This is the fight that the Confederate army loved, being in such thick woods that the Union army never knew from what side an attack would come and their artillery was of no use. The battle raged until night fall and each unit slept on their arms knowing what the next day would bring.
General Lee's plans for the 5th were to be in a position to drive all union forces back into the Wilderness. He shifted his army during the night to be able to hit the Union army and force each corp back in confusion in an almost impenetrable forest where it could not act as an army. The forces of General Lee could hit where the Union army was the weakest and do the most damage.
The Confederate army was set in motion at first light and hit the Union army from a complete different side than the day before. This added confusion in the union ranks and the troops were swept back into a general retreat, but units got lost in the woods and were either killed or captured. General Alexander Hays and General James Wadsworth were both killed trying to lead their men forward to break up this retreat. This fighting continued the rest of the day, but did not resume the next day. The losses had been heavy; killed wounded or taken prisoners, for the Federal army numbered 37,737 and the Confederate army 11,400.
The 42nd Infantry Division was there in the Wilderness, under General Richard Ewell's 2nd corp and gave a good account of themselves.
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