Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Before the twenty-ninth of April the brigades were posted as follows: Mahone's and Posey's at United States Ford, Wilcox's at Banks's Ford, Perry's near the old mine road, about three miles west of Fredericksburg, and Wright's at Massaponax Church.

On the morning of the twenty-sixth of April, when the enemy crossed the river at the mouth of Deep Run, Wright's brigade was brought up from Massaponax Church, and placed to the left and rear of Major-General Early's position. Later in the day it was ordered to take post near Perry's brigade, and at dark the latter was moved to the river to relieve such of the troops of McLaws's division as were on duty above Fredericksburg and opposite Falmouth. About nine o'clock P. M., the same day, I received orders from the commanding General to repair to Chancellorsville, and to make such a disposition of the two brigades (Mahone's and Posey's) which had been posted at United States Ford, as to check the advance of the enemy who had crossed the Rappahannock at the fords above the Rapidan, and were approaching Ely's and Germana Fords on the latter river. I proceeded to obey these directions, and ordered Brigadier-General Wright to move his brigade to Chancellorsville. Upon arriving at Chancellorsville at midnight, I found that Brigadier-General Mahone had already occupied that place with the troops from the United States Ford, having left a regiment from his own and five companies of the Ninth Mississippi regiment from Posey's brigade, to hold the ford as long as possible. I learned also that the enemy had crossed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germana Fords, capturing, after a very obstinate resistance, the greater part of a working party and picket which had been stationed at the latter place. After consultation with Brigadier-Generals Mahone and Posey, and an examination of the position at Chancellorsville, I decided upon falling back from that place to the point on the plank road at which the old mine road crosses it; and this was done early on the morning of the thirtieth of April--Wright's brigade, which had arrived at daylight, and the force which had been left at United States Ford, being withdrawn at the same time. Wright's and Posey's brigades retired from Chancellorsville by the plank road and Mahone's by the old turnpike. Whilst they were moving off, and before the pickets had been called in, the cavalry of the enemy, under cover of fog and rain, dashed upon the picket on the Ely's Ford road, and captured a part of one company. They subsequently attacked the rear guard of Mahone's brigade, but were so effectually repulsed that we were no further annoyed by them during the movement. Upon arriving at the intersection of the old mine and plank roads, I met Colonel W. P. Smith, chief engineer, army of Northern Virginia, and Captain Johnston, of the engineer corps, who had been sent by the commanding General to examine the position and establish the line of intrenchments. The work of intrenching was commenced immediately after the line had been selected, and was continued with great diligence and activity throughout that day, the night following, and the early part of the next morning. During the day there were occasional skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry who had followed from Chancellorsville. In the afternoon, Colonel Owens, commanding the Third regiment Virginia cavalry, joined me with his regiment, and threw out pickets to the front and upon each flank.

A little before sunrise on the first of May, Major-General McLaws having come up with his division, strengthened the force immediately in front, and secured our right flank by occupying the trenches along Motte Run. At eight o'clock A. M., Lieutenant-General Jackson arrived. By his orders the work on the trenches was discontinued, and the troops were put in readiness for an advance. Wilcox's and Perry's brigades, which had been left above Fredericksburg, being at the same time ordered to join their division. The advance commenced at eleven o'clock A. M. Mahone's brigade with Jordan's battery of Alexder's battalion leading the movement on the old turnpike, and Wright's and Posey's brigades, with the other batteries of Alexander's battalion, leading on the plank road. Colonel Owens's regiment of cavalry was employed in reconnoitring these roads and others diverging from them. When the troops on the plank road had advanced about two miles, the enemy was discovered in considerable force. They opened on us with artillery, and seemed determined to resist our further progress. Brigadier-General Wright was directed to follow, with his brigade, the line of the unfinished Fredericksburg and Gordonsville railroad, to threaten their right, and to compel them to fall back. This was executed with spirit and rapidity, and the enemy fell back with precipitation before our advance, which was resumed soon afterwards. General Wright continued to follow the line of the railroad without opposition until he arrived at the Catharine or Wellford's furnace, where he had a sharp encounter with a superior force of the enemy. Darkness put a stop to this conflict without any decided results having been attained, and at ten o'clock at night, in obedience to orders from Lieutenant-General Jackson, he returned to the plank road, along which Posey's brigade had, in the mean time, advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's intrenchments around Chancellorsville. Mahone's brigade, in like manner, fought its way along the old turnpike to a point about one mile from Chancellorsville. Wilcox's and Perry's brigades, in coming up from Fredericksburg, had been direacted