OTHER NAME: Old Men and Young Boys
CAMPAIGN: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
DATE(S): June-December 1864
PRINCIPAL COMMANDERS: Brigadier General Quincy Gillmore [US] Brigadier General Pierre Beauregard [CS]
FORCES ENGAGED: 7000 total (US 4500; CS 2500;)
ESTIMATED CASUALTIES: 120 total (US 40; CS 80;)
DESCRIPTION:
On June 9, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler dispatched about 4,500 cavalry and infantry against the 2,500 Confederate defenders of Petersburg. While Butler's infantry demonstrated against the outer line of entrenchments east of Petersburg, Kautz's cavalry division attempted to enter the city from the south via the Jerusalem Plank Road but was repulsed by Home Guards. Afterwards, Butler withdrew. This was called the "battle of old men and young boys" by local residents. On June 14-17, the Army of the Potomac crossed the James River and began moving towards Petersburg to support and renew Butler's assaults.
RESULTS: Confederate Victory
OTHER NAME: Assault on Petersburg
CAMPAIGN: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
DATE(S): June-December 1864
PRINCIPAL COMMANDERS: Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant [US] Major General Robert Lee [CS]
FORCES ENGAGED: 104,000 total (US 62000; CS 42000;)
ESTIMATED CASUALTIES: 7674 total (US 2974; CS 4700;)
DESCRIPTION:
Marching from Cold Harbor, Meade's Army of the Potomac crossed the James River on transports and a 2,200-foot long pontoon bridge at Windmill Point. Butler's leading elements (XVIII Corps and Kautz's cavalry) crossed the Appomattox River at Broadway Landing and attacked the Petersburg defenses on June 15. The 5,400 defenders of Petersburg under command of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard were driven from their first line of entrenchments back to Harrison Creek. After dark the XVIII Corps was relieved by the II Corps. On June 16, the II Corps captured another section of the Confederate line; on the 17th, the IX Corps gained more ground. Beauregard stripped the Howlett Line (Bermuda Hundred) to defend the city, and Lee rushed reinforcements to Petersburg from the Army of Northern Virginia. The II, XI, and V Corps from right to left attacked on June 18 but was repulsed with heavy casualties. By now the Confederate works were heavily manned and the greatest opportunity to capture Petersburg without a siege was lost. The siege of Petersburg began. Union Gen. James St. Clair Morton, chief engineer of the IX Corps, was killed on June 17.
RESULTS: Confederate Victory
OTHER NAME: The Breakthrough
CAMPAIGN: Appomatox Campaign
DATE(S): March-April 1865
PRINCIPAL COMMANDERS: Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant [US] Major General Robert Lee [CS]
FORCES ENGAGED: 81,500 total (US 63,000; CS 18,500;)
ESTIMATED CASUALTIES: 8746 total (US 3894; CS 4852;)
DESCRIPTION:
With Confederate defeat at Five Forks on April 1, Grant and Meade ordered a general assault against the Petersburg lines by II, IX, VI and XXIV Corps on April 2. A heroic defense of Fort Gregg by a handful of Confederates prevented the Federals from entering the city that night. Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill was killed trying to reach his troops in the confusion. After dark, Lee ordered the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond. Grant had achieved one of the major military objectives of the war: the capture of Petersburg, which led to the fall of Richmond, the Capitol of the Confederacy.
RESULTS: Union Victory