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Battle of the Wilderness facts for kids

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The Battle of the Wilderness was a battle of the American Civil War. It was the first battle of the Overland Campaign. It was fought from May 5 to 7, 1864. A Union army commanded by U.S. Grant started marching south to capture Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee, attacked Grant's army in an area called the Wilderness. After two days, Grant wasn't able to defeat Lee's army. He then decided to move the Union army southward to get between Lee and Richmond. This resulted in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. This was a battle that was considered inconclusive


Images for kids

  • Grant crop of Cold Harbor photo

    Maj Gen G. Meade

  • 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 attacks Hancock's flank

  • 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

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