May 8 began the battle for Spotsylvania Court House, one of three meat-grinding battles between Grant's Army of the Potomac and Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
I am sure there are many Civil War buffs here. I'd appreciate any additional facts and insights you are willing to share about this battle and the Overland Campaign in general. Thank you.
I visited the battlefield in 1981 when I attended President Reagan’s inauguration. It gave me an eerie feeling to stand right where hand-to-hand combat was going on during the battle—and no one else was around, since it was not the tourist season. Incidentally, there is still a courthouse near the site.
Don’t you keep a WBTS ping list? This may be of interest.
The title remonded me of this Steven Wright quote...
“I had a dog named Spot but I spilled spot remover on him and now I can’t find him”
I am afraid that is a very spotty history.
Bkmk
Gordon Rhea probably did the definitive history of the Overland Campaign in his five book series.
My great great grandfather fought at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. He was nearly killed by an exploding cannon shell near his head. He served in the 7th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry (Union). His unit was at the “Bloody Angle” during which the battle raged all night in the pouring rain. Musket fire was so intense, it cut down an entire stand of trees behind the Confederate lines. Men were fighting hand to hand and were dying in such numbers, others stood atop their bodies while fighting in the mud.
The “Bloody Spring” ended in the stalemate at Petersburg. A blow to Northern morale that endangered Lincolns re-election. The Atlanta Campaign successes put Lincoln back on top.
All of this bloodshed to get Lincoln re-elected.