Battle of Wilderness and Battle of Spotsylvania

It was just before dawn in May 1864. The Army of the Potomac, now led by Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, moved into position in front of the Confederate Army. Both sides were optimistic. The Federal Army were still enjoying the victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate Army was keen to avenge the Battle of Gettysburg.

The area around Fredericksburg had seen some bloody fighting before with the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. They knew the area and the memory of General Lee’s Greatest Achievement was still fresh. Yet again the Confederates were heavily outnumbered. A. P. Hill and Richard S. Ewell had been promoted to succeed “Stonewall” Jackson but neither were anywhere near as good generals as Jackson had been.

Knowledge of the terrain and woods around Wilderness meant the Confederates would hold an advantage and Grant was not prepared to fight in such an inhospitable place but Confederate armies marching from Turnpike and Orange Plank Road would force the issue much sooner. As the Federal army moved out of the woods they were met with a fire storm. “The very moment we appeared,” said one officer, “they gave us a volley at long range, but evidently with very deliberate aim, and with serious effect.” The Battle of Wilderness had begun.

Battles were fought throughout the day in the field and into the woods. Pockets of armies were cut off from the main group and small fights ensued within the forests.

Elsewhere, the Plank Road battle raged. This is the main road through Wilderness and the Confederate army was desperate to cute off Grant’s troops. Grant sent an extra division into the area and the Confederates were pushed back into the forest. Over the next day the Unionists pushed on and the Confederates were desperate for reinforcements, which eventually came from the Texas Brigade and the Union army was pushed back.

General James Longstreet was leading the Confederate push before being shot in another case of friendly fire. Although he survived, unlike Jackson, Longstreet’s injuries stopped the push forward.

Fighting on the Turnpike had seen the Confederates begin to overcome Grant’s army. Brigadier John B Gordon succeeded in routing the Federal army in the area and capturing numerous generals and soldiers.

Fighting stopped at night, no one being able to see who they were shooting at. During this night Grant reinforced his troops and began to push back against Gordon. Fires blazed through the forest and fighting dropped as both armies counted the cost of the battles and prepared for the next round of fighting.

As the Confederates began to push Grant’s armies back the signs of a repeat of the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville began to come to the fore. This time, however, Grant was not to be outdone. On May 7th, Grant faced a choice at a lonely intersection. Turn left and retreat or turn right and head for the Richmond road via the Spotsylvania Court House. Grant’s choice to turn right was met with cheers from his troops and a slow march ensued, occasionally met with Confederate resistance.

General Lee knew that the Spotsylvania Court House was a major point and had to be defended. It was an excellent point with which to march on Richmond.

Unable to rest for the night the Federal Army marched on through the night. Lee had sent orders to attack at night in a series of minor raids and artillery fire. The Unionists were slowly brought to a halt from a number of losses and exhaustion. When the Maryland Brigade marched west of Brock Road they were met with a heavy volley of fire from soldiers and cannon instantly destroying them all.

The Confederate armies created a salient as a point of defence against the Union march. Although the salient, or Mule Shoe as it was also known due it’s shape, was weak at the ends General Lee opted to keep it, feeling the cannon could protect.

The salient held until the Union sent in teams of men to take the cannon. They almost took the whole area before the confusion of the attack ended. The Confederates pushed back these 12 regiments. Grant now knew that with more men he could attack the mule shoe.

On May 12th the bloodiest day started. Lee had removed the cannon protecting the salient thinking Grant had thought better of attacking again. Union soldiers attacked. The day was a massacre for the Confederates. “The battle of Thursday was one of the bloodiest that ever dyed God’s footstool with human gore,” said on Confederate survivor.

The Union soldiers, however, lost the initiative as they cleared the Confederate lines, moved prisoners and looted the area. Gordon led Lee’s men forward in a counter-attack and more men died as close combat fighting ensued. Hundreds of men fought in those two days and many died. The are has since become known as the Bloody Angle.

“The horseshoe was a boiling, bubbling and hissing cauldron of death,” wrote a Union officer. “Clubbed muskets, and bayonets were the modes of fighting for those who had used up their cartridges, and frenzy seemed to possess the yelling, demonic hordes on either side.”

The idea of military strategy slowly became a mess of fighting. Men entrenched in shelters fired at opponents while other hid behind barricades. Most died where they fell. As night fell the battle continued until the Confederates began a retreat.

Grant pressed on his attack, knowing that going beyond Spotsylvania was essential. Lee’s army was beginning to dissolve. The Confederates had lost some 10,000 men and replacing them was becoming impossible. Despite his leadership Lee could no longer face the onslaught of the Federal Army and Grant pushed further on beyond Spotsylvania towards Richmond and the ultimate demise of the Confederate Army.

More information, maps and details of the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania from the National Parks Website.

Related posts:

1. Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of Chancellorsville
2. Alexandria, VA
3. Mount Vernon and Alexandria
4. Richmond, Virginia