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After doing excellent reconnaissance work with his cavalry, General J.E.B. Stuart reported back to Lee and Jackson that Hooker was in a defensive position and it was feasible to flank his men on the right. Lee knew Jackson was the man for the job and ordered him to take his 30,000 troops on a forced march, the route of which was to pass in front of Hooker’s line through the woods and thick brush. After receiving information from a local resident, Jackson was given a relatively safe route by which to traverse the enemy’s front and he ordered the movement to begin early on the morning of May 2.

The generals led their men on a 12 mile quick, forced march throughout this warm spring day. The men in file were unaware of their destination. Private John Casler remembered, “We could not imagine where we were going. We continued marching through the fields and woods until about three o’clock in the afternoon. The day was hot, and we marched fast ̶ ̶ the men throwing away their overcoats and blankets.” He continued, “The other two divisions were in front of ours and we began to think Jackson was on one of his flank movements, when one of his couriers came back and told our General to hurry up his command, as General Jackson was waiting for it to form in line."<ref>Casler, location 1897</ref> The Stonewall Brigade pushed on and reached the position of their first commander by late afternoon before the battle of the wilderness surrounding Chancellorsville commenced.