Summary:

"The Heart of Hell: The Soldiers' Struggle for Spotsylvania's Bloody Angle" by Jeffry D. Wert provides a vivid account of one of the Civil War's most brutal battles. Through firsthand accounts and meticulous research, Wert captures the intense fighting, strategic decisions, and the human cost of the Battle of Spotsylvania, focusing on the infamous Bloody Angle.

The struggle over the fortified Confederate position known as Spotsylvania's Mule Shoe was without parallel during the Civil War. A Union assault that began at 4:30 A.M. on May 12, 1864, sparked brutal combat that lasted nearly twenty-four hours. By the time Grant's forces withdrew, some 55,000 men from Union and Confederate armies had been drawn into the fury, battling in torrential rain along the fieldworks at distances often less than the length of a rifle barrel. One Union private recalled the fighting as a "seething, bubbling, soaring hell of hate and murder." By the time Lee's troops established a new fortified line in the predawn hours of May 13, some 17,500.

Editorial Reviews:

"An engrossing and meticulously researched narrative of one of the Civil War's bloodiest confrontations." - Civil War Times

"Wert brings the Battle of Spotsylvania to life with gripping detail and profound insight." - Military History Quarterly

"A compelling and thorough examination of the human experience in the heart of combat." - Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

Jeffry D. Wert is an acclaimed historian and author specializing in Civil War history. Known for his thorough research and engaging writing style, Wert has authored several books that provide deep insights into key battles and figures of the Civil War.