View of Spotsylvania from Union line, near Beverly House. Here is where Burnside's men faced off with Hill's men, including the 35th Georgia. While there was some fighting here, most of the fighting took place to the right of this photo.

Throughout the day, May 11th, Grant shifted his forces. The Confederate forces spent the day strengthening their fortifications. Lee was nearly convinced that Grant was retreating, but he kept his men in position waiting to see. He didn't have long to wait to decide he was wrong.

The next morning, shortly after 4:30 am, Grant attacked. The primary focus of his attack would come against the apex, and it would be this day's action that would earn the small site the nickname of the "Bloody Angle". On the right of the convex, Burnside attacked. While Grant had intended this to be part of the all out attack on Lee, Burnside, whether unknowingly, or trying to excuse his lack of success afterwards, stated his primary mission was to keep Lee's men tied up so they could not offer further support to the angle. And while this action gets very little attention, it was a very bloody affair.

Hancock's forces attacked the crown of the V, and Burnside struck approximately ¼ mile south. The two Union Corps had started their attacks from points over a mile apart that morning, but after a few hours of fighting, Burnside's right had touched Hancock's rapidl;y advancing left. Hancock's forces were so successful in the morning at pushing the Confederate's back, that Burnside's right under General Griffin met with some initial success against Lane's North Carolinian's. Initially falling back, Lane's men held tough. To Lane's right, reinforcement's from Thomas' Georgian's, and Scales' North Carolinian's rushed in and met the onslaught of two of Burnside's Division's. It would be the first of three major attacks Burnside would send this day, but all would fail to penetrate Hill's line.

The fighting raged all day and sporadically into the night. When it finally stopped, Lee's Army had held, only losing the farthest tip of their V formation. But it had been a very deadly defense. Lee had lost nearly 9000 men as casualties, including many more of his valuable officers. But it had cost Grant far more. Over 18,000 Union soldiers were either dead, wounded or missing. A majority of these now lay in a no-man's land around the very bloodied "angle". And for those unfortunate to be wounded in this "half acre of hell", there would be no assistance.

The next day, from their separate entrenchment's, the two armies stared at one another, taking shots at anyone unwise enough to make themselves a target. While between them, wounded begged for help, no one dared venture out. As was the case in many battles during this war, the pleas of many wounded would end as their life slowly ebbed away.

In this battle, the 35th would suffer 10 killed, 37 wounded, and 15 missing. While I have yet to find written confirmation, I have little doubt the 35th, with these casualties, were part of Thomas' forces that supported Lane. Among those that fell of the 35th was the regimental second in command, Major William's, who was mortally wounded. The battle would be called, "The Battle at Spotsylvania Court House". For many of those that wrote of the battle later, "the Bloody Angle" would prove to be the most horrific experience of their live.

For nearly a week, the two armies played a deadly game of cat and mouse. Grant would shift his forces, and Lee would respond. A couple of surprise attacks were launched, but fail miserably. Finally, Grant seemed to be convinced he could not afford attacking Lee further in his strong entrenchments. He, therefore, put his Army in motion again. Lee, responded, keeping his force between Grant and Richmond.....which was now only 20 miles away.