The Battle of the Wilderness

It was the most successful day of James Longstreet's career. He had arrived on the Wilderness battlefield early in the day to find the Confederate army in full retreat and in danger of being destroyed. His troops had prevented disaster. Now, at midday, he had just launched a flank attack that knocked the Union army back in confusion.

As Longstreet galloped down the road at the head of his victorious troops - near this spot - he inadvertently rode between two Confederate lines maneuvering in the dense roadside foliage. One of them fired a volley. A bullet struck Longstreet in the throat; another killed his subordinate Micah Jenkins, riding at his side.

Like "Stonewall" Jackson a year before, Longstreet had been felled by his own men. Unlike Jackson, Longstreet would survive. But his wounding here, on May 6, stalled the Confederate advance. By the time Lee was able to revive it, the opportunity for victory had passed.

?I shall not soon forget the sadness in [General Lee's] face, and the almost despairing movement of his hands, when he was told that Longstreet had fallen.
Captain Francis W. Dawson, Longstreet's staff

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Spotsylvania, VA  |  Spotsylvania County  |  22551  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Flank Attack!
Burying the Dead
James S. Wadsworth
The Vermont Brigade
Hell Itself
Horror on the Orange Plank Road
Valuable Crossroads
Echoes Homeward
The Climax
12th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers 1862 - 1865

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.