Chancellorsville (CG 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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Symbolism Heraldic symbols were first used by our armed forces during the Revolutionary War, and have been a part of our tradition ever since. CHANCELLORSVILLE's coat of arms represents the ship's heritage. J A Q71 Kia' I szi45. SHIELD Dark blue and gold are the traditional Navy colors. The dark blue and gray refer to the colors of the Union and Confederate Armies. The predominate gray refers to General Robert E. Lee's spectacular military strategies and his dominance in this battle. The Civil War battle of Chancel- lorsville, a victory for General Lee, was bought at a heavy cost because General Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded. The inverted wreath commemorates General J ackson's death. The embattled division and Separation of the Union and Confederate colors represent the country divided. The battlements, which resemble a stone wall, allude both to General Jackson and the fortress like quality of an Aegis ship. The border, red for valor and bloodshed, symbolizes the Union's attempt to keep the country unified. The sword stands for combat readinessg its upright position emphasizes the vertical launch capabilities of USS CHANCELLORSVILLE. The bugle horn, adapted from Civil War insignia, calls the fighting men to PRESS ON CThe motto echoes the favorite words of General J acksonl. CREST The trident is symbolic of sea power. Its three tines represent the USS CI-IANCELLORSVILLE's anti-air, anti-surface and anti- submarine warfare capabilities. The Aegis shape and Civil War cannon embody new and old weaponry.

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f T ! Aim fi J ' 3 H ,:g,q,,,3a,,j..W,, Q., ,,,, Battle of The Battle of Chancellorsville was fought from 1-4 May 1863, be- tween the Federal Army of the Potomac, General Joseph Hooker commanding, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Gen- eral Robert E. Lee commanding. Both armies had wintered around Fredericksburg, Virginia, after the disastrous Federal defeat near the town in December 1862. Fron- tal assault having failed under General Ambrose E. Burnside, General Hooker would try a flank maneuver. He would lead a size- able portion of his 130,000 man army up the north side of the Rappahannock River to cross behind General Lee and jeopard- ize the positions of the Southern- ers near Fredericksburg. On May lst, the battle flared into action west of Fredericksburg as General Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson moved toward Chancel- lorsville on two separate roads. General Hooker committed the fatal blunder of retreating under General J ackson's pressure, thus losing the initiative and giving his Chancellorsville opponents the chance to attack his Weak spots. Early the next morn- ing in a bold move to cut around the Union Army, General Jackson marched West with nearly 30,000 men, leaving General Lee with only 15,000 troops to face General Hooker's main threat. By late afternoon General Jackson had his entire force hehind General Hooker's army, and he Was able to launch an J ,nh offensive and destroying General Hooker's army. With total success at hand, tragic circumstances intervened. As the General rode back toward his own men, some of them fired a blind volley which badly Wounded him. He died a week later at Guiney Station, Virginia, as a result of his wounds and of the pneumonia which sub- sequently developed. The loss of overwhelm- f . . -E-17 2, . -L, .A 'Q-733 ing surprise fi . U attack which ' A Caved in the f 1 ff' . 1 -. , .c -4 .e Q ,0??f,,-eww- .. , 'rg Federal line a.,j g-QL, -' , ,t, g 'a?s 1 'Q 'rg ,fs . lnfy , -. 4 - 5:39419-y g!'1,ilL:tic. F-4-.f W -1 - 1, for 2.5 miles. -1 gays - -. - 3: 4 ima- 5 - is ' r . .fs 5 - ' 1 -. t ,- -- N . ,- Aff:-H' 1-'-f- i',g., - A ?'-5 When con- ft fg- fusion and A' J? ' . ' w 1- ,. ', .lj'..,f 'rs '7 f': 7,1-4:1-:Q-, I darkness fin- f ..f a a- ighgf . J - .-'15, I-.:-: . ' ,V y ang I yf,--.1 HL- v '--in .,. ally brought ,- 51? ,nfl 41.-w?f,f'M'fp2-11. , . an-sv ffm. -.,.a4 5. - 1 V f , ff.-Q4-f - r27?.:f'qi + y y! .'-iff, WA, gf- pr- the attack to . I-1 -vffiegggg it - I ,, ,' ,:f7','fi,f - A f a hair Gen- ' Q ' ff' 1 if 'f ' ' Ts, -f ' if az... 2-.. 1 eral Jackson a t K ' J 1,52 W V.-4' M Q , mj4f':j--Ji gga 6 . rode out in 'w i' f21Xf:,f'.x-ff fi' front of his line to find a means of renewing the On the afternoon of May 2, General Jackson's Confeder- ates, shouting the Rebel yell, stormed the Federal breastworks on the Plank Road west of Chancel- lorsville. The echoes of that wild scream, wrote a Con- federate captain, swept the country for miles. .- . -14...-.- '.fn...4wn I. . . ,wi . , . V . ,g-...... .a- -. .