The Washington herald., 1914-05-10
CLASSIFIED
WANT ADS
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
n Lee. Defensive Lines Spoana Courthouse We're
Broken BY Brilliant Charge Of Twelve Federal Rssnss Led By Col
Emory Up.ou but for Support They Were Obliged
the Important Advantage Gained
written Expressly for The Herald.

Fifty wears ago today Gen. Lees de-
fensiye lines at Spottsylvania Court
house were broken by a brilliant charge
q, twelve Federal regiments led by Col.
Emory Upton.
The charge was one OF the most ~
table in the war, and its leaders report
M II has been cited as a model for the
st,Idy of military students. It's lnitiai
success was complete and Its ultimate
failure was not due in any way TO 'he
men engaged in IT, but to want OF
proper support.
A division of troops had been assigned
to the support of Upton's regiments
that of the Sixth Corps, COMMANDED py
Gen. Gershom Mott. The blame Tor Iaii-
ure was placed by Gen. Grant on Gen.
Mott, who, though a gallant and ex-
perienced officer. did not get his troops
into action as his orders required
students of the campaign have noted
that the divided command Of Grant and
Meade over the Army Of the Potomac AZ
times seriously affected the tactics OF
| the forces in the field and that in tins
| narticular instance more than one d.
vision of troops should have been as
signed to the support Of the assauitins
column.
whatever the cause Of the failure. or
| Unions regiments was one that, II prop
] erly followed up. would have rendered
Lees position untenable and might nave
| led to the destruction Of his army.
| On reaching Spottsylvania Courthouse
| to which he had marched from the Will
derness more rapidly than Grant. Lee
| had taken up a strong defensive position
on a ridge of hills between two small
rivers, the Pc and the Ny, and mad rap
idly built defensive works.
| His lines were in the form OF blunt
wedge and covered every road leading 10
Richmond, as well as the crossings OF
the Pc River which was on Lees SOUTH
western side.
The point of the wedge was toward the
north and nearly two miles distant from
the village Of Spottsylvania Court House.
The total length of the lines was about
seven miles.
Grant had got his various corps into
position in front of Lees works on
May 3. The Second Corps. under Gen
Winfield S. Hancock, was on the right
the Fifth, under Gen. G. X. warren
and the Sixth, under Gen. John SedgWick'
in the center: and the Ninth, under Gen.
A. E. Burnside. on the extreme lett In
the forenoon of May Gen. Sedgwick
was killed by a sharpshooter, and the
command of his corps was given to Gen
H G. Wright.
The whole of May and the morning
OF Nav 10 was spent by Grant and Meade
in learning by hard fighting the extent
and character of the enemy's lines. On
the afternoon of May Gen. Hancock
moved across the Pc River and on the
morning of May 10 attacked the enemy
left, but without success.
! Grant having decided to assault Lee
works in the center, Hancocks move
ment was suspended and two OF his di'
visions were withdrawn across the Pt
One Division, under Cen Francis Z
Barlow being left on the south or tht
river, was heavily attacked. but gave
the enemy a severe and bloody repulse
The woods taking fire added to the diff
cuIties of the Federals and many o.
. their wounded were left behind to perish
in the flames or become prisoners. a!
, the division withdrew across the river
AsxsuItfnr Column Formed.
Heavy demonstrations made agains
: Confederate center had developed veal
point in Lees works on the west sid
: of their apex OF, as it was known, TIT
, salient. This point was in front of Gen
David A. Russelrs Division of the Sixth
, Corps. and Col Upton. of the 10th New
r York Regiment. then commanding
: brigade in this division, was ordered Il
, form an assaulting column of twelv'
, regiments with which to attack 1t.
, Col Upton, though not yet twenty-five
, years old, had already won a reputation
for high ability. He was a native o
Batavia, n. Y, and had graduated IRON
West Point in 1851.
The Young commander seized the grea
/ opportunity given him with avidity anC
5 made his dispositions for the assault witt
2 great care and discretion. instructing hi:
officers and men infinitely in the cours'
I they were to pursue during the chang,
/ and after the works were carried.
The enemy's intrerchments were CT 1
: formidable character. with abatis o
felled trees in front. and surmounted b,
heavy logs, underneath which were
, loopholes for musEetry. About 100 ya-d'
in the rear was a second line of works
Both were commanded from within b,
, artillery Tine ground IN front OF thu
Z works was level and open.
The column of attack was formed il
wood, in four lines of battle. fou
regiments being on the right and eigh
or the left of a woods road. The line
, were arranged from right to left as fol
lows: First line. One Hundred and Tween
4 ty-first New York. Ninety-s;Xth Pennsyl
, vania, Fifth Maine; second line. Forty
: ninth Pennsylvania, Sixth Maine, Fiftl
Wisconsin; third line. Forty-third ant
,. Seventy-seN enth New York. One Hundred
ana Nineteenth PennsylNAnia, 1ourth line
Second. Fifth and Sixth Vermont.
Uptons attack was directed to a poin
held by Gen. George Dole's brigade o
, Gen Robert {. Rodes' division. consist
. ing OF four Georgia regiments. tn
: Fourth, Twelfth, Twenty-first, and For
!. ty-fourth.
The story of the charge cannot be bet
u ter told than in excerpts from Col Up
tons report
mo commands were given when get
ting into position" he wrote. THE piece
e of the first line were loaded and capped
II those Of the other lines were loaded bu
Il not capped; bayonets were fixed. All tn
y officers were instructed TO repeat tn
: command, Forward constantly.
The signal for the advance was to b
= a cessation of firing by the Federal bal
;, teries. The guns ceased firing at o'cloc
II and at $40 the column started"
Z The report continues:
AT command the lines rose, move
d court into the temple and lift a corne
r of the veil the hides the shrine.