Salem Church, VA

Date(s): May 3-4, 1863

Campaign(s): Chancellorsville Campaign [April-May 1863]

Battles in Campaign:

Situation:

Commanders:

  • Union: Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick

  • Confederate: Gen. Robert E. Lee

Principal Forces: Corps

  • Union:

  • Confederate:

Description:

  • After occupying Marye’s Heights on May 3, Sedgwick’s VI Corps marched out on the Plank Road with the objective of reaching Hooker’s force at Chancellorsville.

  • He was delayed by Wilcox’s brigade of Early’s force at Salem Church. 

  • During the afternoon and night, Lee detached two of his divisions from the Chancellorsville lines and marched them to Salem Church.

  • Several Union assaults were repulsed the next morning with heavy casualties, and the Confederates counterattacked, gaining some ground.

  • After dark, Sedgwick withdrew across two pontoon bridges at Scott’s Dam under a harassing artillery fire. 

  • Hearing that Sedgwick had been repulsed, Hooker abandoned the campaign, and re-crossed to the north bank of the Rappahannock on the night of May 5-6th.

Photo Gallery:1

 

Classification2: B

Casualties3: 5,000

  • Union:

  • Confederate:

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Website:

Recommended Resources:

1 Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

2 Classification:

  • A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

  • B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

  • C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

  • D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

3 Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009

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