Battle of the Wilderness

May 5–7, 1864

Part of American Civil War

Contemporaries

Related events (1 degree away • 2 degrees away)

 
Battle of the Wilderness
 

Fought 5-7 May 1864 in Virginia, the first battle of Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Fighting in dense woods produced nearly 29,000 casualties on both sides and was tactically inconclusive. Grant disengaged and continued his advance toward Richmond, beginning a war of attrition against Lee's army.

Commanders

Union 2

Confederates 1