The battle that immediately preceded Gettysburg was the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Fought between April 30 and May 6, 1863, this battle marked a major victory for the Confederacy, as General Robert E. Lee successfully outmaneuvered Union General Joseph Hooker despite having fewer troops. Lee's triumph at Chancellorsville boosted his confidence and prompted him to plan an invasion of the North, which would lead to the Battle of Gettysburg a few months later. However, the significant losses suffered by the Confederates, including the injury of General Stonewall Jackson, hinted at the difficulties that would emerge during the Gettysburg campaign.