Massaponax Church

After two weeks of fighting at Spotsylvania ended in a bloody draw, the Army of the Potomac left its trenches outside the village on May 21, 1864, and began moving east and south in hopes of luring the Confederates into the open for a more advantageous attack. At 10 a.m., Gens. U.S. Grant and George Meade broke camp near Spotsylvania, reached Massaponax Church on Telegraph Road about noon, and after a brief conference moved on with the army to Guinea Station. During their short stop at the church, photographer Timothy O’Sullivan caught up with the Federal high command and recorded a remarkable series of photographs of the generals and their staffs in conference.

Virginia · United States