Correspondence of John Sedgwick, Major General (Expanded, Annotated)

The last words of Major General John Sedgwick as he strode in front of his men in the open at Spotsylvania were, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

In an instant, he was struck down by a Confederate sharpshooter from 1,000 yards.

Much loved by his men and his comrades in arms, even Robert E. Lee expressed sorrow at the death of an old friend. ...