Lake of the Woods in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Wilderness Battlefield Memorial
Remembering Those Who Remain Long After the Battle was Over
Photographed By Pete Payette, April 17, 2017
1. Remebering Those Who Remain Marker
Inscription.
Wilderness Battlefield Memorial. Remembering Those Who Remain Long After the Battle was Over. The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864 resulted in almost 29,000 Union and Confederate casualties. Both armies attempted to find and bury the dead, but moved on before completing the process. Over the next few years, many dead were disinterred and reburied in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania cemeteries. Not all were found. Today some still lie on the battlefield. This memorial was placed so these men will never be forgotten.
The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864 resulted in almost 29,000 Union and Confederate casualties. Both armies attempted to find and bury the dead, but moved on before completing the process. Over the next few years, many dead were disinterred and reburied in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania cemeteries. Not all were found. Today some still lie on the battlefield. This memorial was placed so these men will never be forgotten.
Erected 2014 by Civil War Study Group, Inc. in Lake of the Woods.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 7, 1864.
Location. 38° 19.536′ N, 77° 45.944′ W. Marker is in Lake of the Woods, Virginia, in Orange County. Memorial can be reached from Church Lane east of Lakeview Parkway, on the left when traveling east. Located at the far rear corner of the parking lot at Lake of the Woods Church. Located in Lake of the Woods subdivision, a private gated community where visitors must register upon entering. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove VA 22508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this memorial. The National Park Service's Wilderness Battlefield can be accessed from the trail head here, connecting to the Gordon's Flank Attack Trail.
Photographed By Pete Payette, April 17, 2017
2. Remebering Those Who Remain Marker
Photographed By Pete Payette, April 17, 2017
3. Dedicated to the Fallen
We honor those who remained in these woods long after the battle ended on May 7, 1864.
"Hundreds of graves on these battlefields are without any marks whatever to distinguish them, and so covered with foliage that the visitor will be unable to find the last resting place of those who have fallen."
Capt. J.M. Moore, Commanding Cemeterial Branch, QMC, USA
Photographed By Pete Payette, April 17, 2017
4. From Wilderness Run to Flat Run
"My total loss at the Wilderness was 1,250 killed and wounded. The burial parties from two divisions reported interring over 1,100 of the enemy. The third, and largest, made no report. When we moved probably one-third or more were still unburied of those who were within reach of our lines."
Lt. Gen. R.S. Ewell
Commanding 2nd Army Corps, ANV
Photographed By Pete Payette, April 17, 2017
5. Wilderness Battlefield Memorial
Erected by Civil War Study Group Lake of the Woods May 2014
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2017. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2017, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia. This page has been viewed 419 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 8, 2017, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.