The Battle of the Crater, Petersburg, VA

The Battle of the Crater fascinates me because it was filled with political intrigue, courage, and sorrow.  It was a battle that culminated in a spectacular explosion resulting in death, destruction, and deep regret.  Union General Ulysses S. Grant lamented that it was “the saddest affair I have witnessed in the war.”  When you consider all the atrocities Grant witnessed, that’s quite a statement. (more…)