Thomas Wright's Diary

May 1864

9, May 1864

Taday we took part in the battle at Mary's Bridge on Nye River.
I will write further on this later. Time is not permitted. We are goin on the advance now!

21, May 1864

I can not, yet bring myself to believe the madness of the battle. That we fought these past days. The fightin was cold-hearted and angry like mad bees, protecting the hive. Vicious attacks that ta me made no difference in the outcome. Hell by the 10th of May we were not more than a mile out of Spotsylvania Court House. It angers me ta no end. Why we could not break the line, it is troublin ta say the least. So this is what I saw, an heard about this battle, best of my ability ta remember. I write this now for Betsy an any children I may have. Not wantin ta worry her, with the battle details in a letter, or Ma with it.

I must say that General Grant tried is mightiest ta break thum. As did General Burnside our Corp commander. After crossin that bridge at the Nye they called it Mary's Bridge. We fought hard ta get ta within a mile of Spotsylvania Court House. Bloody charges, artillery pounding both sides. I thought that wilderness battle was filled with up close fightin.

This battle we didn't stop on a charge ta fire or reload. Instead we moved close as we could, then go like the wind straight at thum!
We broke inta they lines several times. Fightin hand ta hand!
Then our boys would be tied up not able ta help us hold it, or didn't come when they supposed ta. Then they would kick us back! More hand ta hand, I am cut in a few places. Nothin ta worry about. Philotis put a mix of honey and few other herbs ta help heal it some. Yes he is like Betsy he knows few thins ta help a wound.

That close quarters fightin, is like nothin I dreamed it be. Seen it a few times. Not on this scale, it is best put as three against one or two against one, if ya lucky may be just ya an a other. The smell of blood, urine, feces. Musket pistol fire, smoke from that! The clack of sabers hittin or hittin a musket! The blood covered faces of the men ya tryin ta kill ya. The grimace and gritted teeth, the screams made before killin the man! No matter the weather ya sweat. Steppin over the dead, steppin on thum, the vicious swings of saber or rifle ta defend, kill! The poundin of the heart, like it wants ta blow out yar chest. This happened almost every day.

The night brought fitful rest, when a few shouts or screams of pain from wounded left in the field. Or an occasional bought of cannon or musket fire, would wake what sleep ya got. My eyes could hardly stay open while I forced coffee an hardtack down fer food. Then back ta the brutal killin, my men grow more tired by the hour even minutes. I can not in good heart, tell my men my boys, ta attack much more. I will if ordered only because we are soldiers, in my heart, it reasons this isn't getting us anywhere.

The hardness of the mind, I can not see the overall lines or the disposition of forces. So the whys are not my privy. Only do as told no matter the cost. Theo did make his rounds, only one time did he have more time ta talk. More, than to just say hello an move on. For the life of me, I can not remember the day or the date.

Those all just melted inta, one single event. The struggle ta live an keep my boys alive. Theo did show me how the lines were at that point, he said best he could remember it was about hour ago, last he was told.

                  Battle lines as of May 10, 1864.

I looked at his map, an said Theo, why don't we move left attack his rear? Why we could make a frontal while we tie the rear up. Bobby Lee has no reserves on his right, attack left! Theo smiled we ain't Generals Thom. I say can't be worse than these frontal attacks. One Regiment of Cavalry an Infantry some artillery might have a chance. Theo what is ever ordered I will do, my heart an mind say, we have ta change up. Think on it some, maybe talk ta the General about it. Theo just nodded say I will.

22, May 1864
Been on the move again, Grant I can say this much his one hard movin General. My boys are still tuckered, we needs a rest before the next go around.

                                              History

43 men received the Medal of Honor at Spotsylvania Court House.

Total casualties and losses for the Union
18,399.

Killed 2,725

Wounded 13,416

Captured and missing 2,258

Total casualties and losses Army of Northern Virginia
12,687

Killed 1,515

Wounded 5,414

Captured and missing 5,758

Tactically Lee may have prevailed loss wise, but the Union continued to push him on, having losses he could never overcome.
The Army of Tennessee in the west unable to re-enforce him or supply him with needed men and provisions.

Grant wrote in his memoirs how they had a lost opportunity by Burnside, on Lee's right.

This I found, after writing, Thom's idea on attacking Lee's right.
I knew Burnside at a point was but a few hundred away from Spotsylvania Court House. So here is what Grant said later.

Burnside on the Left had got up within a few hundred yards of Spotsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right. He was not completely aware of  the importance of the advantage he had gained, I being with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did not know of it at the time. He had gained his position with little fighting, and almost without loss. Burnside's position now separated him widely from Wright's corps the corps nearest him. At night he was ordered to join them. This brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an important advantage. I attach no blame to Burnside, for this, but I do to myself for not having had a Staff Officer with him to report to me his position.

Although Burnside did turn Lee's right. Thom wanted to wheel or end run the right. Which would have done the same thing. Like Grant said Burnside probably didn't know what he had done. Should he of forced the issue and pushed on, before being ordered back? That outcome could be replayed like chess, hindsight is always different than the out come.

Thanks all, for reading, sorry for the time between updates.
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