Battle of Salem Church

The Afternoon Clash At Three Thirty

Sedgwick believed he faced only a single infantry brigade when he ordered an attack. Around 3:30 p.m. on May 3, William T. H. Brooks division moved forward against Confederate positions. Brooks succeeded in driving back the right flank of McLaws forces temporarily. A counterattack stopped the Union advance and forced Brooks to retreat to original lines. Sunset ended combat before any other units could engage. During the night, Lee ordered Early to attack Sedgwick left flank by morning. McLaws received orders to strike the Union right side simultaneously. Sedgwick heard no further instructions from Hooker except permission to retreat across the river if needed. The silence from headquarters weighed heavily on his mind as darkness fell over Spotsylvania County.

Coordinated Attacks On The Fourth

At 7 a.m. on May 4, Jubal Early recaptured Marye's Heights then turned westward toward Sedgwick main lines. He halted after coming under heavy fire from Union defenders. Throughout the remainder of that morning, Early launched several uncoordinated attacks against Sedgwick position. All attempts failed against determined Union resistance. By 11 a.m., General Sedgwick found himself facing three directions simultaneously. West lay Lee main body and Salem Church while south held Anderson division. East faced Early division threatening from another angle. Rumors reached Sedgwick that reinforcements had arrived from Richmond making his situation more difficult. His six mile long line held by 20,000 troops now faced 25,000 Confederates with only one bridgehead for escape. Casualties exceeded 5,000 men within his corps. He reported this dire situation to Hooker requesting assistance from the main army. Hooker replied not to attack unless the entire army moved together.

When did the Battle of Salem Church take place?

The Battle of Salem Church occurred on the 3rd of May 1863 and continued through the night into the early hours of the 4th of May 1863. Major General John Sedgwick led his VI Corps out from Marye's Heights on the morning of the 3rd of May 1863 to link up with Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsville.

Who commanded Confederate forces during the Battle of Salem Church?

Confederate General Robert E. Lee directed operations while Lafayette McLaws division and Richard H. Anderson division provided defensive lines against Union troops. Jubal Early recaptured Marye's Heights and attacked Sedgwick main lines at 7 a.m. on May 4, while William Mahone brigade joined McLaws position shortly after noon on May 3.

How many men were involved in the Battle of Salem Church?

Major General John Sedgwick commanded about 23,000 men moving along the Orange Plank Road before casualties exceeded 5,000 men within his corps. The Union force eventually faced 25,000 Confederates with only one bridgehead for escape while holding a six mile long line by 20,000 troops.

Where did the Battle of Salem Church occur relative to other locations?

The battle took place near Salem Church in Spotsylvania County where Union troops halted before nightfall on the 3rd of May 1863. Confederate forces defended positions west of the church while Union troops retreated across two pontoon bridges at Banks Ford after dark on May 4.

Why did the Union army retreat from the Battle of Salem Church?

Union commanders recognized they could not sustain further attacks without risking total collapse after facing three directions simultaneously by 11 a.m. on May 4. Joseph Hooker ordered the main body of Union army to recross the Rappahannock River during the night from May 5 into May 6 following the failure at Salem Church.

Battle of Salem Church.

The Afternoon Clash At Three Thirty

Coordinated Attacks On The Fourth

Crossing Under Cover Of Darkness

Abandoning The Campaign

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