The Stonewall Brigade’s final battle ended in a last stand at the Bloody Angle or Mule Shoe on May 12, 1864. After suffering severe casualties during the battle, the brigade was disbanded. The survivors where folded in with Brigadier General Terry’s brigade and would continue fighting until they surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 11, 1865.
Before the Stonewall Brigade had its last stand and final battle at the bloody angle, the brigade fought in the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5 – 6, 1864 along the Orange Courthouse Turnpike. When this battle ended, the union commander General Grant moved his army east threatening General Robert E. Lee’s right flank.
Battle for Spotsylvania Courthouse: Both Sides Entrench
Discovering Grant’s plan, Lee immediately moved his army to counter Grant’s move. Arriving on May 8th at the Spotsylvania Courthouse road junction, the Confederate army began constructing entrenchments. Confederate Brigadier General Edward Johnson's division, which included the Stonewall Brigade, built an outer line of entrenchments from the main trenches. This outer line became known as the Mule Shoe.
Confederate officers soon recognized the vulnerability of the position; however, they felt that with the promised support of over 20 artillery pieces their men could hold the line. On May 10th, a preliminary Union assault made a temporary break though against the northwestern portion of the Mule Shoe before being pushed back. Grant realized the potential for a victory and organized another attack.
He ordered the storming of the Confederate’s position using 20,000 troops to begin the morning of May 12th. The attack was led by General Winfield Scott, remembered for his successful defense of the angle at Gettysburg the previous year.
The Battle Begins: Dawn Brings a Furious Union Assault
Stonewall Brigade soldiers shivered in the pre-dawn chill in their trenches. There had been a light rain since the previous day and their earthen work entrenchment was turning into a sea of mud. Attempts to kindle breakfast fires were difficult at best, because firewood was damp from the rain.
Unknown to the Confederates, across the open ground in front of their position Scott’s troops prepared for their attack. These soldiers had orders to attack at dawn and carry the Confederate entrenchments at the point of the Mule Shoe. Little did the union and confederate soldiers realize that the day would bring a bloody 20 hour battle that would test the will of even the most battle hardened veterans.
As dawn broke, both sides discovered that the open ground between their positions was blanketed with fog. Union soldiers began their advance across the open area. However, they soon encountered Confederate skirmishers who opened fire and quickly retreated to their own lines raising the alarm.
The Confederate entrenchments stood shoulder high, were reinforced with logs, and had walls running straight back from the main line about every 20 feet. However, this did not deter the waves of union blue swarming against the grey entrenchments. The Stonewall Brigade’s trenches soon became slippery from all the blood mixing with mud. The brigade’s soldiers were forced to stand on the bodies of the own dead and wounded to keep from falling.
The union soldiers quickly overwhelmed the Confederates defending the Mule Shoe. The fighting in the trenches left no room to fire or time to reload, forcing both sides to use their weapons as clubs. The Stonewall Brigade’s soldiers fought on, using their bare hands when they were too close to swing a weapon.
The battle raged for the next 20 hours as the Mule Shoe’s, now known as the Bloody Angle, earthen works changed hands every 15 to 20 minutes. Back and forth the battle pitched. The rain-laden air was thick with cannon and musketry smoke, neither side having a clear view of what was happening. Trees near the earthen works were felled as the lead filled air chipped away at them like an axe.
Cease Fire: The Battle Draws to a Close
As dawn broke on the morning of May 13th, both sides faced each other exhausted and bloodied. Hancock’s troops had captured the earthen works held by the Stonewall Brigade. Lee’s troops had managed to construct another line of earthen works behind the Bloody Angle to stop the advancing union troops. Around the Bloody Angle the dead lay five deep, requiring their removal to make room for the living.
The Bloody Angle fighting had claimed 3,000 Confederate dead and wounded, along with another 3,000 captured. Only 200 members of the storied Stonewall Brigade remained, none above the rank of captain; their commander Brigadier General Walker severely wounded and captured. One regiment of the brigade could only muster one captain and three privates.
The last stand of the Stonewall Brigade was brutal and survivors forced to disband. They formed a regiment in Brigadier General Terry’s Brigade, which itself was a remnant of the former Stonewall Jackson Division.
Related Article
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Reference
The Bloody Angle – National Park Service
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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