The Overland Campaign

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  Germanna Ford. The 11th US Infantry crossed the Rapidan River on this pontoon bridge with the Fifth Corps on the morning of 4 May 1864. This crossing heralded General US Gant’s Overland Campaign to take Richmond.

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  Saunders Field, The Wilderness. On the morning of 5 May 1864, the Regiment marched across Saunders Field with the other Regulars and charged into the Confederate positions in the far treeline. The Regiment would have advanced on the right side of this field.

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  Saunders Field looking west from the Federal lines toward the rebel positions in the far woods.

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  A view of the intial Confederate postions on the far treeline. The slashings (felled trees) seen here were faced toward attackers to break up their formations as they arrived.

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  Another view of the rebel breastworks at Saunders Field.

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  As with other parts of the Wilderness battlefield, area around Saunders Field caught fire that day and many wounded soldiers perished in the flames.

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  This image shows the initial troops of the Fifth Corps, including the 11th US Infantry, wading across the North Anna River at Jericho Mills on 23 May 1864. The mill is on the right.

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  An artist’s depiction of the battle at Jericho Mills, 23 May 1864. The 11th US Infantry would have been located somewhere to the left center near the building in the distance.

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  This pontoon bridge went in at Jericho Mills later in the day. This view is from the north side of the river.

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  Another view of the bridge from the south side of the North Anna. The Fifth Corps would retrace its steps over the bridge back to the north side of the river on 25 May 1864.

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  Battle of Bethesda Church, 2 June 1864. This scene dipicts the Confederate attack on the Union line at Bethesda Church. Not depicted is the rebel attack that would roll up the Federal right flank shortly thereafter. The 11th US Infantry would lose a significant number of men to capture in this attack.