Fatal Mistake at the East Angle

The East Angle, a sharp turn in the Confederate works marking the apex of the Muleshoe Salient, was one of the most vulnerable points on Lee’s line. Lee fortified it heavily and placed upwards of 30 cannon in and around the works, but on the night of May 11, fearing the Union army was about to march south, he pulled those guns out of the line. It was a rare and grave misjudgment, because the Federals were not leaving Spotsylvania but were instead moving into position to attack the Muleshoe. General Edward Johnson ordered the guns back to their places, but they arrived just in time to be captured by swarming Union soldiers. Two Confederate generals, including Johnson, 3,000 men, and 20 cannon fell into Union hands in one of the greatest disasters ever to befall Lee’s army.

Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia · United States