Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

War at the Courthouse

— Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic District —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

1. War at the Courthouse Marker

Inscription. In 1864, a long and bloody Civil War battle was waged on this land. Joseph Sanford's Tavern & Inn offered an observation point for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose headquarters tent was erected behind reinforced earthworks to the north just outside the courthouse commons.

On May 8, 1864, artillery fire started to strike the tavern. The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House raged until May 21.

After the fighting, tavern owner Sanford collected a shattered oak stump from a meadow known as "Bloody Angle." The bullet-riddled stump (pictured at right) was confiscated by Union troops in 1865, and transferred to the Smithsonian in 1888. It remains in the institution's collection.

After the war, Sanford and his son were contracted to remove the bodies of fallen Union soldiers and transport them to a new cemetery in Fredericksburg, Va. During that daunting effort, they also located Confederate remains that were once thought lost.

Joseph Sanford later donated land near the courthouse for Spotsylvania's Confederate Cemetery.

(Photo Captions)
An 1860s-era image shows men at a water pump in front of the courthouse. Library of Congress

A 1932 illustration by artist Norman Mills Price depicts the May 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Liberty Magazine Historical
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Erected by Spotsylvania County Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 8, 1864.

Location. 38° 12.073′ N, 77° 35.383′ W. Marker is in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is at the intersection of Brock Road (County Route 613) and Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 208), on the right when traveling south on Brock Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9064 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sanford's Tavern & Inn (here, next to this marker); Many Lives of a Landmark (here, next to this marker); A Courthouse at the Tavern (here, next to this marker); Building an Empire (here, next to this marker); Lee’s Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); Doctor's Orders (within shouting distance of this marker); Legend, Lore and Fact (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Other markers no longer nearby. Joseph Sanford's Inn & Tavern (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); A Tavern at the New Courthouse (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Samuel Alsop Jr.

Sanford's Tavern & Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

2. Sanford's Tavern & Inn

Used by Lee for monitoring the nearby battle.

(was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); An Ordinary on the Road to Snell (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); A Tavern in the Midst of Battle (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Time Passages (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); A Final Journey (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Chancellor's (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); An Unexpected End to Life (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It preceded this marker in the same location.

Battle Damage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

3. Battle Damage

Bullet holes from the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse are still visible on the nearby Berea Christian Church (shown), as well as the Christ Church and Zion Methodist further down Brock Road.

Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

4. Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery

On Sanford's donated land.

Fredericksburg National Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 9, 2024

5. Fredericksburg National Cemetery

This site, on Marye's Heights in Fredericksburg, was the destination for the Federal victims that Sanford & his son disinterred from Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 32 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 22, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?