On the other side
of the field there was only desultory fighting throughout the day.
However one Confederate commander, John B. Gordon, had a plan to
strike the Federal forces. He scouted around the Union right flank
and found it unguarded. Confederates could move undetected and roll
up the Union right, as Longstreet as their left. He presented this
plan to Ewell, who did not approve it for most of the day because of
reports of a force that could strike Gordon in the rear.
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| The Wilderness |
Finally just
before sunset the plan was approved. Gordon set out on his march with
his own and two other brigades, totaling around 4,000 men. They
silently deployed and then charged. The Federals were completely
surprised. The two flank brigades were completely unprepared and were
driven into headlong retreat. But this was all Gordon could
accomplish. It was nearly impossible to keep an attack organized in
the woods, especially at night. By the time another attack was made
it was 10 pm, and the Federals were able repulse it. Gordon believed
that the delay in implementing his plan prevented a complete
Confederate victory on that day:
[H]ad [the attack] been made at an early hour in the day instead of at sundown, the 6th of May would have ended in the crushing defeat of General Grant's army.
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| Gordon |
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