Mackowski Chris - A Season of Slaughter: the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 8-21, 1864

For years, the two of us worked together at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine on May 10, the anniversary of Jacksons death. Its also the anniversary, one year later, of Emory Uptons attack on Doles Salient at Spotsylvania. Our good friend and Emerging Civil War author Daniel Davis is a big Upton fan, so after closing the Shrine, wed meet with Dan out at Spotsy and, smoking cigars, wed step off at 6:30 p.m. to retrace the steps of Uptons men in real time. Thats how we fell in love with Spotsy.

At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (FSNMP), we thank our friends Greg Mertz, Frank OReilly, Donald Pfanz, Tom Breen, Noel Harrison, Steward Henderson, Kathleen Logothetis, Ryan Longfellow, Eric Mink, and Beth Parnicza. Dons excellent monument study, History Through Eyes of Stone, served as an invaluable resource for this book, as did Noels Spotsylvania Gazetteer. Local historian John Cummings has also been a wealth of information over the years. We thank, too, John Hennessy, chief of interpretation at FSNMP.

Dave Roth of Blue and Gray magazine gave us our first chance to write about Spotsy. For the Vol. 26 #1 issue in 2009, we wrote a detailed battle study of the action at the Mule Shoe; for the Vol. 27 #6 issue in 2011, we wrote about the oft-overlooked action between May 13-21. The issues completed a series started by our friend Greg Mertz, who wrote issues about Laurel Hill/Spindle Field and Uptons Attack. Readers whod like to flesh out the story of Spotsylvania after theyve finished this book will find those issues to be a great next step.

At the RussellJ.Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University, thanks go to Dean Pauline Hoffmann, Patrick Mr. Bad Example Vecchio, and Suzzane Ciesla and her fantastic staff of work-study students who handle so many of the little odds and ends for us as we keep our research organized.

At Savas Beatie, we thank first of all the remarkable and ever-energetic Theodore P. Savas, whose belief in our work continues to fuel us to do great things. Sarah Keeney deserves our thanks, too, for so ably managing the multitude of daily tasks required to keep us all on track. Thanks to Lindy Gervin, Veronica Kane, Yvette Lewis, and the entire staff for all their behind-the-scenes support.

Finally, thanks to all the authors at Emerging Civil Wara great bunch of friends and authors.

Photo Credits:
Historical photos courtesy of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park except: Mott (pg. ) courtesy Daniel T. Davis.

KRIS: To my wife Sarah, who endures many a night and weekend without a husband as I work on project after project.

To my parents, Donna and Evan, who were the first to take me to the Wilderness and Spotsylvania during the summer of 1994. Time and again they allowed me to drag them through the woods and fields of Virginia during the hottest time of year. They are the reason I am who I am today.

To my sisters, brothers, and nephews who have supported all my efforts, and have seen me grow as a student of history through the years.

To my co-author and best friend, Chris Mackowski, for his tireless efforts in getting this manuscript perfected and to press.

CHRIS: My daughter Stephaniewith whom Ive shared so many of my best Civil War adventuresfirst introduced me to the Bloody Angle. She was four, and she liked the name. My thanks go out to her for the many wonderful walks weve shared out there in the years since.