The Major Civil War Battle That Was Paused So Both Sides Could Watch A Fistfight
America’s bloodiest conflict had some very unusual moments
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No matter how barbaric it might be, people have a hard time looking away when they see others having a physical fight. As it turns out, this phenomenon is true even when the surrounding atmosphere offers plenty of distraction. This was proven during the bloody Battle of the Wilderness during the Civil War when the Union and Confederate armies briefly stopped the raging engagement so they could both take in a fistfight between one man from each side who were quarrelling over a fox hole.
By May, 1864, the Civil War was already in its fourth agonizing and deadly year. The North and the South had thrown everything they had into the struggle with the primary result up until that point being numerous deaths and suffering. Before it was all over, the conflict counted approximately 620,000 deaths (and possibly more) during the five years (1861–1865) it lasted. Casualties came in many forms, including vicious fighting, rampant disease and malnourishment.
One of the most destructive battles of the entire war was the Battle of the Wilderness. Fought between May 5–7th, 1864 in a wooded area around 20 miles outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia, the three-day slaughter ended more or less a draw despite massive damage incurred by both sides. In total, nearly 28,000 soldiers died, and an additional 20,000 were wounded. The Union Army, which had a significant edge in the number of troops, also suffered the lion’s share of the casualties. However, neither side was able to claim a definitive advantage once the fighting stopped.
One very unusual feature of this horrific battle was that it was reported that fighting was briefly ceased as a soldier from each side had a fistfight over a very unusual argument.
In the midst of the fighting was an open space called Saunders Field. In the course of the battle, holes pocked the field from cannon blasts. Soldiers attempting to retreat on both sides would sometimes jump into these holes for temporary respite from the bullets and other projectiles whizzing about overhead. At one point, a Confederate soldier jumped into one of these holes only to be surprised to see a Union…
