Category Archives: Doles Salient

The beginning of IF

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Russ

I have been working on an article about the events of May 11 and into the wee hours of May 12. Having just finished the first draft and started the editing process I wanted to share some portion of it. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1864, American Civil War, artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Bloody Angle, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Muleshoe, Johnson's Division, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Uncategorized, Upton's Charge | Tagged 1864, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Bloody Angle, Brig. Gen. James Walker, Col. Thomas Carter, field fortifications, John Daniel, May 12, Mule Shoe, Muleshoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Stonewall Brigade, Thomas Carter, West Angle | Leave a comment

“Dont move until the infantry does”

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Russ

Of all the events during the Overland Campaign of 1864 those of May 12 at Spotsylvania stand out. Perhaps the only true rivals for the title of the most significant event of the campaign are Grant’s decision not to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1864, American Civil War, artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Bloody Angle, Carrington's Battery, Cutshaw's Battalion, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Muleshoe, Johnson's Division, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Tanner's Battery, West Angle | Tagged 1864, Bloody Angle, Brig. Gen. James Walker, Carrington's Battery, Charlottesville Artillery, Cutshaw's Battalion, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, John Daniel, Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson, Maj. Wilfred Cutshaw, May 12, Muleshoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Thomas Carter, Upton's Charge | Leave a comment

Who was Colonel Alexander? (updated 5/31/17 and 6/10/17)

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Russ

One of the fascinating things about the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse and its aftermath is the amount of things that we have no answers to. One of them is a simple straight forward question. Who was Colonel Alexander? Now of … Continue reading →

Posted in American Civil War, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Muleshoe, Johnson's Division, May 12, Mule Shoe, Muleshoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Upton's Charge | Tagged 1864, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, Col. Thomas Carter, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, John Daniel, May 12, Mule Shoe, Muleshoe, Steuart's Brigade, Thomas Carter, Upton's Charge, West Angle | Leave a comment

Pens put up by ambulance men

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Russ

To borrow a phrase from a friend of mine, “the ground doesn’t lie”. By that he meant that while people leave accounts, sometimes accurate, sometimes contradicted by others, participants or not, they can’t change what was done to the ground. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1864, American Civil War, artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Upton's Charge | Tagged 1864, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, field fortifications, May 12, Mule Shoe, Muleshoe | Leave a comment

“Stonewall Brigade” lines out in the McCoull Field – updated 6/01/17

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Russ

Recently I was back out at Spotsylvania with the camera. If you’re like me, fascinated by the earthworks, and the story they can tell us, the Stonewall Brigades line across the McCoull field is quite interesting. At first glance it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1864, American Civil War, artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, Cutshaw's Battalion, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Muleshoe, Johnson's Division, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Upton's Charge, West Angle | Tagged 1864, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, Col. Thomas Carter, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Jone's Brigade, May 12, Mule Shoe, Muleshoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Stonewall Brigade, Upton's Charge, West Angle | Leave a comment

It doesn’t always go right. Or “Oh, fudge!”

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Russ

Sometimes when we read about history it seems that everybody did the right thing, and at exactly the right time. And generally that it was a perfect plan, brilliantly executed by super humans. It was only the fact that somebody … Continue reading →

Posted in American Civil War, artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Bloody Angle, Carrington's Battery, Cutshaw's Battalion, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Muleshoe, Johnson's Division, Mule Shoe, Richmond Howitzers, Tanner's Battery, West Angle | Tagged Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, Mule Shoe, Richmond Howitzers, West Angle | Leave a comment

The Second Line of Confederate Works near the McCoull Lane – washing away

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Russ

In March of 2014 I was exploring the area adjacent to the West McCoull Lane looking for the elusive traces of the location of Tanners Battery May 11-2, 1864. This battery had been very near Carrington’s battery that day. In … Continue reading →

Posted in 1864, American Civil War, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Bloody Angle, Carrington's Battery, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Tanner's Battery, West Angle | Tagged 1864, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, Brig. Gen. James Walker, Carrington's Battery, Charlottesville Artillery, Col. Thomas Carter, Cutshaw's Battalion, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, Maj. Wilfred Cutshaw, May 12, Muleshoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Stonewall Brigade, Tanner's Battery | Leave a comment

It is right here. (Updated)

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Russ

Over the last few posts I have shown various videos of a line of works out in front of the area between the west Angle and Doles Salient. These works, to the right of Upton’s trail, have evidently escaped mapping … Continue reading →

Posted in American Civil War, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Bloody Angle, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Uncategorized, Upton's Charge | Tagged Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Upton's Charge | 5 Comments

Well isn’t that interesting? (Updated 2/05/15)

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Russ

Perhaps its just me, but every trip to the battlefield seems to answer some questions. However for every question answered two more are raised. And that is what happened on a recent trip to Spotsylvania. UPDATED with new video. Today … Continue reading →

Posted in Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Johnson's Division, May 12, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Upton's Charge | Tagged Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Battle of the Muleshoe, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Hancock's assault on the Mule Shoe, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Stonewall Brigade, Upton's Charge | Leave a comment

The Confederate Second Line today

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Russ

Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes division arrived in the vicinity of Spotsylvania Courthouse during the late afternoon of May 8, 1864. It immediately went into position on the right of Kershaw’s 1st Corps division which was in danger of being outflanked. … Continue reading →

Posted in artillery in the Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Doles Salient, Earthworks and trenchs, field fortifications, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Uncategorized, Upton's Charge | Tagged Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Doles Salient, field fortifications, Mule Shoe, Overland Campaign 1864, Richmond Howitzers, Upton's Charge | 2 Comments