At the old Wilderness tavern the Stevensburg plank-road leading
southeast from Germanna Ford crosses the Orange and Fredericksburg
turnpike. Five miles beyond the tavern is Wilderness Church, at the
junction of the Stevensburg with the Orange and Fredericksburg
plank-road. Near by is the Brock road, which leads south to
Spottsylvania Court-House. West of the old tavern, four miles on the
turnpike, is Parker's store. In the early morning, General Ewell's
brigades appeared in line of battle at the store, on both sides of the
turnpike, while General A. P. Hill's corps was found to be pushing
rapidly eastward along the Orange plank-road, to gain the junction of
the roads at Old Church. Longstreet was following Hill.
The Second Corps, which had crossed at Ely's Ford, was already on the
move towards Spottsylvania. A recall was sent, also orders directing
Hancock to hold the junction of the roads. The Fifth Corps was thrown
out upon the turnpike towards Parker's store. The Sixth was moved up
from the Germanna road, west, into the woods, and placed in position to
cover all approaches to the ford. The Ninth arrived during the day, and
moved into the gap between the Fifth and Second. Divisions were moved to
the right, to the left, and to the centre, during the two days' fight,
but the positions of the corps remained unchanged.
[Illustration:
2. Second Corps.
5. Fifth Corps.
6. Sixth Corps.
9. Ninth Corps.
T. Old Tavern.
C. Old Church.
P. Parker's Store.
== Rebel Lines.]
Standing by the old tavern and looking west, you see the line of battle.
At your feet is a brook flowing from the southwest to the northeast, and
there is another smaller stream joining its waters at the crossing of
the roads. Beyond the bridge the turnpike crosses a ridge of land. On
the southern slope is the house of Major Lucy, with a smooth lawn, and
meadows green with the verdure of spring. Beyond the meadows are hills
wooded with oaks, pines, and cedar-thickets. At the right hand of the
turnpike the ridge is closely set with pines and cedars. Farther out it
breaks down into a ravine. Ewell has the western slope, and Warren with
the Fifth Corps the eastern, with the Sixth on his right.
It is a mixture of tall trees and small underbrush,--dense, almost
impenetrable. There are hills, knolls, dells, dark ravines. It is a
battle-ground for Indians, but one not admitting of the military
movements,--of advance by columns, or lines, as laid down in the books.
The battle commenced on Thursday afternoon and closed Saturday morning.
It was fierce, terrible, bloody, and yet indecisive. It was one unbroken
roll of musketry. There was a hostile meeting of two hundred thousand
men. There were bayonet-charges, surgings to and fro of the opposing
lines, a meeting and commingling, like waves of the ocean, sudden
upspringings from the underbrush of divisions stealthily advanced. There
was the continuous rattle, the roll deepening into long heavy swells,
the crescendo and the diminuendo of a terrible symphony, rising to
thunder-tones, to crash and uproar indescribable, then dying away to a
ripple, to silence at last!
Lee hastened from his intrenchments beyond Mine Run to strike Grant a
damaging blow,--to fall upon him while his line was thin and attenuated.
Grant was in column, moving southeast,--Lee in two columns, moving
northeast. These lines show it to the eye:--
[Illustration]
The advance of Lee has its parallel in naval warfare,--in Nelson's lines
of battle at Trafalgar. But there the comparison fails. The advance is
the same,--the result, instead of a victory, a defeat. He fell upon the
Fifth Corps, first at Parker's store, then on the right centre, then on
the left, then upon the Sixth, then upon the Second,--then upon the
whole line, renewing and repeating the assaults. Grant stood throughout
upon the line selected at the beginning of the battle. Lee began the
attack on the 5th, and renewed it at daybreak on the 6th.
Through all those long hours of conflict, there was patient endurance in
front of the enemy. There were temporary successes and reverses on both
sides. In only a single instance was there permanent advantage to the
enemy, and that he had not the power to improve. It was at the close of
the contest on the 6th. The sun had gone down, and twilight was
deepening into night. The wearied men of Rickett's division of the Sixth
Corps, in the front line of battle on the right, had thrown themselves
upon the ground. Suddenly there was a rush upon their flank. There was
musketry, blinding flashes from cannon, and explosions of shells. The
line which had stood firmly through the day gave way, not because it was
overpowered, but because it was surprised. General Seymour and a portion
of his brigade were taken prisoners. There was a partial panic, which
soon subsided. The second line remained firm, the enemy was driven back,
and the disaster repaired by swinging the Sixth Corps round to a new
position, covered by the reserve artillery. It was the only substantial
advantage gained by Lee during the battle.
There were indications in the forenoon of Saturday, the 7th, that Lee
was withdrawing his army. A reconnoissance in force made it more
apparent. Orders were issued for the removal of the wounded to
Fredericksburg. At two o'clock in the afternoon the Ninth Corps was on
the march to Spottsylvania. The first step towards Richmond had been
successfully taken. If Grant had not gained what he desired, a position
between Lee and Richmond, Lee on the other hand had utterly failed in
his attempt to crush Grant by a sudden blow upon his flank. He had not
been able, in the language of the President, even to "jostle him from
his chosen line of march."