160th Anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park will commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville with a series of programs and special events. All programs will be free and open to the public. On May 1–3, 2023, Monday–Wednesday, the park will hold a limited number of real-time programs and expanded offerings at the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. On May 5–7, 2023, Friday–Sunday, a variety of programs for all ages will explore, evaluate, and contemplate the Battle of Chancellorsville. Programs on Saturday, May 6, will include living history demonstrations.

The Battle of Chancellorsville occurred in the spring of 1863 as the United States Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River and faced the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The subsequent fighting resulted in a costly Confederate victory. This battle happened at a pivotal moment. Cracks in the institution of slavery were destabilizing the Confederacy while supply shortages stressed the Confederate home front and armies. The Emancipation Proclamation was new, and its impact remained uncertain. Returning to the pre-war status quo did not seem feasible, yet there was little consensus about what the future held.

Save the date for the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville! The program schedule will be released in early April.