scott_lynch's post about possibly mis-heard last words reminded me of the last words of one of my illustrious ancestors. (Well, not a direct ancestor, as he died without marrying or (presumably) having children, but still part of the family tree.)From usa-civil-war.com's page on the battle of Spotsylvania:
Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, commander of the Sixth Corps, was one of the most popular senior officers in the Army of the Potomac. On the morning of May 9, 1864, Sedgwick arrived here to direct some minor redeployment of his troops. Ignoring warnings from his chief-of-staff, Sedgwick stalked about admonishing his men to cease worrying about the occasional fire of Confederate sharpshooters concealed in the woodline far to your front. "I am ashamed of you. dodging that way,"scolded Segdwick. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Shortly thereafter, a bullet slammed into the General's face, killing him almost instantly.Oops.
