The corps commanded by Major General John…

The corps commanded by Major General John Sedgwick is probing skirmish lines ahead of the left flank of Confederate defenses on May 9, and he is directing artillery placements.

Confederate sharpshooters are about one thousand yards (nine hundred meters) away and their shots cause members of his staff and artillerymen to duck for cover.

Sedgwick strides around in the open and is quoted as saying, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

Although ashamed, his men continue to flinch and he repeats, "I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

Just seconds later, he falls forward with a bullet hole below his left eye. (Foote, Shelby. The Civil War: A Narrative. vol. 3, Red River to Appomattox. New York: Random House, 1974. p. 203) Sedgwick is the highest ranking Union casualty in the Civil War.

Although James B. McPherson will be n command of an army at the time of his death and Sedgwick of a corps, Sedgwick had the most senior rank by date of all major generals killed.

Upon hearing of his death, Grant, flabbergasted by the news, repeatedly asks, "Is he really dead?" (Rhea, Gordon C. The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern May 7–12, 1864. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1997. p. 95) Sedgwick's reputation had been that of a solid, dependable, but relatively unaggressive general.

He is well liked by his soldiers, who had referred to him affectionately as "Uncle John".

His death is met by universal sorrow; even Robert E. Lee expresses his sadness over the fate of an old friend.

George G. Meade weeps at the news.

Grant characterizes Sedgwick as one who "was never at fault when serious work was to be done" and he tells his staff that the loss for him is worse than that of an entire division.

Sheridan’s victory over a numerically inferior opponent has succeeded in killing Stuart and thus deprived Lee of his most experienced cavalry commander, but this comes at the expense of a two-week period in which the Army of the Potomac will have no direct cavalry coverage for screening or reconnaissance.