Battle of the Wilderness

This article is about the Battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War. For the French and Indian War battle, see Battle of the Wilderness 1755.

Aftermath

The battle is usually described as a draw; a better way of describing it would be as a tactical Confederate victory, but a strategic victory for the Union army. At the end of the battle, Grant withdrew his force, which is normally how the loser in a Civil War battle is determined. However, unlike his predecessors since 1861, Grant did not retreat back to the safety of Washington, D.C., but continued in his campaign. Lee inflicted heavy casualties (see estimates below) on Grant, but they were a smaller percentage than the casualties his army suffered. And unlike Grant, Lee had very little opportunity to replenish his losses. Understanding this disparity, part of Grant's strategy was to wage a war of attrition. The only way that Lee could escape from the trap that Grant had set was to destroy the Army of the Potomac while he still had sufficient force to do so, and Grant was too skilled to allow that to happen.

Related Topics:
1861 - Washington, D.C.

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Estimates vary as to the casualties in the Wilderness. The following table summarizes estimates from a variety of popular sources:

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Portions of the Wilderness battlefield are now preserved as part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

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