General Lee directed a portion of his cavalry under General Fitz Lee to harass and delay this column as much as possible.

Although he had with him but a few hundred men he succeeded in doing good service in cutting off detached bodies of the enemy, capturing many officers and men, and so demoralizing the invaders that, after pushing on as far as the James River, Stoneman had to retreat in great haste across the Rapidan River.
Hooker, having crossed the river, marched on to Chancellorsville, where he set to to intrench himself, having sent word to General Sedgwick, who commanded the force that had crossed near Fredericksburg, to recross, push round, and join him as soon as possible.

Chancellorsville was a large brick mansion standing in the midst of fields surrounded by extensive forests.

The country was known as the Wilderness.

Within a range of many miles there were only a few scattered houses, and dense thickets and pine-woods covered the whole country.