Such were the relative positions of the two armies on the 1st of May:  General Hooker’s forces well in advance of Chancellorsville, and rapidly forming line of battle on a ridge in open country; General Lee’s, stretching along the whole distance, from Fredericksburg to Tabernacle Church, and certainly not in any condition to deliver or accept battle.  The Federal commander seemed to have clearly outgeneralled his adversary, and, humanly speaking, the movements of the two armies, up to this time, seemed to point to a decisive Federal success.

General Hooker’s own act reversed all this brilliant promise.  At the very moment when his army was steadily concentrating on the favorable ground in advance of Chancellorsville, the Federal commander, for some reason which has never been divulged, sent a peremptory order that the entire force should fall back into the Wilderness.  This order, reversing every thing, is said to have been received “with mingled amazement and incredulity” by his officers, two of whom sent him word that, from the great advantages of the position, it should be “held at all hazards.”  General Hooker’s reply was, “Return at once.”  The army accordingly fell back to Chancellorsville.

This movement undoubtedly lost General Hooker all the advantages which up to that moment he had secured.  What his motive for the order in question was, it is impossible for the present writer to understand, unless the approach of Lee powerfully affected his imagination, and he supposed the thicket around Chancellorsville to be the best ground to receive that assault which the bold advance of his opponent appeared to foretell.  Whatever his motive, General Hooker withdrew his lines from the open country, fell back to the vicinity of Chancellorsville, and began to erect elaborate defences, behind which to receive Lee’s attack.

In this backward movement he was followed and harassed by the forces of Jackson, the command of Anderson being in front.  Jackson’s maxim was to always press an enemy when he was retiring; and no sooner had the Federal forces begun to move, than he made a prompt attack.  He continued to follow them up toward Chancellorsville until nightfall, when the fighting ceased, the Confederate advance having been pushed to Alrich’s house, within about two miles of Chancellorsville.  Here the outer line of the Federal works was found, and Jackson paused.  He was unwilling at so late an hour to attempt an assault upon them with his small force, and, directing further movements to cease, awaited the arrival of the commander-in-chief.

Lee arrived, and a consultation was held.  The question now was, the best manner, with a force of about thirty-five thousand, to drive the Federal army, of about one hundred thousand, beyond the Rappahannock.

III.

LEE’S DETERMINATION.

On this night, of the 1st of May, the situation of affairs was strange indeed.