Posted on May 16, 2017
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On this day in 1864, in the opening battle in the biggest campaign of the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops continue their desperate struggle in the Wilderness forest in Virginia. General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union forces, had joined George Meade’s Army of the Potomac to encounter Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in the tangled Wilderness forest near Chancellorsville, the site of Lee’s brilliant victory the year before. The fighting was intense, and raging fires that consumed the dead and wounded magnified the horror of battle. But little was gained in the confused attacks by either side.
On May 6, the second day of battle in the Wilderness, Grant sought to break the stalemate by sending Winfield Hancock’s corps against the Confederate right flank at the southern end of the battle line. The Federals were on the verge of breaking through the troops of James Longstreet when they stumbled in the dense undergrowth.
Lee entered the fray to rally the Confederate troops, but his devoted soldiers urged him away from the action. Later in the morning, Longstreet’s men attacked Hancock’s forces and seemed poised to turn the Union flank. But, like the Union troops earlier, they became disoriented as they drove Hancock’s troops back. In the confusion, Longstreet was wounded by his own men, just four miles from the spot where Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own men the year before.
The Confederate attack halted when Hancock’s men found refuge behind hastily constructed breastworks. In the evening, Lee attacked the Union flank at the northern end of the battlefield and nearly turned the Federal line. Grant’s men, however, held their ground, leaving the exhausted armies in nearly the same positions as when the battle began. In two days, the Union lost 17,000 men to the Confederates’ 11,000. This was nearly one-fifth of each army.
The worst was yet to come. Grant pulled his men out of the Wilderness on May 7, but, unlike the commanders before him in the eastern theater, he did not go back. He moved further south towards Spotsylvania Court House and closer to Richmond. At Spotsylvania, the armies engaged in some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
On May 6, the second day of battle in the Wilderness, Grant sought to break the stalemate by sending Winfield Hancock’s corps against the Confederate right flank at the southern end of the battle line. The Federals were on the verge of breaking through the troops of James Longstreet when they stumbled in the dense undergrowth.
Lee entered the fray to rally the Confederate troops, but his devoted soldiers urged him away from the action. Later in the morning, Longstreet’s men attacked Hancock’s forces and seemed poised to turn the Union flank. But, like the Union troops earlier, they became disoriented as they drove Hancock’s troops back. In the confusion, Longstreet was wounded by his own men, just four miles from the spot where Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own men the year before.
The Confederate attack halted when Hancock’s men found refuge behind hastily constructed breastworks. In the evening, Lee attacked the Union flank at the northern end of the battlefield and nearly turned the Federal line. Grant’s men, however, held their ground, leaving the exhausted armies in nearly the same positions as when the battle began. In two days, the Union lost 17,000 men to the Confederates’ 11,000. This was nearly one-fifth of each army.
The worst was yet to come. Grant pulled his men out of the Wilderness on May 7, but, unlike the commanders before him in the eastern theater, he did not go back. He moved further south towards Spotsylvania Court House and closer to Richmond. At Spotsylvania, the armies engaged in some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
Grant and Lee continue fighting in the Wilderness - May 06, 1864 - HISTORY.com
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TSgt Joe C. Many battles or small skirmishes fought out in the wilderness during the Civil War that aren't discussed as much, but there are tons of historical events! Thanks for sharing Joe!
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Thanks for reminding us TSgt Joe C. that on May 6, 1864 the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness was fought between the Army of the Potomac led by the able Lt Gen Ulysses S Grant began a two-day battle with Army of Northern Virginia led by CSA General Robert E Lee.
The action was fierce and the fog of war in terrain previously fought over which revealed skeleton remains of dead soldiers required determination, endurance and quick thinking and action when the Minié balls and cannon balls were flying amidst the screams of the wounded and the shattering of limbs of man and beast.
Leaders were in the thick of the fight all too often in the Civil War. Personal leadership was important as leaders at all levels led by example more often than not.
James Longstreet was shot by his own men. Which created just enough confusion for Maj Gen Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps to establish a defense which held on Brock Road.
"BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS: SECOND DAY
Shortly after 5 a.m. on May 6, the Union 2nd Corps, led by Winfield Scott Hancock, attacked along the Plank Road. Advancing in a battle line more than a mile long, the Federals were able to drive back A.P. Hill’s Confederates nearly a mile. The rebels were aided from collapse by the arrival of a corps led by James Longstreet (with Lee in its midst, urging his soldiers onward). Fighting was even more intense than the day before, with stifling smoke and fog that forced soldiers to fire blind, with little idea at whom they were aiming.
Around noon, Longstreet led the Confederates in a damaging counterattack on the Union left, but was shot in the shoulder accidentally by one of his own men. (Unlike Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville, he would recover, but would be out of commission for the next five months.) The ensuing Confederate disorganization allowed Hancock to organize defenses along the Brock Road, and Union troops were able to hold their ground when the rebels renewed the attack. At dusk, Lee ordered another attack (led by the aggressive Georgia brigadier John B. Gordon) on the exposed right flank of the Union line, breaking through two brigades and sending soldiers flying back to Union headquarters with panicked reports of defeat. Grant held his ground, however, and the Federals were able to stabilize their position, despite heavy losses."
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-the-wilderness
Images: 1864-05-06_ Battle of the wilderness; 0500 Wilderness May 6 Hancock attacks A.P. Hill.; 0600 -1000 Wilderness May 6 Longstreet's Counterattack; 1400 - 1800 Wilderness May 6;
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) MSG Andrew WhiteSGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley LTC Bill Koski
The action was fierce and the fog of war in terrain previously fought over which revealed skeleton remains of dead soldiers required determination, endurance and quick thinking and action when the Minié balls and cannon balls were flying amidst the screams of the wounded and the shattering of limbs of man and beast.
Leaders were in the thick of the fight all too often in the Civil War. Personal leadership was important as leaders at all levels led by example more often than not.
James Longstreet was shot by his own men. Which created just enough confusion for Maj Gen Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps to establish a defense which held on Brock Road.
"BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS: SECOND DAY
Shortly after 5 a.m. on May 6, the Union 2nd Corps, led by Winfield Scott Hancock, attacked along the Plank Road. Advancing in a battle line more than a mile long, the Federals were able to drive back A.P. Hill’s Confederates nearly a mile. The rebels were aided from collapse by the arrival of a corps led by James Longstreet (with Lee in its midst, urging his soldiers onward). Fighting was even more intense than the day before, with stifling smoke and fog that forced soldiers to fire blind, with little idea at whom they were aiming.
Around noon, Longstreet led the Confederates in a damaging counterattack on the Union left, but was shot in the shoulder accidentally by one of his own men. (Unlike Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville, he would recover, but would be out of commission for the next five months.) The ensuing Confederate disorganization allowed Hancock to organize defenses along the Brock Road, and Union troops were able to hold their ground when the rebels renewed the attack. At dusk, Lee ordered another attack (led by the aggressive Georgia brigadier John B. Gordon) on the exposed right flank of the Union line, breaking through two brigades and sending soldiers flying back to Union headquarters with panicked reports of defeat. Grant held his ground, however, and the Federals were able to stabilize their position, despite heavy losses."
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-the-wilderness
Images: 1864-05-06_ Battle of the wilderness; 0500 Wilderness May 6 Hancock attacks A.P. Hill.; 0600 -1000 Wilderness May 6 Longstreet's Counterattack; 1400 - 1800 Wilderness May 6;
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) MSG Andrew WhiteSGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley LTC Bill Koski
Battle of the Wilderness - American Civil War - HISTORY.com
Find out more about the history of Battle of the Wilderness, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com
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