7. Famous Last Words

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The U.S. Civil War, unlike some of the other conflicts listed here, was about as “hot” a war as one could imagine. Union General John Sedgwick was a man who showed little fear in the face of battle, or at least wanted to make it appear that way. In the early hours of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, the general’s men were planning the placement of artillery when they came under sporadic fire from Confederate snipers a considerable distance away. While his men ducked for cover, the general boldly proclaimed that his men were cowards and that he was ashamed of them for their behavior. The general continued to browbeat his men, declaring that the enemy snipers could not hit an elephant at such distance. As soon as the words left his lips, the general was killed by a sniper’s bullet to the head.