{"id":1774,"date":"2025-05-29T09:02:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T13:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cvbt.org\/?p=1774"},"modified":"2025-05-29T09:06:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T13:06:14","slug":"new-battlefield-land-saved-in-spotsylvania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cvbt.org\/new-battlefield-land-saved-in-spotsylvania\/","title":{"rendered":"New Battlefield Land Saved in Spotsylvania !"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Battlefield Land Saved in Spotsylvania !<\/h1>\n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n
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3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery Position Saved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help us raise $100,000 to save this new pristine piece of property and keep our momentum at Spotsylvania going! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Dollar You Donate Will be Matched!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donate Today!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the announcement of a newly purchased seven-acre tract of Spotsylvania battlefield land on Brock Road, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust is continuing its process of acquiring property along that significant wartime route that played important parts in the two-week struggle for Spotsylvania Court House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This new parcel, now known as the 3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery<\/em> tract, adds significant acreage to our nearby 5th<\/sup> Corps Brock Road property (14.4 acres)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This tract saw both fighting and troop movements as the armies transitioned from the fierce confused combat of the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5 & 6, 1864) to the still brutal but more extended struggle at Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21). As Confederate cavalry grudgingly gave ground along Brock Road on May 7, first to the Federal cavalry, and then on May 8 to leading elements of the Army of the Potomac\u2019s V Corps under Brig. Gen. John C. Robinson\u2019s division, followed by Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin\u2019s division, soldiers from both sides stubbornly fought across and moved over this ground. One Union soldier latter recalled, the \u201cConfederates contesting every inch of the way. . . .\u201d  After all, high stakes were involved; either maintaining or taking the strategic crossroads prize of Spotsylvania Court House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 8, 1864, as the Fifth Corps divisions marched down Brock Road, their commander, Maj. Gen. Gouvereur K. Warren, decided to send John C. Robinson\u2019s brigades in as they arrived in hopes of dislodging the Confederates before the southerners dug in too deeply. The Confederate defenders stymied the Union assaults. Undeterred, Warren sent in Griffin\u2019s brigades. They, too, received rough handling by Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson\u2019s entrenching Confederates and fell back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler, now in charge of the Fourth Division, due to Maj. Gen. James Wadsworth\u2019s mortal wounding on May 6 at the Wilderness, commanded three brigades, those of Brig. Gen. Wiliam W. Robinson, Brig. Gen. James C. Rice, and Col. Edward S. Bragg. Embarking at about 10:30 a.m. from the 3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery tract, William Robinson\u2019s brigade\u2014the renowned \u201cIron Brigade\u201d\u2014pushed forward, while Bragg attacked from CVBT\u2019s previously preserved 5th<\/sup> Corps Brock Road tract, and Rice advanced to Bragg\u2019s left. On Bragg\u2019s left, on the east side of Brock Road, Brig. Gen. Samuel Crawford\u2019s two brigade division advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the assault by Culter\u2019s and Crawford\u2019s divisions, the right of Cutler\u2019s brigades (Bragg first and then Robinson) were flanked by Alabamians. After gaining their bearings, the Federals pushed the Alabamians back to their main line but eventually withdrew.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lt. Col Rufus Dawes – Wisconsin Historical Society<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 10 a.m. on the 8th the brigade moved forward to assault the enemy in position at Laurel Hill, near Spotsylvania Court-House. This regiment was assigned to position in the second line, but as the lines moved forward, in obedience to instructions from Col. W. W. Robinson, commanding brigade, I placed my regiment on the right of the front line.\u201d \u2013\u00a0 Lt. Col Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Lt. Aaron E. Walcott – Library of Congress<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the assault by Culter\u2019s and Crawford\u2019s divisions, the right of Cutler\u2019s brigades (Bragg first and then Robinson) were flanked by Alabamians. After gaining their bearings, the Federals pushed the Alabamians back to their main line but eventually withdrew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When John C. Robinson\u2019s division advanced early in the Union assaults, Capt. Augustus P. Martin\u2019s 3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery battery accompanied it to the front, At some point during the action, Capt. Martin was wounded and Lt. Aaron E. Walcott assumed command of the Battery and withdrew with Robinson\u2019s repulses. \u201cabout half a mile to a small knoll which commanded the valley of a little stream [eventually] emptying into the Po River.\u201d Over the next few days different V Corps artillery batteries occupied the 3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery <\/em>tract, protecting themselves and guns by constructing earthwork lunettes that remain visible today.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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There are several key reasons to make sure these pristine acres are saved forever. First, in doing so it will maintain the current rural condition of this historic green-space. Second, and as mentioned above, preserving the extensive artillery lunette cultural resources on this ground highlights its importance during the fighting at Spotsylvania. Third, saving the 3rd<\/sup> Massachusetts Light Artillery<\/em> tract helps add another piece to those tracts already saved by CVBT, the American Battlefield Trust, and the National Park Service in this immediate area, which in turn advances the process of eventually connecting them all. Additionally, this is one of the last tracts along this section of Brock Road without a modern structure on it. No demolition is needed, which would otherwise add to the expense of returning this ground to its wartime appearance. Lastly, when purchased, interpreted, and opened, this land will be an invaluable resource for Civil War enthusiasts, as well as the general public, to learn about our nation’s shared past and to enjoy its surrounding nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery property would be in the area between<\/em> numbers 9 and 10 (arrow) on the right-hand side of the image. Library of Congress<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Preservation Story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the CVBT 2025 Spring Seminar, the owners of this tract reached out to CVBT personnel about the property. Originally bought in the early 1980\u2019s, the owner planned to build an artillery museum on the parcel, as it has many lunettes exposed. Those plans never came to fruition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After several conversations between the parties, as well as internally, a deal was struck, and in May 2025 CVBT agreed to purchase the 7.2-acre parcel, which includes a dozen artillery lunettes. CVBT is raising $100,000 in order to preserve this amazing piece of land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you will consider becoming part of this newest preservation opportunity by donating to help CVBT save these historic acres. Every donation is an investment in our history and ensures this land is saved forever! Remember, every dollar you donate is worth two!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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