Stonewall Jackson ached to launch a night attack since he felt the
full force he intended had not been applied due to sundown. He believed
it was necessary to prevent the enemy from regrouping and turn the
tables on the divided Confederates. He planned to strike for U.S. Ford
in Hooker's rear to cut off a possible retreat and to reunited with Lee
for a combined assault. Colston's and Rodes' divisions became disorganized
from the success of the attack, but Hill's 4 brigades were relatively
intact. "Press them! Cut them off from the U.S. Ford, Hill. Press
them," Jackson said.
Men from Howard's Corps came running by the Chancellor Housr where
Hooker was. He could faintly hear the battle due to peculiarities in
the terrain and cushioning affects of brush and trees. He ordered Sickles'
3rd division to, "Receive them on the bayonet!" Though it wasn't clear
if he was talking about the retreating men or advancing Confederates.
Meanwhile, Sickles knew nothing of the flank attack until he heard
Union batteries at Hazel Grove and Fairview booming. His two
other divisions were still around Cathrine's Furnace, thus putting
them between the superior halves of the Confederate Army and in danger
of being surrounded. He hurriedly pulled back to Hazel Grove. While
in the process, one division became lost and headed west and ran into
freshly entrenched rebels. His other division became lost too, and
stumbled into one of Slocum's divisions. A three-sided fight began as
Sickles' troops became disorganized. What was left of his divisions
made it back to Hazel Grove by midnight.
By this time, Reynolds had moved his entire Corps into reserve and
Howard's began to regain some organization near U.S. Ford. Meade's
3 divisions had been relatively untouched during the fight, Couch and
Slocum, under cover from the 56 gun barrage from Hazel Grove and Fairview,
had adapted their 4 divisions to the situation, along with the one
division Sickles left behind. A brigade of cavalry had been detached
from Stoneman near the Rapidan and soon joined to check Stuart's
pursuit. Hooker became more focused on Sedgwick once again, and ordered
him to take Fredericksburg, hold it with Gibbon's division, and press
west to Chancellorsville.
Everything seemed to be going just well for the Confederates until
the roof caved in. After riding out to scout for a possible night
assault to cut off U.S. Ford from the Federals, Stonewall Jackson was
wounded when riding back to his lines. Some nervous North Carolinian
pickets were confused at the noise of approaching horses and fired.
Stonewall was hit and his horse took off toward enemy lines, but he
somehow managed to wheel Little Sorrel around and came back, but was
met with another volley from the pickets. "Cease firing! Cease
firing!" A.P. Hill kept yelling.
Jackson was struck three times. Two in the left arm and once through
the right palm. One of his aids managed to stop Little Sorrel and
remove Stonewall from the saddle. After hearing the commotion not far
away, Federal batteries at Fairview openned up again. Jackson was
finally laid on a stretcher and was dropped once on the wounded left
arm. He was put in an ambulance and taken to the field hospital.
Command now passed to J.E.B. Stuart. By dawn on the morning of the
3rd, Hooker had reestablished his line in a V-shape with Reynolds
deployed along Hunting Run, Meade at the southern apex where the roads
from Ely's and U.S. Fords came together, and the fragments of Howard's
Corps reassembled along Mineral Spring Run.