Wilderness, See America Best Historic Sites

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania
National Military Park - Wilderness Unit

It would begin the Overland Campaign, the bloodiest campaign of the Civil War, and by the end of it, the eastern theatre of the Civil War would be changed forever, and lead to the end of the war. On May 5-6, 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant's Federal troops would engage in a bloody struggle along two roads, the Orange Plank Road and Orange Turnpike against his counterpart, Robert E. Lee. When you visit the Wilderness battlefield unit of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, you'll notice a big difference in how the battlefield looks than in the units of Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville. It's true of Spotsylvania, even more so, but here at the Wilderness, the open nature of the fields translate into an easy interpretation of how the battle was pursued. Now if they can only stop that Wal-Mart.

In 1864, this was the wildest area, perhaps, fought within the Virginia theatre of the war. Soldiers could barely move through the thickets. They had a hard time knowing where not only the enemy was, but where their compatriots stood. It wasn't an area to have a large scale battle in. But this is where they were. And what generals of the Confederacy had learned about U.S. Grant up to this point of the war was true here, too. He did not stop because battle was hard. Grant pushed forward, in loss and victory.

There is no visitor center at the Wilderness unit, only a kiosk that is manned during some hours. And the interpretation here is lower than at the other locations, with ranger walks during the summer from the kiosk, but it is a predominantly visitor by yourself experience here. One where you can wander and contemplate. There are walking trails to take; Gordon Flank Attack Trail, the Vermont Monument, Grant's Knoll, Chewning Plateau, and Tapp Field. The Ellwood home, which was owned by the same family that owned Chatham (can you imagine having both of your homes taken over for headquarters during two separate battles) is open during some hours for tours as well.

Battle of the Wilderness Timeline
May 4 - Dawn. Leading Corps of the Union Army reaches Germanna Ford, 18 miles west of Fredericksburg.
May 4 - Union army cross the Rapidan River. Lee decides to engage the army in the Wilderness and orders the corps of A.P. Hill, Ewell, and Longstreet to march toward that end.
May 5 - Morning. U.S. Grant orders his corps to march through the jungle and thickets toward open ground and avoid battle in the jungle. Confederate corps of General Ewell surprises Warren's corps in Saunders field.
May 5 - Three miles south along Plank Road, another battle began through the end of the day between A.P. Hill's corps and the troops of Hancock and Sedgwick.
May 6 - 5 a.m. Hancock attacks along the Plank Road. Initially Hancock's troops overwhelm Confederate forces until the first Corps of Longstreet arrived, inflicting 50% casualties against some regisments of the Union army.
May 7 - The fighting at the Wilderness did not resume as fires burned through the forest. The Union had lost 18,000 soldiers to 8,000 for the Confederates, and the battle here was essentially over.
May 7-8 - 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.

Things You Should Not Miss

1. It's not the easiest park to get interpretation on, but if you're fortunate enough to be at the kiosk during the time of the 45 minute tour, usually on weekends and holidays two times per day, take it. The exhibit shelter is located off Route 20.

2. Take a tour of Ellwood, the working farm manor home that was part of a 5,000 acre estate at the time. During the battle of the Wilderness, it served as a Union headquarters, serving corp commanders Warren and Burnside. Grant's headquarters was on the property, three hundred yards north, but not in the home. Ellwood is only open on weekends and holidays; check for specific times.

What is There Now

Ellwood Manor - Preserved by the Friends of the Wilderness and open for tours and visitation during weekends and holidays. Check at the visitor's centers at Chancellorsville or Fredericksburg for times.

Self-guided walking tours, an eight stop driving tour, and miles of open vistas, woods, and farm fields.

Lodging and Camping

Most of the opportunities for lodging are located between Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg, and there are many choices of places to stay in Fredericksburg and its suburbs. Check out your favorite online travel site, such as Expedia, or the city visitor bureau for an appropriate hotel, motel, or campsite.

The Wilderness Links

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
The Wilderness Unit - National Military Park
Ellwood Manor Home
Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield

Nearby Attractions

Spotsylvania County Visitor Center
Stafford County Visitor Center
Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center
Frederickburg City Visitors Center
Chancellorsville Unit - National Military Park
Spotsylvania Unit - National Military Park
Virginia Tourism

The Wilderness Then and Now


General Robert E. Lee (NARA)
The Wilderness Then
This place was so wild, thick with thickets and jungle undergrowth, soldiers from both Confederate and Union armies, plus a fire. It was not the place to be in the spring of 1864. General Grant had reorganized the Army of the Potomac once assuming command of the entire federal army. Corps commanders were now Warren, Sedgwick, and Hancock, plus the independent 9th Corps of Ambrose Burnside. For General Robert E. Lee, he was counting on Confederate commanders A.P. Hill, Ewell, and Longstreet.
The Wilderness Now

There is an eight stop driving tour around the Wilderness battlefield, nine if you include Ellwood. At Stop 2, the Exhibit Kiosk is manned by park rangers on weekends and holidays. The Wilderness battlefield is the farthest unit from the Fredericksburg area, but not far from Chancellorsville, and it leads nicely into Spotsylvania, too. The Wal-Mart controversy is currently being waged in the area as the retail behemoth is determined to bring one of its large stores right next to this pristine park. To learn more about the effort to stop it, or move it, check out the Civil War Preservation Trust's page about the effort. Picture above and to the right shows two views of the Wilderness Battlefield, part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Right, the old Germanna Plank Road trace used by troops in 1864. Above, Saunders Field. (Photo courtesy NPS) Custom Search

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Battle of the Wilderness