Last modified on June 27, 2016, at 04:25

Battle of Salem Church

Battle of Salem Church
Banks' Ford
Began:

May 3, 1863

Ended:

May 4, 1863

Location:

Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Theater:

Eastern Theater

Campaign:

Chancellorsville Campaign

Outcome:

Confederate victory

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Combatants
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VI Corps, Army of the Potomac

Army of Northern Virginia

Commanders

John Sedgwick
Major General, USA

Robert E. Lee
General, CSA

Strength

Corps

Corps

Casualties

5,000 total (US and CS)

5,000 total (US and CS)

  

After occupying Marye’s Heights on May 3, Sedgwick’s VI Corps marched out on the Plank Road with the objective of reaching Hooker’s force at Chancellorsville. He was delayed by Wilcox’s brigade of Early’s force at Salem Church. During the afternoon and night, 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 campaign, recrossing on the night of May 5–6 to the north bank of the Rappahannock. (NPS summary)