The fate of the day had now been decided.  The right wing of the Southern army, under Lee, had gradually extended its left to meet the extension of Stuart’s right; and this junction of the two wings having been effected, Lee took personal command of all, and advanced his whole front in a decisive assault.  Before this the Federal front gave way, and the disordered troops were huddled back—­now only a confused and disorganized mass—­upon Chancellorsville.  The Southern troops pursued with yells, leaping over the earthworks, and driving all before them.  A scene of singular horror ensued.  The Chancellorsville House, which had been set on fire by shell, was seen to spout flame from every window, and the adjoining woods had, in like manner, caught fire, and were heard roaring over the dead and wounded of both sides alike.  The thicket had become the scene of the cruellest of all agonies for the unfortunates unable to extricate themselves.  The whole spectacle in the vicinity of the Chancellorsville House, now in Lee’s possession, was frightful.  Fire, smoke, blood, confused yells, and dying groans, mingled to form the dark picture.

Lee had ridden to the front of his line, following up the enemy, and as he passed before the troops they greeted him with one prolonged, unbroken cheer, in which those wounded and lying upon the ground united.  In that cheer spoke the fierce joy of men whom the hard combat had turned into blood-hounds, arousing all the ferocious instincts of the human soul.  Lee sat on his horse, motionless, near the Chancellorsville House, his face and figure lit up by the glare of the burning woods, and gave his first attention, even at this exciting moment, to the unfortunates of both sides, wounded, and in danger of being burned to death.  While issuing his orders on this subject, a note was brought to him from Jackson, congratulating him upon his victory.  After reading it, with evidences of much emotion, he turned to the officer who had brought it and said:  “Say to General Jackson that the victory is his, and that the congratulation is due to him.”

The Federal army had fallen back in disorder, by this time, toward their second line.  It was about ten o’clock in the morning, and Chancellorsville was in Lee’s possession.

FLANK MOVEMENT OF GENERAL SEDGWICK.

Lee hastened to bring the Southern troops into order again, and succeeded in promptly reforming his line of battle, his front extending, unbroken, along the Old Turnpike, facing the river.

His design was to press General Hooker, and reap those rich rewards of victory to which the hard fighting of the men had entitled them.  Of the demoralized condition of the Federal forces there can be no doubt, and the obvious course now was to follow up their retreat and endeavor to drive them in disorder beyond the Rappahannock.

The order to advance upon the enemy was about to be given, when a messenger from Fredericksburg arrived at full gallop, and communicated intelligence which arrested the order just as it was on Lee’s lips.