General @USGrantNPS ordered a targeted assault on a weak spot in the confederate lines at Spotsylvania Court House #OTD in 1864. The location has become known as the Mule Shoe. #CivilWar🧵
The assault force of 5,000 men was under the command of Colonel Emory Upton, a graduate of West Point, Class of 1861. A dozen regiments were chosen for the attack, given orders to advance on the confederate works rapidly, without stopping to fire as they advanced.
The tactic worked, and the makeshift division penetrated the confederate trenches and began to fan out in both directions. Upton was expecting to hold there until reinforcements arrived from General Gershom Mott's division of II Corps.
The reinforcements never arrived. Mott's division retreated under artillery fire and never reached Upton's position. Additional units from V Corps were fatigued from earlier attacks on Laurel Hill and also didn't advance. Upton, now wounded, ordered his men to retreat.
Upton was promoted to Brigadier General, and his tactic was used to attack the Mule Shoe again just two days later, on a far greater, and bloodier, scale.
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