Battle of Salem Church

Warbox
conflict=Battle of Salem Church
colour_scheme=background:#ffcccc


caption="Attack on Gen. Sedgwick's Corps, seen from the north bank of the Rappahannock River."
Forbes, Edwin, artist, May 4, 1863.
partof=the American Civil War
date=May 3 – May 4, 1863
place=Spotsylvania County, Virginia
result=Confederate victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1861 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=John Sedgwick
commander2=Robert E. Lee
strength1=Corps
strength2=Corps
casualties1=5,000 total (US and CS)
casualties2=5,000 total (US and CS)|

The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3 and May 4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War.

After occupying Marye's Heights on May 3 following the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick's VI Corps of about 25,000 men marched out on the Plank Road with the objective of reaching his superior Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's force at Chancellorsville. He was delayed by Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox's brigade of Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early's force at Salem Church. During the afternoon and night, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee detached two of his divisions from the Chancellorsville lines and marched them to Salem Church. Several Union assaults were repulsed the next morning with heavy casualties, and the Confederates counterattacked, gaining some ground. After dark, Sedgwick withdrew across two pontoon bridges at Scott’s Dam under a harassing artillery fire. Hearing that Sedgwick had been repulsed, Hooker abandoned the entire campaign, recrossing on the night of May 5 into May 6 to the north bank of the Rappahannock River back towards the Federal camp at Falmouth.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va033.htm National Park Service battle description]

Notes