We were sent out on picket last
night it rained considerabal got wet
the fite opened at an Erly hour
desperh (?) charges is being made
we move up to a rifel pit rebs
comenc sheling us our patter
-ies replied it is yet warmer
work on our righ and desper
strugel we hol our ground
hav yet not lost many our boys
company (?) non
(On May 12, 1864 Confederate and Union soldiers, in pouring rain, engaged in 20 hours of hand-to-hand combat along a 200 yard portion of the Confederate line at the West Angle of the Mule Shoe. The Confederate troops eventually retreated. The battle reinforced General Grant's notion to relentlessly take the battle to the enemy. In retrospect after the carnage at Spotsylvania General Lee would never have the troops to make another northern invasion.)
Official Records of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Spotsylvania 140th history of the battle.
Library of Congress photographs (most by Matthew Brady), of Grant's Wilderness Campaign.
april or may 12?
Posted by: judy | Thursday, May 12, 2005 at 09:33 AM
May 12th. I got confused.
Posted by: joe | Thursday, May 12, 2005 at 10:14 AM
my G-G-Grandad James T Baggett was captured at the battle of Spotsylvania (Bloody Angle) We still have his acutal releasee papaers and his shave kit, and several pictures on TIN of him My grandfather recalls him talking about the war, he lost his leg to a farm accident many years after the war, we still have his wooden leg, my grandparents still live in his house he bought 3 years after the war (and his release as a Pow)
Posted by: Penny | Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 05:44 PM