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On preparations and strategies, see [[Gettysburg Campaign]].

On preparations and strategies, see [[Gettysburg Campaign]].

Up until now the Confederate army had generally been successful in pitched battles, although they were always outnumbered in men and supplies. While Lee was used to fighting with inferior numbers he was also severely handicapped at [[Gettysburg]] by the recent loss of his best general, [[Stonewall Jackson]], as well as the absence of his "eyes"—the cavalry under [[J.E.B. Stuart]], who he depended on reconnaissance. Lee never knew how close and dangerous the Union army was. Another problem was the new division of the Confederate Army by General Lee.  There were originally two corps, one under General [[James Longstreet]], the other under General Jackson.  With Jackson's death, Lee decided to divide the second corps into two new ones: one under General [[Richard S. Ewell]], the other under [[A.P. Hill]].  Lee moved north through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, close to a small town called Gettysburg.<ref>[[the American History of the Civil War]], by Bruce Catton, MetroBooks, 2001, p. 304.</ref>

Up until now the Confederate army had generally been successful in pitched battles, although they were always outnumbered in men and supplies. While Lee was used to fighting with inferior numbers he was also severely handicapped at [[Gettysburg]] by the recent loss of his best general, [[Stonewall Jackson]], as well as the absence of his "eyes"—the cavalry under [[J.E.B. Stuart]], who he depended on reconnaissance. Lee never knew how close and dangerous the Union army was. Another problem was the new division of the Confederate Army by General Lee.  There were originally two corps, one under General [[James Longstreet]], the other under General Jackson.  With Jackson's death, Lee decided to divide the second corps into two new ones: one under General [[Richard S. Ewell]], the other under [[A.P. Hill]].  Lee moved north through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, close to a small town called Gettysburg.<ref>The American History of the Civil War, by Bruce Catton, MetroBooks, 2001, p. 304.</ref>

===Hooker and the Union Army===

===Hooker and the Union Army===

While Lee's army made preparations to march, the Army of the Potomac rested in their old winter camps opposite Fredericksburg while its commander, Major General [[Joseph Hooker]], wrestled with innumerable predicaments. Not only were Lee's intentions perplexing Hooker, his relationship with War Department officials in Washington had become almost hostile. The flamboyant Hooker had rebuilt morale and discipline in the army after the disastrous "Mud March" in the winter of 1863, and in late April brilliantly moved the bulk of his forces around Lee's army concentrated at Fredericksburg. Despite the Union advantage, Lee and his top general "Stonewall" Jackson, countered Hooker's strategy and soundly defeated him. Hooker's bluster and bravado before the campaign meant nothing after his miserable failure at the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]. Many in the War Department had lost faith in the general's abilities, including President Lincoln who soon believed Hooker unsuited to contend with Lee.

While Lee's army made preparations to march, the Army of the Potomac rested in their old winter camps opposite Fredericksburg while its commander, Major General [[Joseph Hooker]], wrestled with innumerable predicaments. Not only were Lee's intentions perplexing Hooker, his relationship with War Department officials in Washington had become almost hostile. The flamboyant Hooker had rebuilt morale and discipline in the army after the disastrous "Mud March" in the winter of 1863, and in late April brilliantly moved the bulk of his forces around Lee's army concentrated at Fredericksburg. Despite the Union advantage, Lee and his top general "Stonewall" Jackson, countered Hooker's strategy and soundly defeated him. Hooker's bluster and bravado before the campaign meant nothing after his miserable failure at the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]. Many in the War Department had lost faith in the general's abilities, including President Lincoln who soon believed Hooker unsuited to contend with Lee.