the importance of this movement, and only on Thursday night had Lee ascertained the facts, and been able to mature his plans for parrying Hooker’s thrust."[1]
On the night of the 29th, R. H. Anderson’s division was directed to proceed toward Chancellorsville and cover the important roads leading to the Confederate rear. When Anderson arrived at Chancellorsville about midnight, he found two of his divisions Mahone’s and Posey’s already there. These two brigades had been stationed at Bark Hill ford (or United States ford). As the crossing of the enemy flanked their position, they retired with a view to check his advance on the Confederate flank,[2] General Anderson took position at the intersection of the mine and plank roads, near Tabernacle church, and began to intrench himself. As Anderson withdrew from Chancellorsville to take this position, his rear guard was attacked by Federal cavalry, but this was soon driven off by Mahone’s brigade. Up to this point no North Carolina troops were on the field. By this time, General Lee was satisfied that Hooker s objective point was his flank; so leaving Early’s division, Barksdale’s brigade and part of the reserve artillery under Pendleton, to guard his lines at Fredericksburg, he ordered McLaws to move toward Anderson’s position at midnight on the 30th, and Jackson to move at dawn. General Jackson reached Anderson’s "hasty works" at 8 o’clock, and at once prepared to advance the whole Confederate force. Gen. R. F. Hoke’s North Carolina brigade of four regiments and one battalion remained with Early. With Jackson there moved four North Carolina brigades and two regiments. Two of these brigades, Lane s and Fender s, were in A. P. Hill’s division, commanded by General Rodes; the First and Third regiments were in Colston’s division.
Hooker’s plan was to uncover Banks ford so as to get in easy communication with his troops left at Fredericks-
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