Sir I thoroughly enjoy all of your presentations- they are first class ! ... I can understand what you're saying (your diction and pronunciation is crystal clear ) !
I travel from Utah to take Civil War Vacations with my son. Spotsylvania C.H. is one of my most favorite B.F. I have 25 ancestors that fought in the C.W. @ a 50/50 split for each side. I had 2 ancestors taken prisoner from Spotsylvania (father & son) confederate and an other son fighting there as a union soldier. All survived!!! Loved the video. P.S. the 2 confederates ended up at Camp Hoffman Point Lookout MD, one of many "Andersonvilles" of the Union.
My G-G-Grandfather, John McCall enlisted as a private with Company H, 10th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Wilcox County Rifles, on 20 May, 1861. He was promoted to 4th Corporal on 15 June, 1861 and to First Lieutenant on 2 December, 1864. John W. McCall saw action in the following engagements: Seven Days Battle; Gettysburg; The Wilderness; Spotsylvania Court House; and the Shendandoah Valley Campaign.
My ancestor led his men into battle on May 10 and was killed. He had been in many battles and skirmishes from 1861-1864. He had been promoted to colonel 2 weeks before he died. His body was never recovered due to the decimation of the woods where the battle took place. He had previously been 2nd in command of the Logan Guards.
A guy from my area served in the 11th NJ (Capt. Sam Sleeper). He was killed May 12, 1864 at the Mule Shoe. Local historical society had copies of letters from his wife requesting that his body be returned to NJ, but they said it was not possible, so he's buried in the cemetery at Fredericksburg in an unspecified grave.
Amazing how the small elevation at the tip of the salient is so important. That small rise in elevation exposes the line. Some of those ravines funneled the II Corp funneled troops to the Mule Shoe, providing them cover. The few shots that were fired by Allegheny Johnson’s men went over the II Corp’s heads. They would soon be on Johnson’s men quickly.
My GG grandfather and his 3 brothers entered the battle with the 1st SC Orr’s Rifles to plug the hole in the salient at the Bloody Angle. Somehow when they were given the order to withdraw, he and his 3 brothers all survived. Impossible to think about as I visited the battlefield and stood there trying to imagine the carnage.
This is the battle at which the famous Stonewall Brigade was pretty much wiped out. It was reduced to almost regiment size by the end of this battle. Several flags of the stonewall brigade were captured here too, including that of the 27th Virginia. (My great Grand uncle, Christopher Hussey was in the 27th Virginia and had died about 11 months earlier at 2nd Winchester).
I loved your passion even though this was such a horrific fight. I could feel the fear and exhaustion of the soldiers. I have studied WW1 extensively. When you were describing the wounded being smothered under dead bodies, it reminded me of the Somme and Ypres. At Ypres it rained so much that when the men went over the top, they slid and fell in the mud. Healthy men were drowning in that mud and then would be stepped on by men in the next wave. Imagining the suffering of all these men brings me to tears. Oh, how the Lord must have wept.
There's a book by Bruce Catton called "A Stillness at Appomattox" that details the last year of the civil war. This battle is described in morbid detail. Very interesting stuff!
@@forwardgettysburg I have the book. Just haven’t read it yet. I’m a Gettysburg fan no doubt especially the Black Horse Tavern and what happened around there but the Overland Campaign is a close second. Special feeling at the Mule Shoe
@Michael Peffer Ah, the Black Horse Tavern and Longstreet's counter-March will be an upcoming episode! But yes, a totally different feeling and energy from Gettysburg. I felt very isolated at Spotsylvania. Not an easy place to grasp your bearings like at Gettysburg
To the book comment, check out Richard Rollins book called Picketts Charge. It is after battle reports from. Surviving officers both sides along with diary accounts or letter written home from all ranks including privates detailing the carnage before during and after the assault. The bombardment and canister accounts during charge were grueling and the high water mark was very graffic. Very good read.
I really wish I could take my metal detector there. Although it would be bogarted by the govt, still there's no way everything that fell there could have been harvested.
Upton's attack was not there. Dole's salient was about 250-400 yards or so behind you, and to your left from where you claim that Upton broke through. Down the road, going away from the parking area. There is a marker at the spot and monument in the treeline where his brigade formed for the charge. I know all of this because I was just there literally yesterday.
I really like what you present, great info and so cool that you have a family history that was involved. So, I mean this nicely, the speaking style, choppy with the exaggerated newscaster hand motions and choppy words accented by the hand motions is just not you as much as I can see. You have a great well researched well informed topic, go at it naturally, Be you, polish you up a bit but be you. Sorry if this comes across bad.
Probably not. The trees that existed were literally felled by shrapnel and artillery fire. Mule shoe was the hottest place of the war. The pictures of the battlefield after the battle showed that most trees were felled or damaged to the point where survival was unlikely - a true no man's land that gives me the chills.
According to author Bruce Catton in his book "A stillness at Appomattox". The trees behind the confederate lines were literally mowed down by rifle bullets.
Your bias is showing. The union forces were far from a disorganized mob. They couldn't be because they had nowhere to go. Most lay in company ranks behind the works waiting for an opportunity to enter the battle, passing loaded rifles forward to the men at the face of the works. The fight began well before dawn and unlike Uptons assault little or no scouting or familiarization with the terrain and the unit goals had been explained. The darkness further compounded the problems. The removal of the 22-gun confederate battery the previous evening from the salient was much to the Federals advantage. The sides were deadlocked at point blank range on either side of the parapet firing and stabbing between the logs of the fortifications. Dead and wounded piled up and could not be removed or tended to. As men fell more took their place to be killed or wounded in turn. Unlike other close quarters battles this one would not end. All thru the day it continued adding to the butcher's bill with no respite and no quarter asked or given. Men simply took their turn to be killed or maimed and then covered by those following them. The artillery played little or no part in this battle. If it could have things would have ended sooner but it did not. The killing and maiming were accomplished by rifle butt, bayonet and bullet. The confederates were nearing the end of their reinforcements when the base of the mule shoe was sealed off with hastily but strongly put-up fortifications, a task the rebel infantry was becoming incredibly good at.
Sir I thoroughly enjoy all of your presentations- they are first class ! ... I can understand what you're saying (your diction and pronunciation is crystal clear ) !
I travel from Utah to take Civil War Vacations with my son. Spotsylvania C.H. is one of my most favorite B.F. I have 25 ancestors that fought in the C.W. @ a 50/50 split for each side. I had 2 ancestors taken prisoner from Spotsylvania (father & son) confederate and an other son fighting there as a union soldier. All survived!!! Loved the video.
P.S. the 2 confederates ended up at Camp Hoffman Point Lookout MD, one of many "Andersonvilles" of the Union.
My G-G-Grandfather, John McCall enlisted as a private with Company H, 10th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Wilcox County Rifles, on 20 May, 1861. He was promoted to 4th Corporal on 15 June, 1861 and to First Lieutenant on 2 December, 1864. John W. McCall saw action in the following engagements: Seven Days Battle; Gettysburg; The Wilderness; Spotsylvania Court House; and the Shendandoah Valley Campaign.
My ancestor led his men into battle on May 10 and was killed. He had been in many battles and skirmishes from 1861-1864. He had been promoted to colonel 2 weeks before he died. His body was never recovered due to the decimation of the woods where the battle took place.
He had previously been 2nd in command of the Logan Guards.
A guy from my area served in the 11th NJ (Capt. Sam Sleeper). He was killed May 12, 1864 at the Mule Shoe. Local historical society had copies of letters from his wife requesting that his body be returned to NJ, but they said it was not possible, so he's buried in the cemetery at Fredericksburg in an unspecified grave.
Amazing how the small elevation at the tip of the salient is so important. That small rise in elevation exposes the line. Some of those ravines funneled the II Corp funneled troops to the Mule Shoe, providing them cover. The few shots that were fired by Allegheny Johnson’s men went over the II Corp’s heads. They would soon be on Johnson’s men quickly.
My GG grandfather and his 3 brothers entered the battle with the 1st SC Orr’s Rifles to plug the hole in the salient at the Bloody Angle. Somehow when they were given the order to withdraw, he and his 3 brothers all survived. Impossible to think about as I visited the battlefield and stood there trying to imagine the carnage.
Thanks!
You're quite welcome, and thank you!
This is the battle at which the famous Stonewall Brigade was pretty much wiped out. It was reduced to almost regiment size by the end of this battle. Several flags of the stonewall brigade were captured here too, including that of the 27th Virginia. (My great Grand uncle, Christopher Hussey was in the 27th Virginia and had died about 11 months earlier at 2nd Winchester).
The best study of this battle I ave ever seen. TY so much for all the work and research.
Wow what a generous compliment, thank you
I loved your passion even though this was such a horrific fight. I could feel the fear and exhaustion of the soldiers. I have studied WW1 extensively. When you were describing the wounded being smothered under dead bodies, it reminded me of the Somme and Ypres. At Ypres it rained so much that when the men went over the top, they slid and fell in the mud. Healthy men were drowning in that mud and then would be stepped on by men in the next wave. Imagining the suffering of all these men brings me to tears. Oh, how the Lord must have wept.
I visited the Muleshoe a few years ago and the place felt haunted. The terror and cruelty unleashed there lingers to this day.
There's a book by Bruce Catton called "A Stillness at Appomattox" that details the last year of the civil war. This battle is described in morbid detail. Very interesting stuff!
I like the hotspots, the sunken road, the cornfield, the Wheatfield and the Muleshoe is the hottest of the hot, unimaginable carnage.
Thank you for the description of this terrible battle.
Great job, enjoyed it.
Reading Gordon Rhea’s books now….thank you for the great work you put into this presentation..hoping to get back there to Spotsylvania next year.
I just picked up his book. Have you read Jeffry Wert's "Heart of Hell?" Really good book on The Mule Shoe
@@forwardgettysburg I have the book. Just haven’t read it yet. I’m a Gettysburg fan no doubt especially the Black Horse Tavern and what happened around there but the Overland Campaign is a close second. Special feeling at the Mule Shoe
@Michael Peffer Ah, the Black Horse Tavern and Longstreet's counter-March will be an upcoming episode!
But yes, a totally different feeling and energy from Gettysburg. I felt very isolated at Spotsylvania. Not an easy place to grasp your bearings like at Gettysburg
Can't wait to see this on the road coverage.
Excellent video. Please make more.
I'll be heading to Antietam tomorrow
Great job narrating, sir!
My Great Great Grandfather fought at that Bloody Angle with the 8th New Jersey Infantry.
Good presentation.
To the book comment, check out Richard Rollins book called Picketts Charge. It is after battle reports from. Surviving officers both sides along with diary accounts or letter written home from all ranks including privates detailing the carnage before during and after the assault. The bombardment and canister accounts during charge were grueling and the high water mark was very graffic. Very good read.
Great information! I haven’t heard of this battle.
Glad you learned something. The whole Overland Campaign is pretty fascinating, you should read more about it!
I really wish I could take my metal detector there. Although it would be bogarted by the govt, still there's no way everything that fell there could have been harvested.
😳"mr aaron smith" 😨the💀 men of both side are standing all around you & watching you weirdly at your clothes in the sunlight 😒
Upton's attack was not there. Dole's salient was about 250-400 yards or so behind you, and to your left from where you claim that Upton broke through. Down the road, going away from the parking area. There is a marker at the spot and monument in the treeline where his brigade formed for the charge. I know all of this because I was just there literally yesterday.
You have to remember that Grant had a very able commander in Sherman. That is why he did it.
I'm a little confused by your comment, Sherman was leading the Atlanta campaign at the time of the Overland Campaign
@@forwardgettysburg It was like Sherman was his right hand man. He could handle the west.
I really like what you present, great info and so cool that you have a family history that was involved. So, I mean this nicely, the speaking style, choppy with the exaggerated newscaster hand motions and choppy words accented by the hand motions is just not you as much as I can see. You have a great well researched well informed topic, go at it naturally, Be you, polish you up a bit but be you. Sorry if this comes across bad.
sounds like Howard Coselll narrating.
just wondering ... are those trees that are behind you @ 9:29 are they witness trees... were they there during the battle(s)?
Probably not. The trees that existed were literally felled by shrapnel and artillery fire. Mule shoe was the hottest place of the war. The pictures of the battlefield after the battle showed that most trees were felled or damaged to the point where survival was unlikely - a true no man's land that gives me the chills.
According to author Bruce Catton in his book "A stillness at Appomattox". The trees behind the confederate lines were literally mowed down by rifle bullets.
Your bias is showing. The union forces were far from a disorganized mob. They couldn't be because they had nowhere to go. Most lay in company ranks behind the works waiting for an opportunity to enter the battle, passing loaded rifles forward to the men at the face of the works. The fight began well before dawn and unlike Uptons assault little or no scouting or familiarization with the terrain and the unit goals had been explained. The darkness further compounded the problems. The removal of the 22-gun confederate battery the previous evening from the salient was much to the Federals advantage. The sides were deadlocked at point blank range on either side of the parapet firing and stabbing between the logs of the fortifications. Dead and wounded piled up and could not be removed or tended to. As men fell more took their place to be killed or wounded in turn. Unlike other close quarters battles this one would not end. All thru the day it continued adding to the butcher's bill with no respite and no quarter asked or given. Men simply took their turn to be killed or maimed and then covered by those following them. The artillery played little or no part in this battle. If it could have things would have ended sooner but it did not. The killing and maiming were accomplished by rifle butt, bayonet and bullet. The confederates were nearing the end of their reinforcements when the base of the mule shoe was sealed off with hastily but strongly put-up fortifications, a task the rebel infantry was becoming incredibly good at.