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On this day in the Civil War, Federal troops entrench at Spotsylvania. Confederate snipers harass the Federals as the entrenchments are being built. Union General John Sedgwick attempts to calm his men, saying: “Don’t duck, they couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance!” A few moments later, a Rebel bullet strikes the general under his left eye and kills him. The shot is fired by a Confederate marksman from nearly half a mile away.
General John Sedgwick
(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)
On this day in the Civil War, the Federal army’s flanking move after the Battle of the Wilderness, is stopped by Confederates. This action starts the bloody Battle of Spotsylvania.
On this day in the Civil War, after the bloody battle of the Wilderness, Federal General U.S. Grant plans to flank the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The Confederate army is led by General Robert E. Lee.
In conferring with one of his officers, General Lee states: “General Grant is not going to retreat. He will move his army to Spotsylvania…I am so sure of his next move that I have already made arrangements to march by the shortest practicable route, so that we may meet him there.”
General Robert E. Lee
(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)
On this day in the Civil War, Union General Joseph Hooker makes this statement to his army: “The men are to be commended on the achievements of the past seven days.”
The irony of this statement is that the Union army suffered a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
General Joseph Hooker
(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)
On this day in the Civil War, the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee clashes with the Union Army of the Potomac under General Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of the Wilderness. After several days of fighting, in which the Confederate army prevails, General Grant surprises his troops by continuing to press toward Richmond instead of retreating. A Union officer describes Grant’s tenacity by stating that he: “Habitually wears an expression as if he had determined to drive his head through a brick wall and was about to do it.”
The Civil War Book 