Battle of Banks Ford

The Battle of Banks Ford took place on May 4, 1863, near Fredericksburg , Virginia , and was one of the battles of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War. It is sometimes considered one of the phases of the Battle of Chancellorsville or combined with the Battle of Salem Church , which took place the day before at the same location. On May 3, 1863, Federal General Sedgwick attacked the Confederate positions on the heights behind Fredericksburg with three divisions, repelled the enemy, and reached the rear of General Robert E. Lee's army. On the morning of May 4, Jubal Early attacked him from the rear and recaptured the heights. During the day, General Lee intended to attack with three divisions and, if possible, destroy Sedgwick's corps in order to then attack Hooker's main army with all his forces. This plan failed due to poor coordination and, in part, to the fault of General McLaws . The VI Corps was able to withdraw unmolested across the Potomac River, but this retreat disrupted the plans of Federal commander-in-chief Joseph Hooker and forced him to abandon the campaign.