USS Chancellorsville Artifacts To Go Display In Spotsylvania County

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — Historical artifacts that were donated to the former USS Chancellorsville are making their way back to Spotsylvania County following the vessel’s renaming last year and will go on display in the future.

Last year, the U.S. Navy announced the guided missile cruiser formerly named USS Chancellorsville would be renamed USS Robert Smalls, in honor of a sailor and statesman born into slavery in South Carolina.

A congressionally mandated naming commission outlined several military assets across all branches of service that would be renamed due to Confederate ties. The commission identified the USS Chancellorsville because of its association with the Confederate victory of the Civil War battle bearing its name.

Following the vessel’s renaming, Spotsylvania County requested the donated artifacts be transferred to the Spotsylvania County Museum, which sits adjacent to preserved land from the first day of fighting at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

The Navy granted the request and the artifacts were accessioned as part of the museum’s collection in late January. They will go on display for visitors to see in the future, Spotsylvania County said.

“We are grateful artifacts previously displayed aboard the former USS Chancellorsville have found a fitting home at the Spotsylvania County Museum, where they can be shared with our community and visitors for years to come,” Drew Mullins, Courtland supervisor on the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.

“This is the perfect location and will serve to honor not only the ship itself and the crew who served our country while working on board, but also recognizes history while giving us the opportunity to learn from the lessons of our nation’s past,” Mullins said.

Led by the Friends of the USS Chancellorsville, an organization created to enhance the relationship between the ship’s commissioning committee and the Fredericksburg Area Council of the Navy League, and the County of Spotsylvania, the following materials originally donated by the Friends of the USS Chancellorsville were transferred via Unconditional Deed of Gift from the United States Naval History and Heritage Command to the Spotsylvania County Museum following a decommissioning initiative to bring historic objects back to the USS Chancellorsville’s heritage community:

• McClellan Cavalry Saddle
• Framed case of excavated Chancellorsville battle artifacts, presented by Craig-Carroll
• Framed case of excavated Chancellorsville battle artifacts, presented by Conroy F. Parker
• Ames Manufacturing Co. Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber, presented to Captain Bill Keating on June 4, 1992, aboard the Chancellorsville by Dr. David Amstutz and acquired by the Fredericksburg Area Council of the Navy League (hung in Captain’s Cabin)
• Framed map of Chancellorsville
• “Battle of Chancellorsville, Sunday, May 3, 1863” Print (original art from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Famous Leaders and Battle Scenes of the Civil War, 1896)
• USS Chancellorsville at sea photo print
• “The Campaign of Chancellorsville: A Strategic and Tactical Study” by John Bigelow Jr., 1910 Yale University Press
• Stellar Nioh 2022 – JFTM-07 plaque for Capt. Edward A. Angelinas, commanding officer of USS Chancellorsville (presented by Capt. Takeuchi Shusaku, commanding officer of J.S. Maya)
• October 18, 2015, Japan Self-Defense Force Fleet Review plaque
• DD-116 Teruzuki plaque presented to Capt. Curt Renshaw, commanding officer of USS Chancellorsville, 2015 (presented by Cmdr. Takayuki Miyaji, commanding officer of J.S. Teruzuki)

The former USS Chancellorsville was named after the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville of the Civil War, which was fought in Spotsylvania County. The cruiser was commissioned Nov. 4, 1989, and was first deployed in March 1991.

The Battle of Chancellorsville, from April 30 to May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the Civil War. The battle had heavy casualties, including Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who died from injuries sustained in the battle.

The Spotsylvania County Museum is located at 6159 Plank Road adjacent to the First Day of Chancellorsville Park.