanks a lot, guys

[@spikejonze6182]

Enjoying these from Illinois. Great job as always thank you for spending time sharing these.

[@ryanrandolph4658]

I think honestly that had Gen Thomas had been in charge instead of hooker I think they would have won this battle and been in Richmond the next day but thank you guys for the great presentation you put on very good

[@CCNYMacGuy]

Thank you again for sharing all this! Sarah's story is not only fascinating, but also is another possible puzzle piece in something I've been trying to think through. So she told of the flames that burn Union soldiers as witnessed by the 5th Alabama. On the other side of them would have been the 86th New York. On June 28th, Hiram Rifle, who was an ancestor of mine in the 86th, "accidentally" wounded himself chopping firewood at the camp in Frederick, Md. Do you know of any other sources that show Union soldiers from that sector of the battle dealing with PTSD?

[@intpete]

The Orange Plank Road and the Orange Turnpike are two different roads, I believe. Several times Turnpike was mentioned where I believe they meant the Plank Road. Not a big deal. Also, second growth means small, skinny trees, which enables the growth of bushes and undergrowth that now has the sunlight they need to proliferate. Great series, as always. I greatly enjoyed every one of the Chancellorsville videos. Great work!

[@emergingcivilwar8965]

In places, the two roads overlap. For instance, from the Wilderness Church through the Chancellorsville intersection, they are the same road. They split for a while and then merge again about three and half miles to the east.

[@terryl7874]

War is horrible. Somewhat modern war such as the War Between the States or Grenada soldiers that fight are never the same. The nightmare never goes away.

[@StopBigCon]

Woah! I didn't know they had drone technology during the American Civil War. 6:15

[@fateagle4life]

I am curious to know when my "friend in years, friend in tears" Chris White will be releasing a Vicksburg Campaign video? Also, who has the better beard? Burnside or Revere?

[@chesterstevenson]

Anyone else catch the drone flying up in the fighting scene around the 6:20 mark? LOL Apparently the Union Army was more high tech than I thought.