One hundred forty-seven years ago the fighting at Spotsylvania Court House was winding down. Part of US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign, it was a horrific series of battles. After fighting CSA General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to a draw, at The Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864), Grant determined to push around Lee’s right flank to escape the dense woods and brush near the Chancellor Tavern. Lee would quickly divine Grant was not in retreat and would send CSA Major General Richard Anderson’s 1st Corps (Anderson took command of the corps after the wounding of Lieutenant General James Longstreet), and a portion of his cavalry, down the Catharpin Road. This road intercepted the Brock Road which was being used by the van of the Federal army. Fighting would break out at Todd’s Tavern and Laurel Hill while the armies fought for position. This delaying action would allow Lee to reach the outskirts of Spotsylvania Court House first, where he would throw up strong fortifications ahead of the advance of Grant’s Army of the Potomac.
With his army united along the Brock Road, Grant quickly realized Lee had arrived first, blocking his path. The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House began in earnest on May 9 when US Major General Winfield Scott Hancock attempted to cross the Po River at the Block House Bridge. A pitched battle occurred which ultimately kept Hancock from crossing the river and flanking Lee’s position. Calamity befell the Army of the Potomac that day when
US Major General John Sedgwick was killed by a sniper’s bullet while inspecting his lines. Sedgwick would be one of the most senior generals killed during the Civil War and would be sorely missed by his VI Corps. He would be replaced by another competent general, Horatio G. Wright.
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Confederate field works was a large salient, near their right flank. Dubbed the Mule Shoe, it would witness some of the most intense fighting of the Civil War – fighting that often times would be hand-to-hand as the opposing forces fought in the trenches along the field works of the salient. Grant, however, believed the salient was the weakest link in Lee’s line. He would send two successive attacks against it. The first attack was during the late afternoon of May 10 when he sent US Colonel Emory Upton’s brigade into the northwest face of the Mule Shoe. Upton’s attack proved successful but was not promptly supported by Wright’s VI Corps. After breaking through the lines, the Confederates would regroup and push the small force out of the salient. Grant was not one to pass up what he believed to be an opportunity and would launch a second assault against the Mule Shoe on May 12. Believing Upton’s attack failed because there were not enough troops involved, he ordered W.S. Hancock to lead the assault with his entire II Corps. After breaking through the earthworks, Hancock was to be supported by US Major General Ambrose E. Burnside’s independent IX Corps on the east side of the salient, with Major General Gouverneur K. Warren’s V Corps and Wright’s VI Corps on the west side of the works. The attack was launched before sunrise on May 12 and would be successful. Over 3,000 Confederate soldiers and officers would be captured. Unfortunately, the support from the IX and VI corps was not timely and would ultimately lead to the repulse of the II Corps once the Rebels regained their balance. May 12 was a very bloody day, with nearly 17,000 combined casualties – including the aforementioned capture of 3,000 Rebels.
After the near defeat on May 12, Robert E. Lee pulled his lines back, nearly a half mile, from the mule shoe. This served to compact his lines and make them easier to defend. The most severe fighting at Spotsylvania was over. Skirmishing would continue for days near the abandoned Mule Shoe and one large scale attack at Harris Farm, near the Federal left flank, would be fought on May 19. This pitched engagement was not expected and pitted heavy artillery units, recently converted to infantry, which had been brought from the Washington City defenses, against CSA Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell’s veteran 2d Corps. While green, the artillerist fought with zeal, commanded by US Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler. They would eventually be reinforced by veteran infantrymen and would hold the field. Casualties continued to mount at Spotsylvania.
Over the next several days Grant weighed his options. He finally determined to push around Lee’s right flank again, leaving the bloodied fields of Spotsylvania Court House on May 21. Once again, Grant disengaged his forces secretly and stole the march on Robert E. Lee. The fighting at Spotsylvania added another 31,000 combined casualties to the rapidly growing list of Civil War losses. Five general officers, including Sedgwick, would be part of the gruesome casualty list: Sedgwick, James C. Rice and Thomas Stevenson (Union) with Confederate generals Junius Daniel and Abner M. Perrin becoming casualties and adding to an already depleted list of general officers on the Rebel side. Most telling to the sanguinary Battle of Spotsylvania Court House was the fact that 43 Union soldiers would receive the Medal of Honor for their heroism.
Grant would next face Lee at the North Anna.
For more information on the Battle of Spotsylvania check out my previous articles:
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – A New Level of Fighting
Mike’s Photo Essay on Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield
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