Battle of Salem Church
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| Battle of Salem Church | |||||||
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| Part of American Civil War | |||||||
 Attack on Gen. Sedgwick's Corps, seen from the north bank of the Rappahannock River. Forbes, Edwin, artist, May 4, 1863. |
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States of America | Confederate States of America | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| John Sedgwick | Robert E. Lee | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Corps | Corps | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 5,000 total (US and CS) | 5,000 total (US and CS) | ||||||
| Chancellorsville Campaign |
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| Chancellorsville – Fredericksburg II – Salem Church |
The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3 and May 4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War.
After occupying Marye's Heights on May 3, Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick's VI Corps marched out on the Plank Road with the objective of reaching his superior Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's force at Chancellorsville. He was delayed by Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox's brigade of Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early's force at Salem Church. During the afternoon and night, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee detached two of his divisions from the Chancellorsville lines and marched them to Salem Church. Several Union assaults were repulsed the next morning with heavy casualties, and the Confederates counterattacked, gaining some ground. After dark, Sedgwick withdrew across two pontoon bridges at Scott’s Dam under a harassing artillery fire. Hearing that Sedgwick had been repulsed, Hooker abandoned the campaign, recrossing on the night of May 5 to May 6 to the north bank of the Rappahannock River.
