Battle of the Wilderness

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 park, battlefield, place with historical importance, interesting place, American Civil War 1861-1865
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Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
www.nps.gov/frsp/
Battle of Wilderness
thomaslegion.net/battleofthewilderness.html

The May 5-6, 1864 battle began a six-week campaign that began the bloodiest campaign in American history.

An open air shelter provides orientation exhibits. A five-mile driving tour and several walking trails provide access to key spots on the battlefield.

Under the direction of the aggressive Ulysses S. Grant, Union forces once again crossed the Rappahannock and advanced south to Wilderness Tavern, 5 miles west of Chancellorsville near what is now the junction of Va. 3 and Va. 20. Lee advanced to stop him, thus setting up the first battle between these two great generals. For the 2 days of May 5 and 6, 1864, the armies fought in the tangled thickets of The Wilderness. The battle was a stalemate, but instead of retreating as his predecessors had, Grant backed off and went around Lee toward his ultimate target, Richmond, via the shortest road south (now Va. 208).

The battle raged around Ellwood plantation, which during the Battle of Chancellorsville had served as the Confederate hospital where Stonewall Jackson was treated and died.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wilderness
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   38°18'17"N   77°43'32"W

Comments

  • William W. Sosebee, my 2nd great grandfather, was wounded there on May 6. He was taken to Parker's Store which was used as a field hospital, developed lock jaw and died 8 days later. He was buried at Parker's, was removed from there later but I'm not sure where he is resting today. This article was extremely interesting.
This article was last modified 6 years ago