Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 263 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As you guys were recall, we used the last show to talk about the famous Cracker Box conference

on the night of May 1st, 1863, where Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson planned Jackson's

flank march.

If you ever needed proof that Robert E. Lee, during the Civil War, fought to win, not

to avoid losing, his decision-making during the Battle of Chancellor's Fell, provides

conclusive evidence that that was the case.

I mean, he could have simply retreated from Frederick'sburg when he learned that Hooker's

flanking force had stolen a march on him, right?

But instead of doing that, Lee reacted aggressively.

He decided to divide his army, leaving a detachment to hold Frederick'sburg while he took the

majority of the army to confront Hooker's flanking force.

It must be said that in fighting to win, not to avoid losing, Robert E. Lee found a

willing partner in Stonewall Jackson.

Because although they were total opposites in many ways, Lee and Jackson were alike in

their willingness to take great risks to achieve worthwhile results.

It was nothing new for Lee to ignore the military textbooks and divide his army during a campaign,

like during the 1862 Maryland campaign, and also the maneuvering that led up to the

...