The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5–6, 1864

Gordon C. Rhea

• Publisher: LSU Press
• Year: 2004
• eBook ISBN: 9780807155806
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

Fought in a tangled forest fringing the south bank of the Rapidan River, the Battle of the Wilderness marked the initial engagement in the climactic months of the Civil War in Virginia, and the first encounter between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. In an exciting narrative, Gordon C. Rhea provides the consummate recounting of that conflict of May 5 and 6, 1864, which ended with high casualties on both sides but no clear victor. With its balanced analysis of events and people, command structures and strategies, The Battle of the Wilderness is operational history as it should be written.

Index

Abbott, Maj. Henry L., 364–65, 389

Adams, Charles Francis, 434

Adams, Maj. Z. Boylston, 338, 447–50

Alabama units: 3rd, 154

4th, 273n, 305

5th, 154, 237

8th, 364

15th, 304, 305

44th, 299, 304

47th, 305, 399

48th, 304

61st, 168, 169

Alexander, Brig. Gen. E. Porter: on Lee’s strategy, 11

on Ewell, 15

on Grant’s plans, 28, 80n

on May 5, 273n

on May 6, pp. 280, 292–93, 339, 369, 402, 416n

on Confederate casualties, 440

Alexandria, 20, 48

Alger, Col. Russell A., 347

Allen, William, 414–15

Alrich farm, 378, 379

Anderson, Brig. Gen. George T. (“Tige”), 299, 355, 357, 363, 393, 394n, 396

Anderson, Maj. Gen. Richard H.: as Hill’s division commander, 17, 25

and maneuvering for position on May 4, pp. 82, 87

on May 5, pp. 232, 236

and plans for May 6, pp. 275, 277–78

on May 6, pp. 313, 316, 332, 353, 400

as commander after wounding of Longstreet, 374

Annapolis, 20, 48

Antietam, Battle of, 10, 21, 129, 232, 241, 444

Archer, Bob, 447

Archer, Brig. Gen. James J., 194n

Arkansas 3rd, 303

Army of Northern Virginia: shortages affecting, 8–9

enlistments in, 9–10

characteristics of, 12

leadership of, 12–18

before Battle of the Wilderness, 17, 20, 21, 24, 29

number of soldiers in, 21

number of, before Battle of the Wilderness, 34, 87

monitoring of Union army by, on May 4, pp. 66, 78–80, 89–90

maneuvering of, for position on May 4, pp. 70–71, 73, 78–90

monitoring of, by Union forces, 70–71

on May 5 morning, 99–102, 105–10, 115–29, 132

and Wilson’s encounter with Rosser on May 5 morning, 112–15

and battle at Saunders’ Field on May 5 afternoon, 142–74

in second round of fighting on May 5 afternoon, 176–84

on Orange Plank Road on May 5 afternoon, 187–208, 222

on Orange Plank Road late on May 5 afternoon, 222–29

advantages of, in Battle of the Wilderness, 229–30

on Orange Plank Road on May 5 evening, 231–42

assessment of fighting by, 241–42, 261–62, 280, 428–29, 439–46

situation of, at end of May 5, pp. 241–42, 263–64

on Orange Turnpike on May 5 evening, 242–49

cavalry of, on May 5 afternoon and evening, 253–62

and plans for May 6, pp. 272–82

on Orange Plank Road on May 6 morning, 283–95

and Longstreet’s arrival on May 6 morning, 295–302

and Longstreet’s counterattack on May 6 morning, 296, 302–16

on Orange Turnpike on May 6 morning, 317–24

Burnside’s advance against, on May 6 morning, 324–32

Hancock’s advance against, on May 6 morning, 332–41

and cavalry fight on May 6 morning, 343–50

and Longstreet’s flank attack on May 6 at midday, 351–66

and Burnside’s assault on May 6 afternoon, 380–89, 398–401

and Brock Road front on May 6 afternoon, 389–98

and Gordon’s attacks on May 6 evening, 404–30

appearance of, 431

order of battle of, 464–70

Army of Tennessee, 46

Army of the James, 47

Army of the Potomac: before Battle of the Wilderness, 8, 25, 29–35

maps used by, 33–34

number of, before Battle of the Wilderness, 34

quality of soldiers in, 34–35

leadership of, 37–41

cavalry of, 40–41

Grant’s general strategy for, 46–47

divided leadership of, 48, 131, 325, 432

and plans before Battle of the Wilderness, 49–58

maneuvering of, for position on May 4, pp. 60–78

monitoring of, by Confederate forces, 66, 78–80, 89–90

monitoring of Confederate forces by, on May 4, pp. 70–71

and plans on eve of Battle of the Wilderness, 91–93

on May 5 morning, 94–119, 128, 129–44

and Wilson’s encounter with Rosser on May 5 morning, 112–15

and battle at Saunders’ Field on May 5 afternoon, 142–74

assessment of fighting by, 172–74, 240–41, 263–64, 271–72, 429–36

6th Corps of, in second round of fighting on May 5 afternoon, 176–84

and Meade’s forces on Orange Plank Road on May 5 afternoon, 187–93

on Orange Plank Road on May 5 afternoon, 187–208, 222–29

on Orange Plank Road on May 5 evening, 231–42

on Orange Turnpike on May 5 evening, 242–49

cavalry of, on May 5 afternoon and evening, 253–62

and plans for May 6, pp. 262–71

on Orange Plank Road on May 6 morning, 283–95

Longstreet’s counterattack against, on May 6 morning, 296, 302–16

on Orange Turnpike on May 6 morning, 317–24

and Burnside’s advance on May 6 morning, 324–32

and Hancock’s offensive on May 6 morning, 332–41

and cavalry fight on May 6 morning, 343–50

Longstreet’s flank attack against, on May 6 at midday, 351–66

Burnside’s assault on May 6 afternoon, 380–89, 398–401

and Brock Road front on May 6 afternoon, 389–98

Gordon’s attacks against, on May 6 evening, 404–30

order of battle of, 454–63

Ayres, Brig. Gen. Romeyn B.: on May 5 morning, 140–41

in battle at Saunders’ Field on May 5 afternoon, 142–43, 145, 149–52, 154, 167–72

on May 6 morning, 317

Babcock, Col. Orville E., 58, 326

Badeau, Adam, 58

Barlow, Brig. Gen. Francis C: leadership capabilities of, 38

and maneuvering for position on May 4, pp. 63, 65

on May 5 afternoon, 206, 208, 225, 240

on May 5 evening, 233–36, 240

at Gettysburg, 235n

and plans for May 6, p. 269

on May 6 morning, 333–34

and railroad grade in Wilderness, 353n

on May 6 afternoon, 390, 395

Barney, Col. Elisha L., 197

Bartlett, Brig. Gen. Joseph J.: on May 5 morning, 99, 101–102

in battle at Saunders’ Field on May 5 afternoon, 143, 145, 152–56, 160, 169, 171–73

on May 6 morning, 317

Bartlett, William F., 366

Battle, Brig. Gen. Cullen A., 125, 154, 159, 169

Battle of the Wilderness: challenges facing Lee and Grant during, 7

Lee’s planning before, 22–29

military advantages of setting of, 27–28

Grant’s planning before, 49–58

Humphreys’ plan for, 50, 52–56

and Union army’s maneuvering for position on May 4, pp. 60–78

plan of attack on eve of, 91–93

on May 5 morning, 94–144

and Union forces on May 5 morning, 94–119, 128, 129–44

and Confederate troops on May 5 morning, 99–102, 105–10, 115–29

and Wilson’s encounter with Rosser on May 5 morning, 112–15

Meade’s errors during, 119, 240–41, 245–46, 330

and Getty’...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• I. MAY 2–3, 1864 Lee and Grant Make Their Plans
• II. MAY 4 The Armies Maneuver for Position
• III. MAY 5, MORNING Lee and Grant Find Surprise and Opportunity
• IV. MAY 5, AFTERNOON The Grand Offensive Breaks Down
• V. MAY 5, EVENING Grant Strives for a Coordinated Assault
• VI. MAY 6, MORNING The Tide Shifts
• VII. MAY 6, MIDDAY Lee Struggled to Retain the Initiative
• VIII. MAY 6, EVENING The Armies Reach Stalemate
• Appendix: The Order of Battle
• Bibliography
• Index