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* WILDEB. 511 WILDERNESS. for Students (New York, 1883) ; Human Loco- motion (New York, 1870) ; Anatomical Tech- noloyy as Applied to the Cat, with Gage (.New Y'ork ami Chiciigo, 1882) ; and I'hysiuloyy I'ruc- iicuiiis (Ithaca, 1895). WILDER, Marshall Pinckney (1708- ISSC)). An American mcrcliant ami agricultur- ist, born at Kimlge, N. 11. lie received a eoni- nion scliool education, worked on a farm for some time, and in 182.5 became a merchant in Boston in the West India trade. He was a member at different times of botli Houses of the Massa- chusetts Legislature, being dioscn president of the .Senate in 1850, and was also a member of the Executive Council. He was one of the organizers of the Constitutional Union I'arty, which nomi- nated Bell and Everett in 1800. Having ac- quired a large fortune, he turned his attention to the development of agriculture. He founded the United States Agricultural Society and the Massachusetts Agricultural College, was an officer of various agricultural and genealogical societies, and was one of the earliest promoters of the Massachusetts Institute of Technolog;'. Among his publications are a number of ad- dresses and The Hyhridization of the CameUia and Its Varieties (1847) and other lectures on floriculture, pomology, and agriculture. WILDERMTJTH, vil'der-moiSt, Ottilie (1S17- 77). A German novelist. She was born at Rot- tenburg-on-the-Neckar, was married in 184.3 to Professor Wildermxith, of Tiibingen, and in that city passed the remainder of her life. Her novels had a wide popularity, which was well deserved, since she pictured with much grace the life of the region to which she confined her work — Swabia. She also wrote excellent stories for the young. The best of her works are: Bilder und Geschichten aus Schwaben (1852-54); Auquste (1857); Bilder aus dcr Wirklichkeit (1801); and Zitr Diiinmerstunde (1871). - WILDERNESS, Battle of the. A battle of the Civil War in America, fought on May 5-0, 1804, between the Army of the Potomac under General Meade, with General Grant in sxipreme command, and the Army of Northern Virginia under General Lee. The Wilderness is a region of dwarfed woods and tangled undergrowth lying south of the Rapidan River, and extending for about fifteen miles from east to west and ten miles from north to south, the nature of the ground being such as to render cavalry operations and the use of artillery almost impossible. The battle of the Wilderness was the opening engage- ment of the campaign of 1804 in Virginia. The Confederate army, consisting of three corps, lay in a strong position south of the Rapidan, with its right under Ewell on the river, the centre under A. P. Hill at Orange Court House, and the left under Longstreet at Gordonsville. Its strength was about 02,000 men. with 224 guns. The Union army was encamped north of the Rapidan from Hazel's River through Culpeper to Stevensburg. It comprised the corps of War- ren (Fifth). Sedgwick (Sixth), and Hancock (Second). With Burnside's corps a day's march to the north, the Union strength amounted to about 120.000 men, with 310 guns. Grant's plan was to cross the Rapidan. turn Lee's right flank, and interpose his army between the Confederate forces and Richmond. The movement of troops was begun at midnight of May .3d, Warren's corps, preceded l)y cavalry and followed by the corps of Sedgwi<'k, crossing at Cicrmanna Ford, while Han- cock crossed at Ely's Ford, tarther down the river. The right column was ordered to proceed to Wilderness Tavern, at the junction of the Germanna Blank Road and the Orange Coimty Turnpike; Hancock's objective was Chancellors- ville. As soon as Lee became acfpiainted with the movement of the Union troops he adopted the bold expedient of changing front and sent the corps (if Ewell and Hill along the Orange County Turnpike and the Orange I'lank Road to take (Grant's army in flank. Early in the uinriiing of May 5th Warren sent (riirm westward along the I)ike and Crawford along the jilank road to ascer- tain the presence of the enemy. Grillin came into contact with Ewell and a little later (Crawford became engaged with Hill's troops. Believing at first that the enemy's forces were but a strong rear guard, Grant made no attempt to support Warren, but some time before noon it became evident that the main strength of the Confed- erates was in front. Sedgwick's corps was there- upon directed to support Warren on the right, while orders were sent to Hancock, who was now some distance beyond Chancellorsville, to return by the Brick Road and take up his position at its junction with the Orange Plank Road. Until Hancock's arrival a division of the Sixth Corps under General Getty was ordered to hold back the Ccmfederates, under Hill, at that point. Owing to the nature of the ground. Sedgwick was delayed in bringing support to Warren on his left, and though Griltin's and Wadsworth's divisions drove Ewell's vanguard before them, they were com- pelled to give way before the attack of the lat- ter's main force. The Sixth Corps as it was working into position was also struck by Ewell, but after a fierce struggle the Confederates were repulsed. Getty, meanwhile, hard pressed by Hill, was relieved by the arrival of Hancock at about three in the afternoon, and a desperate con- flict ensued, at a close distance, in which neither side gained any distinct advantage. Wadswortli, sent to the support of Hancock's right, did not arrive until night put an end to the combat. Owing to the impossibility of manoeuvring in the tangled underbrush, the conflict became a struggle between lines of men closely in touch, but for the most part invisible. It was almost ex- clusively a musketry battle. The combat between Warren and Ewell and that between Hancock and Hill were practically isolated. During the night Burnside's corps was brought to the front and placed between Warren and Hancock. Longstreet was siinnnoned by Lee from Ciordonsville and ordered to reinforce Hill on his right. It was Lee's intention to hurl Long- street against the Union left in an' attempt to throw it back on the Rapidan. To gain time for Longstreet's arrival and to divert attention from the move, he ordered an assault on the tinion right. The assailants were thrown back and Sedgwick took up an advanced position. At the same time Hancock assailed Hill in front, while Wadsworth struck him on the flank. The Con- federates were driven back for more than a mile, when the Union advance ceased, owing to the con- fusion in the lines and to the fact that Hancock had left part of his corps behind, in anticipation of a flanking movement by Longstreet. The lat-