Wilderness Campaign

May 5, 1864. Since Longstreet's Corps was still on the way from encampment near Gordonsville, Lee began this battle with only two of his three corps. Keeping Ewell on the defensive in the Orange Turnpike sector, he pushed A.P. Hill's Corps eastward along the Plank Road to seize Grant's route of march, the Brock Road. Getty's Division and Hancock's Corps foiled the Confederate thrust. When darkness ended the struggle, Hill's exhausted troops in this vicinity awaited relief from Longstreet's men and made little effort to entrench. Longstreet did not arrive until the next morning. Confederate trench remains on this front represent later improvements.