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By Craig Swain, February 16, 2008 | |
| | | 1. The Climax Marker | | |
Inscription. The Battle of the Wilderness climaxed here in the twilight of May 6, 1864. After a day of seesaw fighting in the woods behind you, the Confederates mounted a final effort to take the Plank Road-Brock Road intersection, 100 yards to your left. Thousands of Confederate troops tore through these woods, wrapped in the smoke of burning leaves and underbrush. Thousands of Union soldiers awaited them behind earthworks, the remains of which still stand about 40 yards ahead of you.
As the Confederates reached this point, piles of brush put here by Union soldiers slowed them. Union musket fire whipped through their ranks. Fire creeping eastward toward the Union works prevented their movement forward. Only in one place - the works opposite you - did the Confederates break through the Union line. But a Union counterattack quickly sealed the breach. The final Confederate attack ended in bloody repulse.
Erected by Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Location. 38° 18.042′ N, 77° 42.528′ W. Marker is near Spotsylvania, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Orange Plank Road (County Route 621) and | | | | 
By Craig Swain, February 16, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Fourth Wayside on the Loop Trail | | |
Brock Road (County Route 613), on the right when traveling east. Click for map. Located at stop eight (Brock Road-Plank Road Intersection) of the driving tour of the Wilderness Battlefield. The marker is along a half-mile loop trail at the tour stop. Marker is in this post office area: Spotsylvania VA 22551, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. No Turning Back (within shouting distance of this marker); On to Richmond! (within shouting distance of this marker); Echoes Homeward (within shouting distance of this marker); Valuable Crossroads (within shouting distance of this marker); 12th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers 1862 - 1865 (within shouting distance of this marker); Horror on the Orange Plank Road (within shouting distance of this marker); Hell Itself (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); The Vermont Brigade (about 300 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Spotsylvania.
More about this marker. A drawing on the bottom left of the marker illustrates, Near here a section of Union log works caught fire, causing the Union troops defending them to fall back. Confederate troops surged through the flames and planted their flag on the abandoned works, but within minutes Union counterattacks drove them out.
On the right An artist made the above sketch of the Union earthworks along the Brock Road on May 7, 1864, one day after Lee's assault.| | | | 
By Craig Swain, February 16, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Trenches of Hancock's (Federal) Corps | | |
Also see . . . Wilderness Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on May 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page originally submitted on May 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 785 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
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