Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Upton’s Trail
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 23, 2013
1. Upton’s Trail Marker
By the night of May 8, the Confederate army was in firm possession of Spotsylvania Court House. With Lee entrenching, Grant looked for opportunities to attack. Reports from the front indicated that the Confederates were in force on both their left and right flanks, leading Grant to believe that they must be weak in the center of the line. Hoping to exploit this weakness, he issued orders for a general assault to take place just before sunset on May 10.
Colonel Emory Upton, a brilliant 24-year-old brigade commander from Batavia, New York, was assigned to lead the assault. On the day of the attack, Upton assembled a strike force of 12 regiments—5,000 men—at the Shelton house, 400 yards behind you. Union troops meanwhile flushed Confederate skirmishers from these woods. Upton’s men followed, moving undetected along this woods road to within 200 yards of the Confederate line.
To follow the route of Upton’s attack, leave your car here and take the walking trail that follows the woods road in front of you.
Trail Length: Half mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: Thirty minutes
(caption)
Colonel Emory Upton
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this
this page online
Location. 38° 13.418′ N, 77° 36.377′ W. Marker is in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker is on Grant Drive, 0.7 miles north of Brock Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Spotsylvania Campaign (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Spotsylvania Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Forming for the Attack (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Upton's Charge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Doles Salient (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Counterattack (approx. ¼ mile away); Upton’s Assault (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Spotsylvania Campaign (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Also see . . . Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. National Park Service (Submitted on June 24, 2013.)
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 23, 2013
2. Upton’s Trail Marker
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 18, 2018
3. Upton’s Trail Marker
The road is now a foot trail which connects to Doles Salient.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 565 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 18, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
