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Battle of the Wilderness facts for kids

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The Battle of the Wilderness was a major fight during the American Civil War. It was the very first battle of a big plan called the Overland Campaign. This battle happened from May 5 to May 7, 1864.

The Union army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, was marching south. Their goal was to capture Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy. But the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, attacked Grant's army. They fought in a dense, wild forest area known as the Wilderness.

After two days of intense fighting, General Grant could not defeat Lee's army. So, he decided to move his army south. He wanted to get between Lee's army and Richmond. This move led to the next big battle, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The Battle of the Wilderness itself didn't have a clear winner.


Images for kids

  • Grant crop of Cold Harbor photo

    Lt Gen U.S. Grant

  • Portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee, officer of the Confederate Army LOC cwpb.04402

    Gen R.E. Lee

  • The Wilderness near Palmers and Spotswoods Houses

    Portion of Wilderness battlefield photographed in 1865

  • BattleOfTheWilderness - HammondAndHill

    Hammond found A.P. Hill's Third Infantry Corps

  • WILDERNESS May5

    May 5: Warren faces Ewell while Getty stops Hill

  • Battle of the Wilderness May 5 Orange Turnpike

    3:00 pm May 5: Sedgewick arrives to assist Warren

  • Battle of the Wilderness - May 5 Orange Plank

    Getty kept Union control of the vital intersection of Orange Plank Road and Brock Road

  • Battle of the Wilderness May 5 Cavalry

    Wilson encountered Rosser

  • Winfield Scott Hancock

    Maj Gen W.S. Hancock

  • Wilderness May6 0500

    Hancock attacks Hill

  • Wilderness May6 0600

    Longstreet counterattacks

  • Wilderness May6 1400

    Gordon flank attack, Burnside arrives, and Confederate attack stalls on Orange Plank Road

  • Battle of the Wilderness Cavalry May 6

    Hancock was kept blind on his left, and the Union Army's route to Spotsylvania Court House was blocked

  • Gen. Philip H. Sheridan (cropped)

    Maj Gen P. Sheridan

  • NPS Battle of the Wilderness park

    Map of the Battle of the Wilderness portion of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Batalla de la espesura para niños

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