The column did so, continuing to advance toward the Rapidan until it reached the Old Turnpike running from the “Old Wilderness Tavern” toward Chancellorsville.  At this point, Jackson found himself full on the right flank of General Hooker, and, halting his troops, proceeded promptly to form line of battle for the attack.  It was now past four in the afternoon, and the declining sun warned the Confederates to lose no time.  The character of the ground was, however, such as to dismay any but the most resolute, and it seemed impossible to execute the intended movement with any thing like rapidity in such a jungle.  On both sides of the Old Turnpike rose a wall of thicket, through which it was impossible to move a regular line of battle.  All the rules of war must be reversed in face of this obstacle, and the assault on General Hooker’s works seemed destined to be made in column of infantry companies, and with the artillery moving in column of pieces.

Despite these serious obstacles, Jackson hastened to form such order of battle as was possible, and with Rodes’s division in front, followed by Colston (Trimble) and Hill, advanced steadily down the Old Turnpike, toward Chancellorsville.  He had determined, not only to strike the enemy’s right flank, but to execute, if possible, a still more important movement.  This was, to extend his lines steadily to the left, swing round his left wing, and so interpose himself between General Hooker and the Rapidan.  This design of unsurpassed boldness continued to burn in Jackson’s brain until he fell, and almost his last words were an allusion to it.

The Federal line of works, which the Confederates thus advanced to assault, extended across the Old Turnpike near the house of Melzi Chancellor, and behind was a second line, which was covered by the Federal artillery in the earthworks near Chancellorsville.  The Eleventh Corps, under General Howard, was that destined to receive Jackson’s assault.  This was made at a few minutes past five in the evening, and proved decisive.  The Federal troops were surprised at their suppers, and were wholly unprepared.  They had scarcely time to run to their muskets, which were stacked[1] near at hand, when Rodes burst upon them, stormed their works, over which the troops marched almost unresisted, and in a few minutes the entire corps holding the Federal right was in hopeless disorder.  Rodes pressed on, followed by the division in his rear, and the affair became rather a hunt than a battle.  The Confederates pursued with yells, killing or capturing all with whom they could come up; the Federal artillery rushed off at a gallop, striking against tree-trunks and overturning, and the army of General Hooker seemed about to be hopelessly routed.  This is the account given by Northern writers, who represent the effect of Jackson’s sudden attack as indescribable.  It had a serious effect, as will be subsequently shown, on the morale both of General Hooker and his army.  While opposing the heavy demonstrations of General Lee’s forces on their left and in front, this storm had burst upon them from a quarter in which no one expected it; they were thus caught between two fires, and, ignorant as they were of the small number of the Confederates, must have regarded the army as seriously imperilled.