The Chancellorsville Campaign Opens at Germanna Ford: Chancellorsville 160

The Chancellorsville Campaign opened on April 27, 1863, and led to Robert E. Lee's greatest battlefield victory, while producing some 30,000 casualties. Join Chris Mackowski, Greg Mertz, Dan Davis, and Kris White for an exploration of the campaign's opening moves on the ground and in the car.
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.

[@jimmyjames9752]

SAVE OUR BATTLEFIELDS AMERICA 🇺🇸

[@clandfaf]

I served in a combat arms during OIF and it always amazes me the type of conviction and courage it took to fight in these tight formations knowing at any second your number could be punched. Love the content guys!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Indeed, and thank you for the donation!

[@drpeterc12]

Great use of a camera in a car. For foreigners this is the first time we actually see the wilderness landscape. It is completely different to what we imagine from reading about the campaign. This is one reason why your videos are so educational. Thanks guys.

[@donaldkepple4927]

All battlefields revolution and civil war should be saved

[@pauloneil8531]

I'll be there starting tomorrow.

[@NGinuity]

We were actually members of Wilderness Preseidential Resort for YEARS, spent a lot of my childhood in that area in the mid 80s to mid 90s. I wonder how they staked out the land for use in the middle of all of this. Took my wife and daughter back there in 2016 and hiked all through the area.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thank you!

[@johnzajac9849]

Read Ernest B. Furgurson's, 'Chancellorsville 1863, The Souls of the Brave'. At 22:38, he mentions Culpeper, VA. In November, 1862, Longstreet's corps marched eastward along present-day Route 3 from Culpeper to Fredericksburg, about 26 miles, to fight the Battle of Fredericksburg in December, 1862. The eastbound lanes of Route 3 cover the Germanna Highway, a dirt road in 1862, which Longstreet's corps used. For decades, David Kyle's account of the Jackson wounding incident on the Mountain Road prevailed. Stephen Sears writes that Jackson and A.P. Hill were actually wounded on the Plank Road. The controversy regarding the actual location continues.

[@davidbowman4259]

Great book.

[@superdavem5104]

Well done …quick Fact.. 40,000+ Canadians fought in the American Civil War 7,000 + Died. Sgt. Huff ( Canadian) was the Soldier who fatally Shot JEB Stuart.

[@carywest9256]

Just think if you could prove that, you would be a millionaire! HA HA HA...

[@paulvarner5616]

great presentation, from the river to the point you finished at ....... look forward to the next one !!!

[@MrElliotc02]

Amazing! I've read about this battle for sixty years and never had a clue. Thank you so much for this outstanding job...

[@willoutlaw4971]

Hats off to the 18th North Carolina for their great work on the evening of May 3, 1863. And all without night vision scopes.

[@user-uf4sm3so3d]

Thanks for the Germanna Foundation shout out!

[@takyram96]

First, gorgeous day! Second, those drone shots of the river area are stunning. Third, I’d say this is ABT’s Civil War version of Carpool Karaoke. Lastly, I’m ecstatic that the Dowdell Tavern property has been preserved. Well done! Thank you for the insight into the Germanna Ford crossing. It’s not part of the story I’ve heard in this much detail before. I’m looking forward to the rest of your 160th coverage.

[@NJcruiser]

Beautiful battlefield. Been there numerous times. Hope to get back sometime in May if I can.

[@rvz5556]

Great job fellas.

[@davidwilhelm3431]

Keep up the strong work, men! The people need this information.

[@gallantcavalier3306]

Question… Will you also cover General Stoneman’s Raid as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign?

[@dadsongs]

I think you and I have to get in touch! I've been researching cavalry operations during the Chancellorsville campaign. Maybe we can collaborate on something. Regarding Stoneman's Raid, I don't think you'll find much positive or flattering information about it. For example, I just finished the Steven Sears book, which was pretty brutal concerning the Stoneman Raid in particular and Hooker's misuse of Federal cavalry in general.

[@gallantcavalier3306]

@@dadsongs That sounds like an excellent idea!! And I agree, there are not many flattering aspects of Stoneman’s Raid. The only real action of that raid was conducted by Brigadier General John Buford’s Regular Cavalry Brigade. Before he was promoted to Division command when Pleasanton succeeded Stoneman in command of the Army of the Potomac’s Cavalry Corps. General Buford commanded the Reserve Brigade, which contained mostly regiments of regular U.S Army Cavalrymen. The veterans of the Indian Wars in the West.

[@CCNYMacGuy]

Thanks, and looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks!

[@ericbush1544]

Folks, you have an outstanding channel and I love the depths of your knowledge of the history of these campaigns. If I could offer a suggestion, when you put a map in the video, please put markers on the map to show the exact area you’re referring to while talking. I can’t get anything from the maps because I have to spend too much time trying to figure out the landmarks, and such. It’s too confusing, for me. It is so important you’re actually at the battlefield, but it’s difficult to grasp the macro because of the maps.

[@alexdejesus7322]

Thanks!

[@fredrickszahowski6154]

Outstanding well done, and lots of info

[@davidhowell9849]

Great series! Awesome job from all the team.. I’ve been studying the Civil War all my life and I’m amazed at how little I know and how much I’ve learned. The knowledge from all of you is amazing! Thank you so much for all you do! Shout out to Kris White.. really enjoyed your background stories on this campaign

[@michaeldenesyk3195]

Where is Gary? Great video guys, looking forward to part 2

[@dadsongs]

The Dowdall's tract has been saved? Hurrah! Looking forward to learning the details of that success! Okay...I'm thinking...maybe on May 2?

[@johnresto1603]

What drone do you use?

[@astaboy]

I can't help but notice a slight drop in the frenetic energy level in this ABT presentation. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something seems to be missing.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

😆

[@dadsongs]

I was waiting to see someone frantically waving his arms while hitchhiking along the Orange Plank Road.

[@carywest9256]

You can't tell, it's that Gary Adelman that seems he's always geeked up on caffeine.

[@mattmuller3756]

@@dadsongs haha haha

[@MickeyJWind]

Hooker still had a very strong war record outside of Chancellorsville. As a division and corp commander in 1862 and in 64 he was overall very good. Longstreet failed miserably independently multiple times and was likely not as successful as even Hooker was in lower commands. Insult Hooker all you want, i would still argue he would have been better than all other CSA infantry corps commanders in the east in that roll

[@bigsarge2085]

✌️

[@1101millie97]

I see Hooker wanted to emulate what Lee did with Stuart's cavalry in preparation for the Seven Days campaign a year earlier.

[@fishinglunkies3629]

🫡

[@JesseJames-wj8ft]

Quite a shellacking Lee & Jackson gave Hooker at Chancellorsville, all due to superior generalship and audacity.