Battle of the Wilderness Narrative,
Scope and Content
The partial narrative describes the Union experience in the Wilderness campaign from May 3 through May 6, 1864. The narrative describes how the author's Corps received orders from Major General Meade ordering them to march south towards battle in Virginia. The experience of the march towards the battle and descriptions of the first skirmishes in the battle are also detailed.
The II Corps actual strength at the beginning of the fight was 46,363 with 28,854 present for duty. The author cites the force as "40,000 soldiers all in line ready for the march."
While the author of the narrative is unknown, the information within it is consistent with the II Corps movements on the days written about. Based on casualty records, there existed at least 27,000 Union soldiers who could potentially be the author.
Dates
- Creation: n.d.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Battle of the Wilderness Narrative must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Biographical Information
The author of the narrative is an unidentified person identifying himself as a Union soldier in General Hancocks 2nd Corps.
Full Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection consists of a partial description written by an unknown author of a Union soldiers experience during the first four days of the Wilderness campaign of May 1864.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by material type.
Acquisition Information
The Battle of the Wilderness Narrative was purchased by Special Collections in March 2010.
Alternate Form Available
A transcript of the narrative is available in the folder with the original.
General Physical Description note
1 folder; 0.1 cu. ft.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Battle of the Wilderness Narrative commenced and was completed in June 2010.
- Title
- A Guide to the Battle of the Wilderness Narrative, n.d.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Josh Howard
- Date
- © 2010 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu