FLANK MAKCH AT CHANCEL-
LORSVILLE.

2 AND ;3° HAG --1665.

By BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES H. LANE.

On the morning of 1 May, 1863, my Brigade moved from
its position, near Hamilton’s Crossing, in the direction of
Chancellorsville. That night we formed line of battle with
skirmishers thrown forward on the right of the road, about a
mile and a half from Chancellorsville. Next morning be
tween 8 and 9, I think, after the artillery duel on the road
to our right, where one of our caissons was blown up and the
Eighteenth North Carolina suffered a slight loss, we were
ordered to the left on that memorable flank movement.

General Jackson’s front line was composed of Rodes’ Di-
vision, his second of Colston’s and his third of A. P. Hill’s,
with the exception of McGowan’s Brigade and mine. Our
two.brigades moved by the flank along the plank road immedi-
ately in rear of our artillery—mine being in front.

We crossed the plank road where Generals Lee and Jack-
son were sitting on their horses, and took the road to Wel-
ford’s Furnace, on a part of which we were in full view of
the enemy who shelled us vigorously. From Welford’s Fur-
nace we took a circuitous route across fields and along roads
until we struck the road on the enemy’s right flank, where
Rodes and Colston were forming their lines of battle. This
was between 5 and 6 in the afternoon of the same day. Me-
Gowan’s Brigade and mine moved down the road, mine being
in front and close behind the artillery, After the enemy
had been swept back to Chancellorsville, and we had reached
their last breastworks, the artillery halted, as did my com-
mand. This was a little before dark.

We remained standing in the road for some time. Gen-
eral A. P. Hill then ordered me to form across the road—
two regiments to the right, two to the left, and one thrown
forward as a strong line of skirmishers—for the purpose of