Wilderness, VA
[Battle of the Wilderness by Kurz & Allison - Courtesy of Wikipedia]
Date(s):
May 5-7, 1864
Location:
Please click on link below for map.
Wilderness National Military Park (national park), Virginia, United States
Campaign(s):
Grant’s Overland Campaign
[May-June 1864]
Battles in
Campaign:
- May 5-7, 1864 A
A
Situation:
Commanders:
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Union:
Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade
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Confederate:
Gen. Robert E. Lee
Principal Forces:
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Union:
101,895
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Confederate:
61,025
Description:
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The opening battle of
Grant’s sustained offensive against the Confederate Army of Northern
Virginia, known as the Overland Campaign, was fought at the Wilderness, May 5-7.
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On the morning of May 5, 1864, the Union V Corps
attacked Ewell’s Corps on the Orange
Turnpike, while A. P. Hill’s corps
during the afternoon encountered Getty’s
Division (VI Corps) and Hancock’s II Corps
on the Plank Road.
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Fighting was fierce but inconclusive as both sides
attempted to maneuver in the dense woods.
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Darkness halted the fighting, and both sides
rushed forward reinforcements. At dawn on May 6,
Hancock attacked along the Plank Road, driving Hill’s Corps back in
confusion.
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Longstreet’s
Corps arrived in time to prevent the collapse of the Confederate right flank.
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At noon, a devastating Confederate flank attack in
Hamilton’s Thicket sputtered out when Lt. Gen. James
Longstreet was wounded by his own men.
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The IX Corps (Burnside)
moved against the Confederate center, but was repulsed.
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Union generals James S.
Wadsworth and Alexander Hays were
killed.
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Confederate generals
John M. Jones, Micah Jenkins,
and Leroy A. Stafford were killed.
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The battle was a tactical draw.
Grant, however, did not retreat as had the
other Union generals before him.
-
On May 7, the Federals advanced by the left flank
toward the crossroads of Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Photo Gallery:2
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Wilderness Campaign - The Battle Begins
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First Blood in Saunders Field
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Description of the Culpeper Mine Road
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Culpeper Mine Road
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Fighting on the Evening of May 5, 1864
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Morning of May 6, 1864
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John Gordon Proposes a Flank Attack
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Gordon's Flank Attack
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Gordon's Attack Falters
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The Federals Fall Back
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Classification3:
A
Casualties4:
-
Union:
18,400
-
Confederate:
11,400
Results:
Inconclusive
Battlefield Websites:
Recommended
Resources:
1 National Park
Service summary.
2 Please click on the image to
enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link
with each image: "Courtesy of
civil-war-journeys.org."
3
Classification:
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A
- having a decisive influence on a
campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
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B -
having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
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C -
having observable influence on the
outcome of a campaign
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D
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having a limited influence on the
outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important
local objectives
4 Casualties are
someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
Revised
06/05/2008 |
