Wilderness Battle

When the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River, they entered "The Wilderness", a 70-square mile heavily wooded area of second growth hardwood, thick underbrush, and deep ravines, relieved only here and there by a few scattered clearings. So dense was the forest that it was almost impenetrable by troops in battle formation. The ruggedness of the ground and the density of the forest caused the battle to be fought along the three main roads: the Orange Turnpike and the Orange Plank and Brock Roads.

This clearing in the forest, known as Saunders' Field, was the site of the Battle of the Wilderness. 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. Fighting was fierce but inconclusive as both sides attempted to maneuver in the dense woods.

At 1:00 p.m. on May 5, 1864, some 12,000 Union soldiers surged toward a wooden ridge. Because the Federal battlefront extended more than one mile in width, many Northern troops advanced through the tangled undergrowth on either side of the field. The clearing was maintained as one of the two major fronts during the battle, and was the scene of additional fierce fighting on May 6, including a Confederate flank attack on the evening of the 6th. During the fighting in Saunders' Field, the dry grass and leaves caught fire, and soon flames were sweeping across the clearing. Efforts to retrieve the wounded and dying from the field were often futile, and the bodies of soldiers dead and alive were consumed by the fire.

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. Longstreet’s Corps arrived in time to prevent the collapse of the Confederate right flank. At noon, a devastating Confederate flank attack in Hamilton’s Thicket sputtered out when Lt. Gen. James Longstreet was wounded by his own men.

The IX Corps (Burnside) moved against the Confederate center, but was repulsed. Union generals James S. Wadsworth and Alexander Hays were killed. Confederate generals John M. Jones, Micah Jenkins, and Leroy A. Stafford were killed. The battle was a tactical draw. Grant, however, did not retreat as had the other Union generals before him. Grant pressed southward, “On to Richmond.”

Timeline (May 5 - 6, 1864)

• May 5-7 Parker's Store, Craig's Meeting House, the Brock Road, Todd's Tavern