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Ulysses S. Grant and Gouverneur K. Warren #9
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Robert E. Lee and Richard S. Ewells #9
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102,000 - 115,000 soldiers #10
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60,000 - 61,000 soldiers #10
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Wilderness Virginia, Spotsylvania. May 5-6, 1846 #8
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General Robert E. Lee meets with generals on top of Clark Mountain. Lee predicts Grant's forces are ready for battle as he can see them. #1
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Advantages - more soldiers and more guns
Disadvantages - didn't know the terrain #11 -
Advantages - Knew the terrain
Disadvantages - Fewer soldiers and fewer guns #11 -
On May 5, Warren's V Corps advanced over crop fields to the Plank Road when Ewell's Corps appeared in the west. Grant was notified and instructed, "If any opportunity presents itself of pitching into a part of Lee's army, do so without giving time for disposition." Meade stopped his army and told Warren to attack, thinking that the Confederates were a small group, not an entire infantry corps. Ewell's men erected earthworks on the western end of the clearing known as Saunders Field. #2
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Unable to duplicate the surprise that was achieved by Ewell on the Turnpike, A.P. Hill's approach was detected by Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford's men from their position at the Chewning farm, and Meade ordered the VI Corps division of Brig. Gen. George W. Getty to defend the important intersection of the Orange Plank Road and the Brock Road. Three miles south along Plank Road, another battle begins through the end of the day between A.P. Hill's corps and the troops of Hancock and Sedgwick. #3
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At around 5 a.m. Hancock attacks along Plank Road. At first, Hancock's troops overwhelm Confederate forces until the first Corps of Longstreet arrived, inflicting about 50% casualties against some parts of the Union army. #4
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As planned, Hancock's II Corps attacked Hill at 5 a.m., overwhelming the Third Corps with the divisions of Wadsworth, Birney, and Mott; Getty and Gibbon were in support. Ewell's men on the Turnpike had actually attacked first, at 4:45 a.m., but continued to be attacked by Sedgwick's and Warren's corps and could not be relied on for assistance. Lt. Col. William T. Poague's 16 guns fired canister, but could not stem the tide and Confederate soldiers streamed toward the rear. #5
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The fighting at the Wilderness did not resume because fires burned through the entire forest. The Union had lost 18,000 soldiers to 8,000 for the Confederates, and the battle was practically over. #6
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In the woods, soldiers could not tell who was who. The battle lasted for 2 days. #11
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18,000 #11
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10,800 #11
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Inconclusive, though the union suffered more casualties. #11
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If the North would have known the terrain where the battle took place, I believe they would have won.
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Unlike other commanders of the U.S. Army before him, Grant pursued the fight, marching his troops toward Spotsylvania and another battle with General Lee. Leading to The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. #7