Spotsylvania Court House: The Weather Finally Breaks

From Chris

“We have had five days’ almost constant rain without any prospect yet of its clearing up,” Ulysses S. Grant told Washington on May 16. “The roads have now become so impassable that ambulances with wounded can no long run between here and Fredericksburg. All offensive operations necessarily cease until we can have twenty-four hours of dry weather.”

During the waiting game, the army nonetheless found ways to stay busy. “”[T]he army was employed in constant reconnoitering and skirmishing, …

 

Catering to President Grant’s Last Days

Thomas Cable, Grant's caterer

Thomas Cable, Grant’s caterer

from Chris

My latest book, Grant’s Last Battle, focuses on the last few months of Ulysses S. Grant’s life. As he was dying of throat cancer, he was also writing like mad, trying to finish his memoirs before his (literal) deadline.

As I was doing some follow-up research last week, an item caught my eye because of a connection to our kitchen. After all, one of our busiest functions at Stevenson Ridge is Chef Brad’s …

 

Meeting Grant’s Great Great Grandson

Chris Mackowski (left) stands with Grant descendant John Griffiths

Chris Mackowski (left) stands with Grant descendant John Griffiths

from Jenny

Chris recently had the opportunity to meet a descendant of former President Ulysses S. Grant. A couple weeks ago, Chris spoke at Ellwood Manor for the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield about his recent book Grant’s Last Battle: The Story Behind the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. One of the attendees was one of Grant’s great-great grandson’s, John Griffiths.

Chris wrote about his experience at Emerging Civil War