The South's Finest Hour: The Battle of Chancellorsville For the South in the Civil War, there were many victories and heartbreaking defeats - from the battle of Bull Run, to the upset of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. However, one Southern victory may be said as the South's finest hour. This victory came at the battle of Chancellorsville. Lincoln placed Joseph "Fightin' Joe" Hooker in charge of the Union troops to take on Robert E. Lee and his army. Hooker was to destroy the Rebel army from behind and then move on to Richmond. Fightin' Joe began moving his troops toward Chancellorsville in Lee's rear on April 27th. Hooker sent a cavalry raid on Lee