This is a group of five bullets recovered on private property in Orange County, Virginia, near the site of the Battle of the Wilderness that took place on May 5 - 7, 1864. This is considered the first battle of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against General Robert E. Lee. During the two day fight, approximately 124,000 Union soldiers under the command of Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant battled 65,000 Confederates under the overall command of General Robert E. Lee. Although the Union held a two to one advantage in numbers, this advantage was nullified by the thickly forested area where the fighting occurred. The fighting was brutal, often hand to hand, and the casualties were high on both sides. During the end of the first days fighting a part of the battlefield caught fire, and wounded men on both sides were burned to death. On the 7th of May Grant disengaged and moved his army to the southeast in order to leave the Wilderness area and get between Lee's army and Richmond. Union casualties were estimated at 2246 killed, 12,037 wounded and 3383 captured or missing. Confederate casualties were reported as 1477 killed, 7866 wounded and 1690 captured or missing. The battle was considered inconclusive, and led to the Battle of Spotsylvania. These five bullets were all recovered on private property.

Item # AA2609

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