The National tribune., 1881-10-29
In THE WILDERNESS.
OPENING OF THE "FoRTY-DAYs'" FIGHT
q n. Galloway, in Philadelphia Times.

9. n. Galloway, in Philadelphia Times
The battle of the Wilderness will always re-
main mystery in the history of the late war
twas an action the very mention of which makes
one shudder Ny purpose in this narrative is
to tell how General Getty, who commanded the
Second division of the Sixth Corps, met and
fought the enemy on the first two eventful days
which opened Grants forty days battle. To a
correct understanding of the country through
which we were marching, and that in which we
were about to handy lead and steel, it will be
necessary for the reader to glance moment at
the Wilderness and its envirOns. The Stevens
burg plank road over which we had marched in
reaching that point runs in a southeasterly direc
ton from Culpeper Court House to Germania
Ford on the Rapidan; thence extending to the
"Old Wilderness Tavern" where it terminates
in the Orange plank road, having crossed the
Orange turnpike called the dirt road short
distance northwest. Five miles beyond the "Old
Wilderness Tavern" is the old church. and what
is known as the Brock road leads southeasterly
from the Orange plank road to Spottsylvania
Court House. Our points of crossing the Rapidan
River were those chosen by Meade in November
1863, and the locality the Wilderness, the same
we had occupied at that time. Not far away was
Hooker's Charlottesville field, and there Stone
wall Jackson, name inseparable with that of
the Wilderness, enacted a part which cost him
his life. The locality known as the Wilderness
is tract of land about seven miles wide and
thirteen miles long, situated in Spottsylvania
county, Virginia, about sixteen miles west of
fredericksburg, and was owned at the time we
are considering May, 1864 by Major j. Horace
Lacey, an officer of the confederate army, and
whose fine residence opposite Fredericksburg
General Hooker used as headquarters in 1868
It was in years past a f1ourishing section Of the
country, but the soil becoming exhausted it was
abandoned and allowed to become what it really
ia wilderness. 1t is exceedingly broken up,
and save few fallow felds-clearings- covered
with dense underground of hazel and brier,
trayersed by numerous ravines and narrow roads
which are entirely hidden by remarkable
growth of stunted pines and scrub-oaks. From
many of the larger trees rank vines hang down,
cable-like, nearly touching the ground suggestive
of a halter.
1t will be remembered that as soon as the COM
ing together of the two great armies was an
nounced by few spasmodc volleys in ragged
succession General Getty was detached from the
Sixth Corps and ordered to move with his divis-
ion three brigades) to the left mile or two. He
to seize an important point and if possible to
hold it until assistance could arrive On approach
ing the CROSSROADS, the Brock road and Orange
Court House plank road, our cavalry-a portion
OF Wilson'S troopers who had advanced few
miles after daylight towards the Catharpn road
were found retiring fastening forward with
his staff Getty reached the crossroads Just as the
confederate sklrmiShersa appeared, rapidly advanc-
ing TO gain possession of this point. Gen. Getty
says in his official report of this action: The
presence of my small retinue, consisting of my
staff and Orderlies, standing firmly at the point
in dispute, although under fire, served to delay
their advance" A few minutes later Wheaton's
brigade the First was brought up at the double
quick, faced to the front and a yolley poured in.
which drove back the enemy's advance Skin
mishers were then Immediately deployed and
advanced few hundred yards until they en-
countered the confederate skirmishers. The con-
federate dead and wounded were found within
thirty yards of the crossroads, so nearly had they
obtained possession of it. Prisoners taken here
reported Hills corps, with Heth's division in adj
vance, on the Orange Court House plank road
advancing The information Immediately
forwarded to Major General Sedgwick, then COM
manding the Corps, and Getty at once formed his
divisions in two lines at right angles to the Orange
court House plank road with WheatOn's brigade
on both sides of the road Eustis on the right
ana Grants Vermont brigade on the left. In
ooeolence to orders several attempts were now
MADE TO establish connection with the left of the
Futh Corps, but without success, owing to the
TACT that the enemy was in force between Getty g
division and that Corps. For tive hours how,