Spottsylvania (American Civil War).
A continuation of the Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 10 to 12, 1864, between the Confederates, under General Lee, and the Federals, under General Grant. Lee's position covering Richmond was attacked on the 10th by Grant, and the day ended with both armies in their original positions, while the losses, especially on the side of the assailants, were very heavy. On the 12th Grant renewed the attack, and General Hancock, on the right surprised the first line of the Confederate defences, and compelled General Johnson and his division to surrender. With this exception, entailing the loss of about a mile of ground Lee held his own throughout the day, and Grant had suffered too severely to renew the attack. The losses from the 5th, the date of the first Battle of the Wilderness, to the 12th inclusive, were: Federals, about 50,000 killed and wounded, Confederates, about 12,000.