Wilderness VA046

supportedunresolved Humphreys says Wilson reported at 5 a.m. that his pickets had reported nothing new from the enemy; that at a quarter past seven Meade, on his way to Warren's headquarters, received a despatch from Warren that the enemy's infantry was on the pike in some force about two miles from Wilderness Tavern; and that Wilson's parties had indicated the Confederate corps were no further advanced than in November. Meade says information was received that the enemy had appeared on the Orange pike.

Attributed reports from an interested history and report; the order and message chain was not inspected.

supportedunresolved Meade lists a large park of supply wagons under Ingalls and says the supply trains were assembled at Richardsville. Humphreys says the trains had an infantry guard of 1,200 men from each infantry corps, that not all the great trains could cross on the 4th, and judges it more judicious to have let the troops remain for the night where they had halted, as that made the passage of the trains secure. On May 7 the Germanna bridge was relaid at Ely's Ford for the ambulance train with the wounded.

Movement and transport statements from an interested history and report; no transport return inspected.

supportedunresolved Meade says it had been determined to turn the enemy's right flank to avoid the Mine Run intrenchments. Humphreys says Lee told Ewell it was preferred not to bring on a general engagement before Longstreet came up, that Grant did not intend or wish to fight in the Wilderness, and that on May 7 Grant decided to continue by the left flank toward a general engagement in more open country.

Stated aims from an interested report and history; Humphreys argues against Badeau's reading of Grant's intent.

supportedpost_outcome The frozen result reads Inconclusive (Grant continued his offensive); the live result reads Indecisive and NPS calls the battle a tactical draw. Meade says the fighting of May 6 substantially ended the battle, the enemy having withdrawn from Hancock's front on May 7 into a strong intrenched line; NPS says the Federals advanced by the left flank toward Spotsylvania on May 7.

Retain the original result and engagement interval; later movements and campaign contribution are different measures. No new probabilities or individual causal credit.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen casualty text reads 29,800 (US 18,400; CS 11,400); the live field reads 28,800 (US 18,000; CS 10,800). Humphreys, combining regimental killed and missing with the medical director's wounded and Burnside's report, gives the Army of the Potomac and Ninth Corps 2,265 killed, 10,220 wounded and 2,902 missing (15,387), and estimates that 200 wounded perished in the fires. He gives the Medical and Surgical History's Confederate figures of 2,000 killed, 6,000 wounded and 3,400 missing, noting that their authority is not given, and Ewell's report of 1,250 killed and wounded in his corps.

Original casualty returns were not inspected; preserve totals, categories, cutoffs and differences. No canonical reconciliation or casualty-based opening count; related actions must not be added without resolving population overlap. Humphreys' Union total is his own combination of differently sourced components.

supportedunresolved Humphreys says Meade, on receiving Warren's report of enemy infantry on the pike, at once directed Warren to halt and attack with his whole force, which would show what part of Lee's army was there, and that Grant and Meade remained on a knoll near Wilderness Tavern during the battle. Meade writes that the lieutenant-general directed the movement and advised him that Burnside's Ninth Corps was ordered up. The frozen commanders are Lieutenant General Grant and Major General Meade (US) and General Lee (CS); the live page lists Grant and 'Major General Robert Lee' and omits Meade.

Direction is attributed as the sources state; the live rank for Lee is not adopted. No listed commander receives automatic sole credit.

unknownunresolved

No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. Imported numerical estimates remain unchanged; this pass does not validate them as simultaneous opening forces.

disputedunresolved The frozen and live force fields read 162,920 (US 101,895; CS 61,025). Humphreys gives the Army of the Potomac 99,438 officers and men 'present for duty equipped' on the April 30 morning report, and the Ninth Corps, reported separately, 923 officers and 18,408 enlisted men present for duty on its April return, adding that all but 6,000 of its enlisted men had just entered the service. For Lee's army he uses the April 20 return (Third Corps 1,551 officers and 20,648 men; cavalry 467 and 7,932), Longstreet's two divisions' March 31 return and Taylor's estimate of 10,000, and reconstructs a May 1 total of not less than 61,953 officers and men.

Returns of different dates (March 31, April 20 and 30) and scopes; Humphreys' Confederate total is his reconstruction from mixed returns and an estimate, and his Union figures separate the Ninth Corps. None is adopted as a matched opening strength; live zeros are not measured absence.

supportedinherited Humphreys says Wright's division was delayed forcing its way through dense scrubby pine and tangled undergrowth, that little of the combatants could be seen, and that no great battle had taken place before on such ground. Meade says the Sixth Corps made its way through the dense thicket toward evening; NPS says both sides tried to maneuver in the dense woods.

The forest predates the engagement; the choice to fight there is not tagged. Narrative descriptions; no map verification.

supportedunresolved Humphreys relays Griffin's statement that on May 5 the Confederates intrenched on the line Griffin had first held, and says that on May 7 Lee's position was found well intrenched, with artillery, behind a tangled forest; Meade says Hancock found the enemy in a strong intrenched line near Parker's Store.

Works built during the engagement; not tagged as inherited.