Are you a student learning about the Civil War? Are you a teacher preparing to teach about the Civil War? This website is for both of you! It will even be helpful if you are just curious about the Civil War.
If you are a student, you can read about the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in the sections below. If you have questions as you read, you can send me a message, and I will do my best to get back to you.
If you are a teacher, you can use this website as a resource for yourself and your students, or you can purchase my printable reading passages and comprehension questions. They are available at Teachers Pay Teachers.
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 8 - 20, 1864
Once Grant took control of the Union army, he immediately began marching toward Richmond. Lee saw Grant’s forces cross the Rapidan River and rushed to meet them. The two armies met once again in the Wilderness of Virginia. They fought for two days with many casualties but no clear victory. Grant, his
sights set on Richmond, maneuvered his men around the Confederate army. He planned to reach Richmond by traveling through the town of Spotsylvania Court House. Unfortunately, the Union troops moved too slowly, and Lee’s men arrived in the town first.
They set up defensive positions and were able to repel twelve days of Union attacks. By the end of the battle, there were eighteen thousand Union casualties and eleven thousand Confederate casualties. Grant realized he couldn’t break the Confederate line, so he again maneuvered his troops to go around the army. He planned to move his men through the town of Cold Harbor to continue his path to Richmond. Lee would have to reposition his troops once again to protect the Confederate capital.
Want to learn more about the Civil War? Check out the links below!
Causes of the Civil War
The Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Second Battle of Cold Harbor
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
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