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
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Portion of Wilderness battlefield photographed in 1865
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Hammond found A.P. Hill's Third Infantry Corps
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May 5: Warren faces Ewell while Getty stops Hill
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3:00 pm May 5: Sedgewick arrives to assist Warren
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Getty kept Union control of the vital intersection of Orange Plank Road and Brock Road
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Wilson encountered Rosser
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Longstreet attacks Hancock's flank
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Gordon flank attack, Burnside arrives, and Confederate attack stalls on Orange Plank Road
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Hancock was kept blind on his left, and the Union Army's route to Spotsylvania Court House was blocked
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Map of the Battle of the Wilderness portion of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park