Wilson's cavalry was thrown forward to Parker's Store on the Orange plankroad. Sedg wick's Sixth corps followed Warren's across the Germanna Ford and halted a short distance be yond it. The crossing of the river was very gratifying to Grant who regarded it as a great success, and it removed from his mind the most serious apprehension he had entertained "that of crossing the river in the face of an active, large, well-appointed and ably commanded army, and how so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country and protected." At noon of the 4th Grant knew that Lee was aware of his movement, upon which he sent a dispatch to Burnside to make a forced march from beyond the Rappahannock to Germanna Ford, and by the morning of the 5th his ad vance was crossing the Rapidan. The orders for the 5th were for Sheridan, with two di visions of cavalry, to move against the Con tcderate cavalry, near Hamilton's Crossing, and at 5 A.M. Wilson's cavalry division was to move to Craig's Meeting House and reconnoitre the Orange pike and plankroads and other roads on his right and left. Hancock's Second corps was to march from Chancellors011e to Shady Grove Church and extend its right toward Parker's Store on the Orange plankroad, to which point Warren's corps was ordered to advance from Wilderness 1 avern. Warren, in turn, was to extend his right toward Sedgwick's Sixth corps, which was ordered to Wilderness Tavern.
General Lee interfered with the full execu tion of these orders. He had been expecting Grant to move on his right and when he saw on the morning of the 4th that the movement was being made, determined to attack him be -fore he could get out of the Wilderness and ordered Ewell to march by the Orange pike and A. P. Hill down the plankroad, and that night Ewell bivouacked within five miles of Wilder ness Tavern, and Hill's advance division halted for the night at Mine Run, seven miles from Parker's Store on the plankroad, and about 1U from the intersection of the Brock road. Longstreet moved from near Gordonsville at 4 P. M. Stuart's cavalry was drawn in and or dered to cover the Confederate right. On the morning of the 5th Ewell continued his march on the Orange pike, under instructions to regu late his march with that of A. P. Hill, on the plankroad, and both informed that it was not desired to bring on a general engagement be fore Longstreet came up, who was under orders to follow Hill on the plankroad. When Ewell was two miles from the Wilderness Tavern, he halted, as he was three or four miles farther advanced than Hill. Warren had discovered that the Confederates, under Ewell, were in force two miles beyond Wilderness Tavern and before 7 A.M. had informed Meade of the fact, who ordered Warren to make an attack with his whole force. Sedgwick was directed to move up by a cross road, attack the enemy and connect with Warren on the turnpike, and a dispatch was sent to Hancock, informing him of what had become known and directing him to halt at Todd's Tavern, until further de selopments. Warren had started early in the morning for Parker's Store, on the Orange plankroad, and when near it Crawford's di vision had been ordered to halt in a good posi tion on high ground, and finding that Wilson's cavalry at Parker's Store needed assistance Crawford threw forward a skirmish line that encountered the Hankers of A. P. Hill's corps.
Soon after 8 a.m. Crawford was informed by Warren that Griffin's and Wadsworth's di visions would attack Ewell on the turnpike and he was ordered to join in it with one of his brigades. Between 9 and 10 A.M. Hancock was
ordered to move up the Brock road to the Orange plankroad and be prepared to move out that road toward Parker's Store, and about the same hour three brigades of General Getty's division of Sedgwick's corps were ordered from the Wilderness Tavern to the intersection of the Brock road with the Orange plankroad, and directed to move out the latter road and attack the enemy, and, if they could, drive them hack beyond Parker's Store. As described . by Humphreys, 'The Brock road begins on the Orange pike about a mile east of the old Wil derness Tavern, and runs in a southeast direc tion to Spottsylvania Court House, intersecting the Germanna plank, the Orange plank, the Furnace, the Catharpin and other roads running in a southwest and south direction .° Ewell had formed for battle across the Orange pike when about noon Warren opened the attack. Griffin's division advancing on both sides of the pike struck Johnson's division, broke it and drove it back. Rode's division was thrown in on Johnson's right, south of the pike, and sup ported by Early, who was formed across the pike, the line was rc-cstablished. After a severe and bloody fight Griffin was driven back, losing many prisoners and two guns. Wads worth's division, which had advanced on the left of Griffin, lost direction, exposed its left and was thrown hack in confusion. Mc: Candless' brigade of Crawford's division, at tempting to unite with Wadsworth's left, was nearly surrounded by Ewell's right and fell hack with heavy losses, and Crawford's entire division had to be drawn in.
Thus all the ground gained by Warren was given up and he assumed a new line somewhat in rear, but still in front of Wilderness Tavern, with his right on the Orange pike. He had lost more than 3.000 men. On his right General Wright's division of Sedgwick's corps came up early in the afternoon and with Neill's brigade of Getty's division formed within 300 yards of Ewell's front and repulsed one of his ;.ttacks. Soon after this Seymour's brigade of Rickett's division came up on the right of Neill, and about 5 r two brigades of Sedg wick attacked Ewell's left and were repulsed. Meanwile General Getty, who had arrived at the crossing of the Brock road and the plank road, had been ordered to attack. Heth's Con federate dia ision was in his front supported WIlcox's. Hancock, who had been ordered front Todd's Tavern, 10 miles distant, by the Brock road, was instructed to support Getty, drive A P. Hill beyond Parker's Store and connect with Warren's left. It was 3.15 P.M. when Getty received his order to attack. Mean while Hancock's advance had arrived and began intrenchirtg on the Brock road. At 4.15 Getty advanced to the attack through the thick woods and had gone less than 400 yards beyond the Brock road, when he became hotly engaged with Heth's division. Although Hancock not completed his dispositions he moved forward to Getty's support and the fight became fierce and deadly at very close quarters and con tinued until near 8 P.M., when darkness put an end to the fierce contest. Hancock had not gained much ground, but Hill's lines had been broken and his right driven back by two brigades of Barlow's division. While Hancock and Getty were engaged, Wadsworth's division bad been ordered in a southeast direction to strike the flank of the Confederates engaging them, but did not become seriously engaged and nas halted by darkness, about a half mile from the Brock road.