Last updated: May 17, 2022
Place
Fredericksburg Road
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
With neither army able to maneuver around the other, the Battle of Spotsylvania had reached a stalemate its second week. Though fighting continued each day, and casualties continued to mount, neither side could find the decisive ground to break through.
The Fredericksburg Road, known now as the Courthouse Road, proved especially important for US General Ulysses S. Grant’s continued campaign against the Confederates. Reinforcements and supplies were sent to the Army of the Potomac via Fredericksburg, and keeping the road open reached a vital importance.
Robert E. Lee recognized that importance, and decided to strike against it. Some of the battle’s last fighting occurred along the Fredericksburg Road on May 19, as Confederates attacked Federal lines. One soldier wrote, “After a few minutes they got a little mixed, and didn’t fight very tactically, but they fought confounded plucky.” Another added, “The men stood and fought just as you see them in pictures.”
The Federal line held, and the Fredericksburg Road remained open. Deciding he had done all he could do at Spotsylvania, Grant made plans to move his army further to the south. The armies soon left, marching and countermarching their way closer and closer to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Both armies had suffered close to a combined loss of 30,000 soldiers killed, wounded, and missing.
The Fredericksburg Road, known now as the Courthouse Road, proved especially important for US General Ulysses S. Grant’s continued campaign against the Confederates. Reinforcements and supplies were sent to the Army of the Potomac via Fredericksburg, and keeping the road open reached a vital importance.
Robert E. Lee recognized that importance, and decided to strike against it. Some of the battle’s last fighting occurred along the Fredericksburg Road on May 19, as Confederates attacked Federal lines. One soldier wrote, “After a few minutes they got a little mixed, and didn’t fight very tactically, but they fought confounded plucky.” Another added, “The men stood and fought just as you see them in pictures.”
The Federal line held, and the Fredericksburg Road remained open. Deciding he had done all he could do at Spotsylvania, Grant made plans to move his army further to the south. The armies soon left, marching and countermarching their way closer and closer to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Both armies had suffered close to a combined loss of 30,000 soldiers killed, wounded, and missing.