Near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Heth’s Salient
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —
With the fighting at the Bloody Angle at an impasse, Grant and Lee looked elsewhere for opportunities to attack. Coincidentally, both men turned their attention to Heth’s Salient, here on the eastern face of the Muleshoe. Grant sought a weak point in the Confederate defenses, while Lee hoped that an attack here might relieve pressure on Confederate troops fighting at the Bloody Angle.
The two sides unexpectedly collided in these woods. A wild scramble ensued. Men threw one another to the ground, brained each other with the butts of their rifles, and exchanged shots at point-blank range. In 30 minutes it was over. The Confederates straggled back to their line with 800 prisoners in tow. The Federals licked their wounds and dug in. The earthworks that they built line this road.
(captions)
Men of the 17th Michigan, who lost heavily in the attack on Heth’s Salient. Courtesy Charles T. Joyce
Heth’s Salient was a sharp turn in the Confederate works defended by General Henry Heth’s (pronounced “Heath”) division.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 12.837′ N, 77° 35.248′ W. Marker is near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker is on Burnside Drive, 0.7 miles south of Gordon Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9304 Burnside Dr, 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. 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (here, next to this marker); Spotsylvania Campaign (approx. ¼ mile away); The Ninth Corps (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (approx. half a mile away); Heth's Salient Battle Site (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Spotsylvania Campaign (approx. half a mile away); Containing the Enemy, Reclaiming the Works (approx. half a 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.)
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 676 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on April 7, 2014, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.