BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE
LEE'S ARMY VICTORIOUS!
Camp near Fredericksburg, Virginia- The Battle of Chancellorsville ended with a stunning victory by our forces against the Union "Army of the Potomac" led by Joseph Hooker. The battle raged in the Wilderness area west of Fredericksburg from May 1-6, resulting in heavy losses by both armies. In a bold move, General Lee ordered General "Stonewall" Jackson to take his entire corps around to the Union flank west of the Chancellor cross roads on May 2. General Jackson's attack swept the Yankees from the field of battle, taking many prisoners. The Union troops made a defiant stand the following day, but were forced back upon the river to protect the fords. Another Yankee force was defeated at Salem Church near Fredericksburg and also thrown back across the Rappahannock. Hailed as a great victory for General Lee, it was not without the loss of his "right arm"- General Jackson, who was mortally wounded at the height of the fighting after nightfall on May 2. The general rode forward to direct his troops and, as an eyewitness reported, some fellow shouted "Yankee cavalry!" or something to that effect, which caused a North Carolina regiment to fire. The general was struck down along with several members of his staff. Despite the efforts of Dr. Hunter McGuire, the general died on May 10 near Guinea Station.
THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
GENERAL LEE REPORTS!
General Robert E. Lee has reported on the recent Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia and claimed victory based on a number of factors. General Hooker, the latest commander since the resignation of General Burnside, had a terrible time in the Wilderness area west of Fredericksburg and was completely surprised by "Stonewall" Jackson's troops on May 2. The fighting lasted well into the evening when Gen. Jackson was mortally wounded. Though this was thought to be disastrous for General Lee, his troops resolved to crush the Union forces, and charged the Union lines centered around the crossroads of Chancellorsville throughout the second day of the battle and broke nearly every Yankee line of defense. Only due to the exhaustion of our troops and darkness were the Union soldiers saved from a complete disaster. Hooker was forced to withdraw across the river to protect his flanks, giving the field back to a victorious General Lee. It is said that General Hooker was struck by falling masonry from the Chancellor House, but came away with only a minor injury. "He's a lucky man," General Lee said, "that he escaped with only a minor injury and most of his army."
Since the battle, the Army has stayed in camp along the Rappahannock River with the Yankee pickets on the other side. There have been many rumors passing amongst the pickets. Union scouts have been spotted at river crossings, evidently surveying the our positions at these crossings where they may make an attempt to ford and attack General Lee's army again. The army is on a constant vigil night and day, to thwart any attempt by Hooker to cross the Rappahannock River in force.
YANKEE PRESIDENT RESPONDS
LINCOLN FEARS NORTHERN INVASION
Washington- President Lincoln spoke to congressional leaders on the current military situation, given the failures in the eastern theater in the recent campaign against Lee in Virginia. The situation in the west is more depressing as General U.S. Grant's Union forces close down the roads and waterways into Vicksburg. If captured, the Mississippi River will be completely under Yankee control. It seems that the Yankee president is scared that a victorious Lee will use the recent victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville to move his army north and again cross the Potomac River as he did last year, which resulted in the Battle of Antietam.
Yankee officials in the War Department have expressed the same concern over the direction that the war will take in Virginia, believing that Lee will take the opportunity to move into northern Virginia toward Washington and the outer defenses of the city. At least one source has stated that General Hooker believes that Lee will not move as rapidly as the officials fear, and that Lee has no intentions of moving without the return of a large portion of the Confederate Army from Suffolk, Virginia. But General Lee has remained silent and will not release any information that the Yankee press could use to track our army's movements while both armies lie near Fredericksburg.
PRESIDENT DAVIS ELATED!
CONDEMNS YANKEE GENERAL
Richmond- President Davis has spoken to a gathering of friends near his home and highly praised General Lee for the great victory at Chancellorsville, while condemning the Yankee commander, General Hooker, for the destruction of property of loyal Virginians. The president also announced that conscription has been undertaken in Southern states and patriotic young men who have delayed military service are now flocking to the call of their respective state governments to fill the ranks of regiments that have seen heavy losses. This is a sad necessity for the armies have been depleted by losses in the recent battles in Virginia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Mr. Davis also expressed hope that the recent victories will persuade the European powers to recognize the Confederacy as more than "states in rebellion", but as an independent sovereignty. Confederate agents are currently working in Europe to improve relations between his government and the foreign nations, especially in trade. The Union blockade has been very effective, though many tons of useful goods can be run out of southern ports by our blockade runners. "We are very interested in trade," said one French official, "but this war is an internal matter of which we want no part." Thus far, the Yankee government has persuaded the European powers to remain neutral in this war.
"STONEWALL" JACKSON MOURNED
GREAT SADNESS IN RICHMOND
GENERAL LEE ISSUES ORDER TO ARMY
From The Charleston Mercury- "Seldom has a people manifested so deep and universal a sorrow as that which has spread over the land with the announcement of the loss of the loved and trusted leader 'Stonewall' Jackson. General Lee's sublime tribute to his services in the late battles is manifest in his letter to the wounded general. Though Stonewall Jackson is dead, his fiery and unequaling spirit still survives in his men. He has infused into them that which cannot die. The leader who succeeds him will be impelled as by a supernatural impulse, to emulate his matchless deeds. Jackson's corps will be led forever by the memory of its great chieftain."
Dr. Hunter McGuire attended to General Jackson at Guinea Station, Virginia, where the general died on the 10th instant. At his wife's request, General Jackson was buried in Lexington, in sight of the Military Institute where he taught classes before the war began.
General Lee issued a message of mourning to his army on May 11, announcing the death of General Jackson. It is known that there has been a great sense of loss felt throughout the Army of Northern Virginia and many are anxious for Longstreet's corps to return from the Suffolk area, to exact some revenge on their Northern foe.
SIEGE AT VICKSBURG
YANKEE ARMY ATTACKS VICKSBURG!
Near Vicksburg - Word has been received that Union forces under General Grant have captured the outer works of the city and taken a large number of prisoners and fifty-seven artillery pieces. The battle is still raging with every prospect of capturing the entire force in Vicksburg. The Yankee Navy Department has received information that Admiral Porter has been cooperating with Grant's army in the siege of Vicksburg. His fleet was cannonading the city and its works by night, while Grant's assailed it by day, thus giving the brave defenders within the town and fortifications not a moment's relaxation from the perils of their situation.
OUR COAST BLOCKADED
Richmond - Rumors abound that the Federal War Department has recalled a number of their ships from blockading the southern coast, sending them to New Orleans to assist Grant's army in the siege of Vicksburg and Yankee operations near Port hudson, Louisiana. Observers at Wilmington, North Carolina, where many of our blockade runners arrive from Europe, have not seen any decrease in the numbers of Union war ships along the coast. One captain, recently arrived from France, reported four encounters with Union war ships at sea, but he was able to outrun the slower ships.
HOW THIS CONFLICT BEGAN
WHAT BROUGHT US INTO THIS WAR
After two grim years of war, some have come to ask how this conflict even began. We must remember that some issues began at the end of the American Revolution over tariffs on imported goods and the taxes levied on Southern exports. The increase in Northern populations and the steady pace of Southern population has caused more than one debate over equal representation in Congress. The South has lost political power because our population has not been increased by the steady flow of immigrants from Europe. Sectionalism and the debate over state's rights under the laws of the Yankee Constitution widened the breach that grew between the North and South, especially in determining the laws of the western territories, the civil unrest in Kansas and Missouri, and the slavery issue. The rise of the abolitionists and their movement that caused further erosion between Southern planters and Northern aggressors, finally bled over into Kansas and the border states. Despite the Compromise of 1850 and the debates over government representation at the Federal level, the line was drawn with the election of a Abraham Lincoln, a president with no sympathy for the southern plight. Nothing could prevent the coming conflict that opened with the first cannon shot against Fort Sumter, South Carolina on April 16, 1861.
LETTERS FROM THE ARMY
The SOUTHERN DEFENDER is pleased to announce that it will begin publishing letters sent into our offices from soldiers at the front. We have been in contact with many former employees and citizens turned soldiers who have sent letters to us, reminding us that the war is not only fought by generals. It is the soldiers in the ranks who bear much of the burden and we will be pleased to print what they send us in the future.
Story of the Day
A plumber was called to a lawyer's home to repair a pump. After repairing the pump, which took about two minutes, he demanded $75. "I don't charge this amount even though I'm a lawyer," said the home owner.
"You're right," replied the plumber. "That is why I switched from practicing law to plumbing!"