Spotsylvania County: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The first place we went today was to the Battlefield of Spotsylvania Court House. Having three battles occur in the same location in a relatively short period of time. Having driven around the three battlefields we found that some of the locations were used for multiple battles. Imagine living in these areas during this time period. Imagine fighting on these grounds multiple times.

Ms. Edwards and I learned the following information about this battlefield:

• The battle occurred between May 8 - May 21, 1864
• The leaders of the Union forces were Ulysses S. Grant and George G. Meade.
• The Confederate troops were led by Robert E. Lee.
• Union forces numbered 100,000 troops. The Confederate forces equalled 52,000 troops.
• The Union lost 18.000 troops and the Confederates lost 12,000 troops.
• This was the second battle of Grant's Overland Campaign.
• Grant's goal was to move south and attack Richmond, Virginia.
• Major General John Sedgwick was killed by a sharpshooter on May 9th.
• "Mule Shoe" was the only weakness in Lee's line.
• The "Bloody Angle" was the location where the most savage fighting of the whole Civil War took place.
• This battle ended with no clear winner.

Below are some of the pictures that Ms. Edwards took while at the battlefield.

Here is a picture that represents the battlefield. It should up multiple times throughout the battlefield.

This monument was found near the starting point of the battlefield. It is in honor of Sedgwick. he died at the beginning of the battle on May 9, 1864. His staff and artillerymen ducked for cover when sharpshooters started firing on their location. Sedgwick walked around the field as was believed to have said "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." He was soon killed when a bullet hit him in the face.

Sedgwick was the highest ranking Union casualty.


Below is a picture of a house that appeared on the battlefield.



This fence was located near the area known as the "Bloody Angle." Ms. Wood and Ms. Edwards walked around this area.

Below is a monument to men who fought and died in the "Bloody Angle." The monument is in honor of the 15th Regiment of New Jersey.

Below is a picture of the courthouse.