General Grant was called to the command of all the armies of the United States on the 13th of March, 1864, at which time the Army of the Potomac, numbering over one hundred thousand men, was encamped on the north side of the Rapidan. General Lee, with an opposing Confederate army of nearly equal force, was posted in a series of earthworks on the southern bank of the upper Rapidan. His position was a very strong one, and the construction of his defences had called forth the skill of an able body of engineers, and was the product of several months’ labor.
During the months of March and April General Grant visited the several commanders in person of the various departments contiguous to Washington, and imparted to them his general plan of the campaign, giving each department commander written instructions to guide him in the part assigned to him in the eventful movements which were soon to take place. He also communicated by letter to the heads of each department throughout the country, giving such definite information and instructions to all, as their peculiar position and circumstances called for. His headquarters he declared to be with the Army of the Potomac in the field. General Meade was retained as commander of that army, and through him General Grant gave orders for its evolutions—General Meade exercising all the responsibilities which were common to chief commanders in the field.
General Butler, with about thirty thousand troops, was then in the vicinity of Fortress Monroe, preparing to ascend the James, and cooperate with the Army of the Potomac, by a demonstration towards Richmond.
Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee’s army would be his objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For his movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, moving by his left. Each presented advantages over the other, with corresponding objections. By crossing above, Lee would be cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going North on a raid. But if Meade took this route all he did would have to be done while the rations he started with held out; besides, it separated him from Butler, so that he could not be directed how to cooperate. If he took the other route, Brandy Station could be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the York or James river. Of these, however, it was decided to take the lower route.
It was designed that all the armies throughout the country which were placed in antagonism with opposing rebel forces, should assume the offensive about the 1st of May.
The movement of the army of the Potomac commenced early on the morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and orders of Major-General Meade. Before night the whole army was across the Rapidan, (the Fifth and Sixth corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the Second in advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition. The average distance travelled by the troops that day was about twelve miles. General Grant had anticipated a bold opposition from the rebels while crossing the river, and was much relieved when that result was obtained without opposition. Toward night there was severe skirmishing along the line and some loss was suffered on both sides. That night the army encamped along a line some seven or eight miles in extent. The Second corps occupied the old battle-ground at Chancellorsville. The Fifth, under General G. K. Warren, was at the Wilderness Tavern, and the Sixth, under General Sedgwick, at Germania Ford, where Generals Grant and Meade established their headquarters.
On Thursday morning, before the dawn of day, the Federal troops prepared to resume their march. They advanced in three columns, by roads leading to the south. General Warren was on the right, General Hancock occupied the centre, and General Sheridan with his cavalry covered the extreme left. The troops had not proceeded far before there were indications of the approach of the enemy from the west, advancing in great force, bearing on the centre of the Federal lines. The rattling and irregular fire of the skirmish line gave premonition of the approaching contest, which became serious at noon.
THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
May 5–7, 1864.
When the battle began the rebels were disposed in the following manner: General Longstreet’s corps was opposed to General Hancock’s; General A. P. Hill’s to Warren’s; and Ewell’s to Sedgwick’s. General Griffin’s division was the first to engage the enemy. His troops advanced about a mile across the turnpike, and encountered the rebels under General Ewell, and for the space of one hour the fighting continued with great spirit, and severe loss. General Griffin’s division was at length driven back; but the Fourth and Second divisions, under Generals Wadsworth and Robinson, advancing to his aid, held the enemy in check and drove him back. In this brief engagement the Federal loss was one thousand men. The enemy’s next movement was to endeavor to gain a position between the corps of Generals Warren and Hancock on the left centre. The fighting at this point began about three o’clock. The carnage here was indescribably frightful; the battle raged with terrible fury; and the well-tried and brave soldiers on the extreme left—Hancock’s corps—were probably never so hard pressed. A correspondent thus describes the battle at this point: “Getty’s division, Sixth corps, was at the right of the Orange Plank-road, fronting toward Mine Run, where Carr’s division, Second corps, joined him on his left. The other divisions of Hancock’s corps were pushing up; in the twinkling of an eye the rebels were upon him in great force, with the evident purpose of turning our left. The ground was closely overgrown with shrub trees, thick as sprouting shoots from the same root. In a few minutes urgent requests came back for reinforcements. The enemy was repeating his tactics of Chancellorsville by falling with tremendous force and impetuosity upon one wing. This time he was not repulsed, but foiled. The battle raged for three hours precisely where it began, along a line of not more than half a mile. Fast as our men came up they were sent in—still no ground gained, none lost. It was all musketry, roll surging upon roll—not the least cessation. We were fighting twenty thousand men, and such was the nature of the country that but two guns could be planted bearing upon the enemy. Hayes’s brigade of Birney’s division became warmly engaged soon after the battle commenced. A little while and he asked for reinforcements. Hancock sent back word: ‘I will send a brigade within twenty minutes. Tell General Alex. Hayes to hold his ground. He can do it. I know him to be a powerful man.’ Within that time General Hayes was killed, and his body brought to the rear. The work was at close range. No room in that jungle for manœuvering; no possibility of a bayonet charge; no help from artillery; no help from cavalry; nothing but close, square, severe, face-to-face volleys of fatal musketry. The wounded stagger out, and fresh troops pour in. Stretchers pass out with ghastly burdens, and go back reeking with blood for more. Word is brought that the ammunition is failing. Sixty rounds fired in one steady stand-up fight, and that fight not fought out. Boxes of cartridges are placed on the returning stretchers, and the struggle shall not cease for want of ball and powder. Do the volleys grow nearer, or do one’s fears make them seem so? It must be so, for a second line is rapidly formed just where we stand, and the bullets slip singing by as they have not done before, while now and then a limb drops from the tree-tops. The bullets are flying high. General Hancock rides along the new line, is recognized by the men, and cheered with a will and a tiger. But we stay them. The Second corps is all up, and it must be that troops will come up from Warren or Sedgwick, or else they will divert the enemy’s attention by an attack upon another quarter. Yes, we hold them, and the fresh men going in will drive them. I ride back to general headquarters, and learn that an advance has been ordered an hour ago along the whole line. General Meade is in front with Warren, and Grant is even now listening for Wadsworth’s division of Warren’s corps to open on Hill’s flank, for it is Hill’s corps that is battling with Hancock. The latter reports that he shall be able to maintain his ground. The severe fighting for the day is over, and it is sunset.”
During this time the right had also been hotly engaged. The fighting began with an attack by General Sedgwick upon the line opposing him; and the result was a furious battle. Two divisions, only, of Sedgwick’s corps were engaged—the third had not taken position. A desperate effort was made by the enemy to turn Sedgwick’s right, and the enemy bore so hard upon him that he was obliged to send to General Burnside, whose corps from Fredericksburg had now joined the army, for assistance. A brief lull occurred at this moment, just long enough to give an opportunity for the reinforcements to come up. Rickett’s division came into line and supported Sedgwick’s now almost exhausted troops. Again the enemy advanced, and the fight recommenced with increased fury; volley after volley succeeded each other in regular succession and with deafening roar. At this time, and throughout the whole battle of the Wilderness, the musketry firing far exceeded that of any other battle during the war. Hour succeeded hour, and the heat of the conflict never seemed to abate, but ever and anon to rage more furiously than before; till at length, two hours after it had become so dark that the combatants could no longer distinguish each other, the battle terminated for the night. The enemy was driven back with very heavy loss, nor was that of the Federals much less severe. Many gallant officers fell upon the ground they fought for. Though the battle resulted in heavy loss of men, it was a great gain, and terminated in a decided victory to the Union troops, the enemy having been completely repulsed at every point which he had attempted throughout the day.