Hey everyone, welcome to episode 269 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

At 8.50 on the morning of Sunday, May 3rd, 1863, fighting Joe Hooker's Chief of Staff,

Major General Daniel Butterfield, Sunday Telegram to Washington.

It was a message for Abraham Lincoln, and it read,

the not directed or specially authorized to do so by General Hooker.

I think it not improper that I should advise you that a battle is in progress.

Butterfield's message to Lincoln is obviously one of the war's great understatements.

Since by that point, a battle had been in progress at Chancellor'sville for quite some time.

Days earlier, Joe Hooker had proclaimed that his plans were perfect.

Now, however, as he stood on the front porch of the Chancellor House on the morning of May 3rd,

those perfect plans were unraveling before his eyes.

Hooker had spent much of the morning riding his lines, encouraging his troops,

keeping up their spirits, showing everyone why he was fighting Joe.

And the Union soldiers responded with grim determination,

matching charge with countercharge, and going toe to toe with the Confederates,

in savage fighting that would turn those hours after daybreak on May 3rd

into the bloodiest morning of the entire Civil War.

And the second bloodiest single day, second only to Antietam.

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