John Taylor Cuddy had lied about his age to enlist in the Carlisle Fencibles, which joined the Army of the Potomac as Company A of the 36th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.  Veterans in the center of V Corps, they were just a few weeks from the end of their tour of duty.  Cut off in the woods during the initial fighting and surrounded, 272 officers and men were forced to surrender. The officers were sent to Macon, Georgia, the enlisted men, and John Cuddy, were soon in Andersonville.  (By John Osborne) 

Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surprised new Union commander U.S. Grant by immediately attacking the advance of his Overland Campaign against Richmond.  Bloody fighting went on for two days in an area of forest and shrub in Spotsylvania County called "the Wilderness."  On the third day the exhausted armies disengaged as Grant sought to turn the Confederate right flank in a march to Spotsylvania Courthouse. (By John Osborne)

General Robert E. Lee had surprised new Union commander U.S. Grant by immediately attacking the advance of his Overland Campaign against Richmond.  Bloody fighting went on for a second day in the forest and shrub of Spotsylvania County.  The clash of Confederate units under Ewell, Hill, and Longstreet with the full Union Corps of Warren, Sedgewick, and Hancock brought appalling casualties to both sides. (By John Osborne)

After a six week sustained offensive designed to draw the Army of Northern Virginia to battle, the Union forces achieved the strategic success of crossing the James River, initiating a siege of Petersburg, and setting the framework for the fall of Richmond.  The fighting cost both sides dearly but Grant wore down Lee at each engagement and put the Army of Northern Virginia now almost permanently on the defensive. (By John Osborne)  

General U.S. Grant's sustained offensive, designed to draw the Army of Northern Virginia to battle in defense of Richmond, continued over six weeks.  A series of battles were fought in this period, including the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.  Casualties were very heavy but Grant wore down Lee and achieved the strategic success of crossing the James River and besieging Petersburg, vital to the eventual fall of Richmond.  (By John Osborne)