Siege of Petersburg

battle_name=Siege of Petersburg

Extending the flanks

Deep Bottom

On August 13 Union II Corps and X Corps under the overall command of Winfield Scott Hancock crossed the James River at Deep Bottom to threaten Richmond. Initial assaults made by the X Corps were successful, but Confederate counterattacks under Charles Field retook the lost ground. The Federals withdrew to the south side of the river and were able to hold the bridgehead.

Related Topics:
August 13 - II Corps - X Corps - Winfield Scott Hancock - Richmond - Charles Field

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Globe Tavern

While Confederates were tied up at Deep Bottom, Grant sent another force to the west against the Weldon Railroad under the command of Gouverneur K. Warren. On August 18 Warren drove off Confederate pickets and began destroying the track near Globe Tavern. A Confederate counterattack on the 19th under William Mahone turned Warren's flank, but the Federals were able to retake all the lost ground and the Union army was able to sever the vital Weldon Railroad link.

Related Topics:
Gouverneur K. Warren - August 18 - Globe Tavern - William Mahone - Weldon Railroad

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Reams' Station

Several days later the II Corps continued to destroy track of the Weldon Railroad. On the 25th near Reams' Station, General Henry Heth routed the II Corps salient, taking many prisoners. Disheartened by the declining effectiveness of the once great II Corps, Winfield Hancock withdrew from the Weldon Railroad.

Related Topics:
II Corps - Henry Heth

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Chaffin's Farm and New Market Heights

On September 28 General Benjamin Butler launched a successful series of assaults along the Confederate lines facing Richmond. General Edward Ord captured Fort Harrison on the 29th and David B. Birney seized the New Market Heights line. On the 30th General Lee launched an unsuccessful counterattack against Fort Harrison.

Related Topics:
September 28 - Benjamin Butler - Richmond - Edward Ord - David B. Birney - General Lee

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Peeble's Farm

With the Confederates massing reinforcements against Fort Harrison, Grant promptly sent Warren and John G. Parke against the Confederate right flank west of Petersburg. On September 30 the Federals marched west from Poplar Springs Church past the Weldon Railroad. By October 2 the Federals had taken two Confederate forts and broken and overrun one line of Confederate trenches. The Union lines were then extended from the Weldon Railroad to Peeble's Farm.

Related Topics:
Warren - John G. Parke - Petersburg - September 30 - October 2

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Boydton Plank Road

A month later Winfield Scott Hancock marched with the II Corps west of Petersburg and assaulted the Boydton Plank Road. The initial attack took the Confederate line. A Confederate counterattack left the II Corps isolated. Hancock was able to fight off the Confederate assault, but his isolated position left him with little choice but to withdraw. The battle had somewhat restored the II Corps' reputation since Reams' Station, but it did mark the last battle for Hancock, who resigned from field command due to injuries sustained at Gettysburg.

Related Topics:
Winfield Scott Hancock - Gettysburg

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