1864 VI Corps (Union Army)

monument commemorate death of general john sedgwick, commander of union army vi corps in american civil war, @ spotsylvania national military park, virginia, usa.

in battles of wilderness , spotsylvania of overland campaign, vi corps encountered hardest contested fighting of experience. @ wilderness, vermont brigade—getty s division—lost 1,232 men out of 2,800 effectives crossed rapidan river on previous day. @ spotsylvania, jersey brigade of wright s division engaged in deadly struggle, percentage of killed in 15th new jersey being equaled in 1 instance during whole war. general sedgwick killed sniper s bullet @ spotsylvania on may 9, caused great distress soldiers of corps, loved , admired uncle john . general wright succeeded command of corps, brig. gen. david a. russell succeeding wright in command of 1st division. on may 10, col. emory upton led storming party of twelve picked regiments selected vi corps; carried confederate works in mule shoe after hand-to-hand fight in bayonet wounds freely given , received. on may 12, entire corps fought @ bloody angle , fighting among closest , deadliest of recorded in civil war. casualties of corps @ wilderness 5,035 (719 killed, 3,660 wounded, 656 missing); , @ spotsylvania, 4,042 (688 killed, 2,820 wounded, 534 missing).

in assault @ cold harbor, june 1, 1864, corps sustained severe loss, 2,715 of number killed or wounded. accompanying army petersburg, participated in preliminary operations incidental investment of stronghold. stay of short duration. lt. gen. jubal a. s invasion of maryland necessitated transfer of troops confront him, , vi corps selected duty in valley campaigns of 1864. on july 6, ricketts s (3rd) division embarked @ city point, and, landing @ baltimore on july 8, marched out meet early. division took part in battle of monocacy on following day, and, although unable defeat early, checked advance on washington, d.c., giving defenses time organize. other 2 divisions embarked on july 10 and, landing @ washington, attacked early, advance had reached fort stevens, within city limits. brunt of fight fell lot of brig. gen. daniel d. bidwell s (3rd) brigade, of getty s (2nd) division, every regimental commandant in brigade, one, being either killed or wounded.

the corps followed in pursuit of through maryland, virginia, continued shenandoah valley. maj. gen. philip sheridan placed in command of army of shenandoah, composed of vi, viii, , xix corps, , campaign in valley memorable 1 reason of victories @ third winchester, fisher s hill, , cedar creek. in latter battle occurred famous incident of sheridan s ride winchester, followed defeat never recovered. getty s division distinguished @ cedar creek, holding off enemy attacks long after other units had retreated. general russell killed @ third winchester, , general bidwell @ cedar creek. casualties of corps @ opequon aggregated 1,699 (211 killed, 1,442 wounded, 46 missing). @ cedar creek, lost 2,126 (298 killed, 1,628 wounded, 200 missing). total loss in shenandoah campaign, august 22 october 20, 4,899, out of 12,615 present duty , in august. general wheaton succeeded command of russell, while brig. gen. truman seymour assigned command of 3rd division, in place of general ricketts, wounded @ cedar creek.