GRAPHIC 1865/1866 pictures of the Wilderness Battlefield

Some are not of the Wilderness battlefield, but Spotsylvania.

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This one of the Harrison House was taken at the Spotsylvania battlefield. The Harrison House was where Lee's headquarters was located. Edgar W. Harrison, his wife and three children lived in the house. The house and farm were located inside the Mule Shoe salient, about several hundred yards behind John B. Gordon's reserve line. Just ahead of the Harrison House was where Gordon led the men of Early's Division in counter-attacks to recapture the Mule Shoe salient on May 12.

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This was taken on the east side of the Mule Shoe salient, where Maj. Gen. Allegheny Johnson and many of his division were captured when the Hancock's II Corps overran the position on May 12. When this photograph was taken (supposedly in 1866) the earthworks were still visible but they had eroded quite a bit since the battle. Confederates were on the left and Federals on the right. Also notice the bark on the trees shot away by bullets.

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Another interesting photo of the eastern side of the Mule Shoe salient.

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This is a great photograph showing abatis in front of Confederate earthworks on the Spotsylvania battlefield. Supposedly taken at or around Laurel Hill.

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According to "Trench Warfare under Grant and Lee" by Hess this is Laurel Hill at Spotsylvania.
 
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This one of the Harrison House was taken at the Spotsylvania battlefield. The Harrison House was where Lee's headquarters was located. Edgar W. Harrison, his wife and three children lived in the house. The house and farm were located inside the Mule Shoe salient, about several hundred yards behind John B. Gordon's reserve line. Just ahead of the Harrison House was where Gordon lead the men of Early's Division to counter attack the Mule Shoe on May 12.

This was taken on the east side of the Mule Shoe salient, where Maj. Gen. Allegheny Johnson and many of his division were captured when the Hancock's II Corps overran the position on May 12. When this photograph was taken (supposedly still in 1864 according to the LoC caption) the earthworks were still in pretty good shape, though they aren't as tall as they would have been during the battle.

Another interesting photo of the eastern side of the Mule Shoe salient.

This is a great photograph showing abatis infront of Confederate earthworks at the Spotsylvania battlefield.

According to "Trench Warfare under Grant and Lee" by Hess this is Laurel Hill at Spotsylvania.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the picture descriptions
 
Wow some of these are fascinating!
Edit: as morbid as it is, the 2nd one is my favorite bc the debris of war is still visible. Destroyed human life (the himan remains), the destroyed nature life (the shattered trees, spoiled soil/ground), the destroyed debris of war (brogans, canteen, accoutrements) all intermingled togther in an image long after tue smoke had cleared.
That entire area was very much scarred for a long time afterwards.
Very reminiscent of the gaines mill va '65 images of the unburied remains.
What a sad, strange, fascinating and unfathomable half decade that was.
It was so long ago, yet it wasn't.
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