Editing Battle of the Wilderness (section)

==Battle May 5==
The Battle of the Wilderness had two distinct fronts, the Orange Turnpike and the Orange Plank Road, where most of the fighting was conducted by infantry. Any efforts to bridge the gap between those two fronts did not last long.<ref name="Gallagher160">{{harvnb|Krick|1997|p=160}}</ref> Most of the cavalry fighting occurred south of the infantry, especially along Catharpin Road and Brock Road.<ref name="Gallagher126-129">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=126–129}}</ref>

===Hammond's cavalry===
[[File:BattleOfTheWilderness - HammondAndHill.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Hammond found A.P. Hill's Third Infantry Corps|alt=map showing troop positions]]
At 5:00 am on May 5, Wilson's Division proceeded southward from Parker's Store.<ref name="Gallagher117">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|p=117}}</ref> The 5th New York Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [[John Hammond (U.S. Representative)|John Hammond]], was detached and instructed to patrol west of the Parker's Store area until relieved by Warren's V Corps.<ref name="Gallagher117-118">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=117–118}}</ref> A probe west on the Orange Plank Road discovered Confederate soldiers. Despite being reinforced, the Union probe was driven back toward Parker's Store. It was soon discovered that they were fighting infantry from most of Hill's Third Corps.<ref name="Gallagher117-118"/>

Hammond's total force consisted of only about 500 men.<ref name="Starr89"/> Hammond understood that the dense woods and the large infantry force made fighting on horseback inadvisable. The command fought dismounted and spread out as a skirmish line while utilizing their Spencer repeating rifles. The regiment slowly retreated east, moving toward and beyond Parker's Store on the Orange Plank Road.<ref name="Rhea115-116">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=115–116}}</ref> Once the Confederates advanced east of Parker's Store, the remainder of Wilson's cavalry division was cut off from Meade and Warren's V{{nbsp}}Corps.<ref name="Gallagher119">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|p=119}}</ref>

===Orange Turnpike===
[[File:WILDERNESS May5.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|May 5: Warren faces Ewell while Getty stops Hill|alt=troop positions with two fronts]]
At 6:00{{nbsp}}am on May 5, Warren's V Corps began moving south over farm lanes toward Parker's Store.<ref name="Scott1891b-539">{{harvnb|Scott|1891b|p=539}}</ref> The Confederate infantry was observed in the west near the Orange Turnpike, and Meade was notified. Grant instructed "If any opportunity presents itself of pitching into a part of Lee's army, do so without giving time for disposition."<ref name="Rhea103">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=103}}</ref> Meade halted his army and directed Warren to attack, assuming that the Confederates were a division and not an entire infantry corps. Hancock was held at Todd's tavern.<ref name="Eicher664"/> Although Meade told Grant that the threat was probably a delaying tactic without the intent to give battle, he stopped his entire army—the exact thing Lee wanted him to do.<ref name="Rhea103"/> The Confederate force was Ewell's Second Corps, and his men erected earthworks on the western end of the clearing known as Saunders Field.<ref name="Gallagher147"/><ref name="Rhea102">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=102}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Saunders Field was a corn patch about {{convert|400|yd}} wide and {{convert|800|yd}} deep. It was one of the few large clearings in the Wilderness, and the Orange Turnpike ran through its middle.<ref name="Rhea102"/> Saunders Field is sometimes called Palmer Field.<ref name="Schaff149">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=149}}</ref>|group=Note}} Ewell's instructions from Lee were to not advance too fast, since his corps was out of the reach of Hill's Third Corps—and Longstreet's First Corps was not yet at the battlefield.<ref name="Gallagher147"/>

[[File:Battle of Wilderness Meade noon May 5 V2.png|thumb|upright=1.5|At noon, Meade had two fronts and no help from cavalry|alt=list of troop positions]]Warren approached the eastern end of Saunders Field with the division of Brigadier General [[Charles Griffin]] along the road on the right and the division of Brigadier General [[James S. Wadsworth]] on the left. Brigadier General [[Samuel W. Crawford]]'s division was too far away on the left near Chewning Farm, and the division of Brigadier General [[John C. Robinson]] was in reserve closer to Wilderness Tavern.<ref name="Gallagher149">{{harvnb|Carmichael|1997|p=149}}</ref> It took time to align Warren's divisions, and there was some concern about Griffin's northern (right) flank.<ref name="Rhea140">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=140}}</ref>  A major problem was that "once a division left the roads or fields it disappeared utterly, and its commander could not tell whether it was in line with the others...."<ref name="Schaff138">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=138}}</ref> Brigadier General [[Horatio Wright]]'s 1st Division from Sedgwick's VI Corps began to move south on the Germanna Plank Road to Spotswood Road to protect Warren's right.<ref name="Eicher664"/> Warren requested a delay from attacking to wait for Wright. By 12:00{{nbsp}}pm, Meade was frustrated by the delay and ordered Warren to attack before Sedgwick's VI Corps could arrive. Warren's troops arrived at Saunders Field around 1:00{{nbsp}}pm.<ref name="Rhea141-142">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=141–142}}</ref> The Confederate division of Major General [[Edward Johnson (general)|Edward Johnson]] was positioned on the Orange Turnpike west of Sanders Field, and it also guarded the Spotswood Road route of Sedgwick. Behind Johnson and further south was the division of Major General [[Robert E. Rodes]], while the division of Major General [[Jubal Early]] waited further west in reserve.<ref name="Gallagher149"/>

===Fight at Saunders Field===
[[File:Battle of the Wilderness May 5 Orange Turnpike.png|thumb|upright=1.75|3:00 pm May 5: Sedgewick arrives to assist Warren|alt=troop positions]]
By the time the Union line arrived near the enemy, it had numerous gaps, and some regiments faced north instead of west.<ref name="Schaff152">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=152}}</ref> The concerns about Warren's right flank were justified. As Griffin's division advanced, Ayres's brigade held the right but had difficulty maintaining its lines in a "blizzard of lead".<ref name="Rhea145-146">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=145–146}}</ref> They received [[Enfilade and defilade|enfilading]] fire on their right from the brigade of Confederate [[Brigadier General (CSA)|brigadier general]], [[Leroy Augustus Stafford|Leroy A. Stafford]], causing all but two regiments ([[140th New York Infantry Regiment|140th]] and [[146th New York Infantry Regiment|146th New York]]) to retreat east across Saunders Field.<ref name="Rhea152">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=152}}</ref> On the left of Ayres, the brigade of Brigadier General [[Joseph J. Bartlett]] made better progress and overran the position of Confederate brigadier general, [[John M. Jones]], who was killed.<ref name="Rhea152-153">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=152–153}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Jones' brigade was protected on its right by only a small group of dismounted cavalry, and it was outflanked on that side. Jones and a member of his staff, Captain Robert D. Early, were killed. Early was the nephew of Major General Jubal A. Early.<ref name="Rhea153">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=153}}</ref>|group=Note}} However, since Ayres's men were unable to advance, Bartlett's right flank was now exposed to attack and his brigade was forced to flee back across the clearing. Bartlett's horse was shot out from under him, and he barely escaped capture.<ref name="Rhea154-156">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=154–156}}</ref>

To the left of Bartlett was Wadsworth's [[Iron Brigade]], which was composed of regiments from [[Midwestern United States|the Midwest]] and commanded by Brigadier General [[Lysander Cutler]].<ref name="Schaff154">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=154}}</ref> The Iron Brigade advanced through woods south of Saunders Field and contributed to the collapse of Jones' brigade while capturing battle flags and taking prisoners.<ref name="Schaff154"/> However, the Iron Brigade outdistanced Bartlett's men—exposing the Midwesterner's right flank. The Confederate brigade of Brigadier General [[George P. Doles]] attacked the exposed flank, and the Iron Brigade's [[6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment]] suffered nearly 50 casualties in only a few minutes.<ref name="Rhea157">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=157}}</ref> Soon, the Confederate brigade of Brigadier General [[John B. Gordon]] joined in the attack, tearing through the Union line and forcing the Iron Brigade to break and retreat.<ref name="Rhea161">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=161}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The famed Iron Brigade, sometimes called the Iron Brigade of the West (today's [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]]) to differentiate it from other units that claimed the same name, was formerly one of the elite fighting units in the Union army, earning its reputation at battles such as the [[Battle of South Mountain]], the [[Battle of Antietam]], and the [[Battle of Gettysburg]]. At Gettysburg, it suffered over 60 percent casualties.<ref name="Fox117">{{harvnb|Fox|1889|p=117}}</ref> By then, losses were so heavy that the brigade was never again as effective as it was earlier, despite replacements.<ref name="Woodford110">{{harvnb|Woodford|Woodford|1999|p=110}}</ref>|group=Note}}

Further to the Union left, near the Higgerson farm, the Union brigade of Colonel [[Roy Stone (general)|Roy Stone]] was ambushed in waist-high swamp water, and the survivors fled northeast to the fields of the Lacy House (a.k.a. [[Ellwood Manor]]). One soldier blamed the fiasco on the gap between Stone's brigade and the Iron Brigade.<ref name="Rhea162-163">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=162–163}}</ref> On Wadsworth's farthest left, the brigade of Brigadier General [[James C. Rice]] suffered severe losses when the North Carolina brigade commanded by Brigadier General [[Junius Daniel]] got around Rice's unprotected left. The problem was compounded when Stone's brigade fell back from Rice's right.<ref name="Rhea163-164">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=163–164}}</ref> Rice's survivors were chased by Daniel's men almost back to the Lacy House, where the V Corps artillery was used to slow the pursuing Confederates. A quick fight over the guns resulted in casualties for both sides.<ref name="Rhea164">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=164}}</ref> Rice's losses were severe, including two of his five regimental commanders wounded.<ref name="Rhea165">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=165}}</ref>

{{Quote box
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|quote=Suddenly, to the horror of the living, fire was seen creeping over the ground, fed by dead leaves which were thick. All who could move tried to get beyond the Pike, which the fire could not cross. Some were overtaken by the flames....
|source=Unnamed wounded soldier, [[7th Indiana Infantry Regiment|7th Indiana Infantry]]<ref name="Schaff166">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=166}}</ref><!-- Probably Lt. William "Billy" Davis -->
}}

Further south, Crawford's First Brigade, commanded by Colonel [[William McCandless]], did not reach the fighting in time to help Wadsworth's left. The brigade became surrounded by Confederates, and its [[7th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment]] was captured. Crawford was in danger of having the remaining portion of his division cut off, so it withdrew toward the Lacy House while the Confederates occupied the Chewning farm.<ref name="Rhea166-167">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=166–167}}</ref> Back at Saunders Field, Warren had ordered an artillery section into Saunders Field to support his attack, but it was captured by Confederate soldiers, who were pinned down and prevented by rifle fire from moving the guns.<ref name="Rhea168-169">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=168–169}}</ref> Amid hand-to-hand combat at the guns, the field caught fire and men from both sides were shocked as their wounded comrades burned to death.<ref name="Rhea170-171">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=170–171}}</ref> The first phase of fighting on the Orange Turnpike was over by 2:30{{nbsp}}pm.<ref name="Rhea172">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=172}}</ref>

The lead elements of Sedgwick's VI Corps reached Saunders Field around 3:00{{nbsp}}pm. Wright commanded the renewal of fighting until Sedgwick arrived around 3:30{{nbsp}}pm.<ref name="Eicher666">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|p=666}}</ref> The fighting was now in the woods north of the turnpike, and both sides traded attacks and counterattacks.<ref name="Eicher666"/> Ewell held his position for the remainder of the afternoon.<ref name="Gallagher148">{{harvnb|Carmichael|1997|p=148}}</ref> During the fray, Confederate brigadier general, [[Leroy A. Stafford]], was shot through the shoulder blade, the bullet severing his spine. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down and in agonizing pain, he managed to still urge his troops forward.<ref name="Rhea181">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=181}}</ref> He died four days later.<ref name="Eicher666"/>

===Getty and Hancock at Orange Plank Road===
[[File:Battle of the Wilderness - May 5 Orange Plank.png|thumb|upright=1.75|Getty kept Union control of the vital intersection of Orange Plank Road and Brock Road]]
Visibility was limited near Orange Plank Road, and officers had difficulty controlling men and maintaining formations. Attackers would move blindly and noisily forward, becoming targets for concealed defenders.<ref name="Esposito122"/> Unable to duplicate the surprise that was achieved by Ewell on the turnpike, A.P. Hill's approach was detected from the Chewning farm location of Crawford's 3rd Division of the V Corps. Crawford notified Meade, and his message arrived at Meade's headquarters around 10:15{{nbsp}}am.<ref name="Eicher664-665">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|pp=664–665}}</ref>

Crawford sent the [[13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment]] (a.k.a. the Bucktails) as skirmishers toward Hill, but Hammond's line was falling apart before the Bucktails arrived near the Orange Plank Road.  Crawford did not support his Pennsylvanians, and instead worked to solidify his position at the Chewning Farm and get ready to assist in the Orange Turnpike fighting. By the time this was accomplished, Hammond was beyond helping.<ref name="Rhea117">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=117}}</ref> Meade's army was in danger if Hill could push Hammond beyond Brock Road and take control of the intersection (Orange Plank and Brock roads). That would cause Warren's V{{nbsp}}Corps to have large enemy forces on two sides, and Hancock's II{{nbsp}}Corps could get isolated from the rest of Meade's army.<ref name="Schaff136">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=136}}</ref>

Although Hancock was not far from the intersection of Orange Plank Road and Brock Road, he would have to move {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} on a twisting road that was a narrow wagon route.<ref name="Rhea109">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=109}}</ref><ref name="Rhea133">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=133}}</ref> The VI Corps's lead division of Brigadier General [[George W. Getty]] was waiting at Wilderness Tavern, so at 10:30{{nbsp}}am Meade sent it to defend the important intersection until Hancock could get there.<ref name="Rhea133"/> Hammond's 500-man cavalry force, employing repeating carbines and fighting dismounted, succeeded in slowing Hill's approach.<ref name="Starr89"/> However, Hammond's small force was vastly outnumbered and continued to gradually retreat east.<ref name="Starr90">{{harvnb|Starr|2007|p=90}}</ref>

{{Quote box
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|quote=Lee established his headquarters at the Widow Tapp farm. Lee, Jeb Stuart, and Hill were meeting there when they were surprised by a party of Union soldiers entering the clearing. The three generals ran for safety and the Union men, who were equally surprised by the encounter, returned to the woods, unaware of how close they had come to changing the course of history.<ref name="Rhea128">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=128}}</ref>}}By noon, Hill had the division of Major General [[Henry Heth]] past the Widow Tapp farm, and the division of Major General [[Cadmus M. Wilcox]] followed near Parker's Store.<ref name="Eicher665">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|p=665}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|A widow named Catharine Tapp lived in a small cabin with a 40-acre (16 ha) field, called the Widow Tapp farm, that was one of the few clearings near the battlefield's Orange Plank Road.<ref name="Gallagher160"/> The house is several hundred yards (180 m) from the road, and partially obscured by trees.<ref name="Schaff171">{{harvnb|Schaff|1910|p=171}}</ref> From the Orange Plank Road, the farm is located about {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} west of Brock Road.<ref name="Rhea127">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=127}}</ref>|group=Note}} Hammond was nearly out of ammunition and was eventually pushed back to the vital intersection around noon, but was relieved by Getty's advance brigade just before Hill's forces arrived.<ref name="Gallagher118-119">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=118–119}}</ref> Hammond's force moved further east behind Getty, and was done fighting.{{#tag:ref|The official report lists Hammond's 5th New York Cavalry as having 50 casualties.<ref name="Scott1891b-129">{{harvnb|Scott|1891b|p=129}}</ref>|group=Note}} Because of Hammond's repeating rifles, the Confederate prisoners stated that they believed they had been fighting an entire brigade.<ref name="Starr89"/> Getty's men skirmished briefly with Heth's advance, and held the intersection.<ref name="Eicher665"/>

Getty held the intersection for hours waiting for Hancock's II Corps to arrive. By 3:30{{nbsp}}pm, initial elements of Hancock's corps were arriving, and Meade ordered Getty to assault the Confederate line.<ref name="Scott1891b-677">{{harvnb|Scott|1891b|p=677}}</ref> Getty attacked at 4:15{{nbsp}}pm while elements of Hancock's II Corps began arriving shortly thereafter. Getty was reinforced by Hancock's men, while Confederate commander Heth was reinforced by Wilcox's division.<ref name="Esposito122">{{harvnb|Esposito|1959|p=122}}</ref> The fighting was fierce, with casualties for the brigade commanded by Brigadier General [[Alexander Hays]] particularly high—including Hays who was killed while addressing the [[63rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment]]. Hays was an old friend of Grant, having attended West Point with him and served with him in the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican War]], and Grant was saddened to hear the news, remarking that he wasn't surprised to learn he'd died in battle as "It was just like him."<ref name="Rhea202-203">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|pp=202–203}}</ref> Attacks and counterattacks continued into the night as casualties grew while neither side gained an advantage.<ref name="Eicher667">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|p=667}}</ref> Getty's division was relieved by the II Corps after dark, and Getty's horse was killed in the day's fighting.<ref name="Scott1891b-677-678">{{harvnb|Scott|1891b|pp=677–678}}</ref>

===Wilson at Catharpin Road===
[[File:Battle of the Wilderness May 5 Cavalry.png|thumb|Wilson encountered Rosser|alt=map of troop positions]]

Leaving Hammond's regiment at Parker's Store at 5:00{{nbsp}}am on May 5, Wilson moved his two brigades south.<ref name="Gallagher117"/> His Second Brigade led the way, and it was commanded by Colonel [[George Henry Chapman|George H. Chapman]]. His First Brigade was commanded by Colonel Timothy M. Bryan.<ref name="Gallagher119"/>{{#tag:ref|Bryan had been replaced as brigade commander by Colonel [[John Baillie McIntosh|John B. McIntosh]], who had not yet arrived. McIntosh reached Hammond while Hammond was fighting Hill's infantry, and remained with Hammond because his route to join Wilson was blocked by Hill.<ref name="Gallagher118"/>|group=Note}} Chapman reached Catharpin Road and moved west beyond Craig's Meeting House, where he found 1,000 men from a Confederate cavalry brigade commanded by Brigadier General [[Thomas L. Rosser]]. After initially driving Rosser back, both of Wilson's brigades fled east after finding Hill's infantry on their north side and Rosser's cavalry on the Catharpin Road on their south side.<ref name="Gallagher119-122">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=119–122}}</ref> The [[18th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment]] was the rear guard, and it became surrounded on three sides. The regiment left the road and blended into the woods and a swamp.<ref name="Gallagher122">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|p=122}}</ref>

While Wilson battled Rosser, Sheridan's other two cavalry divisions were further east. Around noon, Meade notified Sheridan that Wilson had been cut off, and Gregg's 2nd Cavalry Division was sent to explore the Catharpin Road.<ref name="Gallagher122-123">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=122–123}}</ref> Gregg found Wilson and confronted Rosser, who was driven back across the Po River bridge.<ref name="Gallagher123-124">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|pp=123–124}}</ref> In late afternoon, Gregg also fought Major General [[Fitzhugh Lee]]'s cavalry division on the Brock Road near [[Alsop, Virginia|Alsop]]. At nightfall, Rosser sat on the high ground west of the Po River bridge, Lee's men camped near Alsop, and Wilson's exhausted division camped north and east of Todd's Tavern. Wilson was surprised that evening when the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry, thought to be captured, rejoined the division.<ref name="Gallagher124">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|p=124}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William P. Brinton, escaped through the woods with losses of one officer and 39 men.<ref name="Gallagher124"/>|group=Note}} During the night, Gregg remained at Todd's Tavern, Wilson put Chapman's Brigade on the Brock Road, and the brigade of [[George Armstrong Custer]] from Torbert's division began moving to relieve Wilson.<ref name="Gallagher126">{{harvnb|Rhea|1997|p=126}}</ref> While the remaining portion of Torbert's Division was south of Chancellorsville at Alrich, Torbert checked into a hospital and Brigadier General [[Wesley Merritt]] assumed command of the division.<ref name="Gallagher122"/>