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Heading south along the Brock Road after the
Battle of the Wilderness, Generals Grant and Meade stopped at
Todd's Tavern to rest for the night. they spent the night
sleeping on the dirt floor of the tavern, as the beds were already
occupied.
In the morning, they were greeted by the sound of
a military band playing an old song known as "Ain't I glad to
get out ob the Wilderness," to the amusement of all.
They moved out early, but General Hancock used the tavern as his
headquarters for the rest of the day.
The painting pictured was done after the war by
George Frankenstein, a German native who served in the Union army. |
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This is looking north on the Brock Road from the
site of Todd's Tavern. Fitzhugh Lee and his cavalry fought a
delaying action along this road, heading towards you in this
picture, against Sheridan earlier on May
7th.
Lee felled trees to block the road, and kept up a
steady skirmish fire against the Union Cavalry who had been
ordered to clear and secure the road for the passage of the Fifth
and Second Corps. His delaying action is a major reason why
the Confederates were able to to reach the critical Spotsylvania
crossroads ahead of Grant, and fortify for the coming battle. |
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Beyond those trees to the right of this picture,
shielded by Hampton's Cavalry, Confederate troops moved south
towards Spotsylvania. General Jubal Early briefly considered
engaging the Union army here at Todd's tavern, but decided against
it when viewing the federal earthworks, and bypassed them on the
way to Spotsylvania. |
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