Our strength at Chancellorsville: 
Anderson and McLaws........................... 13,000
Jackson (Hill, Rodes, and Trimble)............ 21,000
Early (Fredericksburg)........................  6,000
_______
40,000
Cavalry and artillery.........................  7,000
_______
Total of all arms............................. 47,000

As the Federal infantry numbered one hundred and twenty thousand, according to the smallest estimate of Federal authorities, and Lee’s infantry forty thousand, the Northern force was precisely three times as large as the Southern.

[Illustration:  Map—­Battle of Chancellorsville.]

General Hooker had already proved himself an excellent administrative officer, and his plan of campaign against Lee seemed to show that he also possessed generalship of a high order.  He had determined to pass the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, turn Lee’s flank, and thus force him to deliver battle under this disadvantage, or retire upon Richmond.  The safe passage of the stream was the first great object, and General Hooker’s dispositions to effect this were highly judicious.  A force of about twenty thousand men was to pass the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, and thus produce upon Lee the impression that the Federal army was about to renew the attempt in which they had failed under General Burnside.  While General Lee’s attention was engaged by the force thus threatening his right, the main body of the Northern army was to cross the Rappahannock and Rapidan above Chancellorsville, and, sweeping down rapidly upon the Confederate left flank, take up a strong position between Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg.  The column which had crossed at the latter point to engage the attention of the Confederate commander, was then to recross to the northern bank, move rapidly to the upper fords, which the advance of the main body would by that time have uncovered; and, a second time crossing to the southern bank, unite with the rest.  Thus the whole Federal army would be concentrated on the southern bank of the Rappahannock, and General Lee would be compelled to leave his camps on the hills of the Massaponnax, and fight upon ground dictated by his adversary.  If he did not thus accept battle, but one other course was left.  He must fall back in the direction of Richmond, to prevent his adversary from attacking his rear, and capturing or destroying his army.

In order to insure the success of this promising plan of attack, a strong column of well-mounted cavalry was to cross in advance of the army and strike for the railroads in Lee’s rear, connecting him with Richmond and the Southwest.  Thus flanked or cut off, and with all his communications destroyed, it seemed probable that General Lee would suffer decisive defeat, and that the Federal army would march in triumph to the capture of the Confederate capital.