David Ireland
Corporal
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2017
Why was Upton’s assault on the mule shoe at Spotsylvania not reinforced? Could that have been a game changer if he succeeded?
Division commander Gershom Mott and Corps commander Horatio Wright had a communication snafu. When the attack by GK Warren's corps on Laurel Hill was repulsed, Upton's attack was postponed. Upton got the word in a timely fashion and Mott, whose division had been assigned to support Upton, did not. Here is a link to an American Battlefield Trust article.Why was Upton’s assault on the mule shoe at Spotsylvania not reinforced? Could that have been a game changer if he succeeded?
The attacks were uncoordinated. Upton’s Attack was delayed but word didn’t reach Wrigh who attacked on time. Thus Upton was unsupported.
There is no evidence of Horatio Wright being drunk at Spotsylvania or anywhere else. The fact that Wright was given permanent command of 6th corps shortly after the battle and promoted to the prestigious command of the Army Corps of Engineers later in his career would tell me that he was very highly thought of. Wright's corps was the infantry component of Phil Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah during the 1864 Valley campaign and was in at the end at Appomattox. He was also involved in the construction of the Washington monument and the Brooklyn Bridge. Doesn't sound like an officer who was known to be drunk at Spotsylvania. I think you should check your facts on Horatio Wright.Wright didn't attack on time....he was reportedly drunk. When he did commit it was only a single regiment, not the entire planned force. Mott was scapegoated after the fact. He was given contradictory orders between Meade and Warren and, aside from the communication failure that affected him earlier, did attack on time with the forces he had available. 1,500, straight into the salient's apex with all it's canon and muskets, alone.
It was Wright who could've saved the day and capitalized with follow-through on Upton's charge had he not been drunk and indecisive.
There is no evidence of Horatio Wright being drunk at Spotsylvania or anywhere else. The fact that Wright was given permanent command of 6th corps shortly after the battle and promoted to the prestigious command of the Army Corps of Engineers later in his career would tell me that he was very highly thought of. Wright's corps was the infantry component of Phil Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah during the 1864 Valley campaign and was in at the end at Appomattox. He was also involved in the construction of the Washington monument and the Brooklyn Bridge. Doesn't sound like an officer who was known to be drunk at Spotsylvania. I think you should check your facts on Horatio Wright.
Which is it - drunk or teetotaler? My take is that Mott's troops were angry and demoralized after their unit was moved from being the 1st division of the 3rd corps (which was disbanded) to being the 4th division in Hancock's 2nd Corps and they froze and ran when subjected to enfilading fire, getting nowhere near the rebel lines. They had also fled from the field in the Battle of the Wilderness. I don't think any blame of any kind attaches to Wright or Mott personally. Do you really think Wright's Army career would have unfolded as it did if he was either drunk or cowering at headquarters? And Mott's career shows no sign of having been a scapegoat.He was given command because he was a teetotaler....as the primary reason. The fact that he lost his nerve on the day of Upton's charge because he was drunk I got from an NPS authority on the battle. Beyond that, the fact is he did lose his nerve and sat the battle out while Mott followed orders and was sacrificed, both during the battle and afterwards as the scapegoat.
Not sure if fled is correct. After a day and a half of fighting they were caught in the flank by fresh troops and a forest fire.Mott's troops were angry and demoralized after their unit was moved from being the 1st division of the 3rd corps (which was disbanded) to being the 4th division in Hancock's 2nd Corps and they froze and ran when subjected to enfilading fire, getting nowhere near the rebel lines. They had also fled from the field in the Battle of the Wilderness.