Battle of the Wilderness order of battle: Confederate explained
The following Confederate States Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5–7, 1864) of the American Civil War. The Union order of battle is listed separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization[1] May 5–6, 1864,[2] the army organization at beginning of the Campaign,[3] the army organization during the Campaign[4] and the reports.[5]
Abbreviations used
Military rank
Other
Army of Northern Virginia
See main article: Army of Northern Virginia. Gen Robert E. Lee
General Staff:
First Corps
See main article: First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. LTG James Longstreet[6] (w)
MG Charles W. Field
MG Richard H. Anderson[7]
width=25% | Division | width=25% | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
---|
McLaws' (old) Division BG Joseph B. Kershaw[8] | Kershaw's Brigade Col John D. Kennedy (w) Col John W. Henagan | - 2nd South Carolina
- 3rd South Carolina
- 7th South Carolina
- 8th South Carolina: Col John W. Henagan
- 15th South Carolina
- 3rd South Carolina Battalion
|
Wofford's Brigade BG William T. Wofford |
|
Humphreys' Brigade BG Benjamin G. Humphreys |
|
Bryan's Brigade BG Goode Bryan | - 10th Georgia
- 50th Georgia
- 51st Georgia
- 53rd Georgia
|
Field's Division MG Charles W. Field | Jenkins' Brigade BG Micah Jenkins (k) Col John Bratton |
|
Law's Brigade[9] Col William F. Perry | - 4th Alabama
- 15th Alabama
- 44th Alabama
- 47th Alabama
- 48th Alabama
|
Anderson's Brigade BG George T. Anderson | - 7th Georgia
- 8th Georgia
- 9th Georgia
- 11th Georgia
- 59th Georgia
|
Gregg's Brigade BG John Gregg[10] (w) |
|
Benning's Brigade BG Henry L. Benning (w) Col Dudley M. Du Bose | - 2nd Georgia
- 15th Georgia: Col Dudley M. Du Bose
- 17th Georgia
- 20th Georgia
|
Artillery BG Edward P. Alexander | Huger's Battalion Ltc Frank Huger | - Fickling's (South Carolina) Battery
- Moody's (Louisiana) Battery
- Parker's (Virginia) Battery
- J. D. Smith's (Virginia) Battery
- Taylor's (Virginia) Battery
- Woolfolk's (Virginia) Battery
|
Haskell's Battalion Maj John C. Haskell | - Flanner's (North Carolina) Battery
- Garden's (South Carolina) Battery
- Lamkin's (Virginia) Battery[11]
- Ramsay's (North Carolina) Battery
|
Cabell's Battalion Col Henry C. Cabell | - Callaway's (Georgia) Battery
- Carlton's (Georgia) Battery
- McCarthy's (Virginia) Battery
- Manly's (North Carolina) Battery
| |
Second Corps
See main article: Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. LTG Richard S. Ewell
General Staff:[12]
- Assistant Adjutant General: Ltc Alexander S. Pendleton
- Assistant Adjutant General: Maj Campbell Brown
- Assistant Inspector General: Col Abner Smead
- Engineer: Maj Benjamin H. Greene
- Aide de Camp: Lt Thomas T. Turner
- Chief of Ordnance: Ltc William Allan
- Medical Director: Dr. Hunter H. McGuire
- Quartermasters: Maj John D. Rogers and Maj A. M. Garber
- Commissaries and subsistence: Maj Wells J. Hawks and Cpt J. J. Lock
width=25% | Division | width=25% | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
---|
Early's Division[13] MG Jubal A. Early | Hays' Brigade BG Harry T. Hays |
|
Pegram's Brigade BG John Pegram (w) Col John S. Hoffman | - 13th Virginia
- 31st Virginia: Col John S. Hoffman
- 49th Virginia
- 52nd Virginia
- 58th Virginia
|
Gordon's Brigade BG John B. Gordon | - 13th Georgia
- 26th Georgia
- 31st Georgia
- 38th Georgia
- 60th Georgia
- 61st Georgia
|
Johnson's Division MG Edward Johnson | Stonewall Brigade BG James A. Walker | - 2nd Virginia
- 4th Virginia
- 5th Virginia
- 27th Virginia
- 33rd Virginia
|
Jones' Brigade BG John M. Jones (k) Col William A. Witcher | - 21st Virginia: Col William A. Witcher
- 25th Virginia
- 42nd Virginia
- 44th Virginia
- 48th Virginia
- 50th Virginia
|
Steuart's Brigade BG George H. Steuart |
|
Stafford's Brigade BG Leroy A. Stafford (mw) Col Zebulon York |
|
Rodes' Division MG Robert E. Rodes | Daniel's Brigade[14] BG Junius Daniel | - 32nd North Carolina
- 45th North Carolina
- 53rd North Carolina
- 2nd North Carolina Battalion
|
Doles' Brigade[15] BG George P. Doles | - 4th Georgia
- 12th Georgia
- 44th Georgia
|
Ramseur's Brigade BG Stephen D. Ramseur | - 2nd North Carolina
- 4th North Carolina
- 14th North Carolina
- 30th North Carolina
|
Battle's Brigade[16] BG Cullen A. Battle | - 3rd Alabama
- 5th Alabama
- 6th Alabama
- 12th Alabama
- 61st Alabama
|
Johnston's Brigade[17] [18] BG Robert D. Johnston | - 5th North Carolina
- 12th North Carolina
- 20th North Carolina
- 23rd North Carolina
|
Artillery[19] BG Armistead L. Long | Brown's Division Col J. Thompson Brown (k) | Hardaway's Battalion: Ltc Robert A. Hardaway- Dance's (Virginia) Battery
- Graham's (Virginia) Battery
- C. B. Griffin's (Virginia) Battery
- Jones' (Virginia) Battery
- B. H. Smith's (Virginia) Battery
Braxton's Battalion: Ltc Carter M. Braxton
Nelson's Battalion: Ltc William Nelson
|
Carter's Division Col Thomas H. Carter | Cutshaw's Battalion: Maj Wilfred E. Cutshaw- Carrington's (Virginia) Battery
- A. W. Garber's (Virginia) Battery
- Tanner's (Virginia) Battery
Page's Battalion: Maj Richard C. M. Page
- W. P. Carter's (Virginia) Battery
- Fry's (Virginia) Battery
- Page's (Virginia) Battery
- Reese's (Alabama) Battery
| |
Third Corps
See main article: Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. LTG Ambrose P. Hill
width=25% | Division | width=25% | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
---|
Anderson's Division MG Richard H. Anderson BG William Mahone | Perrin's Brigade BG Abner M. Perrin | - 8th Alabama
- 9th Alabama
- 10th Alabama
- 11th Alabama
- 14th Alabama
|
Harris' Brigade BG Nathaniel H. Harris |
|
Mahone's Brigade BG William Mahone Col David A. Weisiger | - 6th Virginia
- 12th Virginia: Col David A. Weisiger
- 16th Virginia
- 41st Virginia
- 61st Virginia
|
Wright's Brigade BG Ambrose R. Wright | - 3rd Georgia
- 22nd Georgia
- 48th Georgia
- 2nd Georgia Battalion
- 10th Georgia Battalion[20]
|
Perry's Brigade BG Edward A. Perry (w) Col David Lang[21] |
|
Heth's Division MG Henry Heth | Davis' Brigade[22] Col John M. Stone |
|
Cooke's Brigade BG John R. Cooke | - 15th North Carolina
- 27th North Carolina
- 46th North Carolina
- 48th North Carolina
|
Kirkland's Brigade BG William W. Kirkland | - 11th North Carolina
- 26th North Carolina
- 44th North Carolina
- 47th North Carolina
- 52nd North Carolina
|
Archer's and Walker's Brigade[24] BG Henry H. Walker | Archer's Brigade- 13th Alabama
- 1st Tennessee (Provisional Army)
- 7th Tennessee
- 14th Tennessee
Walker's Brigade
|
Wilcox's Division MG Cadmus M. Wilcox | Lane' s Brigade BG James H. Lane | - 7th North Carolina
- 18th North Carolina
- 28th North Carolina
- 33rd North Carolina
- 37th North Carolina
|
Scales' Brigade BG Alfred M. Scales | - 13th North Carolina
- 16th North Carolina
- 22nd North Carolina
- 34th North Carolina
- 38th North Carolina
|
McGowan's Brigade BG Samuel McGowan |
|
Thomas' Brigade BG Edward L. Thomas | - 14th Georgia
- 35th Georgia
- 45th Georgia
- 49th Georgia
|
Artillery Col Reuben L. Walker | Poague's Battalion Ltc William T. Poague | - Richards' (Mississippi) Battery
- Utterback's (Virginia) Battery
- Williams' (North Carolina) Battery
- Wyatt's (Virginia) Battery
|
Pegram's Battalion Ltc William J. Pegram | - Brander's (Virginia) Battery
- Cayce's (Virginia) Battery
- Ellett's (Virginia) Battery
- Marye's (Virginia) Battery
- Zimmerman's (South Carolina) Battery
|
McIntosh' s Battalion Ltc David G. McIntosh | - Clutter's (Virginia) Battery
- Donald's (Virginia) Battery
- Hurt's (Alabama) Battery
- Price's (Virginia) Battery
|
Cutts' Battalion Col Allen S. Cutts | - Patterson's (Georgia) Battery
- Ross' (Georgia) Battery
- Wingfield's (Georgia) Battery
|
Richardson's Battalion Ltc Charles Richardson |
| |
Cavalry Corps
See main article: Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. MG J.E.B. Stuart
width=25% | Division | width=25% | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
---|
Hampton's Division[25] MG Wade Hampton | Young's Brigade[26] [27] Col Gilbert J. Wright[28] |
|
Rosser's Brigade BG Thomas L. Rosser |
|
Fitzhugh Lee's Division MG Fitzhugh Lee | Lomax's Brigade BG Lunsford L. Lomax | - 5th Virginia
- 6th Virginia
- 15th Virginia
|
Wickham's Brigade Col Thomas T. Munford[29] | - 1st Virginia
- 2nd Virginia
- 3rd Virginia
- 4th Virginia
|
William H. F. Lee's Division MG William H. F. Lee | Chambliss' Brigade BG John R. Chambliss | - 9th Virginia
- 10th Virginia
- 13th Virginia
|
Gordon's Brigade BG James B. Gordon | - 1st North Carolina
- 2nd North Carolina
- 5th North Carolina
|
Horse Artillery Maj R. Preston Chew | Breathed's Battalion Maj James Breathed | - Hart's (South Carolina) Battery
- Johnston's (Virginia) Battery
- McGregor's (Virginia) Battery
- Shoemaker's (Virginia) Battery
- Thomson's (Virginia) Battery
| |
Strengths
The following table shows total strengths of each of the major formations at the start of the battle.[30]
First Corps
McLaws' Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Kershaw's Brigade | 1.590 |
Wofford's Brigade | 1.615 |
Humphreys' Brigade | 940 |
Bryan's Brigade | 1.025 |
Field's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Jenkins' Brigade | 1.590 |
Law's Brigade | 1.255 |
Anderson's Brigade | 1.390 |
Gregg's Brigade | 850 |
Benning's Brigade | 995 |
First Corps Total | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
McLaws' Division | 5.170 |
Field's Division | 6.080 |
Artillery | 1.595 |
Total | 12.845 | |
Second Corps
Early's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Hays' Brigade | 900 |
Pegram's Brigade | 1.520 |
Gordon's Brigade | 2.270 |
Johnson's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Stonewall Brigade | 1.320 |
Jones' Brigade | 1.850 |
Steuart's Brigade | 1.610 |
Stafford's Brigade | 705 |
Rodes' Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Daniel's Brigade | 1.500 |
Doles' Brigade | 1.365 |
Ramseur's Brigade | 1.440 |
Battle's Brigade | 1.810 |
Johnston's Brigade | 1.320 |
Second Corps Total | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Early's Division | 4.960 |
Johnson's Division | 5.485 |
Rodes' Division | 7.435 |
Artillery | 1.700 |
Total | 19.580 | |
Third Corps
Anderson's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Perrin's Brigade | 1.635 |
Harris' Brigade | 1.395 |
Mahone's Brigade | 1.805 |
Wright's Brigade | 1.685 |
Perry's Brigade | 610 |
Heth's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Davis' Brigade | 1.690 |
Cooke's Brigade | 1.960 |
Kirkland's Brigade | 2.150 |
Archer's Brigade | 755 |
Walker's Brigade | 895 |
Wilcox's Division | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Lane' s Brigade | 2.350 |
Scales' Brigade | 1.735 |
McGowan's Brigade | 2.230 |
Thomas' Brigade | 1.600 |
Third Corps Total | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Anderson's Division | 7.130 |
Heth's Division | 7.450 |
Wilcox's Division | 7.915 |
Artillery | 1.910 |
Total | 24.405 |
|
Cavalry Corps
Cavalry Corps | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
Hampton's Division | 2.475 |
Fitzhugh Lee's Division | 3.450 |
William H. F. Lee's Division | 2.905 |
Horse Artillery | 470 |
Total | 9.300 | |
Total Army of Northern Virginia
Total Army of Northern Virginia | width=80px; style="text-align: right;" | Strength |
---|
First Corps | 12.845 |
Second Corps | 19.580 |
Third Corps | 24.405 |
Cavalry Corps | 9.300 |
Total | 66.130 | |
See also
- Spotsylvania Court House Confederate order of battle
- Cold Harbor Confederate order of battle
References
- Boyd, Charles E. The Devil's Den: A History of the 44th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Confederate States Army, 1862-1865. Birmingham, AL: Banner Press, 1987. .
- Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. .
- Rhea, Gordon C. The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1994.
- Rhea, Gordon C. To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13–25, 1864. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2000.
- Rhea, Gordon C. Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2002
- Sibley, Jr., F. Ray, The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1996.
- U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880 - 1901.
- Wise, Jennings C., The Long Arm of Lee, Volumen 2: Chancellorsville to Appomattox, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, 1991
- Wittenberg, Eric J. Glory Enough For All: Sheridan's Second Raid and the Battle of Trevilian Station. Washington, DC: Brassey's, Inc, 2001.
- Young, Alfred C., III. Lee's Army during the Overland Campaign: A Numerical Study. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2013. .
Notes and References
- Multiple commander names indicate command succession of command during the battle or the campaign.
- Gordon C. Rhea, The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle
- Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 1, pages 1021–1027
- F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, pages 66-76
- Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 1, pages 1162–1168
- [George Pickett|Pickett's]
- Assigned to command of the First Corps on May 7, 1864 (see: Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 2, page 967)
- Brigadier General Kershaw was not assigned to permanent command of McLaws' old Division until June 4, 1864 (see: Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 3, page 873). Kershaw was promoted to Major General on June 1, 1864 with date of rank from May 18, 1864 (see: John H. Eicher and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands, page 331).
- Brigadier General Evander M. Law was under arrest and absent from the battle.(see Charles E. Boyd, The Devil's Den: A History of the 44th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Confederate States Army, 1862-1865, page 99.)
- Gregg's was wounded on May 6, 1864 but did not leave the field (see: John H. Eicher and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands, page 267)
- Until the army went into the Richmond-Petersburg lines, Lamkin's Battery served as Sharpshooters (see: F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 285/Note 84; Pendleton's report)
- For composition of Ewell's staff see: Ewell's report
- [Robert F. Hoke|Hoke's]
- The 43rd North Carolina was detached with Hoke's Brigade in the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (see: F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 288/Note 156; Sketch of the 43rd Regiment, North Carolina troops, pages 11-15; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXIII, pages 1202 and 1321; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 3, pages 80 and 175; Official Records, Series I, Volume LI, Part 2, page 885). Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle and the Official Records lists the 43rd North Carolina in Daniel's Brigade.
- The 21st Georgia was detached with Hoke's Brigade (see: Ewell's report; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXIII, pages 1202 and 1321; Official Records, Series I, Volume LI, Part 2, page 885)
- The 61st Alabama was assigned on February 12, 1864 in place of the 26th Alabama (see: Battle's report; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXIII, pages 1176). The 26th Alabama was reported on May 12, 1864 at Macon, Georgia (see: Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVIII, Part 4, page 704). Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle and the Official Records lists the 26th Alabama instead of the 61st Alabama in Battle's Brigade.
- Johnston's Brigade arrived on May 6, 1864 from Hanover Junction (see: Ewell's report; Gordon C. Rhea, The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, page 410)
- Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle lists this Brigade in Early's Division, but the Brigade was not transferred to Early's Division until May 8, 1864 (see: Ewell's report; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 2, page 974; Official Records, Series I, Volume LI, Part 2, pages 902-903)
- The Artillery of the Second Corps was organized into two Divisions on April 7, 1864 (see: Pendleton's and Long's report; Jennings C. Wise, The Long Arm of Lee, Volumen 2: Chancellorsville to Appomattox, pages 738-739; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXIII, page 1267)
- The 10th Georgia Battalion was assigned to Wright's Brigade before the Battle of the Wilderness (see: Alfred C. Young III, Lee's Army during the Overland Campaign: A Numerical Study, pages 162-163 and 306)
- For Lang in command see: F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 72
- Brigadier General Joseph R. Davis was absent sick (see: 2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Chapter 6; Gordon C. Rhea, The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, page 193)
- The 1st Confederate Battalion and the 26th Mississippi joined Davis' Brigade before the Battle of the Wilderness (see: Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXII, part 3, pages 672, 674 and 676; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXIII, page 954; F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 291/Note 230; 2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Chapter 5, Note 113). Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle and the Official Records lists none of the two commands.
- Archer's and Walker's Brigade were consolidated under Brigadier General Walker (see: Gordon C. Rhea, The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle; F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 292/Note 250)
- Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle and the Official Records lists Butler's Brigade (4th, 5th and 6th South Carolina Cavalry) in Hampton's Division, but the first elements from Butler's Brigade arrived not before May 20, 1864 (see: Gordon C. Rhea, To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13–25, 1864, page 197 and The Order of Battle; Gordon C. Rhea, Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864, pages 16, 66, 67 and 111; F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 295/Note 251).
- Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle, F. Ray Sibley, Jr. in The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 75 and the Official Records lists the 7th Georgia Cavalry in Young's Brigade, but the 7th Georgia Cavalry was not assigned until June 7, 1864 (see: Eric J. Wittenberg, Glory Enough For All, page 14)
- Gordon C. Rhea in The Battle of the Wilderness May 5–6, 1864, The Order of Battle, F. Ray Sibley, Jr. in The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 75 and the Official Records lists the 20th Georgia Cavalry Battalion in Young's Brigade, but the 20th Georgia Cavalry Battalion was not ordered to join the Army of Northern Virginia until May 25, 1864 (see: Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 3, pages 831-832). The 20th Georgia Cavalry Battalion arrived on May 28, 1864 (see: Gordon C. Rhea, Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864, page 67) and was assigned to Young's Brigade on June 7, 1864 (see: Eric J. Wittenberg, Glory Enough For All, page 14).
- Brigadier General Young was not present, Colonel Wright (Cobb's Legion) was in command (see: Eric J. Wittenberg, Glory Enough For All, page 14; Official Records, Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part 2, page 961)
- Brigadier General Williams C. Wickham was in Richmond, Virginia on May 4, 1864, and was not back in command of his brigade until May 9, 1864 (see: F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 296/Note 358)
- Alfred C. Young III, Lee's Army during the Overland Campaign: A Numerical Study, pages 232 and 244-246