Near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
"If It Takes All Summer"
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —
While the May 12 combat at the Bloody Angle marked the height of the Spotsylvania fighting, it was not the end of it. For nine more days, the Army of the Potomac hovered around the village, looking for opportunities to strike. Finding Lee heavily entrenched at Laurel Hill and the Muleshoe Salient, Grant began shifting his army across the Fredericksburg Road, to your left. Lee responded by moving elements of his army across the road as well.
The two sides clashed three more times at Spotsylvania—at Myers Hill on May 14, at the Harrison house on May 18, and at Harris farm on May 19—each time without decisive result. On May 21, Grant abandoned his efforts to drive Lee from Spotsylvania Court House and started for the North Anna River, 20 miles south. It was there, along the North Anna’s muddy banks, that the next act of the bloody drama would unfold.
I…propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
General Ulysses Grant, USA
(caption)
In an effort to locate Grant’s right flank, Lee on May 19 sent his Second Corps on a reconnaissance toward the Fredericksburg Road, sparking a battle on the Harris farm.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1864.
Location. 38° 12.672′ N, 77° 34.642′ W. Marker is near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker is on Burnside Drive north of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 208), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9306 Courthouse Rd, 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. The Fredericksburg Road (here, next to this marker); Heth's Salient Battle Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (approx. 0.3 miles away); 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (approx. 0.6 miles away); Heth’s Salient (approx. 0.6 miles away); Beneath This Sacred Soil (approx. 0.7 miles away); More Than Just A Stone (approx. 0.7 miles 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.)
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 702 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on June 24, 2013.