All that remains of the once proud building that gave this battle its name, the foundations of Chancellor House greet the early morning sun. Surrendering the initiative after successfully maneuvering around the Confederate Army, the Federals retreated to a defensive position along this line on Day 1. Union Major General Joseph Hooker, took this once stately home as his Headquarters, then saw it battered into ruin on Day 3 when Confederate guns blasted the Union center with artillery fire from Fairview, a hill a short distance to the south west. One shell struck a column against which the Commanding General was leaning, causing a possible concussion and temporary confusion. For some time afterwards, he remained unable to direct the battle.

At battle's end, despite being pushed back across the river to their former lines, General Hooker issued this congratulatory statement to the Army of the Potomac. "The major-general commanding tenders to this army his congratulations on its achievements of the last seven days. If it has not accomplished all that was expected, the reasons are well known to the army. It is sufficient to say they were of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or resource...We have no other regret than that caused by the loss of our brave companions, and in this we are consoled by the conviction that they have fallen in the holiest cause ever submitted to the arbitrament of battle." [5]