1.
Battle of White Oak Road
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On March 29,1865, the Union V Corps under Major General Gouverneur K. Warren moved to the end of the Confederates White Oak Road Line, the far right flank of the Confederate defenses. Five Forks was an important road junction for control of the critical Confederate supply line of the South Side Railroad, Colonel Frederick Winthrops brigade of Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayress division of the V Corps took a further advance position across Gravelly Run near the Confederate White Oak Road Line in torrential rain on March 30,1865. This, and the separation between Ayress corps and Sheridans cavalry, were important factors when Ayress troops were surprised by a Confederate attack the next day. After the Battle of Hatchers Run on February 5–7,1865 extended the lines another 4 miles, if the Confederates could quickly defeat Sherman, they might turn back to oppose Grant before he could combine his forces with Shermans. Lee began preparations for the movement and informed Confederate President Jefferson Davis, breckinridge of his conclusions and plan. Aware that Shermans army moving through North Carolina might combine with Grants army at Petersburg if General Joseph E. The objective would be to break the Union lines east of Petersburg, parke promptly counterattacked.25 miles closer to the Confederate fortifications. This put the VI Corps which was holding this section of the line, within striking distance, about 0.5 miles. On March 24,1865, the day before the Confederate attack on Fort Stedman, the Battle of Fort Stedman had no effect on Grants plans. The Union Army lost no ground due to the attack and their casualties were a percentage of their force. Later that day Confederate forces under Major General Bushrod Johnson engaged Brevet Major General Charles Griffins First Division of the V Corps at the Battle of Lewiss Farm, a back-and-forth battle ensued during which Chamberlain was wounded and almost captured. Casualties for both sides were even at 381 for the Union and 371 for the Confederates. After the battle, Griffins division moved up to occupy the junction of the Quaker Road, late in the afternoon of March 29,1865, Sheridans cavalry occupied Dinwiddie Court House on the Boydton Plank Road without opposition. The Union forces were nearly in position to attack the two remaining Confederate railroad connections with Petersburg and Richmond, if they could take Five Forks. Following the Battle of Lewiss Farm, in the rain on the night of March 29. Brigadier General William MacRaes brigade also was moved to the west of Burgess Mill, Major General Cadmus M. Wilcoxs three other brigades had to spread out to cover the vacated defenses. McGowan and MacRae did not have men to enable Johnson to extend his line to Five Forks
2.
American Civil War
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The American Civil War was an internal conflict fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865. The Union faced secessionists in eleven Southern states grouped together as the Confederate States of America, the Union won the war, which remains the bloodiest in U. S. history. Among the 34 U. S. states in February 1861, War broke out in April 1861 when Confederates attacked the U. S. fortress of Fort Sumter. The Confederacy grew to eleven states, it claimed two more states, the Indian Territory, and the southern portions of the western territories of Arizona. The Confederacy was never recognized by the United States government nor by any foreign country. The states that remained loyal, including border states where slavery was legal, were known as the Union or the North, the war ended with the surrender of all the Confederate armies and the dissolution of the Confederate government in the spring of 1865. The war had its origin in the issue of slavery. The Confederacy collapsed and 4 million slaves were freed, but before his inauguration, seven slave states with cotton-based economies formed the Confederacy. The first six to declare secession had the highest proportions of slaves in their populations, the first seven with state legislatures to resolve for secession included split majorities for unionists Douglas and Bell in Georgia with 51% and Louisiana with 55%. Alabama had voted 46% for those unionists, Mississippi with 40%, Florida with 38%, Texas with 25%, of these, only Texas held a referendum on secession. Eight remaining slave states continued to reject calls for secession, outgoing Democratic President James Buchanan and the incoming Republicans rejected secession as illegal. Lincolns March 4,1861 inaugural address declared that his administration would not initiate a civil war, speaking directly to the Southern States, he reaffirmed, I have no purpose, directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the United States where it exists. I believe I have no right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so. After Confederate forces seized numerous federal forts within territory claimed by the Confederacy, efforts at compromise failed, the Confederates assumed that European countries were so dependent on King Cotton that they would intervene, but none did, and none recognized the new Confederate States of America. Hostilities began on April 12,1861, when Confederate forces fired upon Fort Sumter, while in the Western Theater the Union made significant permanent gains, in the Eastern Theater, the battle was inconclusive in 1861–62. The autumn 1862 Confederate campaigns into Maryland and Kentucky failed, dissuading British intervention, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which made ending slavery a war goal. To the west, by summer 1862 the Union destroyed the Confederate river navy, then much of their western armies, the 1863 Union siege of Vicksburg split the Confederacy in two at the Mississippi River. In 1863, Robert E. Lees Confederate incursion north ended at the Battle of Gettysburg, Western successes led to Ulysses S. Grants command of all Union armies in 1864
3.
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
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Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,001, Dinwiddie County is part of the Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The first inhabitants of the area were Paleo-Indians, prior to 8000 BC and they are believed to have been nomadic hunter-gatherers following animal migrations. Early stone tools have been discovered in fields within the county. At the time of European contact, Native Americans had territory in the region, Dinwiddie County was formed May 1,1752, from Prince George County. The county is named for Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the county raised several militia units that would fight in the American Revolution. Dinwiddie County was the birthplace of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly, a free black dressmaker who worked for two wives, Mrs. Jefferson Davis and later Mary Todd Lincoln. Thomas Day was also a native, he was known later at Milton, North Carolina. Another native son was Dr. Thomas Stewart, perhaps Americas first free black 18th-century rural physician, during the Civil War the Battle of Lewiss Farm was fought along Quaker Road. It took place on March 29,1865 and this was the first in several attempts by Union General Ulysses S. Grant to cut Robert E. Lees final supply line—the Southside Railroad—in the spring of 1865. Here the Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain engaged Confederates under Maj. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson, after sharp fighting, the Union troops entrenched nearby along the Boydton Plank Road, and Johnson withdrew to his lines at White Oak Road. The Union army cut the line four days later, after capturing Five Forks on April 1,1865. Several other engagements were fought in Dinwiddie County, including the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Battle of Sutherlands Station, the Dinwiddie County Historical Society currently occupies the historic Dinwiddie County Court House. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 507 square miles. It is located between two US Army forts, Fort Lee to the east and Fort Pickett to the west, the population density was 49 people per square mile. There were 9,707 housing units at a density of 19 per square mile. 0. 97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,22. 20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8. 50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the family size was 3.01
4.
Petersburg, Virginia
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Petersburg is an independent city in the U. S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,420, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines Petersburg with Dinwiddie County for statistical purposes. It is located on the Appomattox River and 21 miles south of the capital of Richmond. The citys unique industrial past and its location as a transportation hub combined to create wealth for Virginia and it connected commerce as far inland as Farmville, Virginia to shipping on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. For similar reasons, Fort Henry was built at Petersburg to protect the river, as railroads were constructed in the state in the 1830s, Petersburg was developed as a major transfer point for both north-south and east-west competitors. The Petersburg Railroad was one of the earliest predecessors of the modern-day CSX Transportation system, several of the earliest predecessors of the areas other major Class 1 railroad, Norfolk Southern, also met at Petersburg. Access to railroads stimulated industry in the city, which was established because of the water power available at the fall line. During the American Civil War, because of the railroad network, nine months of trench warfare were conducted by Union forces during the 1864–65 Siege of Petersburg. Battlefield sites are located throughout the city and surrounding areas, partly preserved as Petersburg National Battlefield, the city is also significant for its role in African-American history. Petersburg had one of the oldest free black settlements in the state at Pocahontas Island, two Baptist churches in the city, whose congregations were founded in the late 18th century, are among the oldest black congregations and churches in the United States. In the 20th century, these and other churches were leaders in the national Civil Rights Movement. In the post-bellum period, a black college which later developed as Virginia State University was established nearby in Ettrick in Chesterfield County. Richard Bland College, now a college, was originally established here as a branch of Williamsburgs College of William. Petersburg remains a hub, with the network of area highways including Interstate Highways 85,95, and 295, and U. S. highways 1,301. Both CSX and NS rail systems maintain transportation centers at Petersburg, amtrak serves the city with daily Northeast Corridor trains to Norfolk, Virginia, and long-distance routes from states to the south. In the early 21st century, Petersburg leaders were highlighting the historical attractions for heritage tourism. Archaeological excavations at Pocahontas Island have found evidence of a prehistoric Native American settlement dated to 6500 BCE and this is in the early third of the Archaic Period. Varying cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area for thousands of years, when the English arrived in Virginia in 1607, the region was occupied by the Appamatuck, a significant tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy
5.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
6.
Union (American Civil War)
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The Union was opposed by 11 southern slave states that formed the Confederate States, or the Confederacy. All of the Unions states provided soldiers for the U. S. Army, the Border states played a major role as a supply base for the Union invasion of the Confederacy. The Northeast provided the resources for a mechanized war producing large quantities of munitions and supplies. The Midwest provided soldiers, food, horses, financial support, Army hospitals were set up across the Union. Most states had Republican governors who energetically supported the war effort, the Democratic Party strongly supported the war in 1861 but in 1862 was split between the War Democrats and the anti-war element led by the Copperheads. The Democrats made major gains in 1862 in state elections. They lost ground in 1863, especially in Ohio, in 1864 the Republicans campaigned under the National Union Party banner, which attracted many War Democrats and soldiers and scored a landslide victory for Lincoln and his entire ticket. The war years were quite prosperous except where serious fighting and guerrilla warfare took place along the southern border, prosperity was stimulated by heavy government spending and the creation of an entirely new national banking system. The Union states invested a great deal of money and effort in organizing psychological and social support for soldiers wives, widows, orphans, and for the soldiers themselves. Most soldiers were volunteers, although after 1862 many volunteered to escape the draft, Draft resistance was notable in some larger cities, especially New York City with its massive anti-draft riots of 1863 and in some remote districts such as the coal mining areas of Pennsylvania. In the context of the American Civil War, the Union is sometimes referred to as the North, both then and now, as opposed to the Confederacy, which was the South. The Union never recognized the legitimacy of the Confederacys secession and maintained at all times that it remained entirely a part of the United States of America, in foreign affairs the Union was the only side recognized by all other nations, none of which officially recognized the Confederate government. The term Union occurs in the first governing document of the United States, the subsequent Constitution of 1787 was issued and ratified in the name not of the states, but of We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union. Union, for the United States of America, is repeated in such clauses as the Admission to the Union clause in Article IV. Even before the war started, the preserve the Union was commonplace. Using the term Union to apply to the non-secessionist side carried a connotation of legitimacy as the continuation of the political entity. In comparison to the Confederacy, the Union had a large industrialized and urbanized area, additionally, the Union states had a manpower advantage of 5 to 2 at the start of the war. Year by year, the Confederacy shrank and lost control of increasing quantities of resources, meanwhile, the Union turned its growing potential advantage into a much stronger military force
7.
Confederate States of America
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The Confederate States, officially the Confederate States of America, commonly referred to as the Confederacy, was a breakaway country of 11 secessionist slave states existing from 1861 to 1865. It was never recognized as an Independent country, although it achieved belligerent status by Britain. A new Confederate government was established in February 1861 before Lincoln took office in March, after the Civil War began in April, four slave states of the Upper South – Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina – also declared their secession and joined the Confederacy. The government of the United States rejected the claims of secession, the Civil War began with the April 12,1861, Confederate attack upon Fort Sumter, a Union fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. In spring 1865, after four years of fighting which led to an estimated 620,000 military deaths, all the Confederate forces surrendered. Jefferson Davis later lamented that the Confederacy had disappeared in 1865, Missouri and Kentucky were represented by partisan factions from those states, while the legitimate governments of those two states retained formal adherence to the Union. Also fighting for the Confederacy were two of the Five Civilized Tribes located in Indian Territory and a new, but uncontrolled, Confederate Territory of Arizona. Efforts by certain factions in Maryland to secede were halted by federal imposition of law, while Delaware, though of divided loyalty. A Unionist government in parts of Virginia organized the new state of West Virginia. With the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1,1863, the Union made abolition of slavery a war goal, as Union forces moved southward, large numbers of plantation slaves were freed. Many joined the Union lines, enrolling in service as soldiers, teamsters and laborers, the most notable advance was Shermans March to the Sea in late 1864. Much of the Confederacys infrastructure was destroyed, including telegraphs, railroads, plantations in the path of Shermans forces were severely damaged. Internal movement became increasingly difficult for Southerners, weakening the economy and these losses created an insurmountable disadvantage in men, materiel, and finance. Public support for Confederate President Jefferson Daviss administration eroded over time due to repeated military reverses, economic hardships, after four years of campaigning, Richmond was captured by Union forces in April 1865. Shortly afterward, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, President Davis was captured on May 10,1865, and jailed in preparation for a treason trial that was ultimately never held. The U. S. government began a process known as Reconstruction which attempted to resolve the political and constitutional issues of the Civil War. By 1877, the Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction in the former Confederate states, Confederate veterans had been temporarily disenfranchised by Reconstruction policy. The prewar South had many areas, the war left the entire region economically devastated by military action, ruined infrastructure
8.
Winfield Scott Hancock
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Winfield Scott Hancock was a career U. S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War, known to his Army colleagues as Hancock the Superb, he was noted in particular for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. One military historian wrote, No other Union general at Gettysburg dominated men by the force of their presence more completely than Hancock. As another wrote, his tactical skill had won him the admiration of adversaries who had come to know him as the Thunderbolt of the Army of the Potomac. His military service continued after the Civil War, as Hancock participated in the military Reconstruction of the South, Hancocks reputation as a war hero at Gettysburg, combined with his status as a Unionist and supporter of states rights, made him a potential presidential candidate. His noted integrity was a counterpoint to the corruption of the era, when the Democrats nominated him for President in 1880, he ran a strong campaign, but was narrowly defeated by Republican James A. Garfield. The twins were the sons of Benjamin Franklin Hancock and Elizabeth Hoxworth Hancock, Winfield was named after Winfield Scott, a prominent general in the War of 1812. The Hancock and Hoxworth families had lived in Montgomery County for several generations, Benjamin Hancock was a schoolteacher when his sons were born. A few years after their birth, he moved the family to Norristown, the county seat, Benjamin was also a deacon in the Baptist church and participated in municipal government. Hancock was at first educated at Norristown Academy, but removed to the schools when the first one opened in Norristown in the late 1830s. In 1840, Joseph Fornance, the local Congressman, nominated Hancock to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Hancocks progress at West Point was average. He graduated 18th in his class of 25 in 1844, Hancock was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 6th U. S. Infantry regiment, and initially was stationed in Indian Territory in the Red River Valley, the region was quiet at the time, and Hancocks time there was uneventful. Upon the outbreak of war with Mexico in 1846, Hancock worked to secure himself a place at the front, initially assigned to recruiting duties in Kentucky, he proved so adept at signing up soldiers that his superiors were reluctant to release him from his post. By July 1847, however, Hancock was permitted to join his regiment in Puebla, Mexico, scotts army moved farther inland from Puebla unopposed and attacked Mexico City from the south. During that campaign in 1847, Hancock first encountered battle at Contreras and he was appointed a brevet first lieutenant for gallant and meritorious service in those actions. Hancock was wounded in the knee at Churubusco and developed a fever, although he was well enough to join his regiment at Molino del Rey, fever kept Hancock from participating in the final breakthrough to Mexico City, something he would regret for the rest of his life. After the final victory, Hancock remained in Mexico with the 6th Infantry until the treaty of peace was signed in 1848, Hancock served in a number of assignments as an army quartermaster and adjutant, mostly in Fort Snelling, Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri
9.
Henry Heth
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Henry Heth was a career United States Army officer who became a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He is generally blamed for starting the Battle of Gettysburg by sending half his division into the town before the rest of the army was fully prepared. Later in the day, Confederate troops succeeded in routing a Union corps, Heth continued to command his division during the remainder of the war and briefly took command of the Third Corps in April 1865 after the death of General Hill. Heth surrendered with the rest of Lees army on April 9, Henry Heth was born at Black Heath in Chesterfield County, Virginia, son of United States Navy Captain John Heth, and Margaret L. Pickett. He was a cousin of George Pickett, Heth graduated from the United States Military Academy at the bottom of his class in 1847, he was wounded at West Point in 1846 with a bayonet stab to his leg. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 1st Infantry Regiment. His antebellum career was served primarily in western posts, some as a quartermaster and he was serving as a first lieutenant in the 6th Infantry when John C. Symmes III refused a captaincy in the new 10th Infantry on March 3,1855 and he played a prominent role in the 1855 Battle of Ash Hollow, leading a company of mounted infantry against the Lakota. In 1858, he created the first marksmanship manual for the Army, after the war began at Fort Sumter, Heth resigned from the U. S. Army and joined the Confederate States Army. He spent the remainder of 1861 in the Kanawha Valley in western Virginia in the 5th and 45th Virginia Infantry regiments and he was promoted to brigadier general on January 6,1862. In the Spring of 1862 Heth was in command of the Army of the New River, Heths diminutive force held off the forces of General Jacob D. Cox in the Action at Giles Courthouse and pursued the enemy to Lewisburg, where Heth was forced to withdraw. The actions were critical to keeping federal forces tied up and out of the Valley of Virginia while Stonewall Jackson was conducting his own campaign 120 miles to the North and he was then sent west to the Department of East Tennessee, to serve under Edmund Kirby Smith. In March 1863, Lee brought Heth back into his command and he assumed temporary command of the division when Hill was wounded. Following the death of Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson, Lee reorganized his army into three corps, promoting Hill to the Third Corps, Heth retained his division command and was promoted to major general on May 24,1863. Heths division made history by starting the Battle of Gettysburg. Marching east from Cashtown on July 1,1863, Heth sent two brigades ahead in a reconnaissance in force and his memoirs referred to sending them in a search of shoes in Gettysburg, but some historians consider this an apocryphal story, they say Heth knew that Jubal A. Early had been in Gettysburg a few days earlier and any available shoes would have taken at that time. They also consider sending two brigades on such a mission would have been wasteful, the brigades made contact with Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford and spread out into battle formation
10.
II Corps (Union Army)
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There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps during the American Civil War. Of these five, the one most widely known was the Army of the Potomac formation, the II Corps was prominent by reason of its longer and continuous service, larger organization, hardest fighting, and greatest number of casualties. Of the one hundred regiments in the Union Army that lost the most men in battle, the II Corps also fought in nearly every battle in the main eastern theater, from the 1862 Peninsula Campaign to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House. The corps was organized under General Orders No,101, March 21,1862, which assigned Brigadier General Edwin Vose Sumner to its command, and Brigadier Generals Israel B. Richardson, John Sedgwick, and Louis Blenker to the command of its divisions, within three weeks of its organization the corps moved with George B. McClellans Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula Campaign, except for Blenkers division, which was withdrawn on March 31 from McClellans command, Blenkers division never rejoined the corps. The remaining two divisions numbered 21,500 men, of whom 18,000 were present for duty, the casualties of the two divisions in that battle amounted to 196 killed,899 wounded, and 90 missing. In the Seven Days Battles the corps lost 201 killed,1,195 wounded, the corps then marched on the Maryland Campaign, during which Brigadier General William H. Frenchs 3rd Division was added on 10 September 1862. At the Battle of Antietam the corps was engaged, its casualties amounting to more than double that of any other corps on the field. Out of 15,000 effectives, it lost 883 killed,3,859 wounded, and 396 missing, total,5,138. The Irish Brigade, of Richardsons 1st Division, also sustained a loss in its fight at the Bloody Lane. Barlow to lead the 61st and 64th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments to break through the Confederate line, richardson was killed in this battle, and Sedgwick received three wounds. The next engagement was at the Battle of Fredericksburg, in the meantime Sumner had been promoted to the command of a Grand Division—II and IX Corps—and General Darius N. Couch, a division commander of the IV Corps, was appointed to his place. Brigadier General Winfield S. Hancock succeeded to the command of Richardsons 1st Division, and Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard took Sedgwicks place, the percentage of loss in Hancocks Division was large, Caldwells Brigade losing 46 percent killed and wounded. After Fredericksburg, the Grand Divisions were discontinued and, Sumner retiring on account of age and physical disabilities, Couch led the corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville, with Hancock, John Gibbon, and French as his division commanders. Sedgwick had been promoted to the command of the VI Corps, and Howard, during the fighting at Chancellorsville, Gibbons 2nd Division remained at Fredericksburg, where it supported Sedgwicks operations, but with slight loss. Not long after Chancellorsville, Couch was relieved at his own request, Hancock succeeding to the command of the corps, Caldwell to that of Hancocks Division. At the start of the Gettysburg Campaign, Brigadier General Alexander Hays brigade joined, the fighting was deadly in the extreme, the percentage of loss in the 1st Minnesota of Gibbons Division, being almost without an equal in the records of modern warfare
11.
V Corps (Union Army)
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The V Corps was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. The first unit designated as the V corps was organized briefly under Nathaniel P, banks The unit better known as V Corps was formed within the Army of the Potomac on May 18,1862 as V Corps Provisional, which was engaged in the Peninsula Campaign to seize Richmond. It was created by merging Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porters 3rd Division of the III Corps with Maj. Gen. George Sykes division of U. S, Regular troops, formerly in the Reserve. Porter became corps commander and his 1st Division was assigned to Brig. Gen. George W. Morell, on July 22,1862, provisional was dropped from the name as the U. S. War Department confirmed it as the V Corps, Army of the Potomac, the V Corps fought in several battles throughout the Peninsula Campaign, including Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gainess Mill, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. The corps losses in the Seven Days Battles were 995 killed,3,805 wounded, of these casualties,6,837 occurred at Gainess Mill, the remainder at Mechanicsville, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. The corps was enlarged on June 14 by George A. McCalls division of Pennsylvania Reserves. Following the failure of the Peninsula Campaign, the Pennsylvania Reserves were reassigned to Irvin McDowells I Corps, the V Corps was reassigned to Maj. Gen. John Popes Army of Virginia, along with the III and IX Corps of George B. The general officers in the corps were all West Pointers and contained no political appointees or nonprofessionals, the presence of regular army troops added a more professional air to the V Corps than the others, and discipline and drills were typically stricter. In addition, the artillery reserve was attached to the corps. The V Corps saw action at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Losses of the small corps were 331 killed,1,364 wounded, and 456 missing, a total of 2,151, out of about 6,500 engaged. Two brigades, of six, were not engaged, one brigade, composed of two regiments under Gouverneur K. Warren, made a futile stand against the Confederate attack on the Union left flank. The corps saw action at the Battle of Antietam. The 1st Division was held in reserve in the center of the Union line. Elements of Sykess division engaged in skirmishing at the Upper Ford and it was after Antietam that a new 3rd Division was added under Andrew A. Humphreys, composed mostly of nine-month recruits from Pennsylvania. After Antietam, Fitz-John Porter was court martialed for disobeying orders at Second Bull Run, although Porter himself was not to blame, John Pope chose him as a scapegoat for that loss and his career was summarily ruined. Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield replaced Porter to command the V Corps at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and Generals Charles Griffin, Sykes, Losses were 206 killed,1,669 wounded, and 300 missing, total,2,175. When Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac in the spring, he did away with the grand divisions, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, formerly commanding the 3rd Division of the I Corps, took charge of the V Corps
12.
IX Corps (Union Army)
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IX Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War that distinguished itself in combat in multiple theaters, the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The corps was assembled by Burnside at Newport News, Virginia, the corps consisted of three divisions, under Generals Stevens, Jesse L. Reno, and John G. Parke. After a short stay at Newport News the corps was ordered to reinforce Maj. Gen. John Popes Army of Virginia, only the two divisions of Stevens and Reno were engaged in this action, they numbered 12 regiments and 2 batteries, fewer than 5,000 men. General Reno was in command of divisions in Burnsides absence. The losses in this small engagement amounted to 204 killed,1,000 wounded, some of the regiments encountered a severe fire, the 28th Massachusetts losing 234 men. General Stevens was killed at Chantilly, General Reno retained command of the corps on the Maryland Campaign, General Burnside having charge of the right wing of the Army of the Potomac, which was composed of the I and IX Corps. Brig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox was appointed to the command of Stevenss Division, while the 2nd and 3rd Divisions were commanded, respectively, by Generals Samuel D. Sturgis and Isaac P. Rodman. During this campaign Jacob D. Coxs Kanawha Division from western Virginia was temporarily attached to the corps, the Battle of South Mountain was fought wholly by Burnsides two corps, the IX Corps losing 157 killed,691 wounded, and 41 missing, total,889. The loss in the I Corps was about the same, General Reno was killed in this action, upon which General Cox succeeded to his command. At Antietam the corps lost 438 killed,1,796 wounded, General Rodman was among the mortally wounded. In October, Coxs Division returned to western Virginia and its connection with the corps terminated. This division had made a brilliant record by its gallant services at South Mountain, upon the departure of General Cox the command of the corps fell to General Willcox. General William W. Burns was appointed to fill the vacancy thus caused in the 1st Division, on November 5,1862, General Burnside was made commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac. At Fredericksburg, the casualty lists indicate that the corps took into action 31 regiments and 5 batteries, with a loss of 111 killed,1,067 wounded, and 152 missing, total,1,330. Not long after this battle Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick was assigned to the command of the corps, General Smiths stay with the corps was of short duration, for he was succeeded in the following month by Maj. Gen. John G. Parke. While at Newport News, Gettys Division was detached and ordered to Suffolk, Virginia and it never rejoined its old command although, in 1864, one of its regiments, the 4th Rhode Island, was restored to the IX Corps. In the meantime, General Burnside had been assigned to the command of the Department of Ohio, just prior to the departure from Virginia, General Sturgis was relieved, and Brig. Gen. Robert B. Potter was assigned to the command of the 2nd Division. The IX Corps was stationed in Kentucky for two months, during which it served as an army of occupation
13.
Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
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The Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia was a unit of the Provisional Army of the Confederate States. For the Corps third division, Lee created a new division from two brigades sent from the defenses around Richmond and two brigades from Penders division, assigning it to the command of Henry Heth, the corps artillery reserve was commanded by Colonel R. Lindsay Walker. On the morning of July 1st, Heth encountered the elements of the Army of the Potomac. During the morning, Heths division attacked part of the I Corps and was defeated, ambrose R. Wright was able to briefly pierce the Union center on Cemetery Ridge but was forced to retreat. Before he was able to launch an attack with his division, during the day, Hill was ill and did not supervise the attack by his corps. Cadmus Wilcoxs and David Langs brigades of Andersons division formed on Picketts right, while the rest of the division formed behind Pettigrew, for the bombardment before the infantry attack, Walker formed fifty-three cannons along Seminary Ridge. During the attack, one Union regiment attacked Pettigrews right flank brigade, commanded by John M. Brockenbrough, and routed it, then commenced firing on the next brigade in line. Pettigrew was wounded during the attack but remained in command of his division, Trimble was wounded and captured near the wall, while two brigade commanders were also wounded and one was killed. Wilcox and Lang started their advance well after the force had done so. Artillery fire and a counterattack by the Vermont Brigade forced them to retreat, with several dozen Confederates falling prisoner, after the battle, Hills corps was the first to start the Confederate retreat back to Virginia. Heths division served as the guard as the army marched over the Potomac on July 14th, during the Battle of Falling Waters. During the fall, Cadmus Wilcox was promoted to major general, in the Battle of Bristoe Station, Hill attacked the isolated Union II Corps with only two brigades from his three available divisions, but was in turn hit in the flank by the awaiting V Corps. Hill lost heavily,2,000 men in total along with five cannons, the corps also participated in the Mine Run Campaign, Hill was to assault the Union left flank at dawn on December 1, but the Union army retreated during the night. For the rest of the winter, the corps remained in winter camps south of the Rappahannock River, at the start of the Overland Campaign, the corps started with a strength of over 22,000 men. The Third corps fought on the Confederate right wing during the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness, on the second day, the Union army attacked at dawn and quickly drove Hills troops back in confusion. Longstreets corps arrived near mid-morning and halted the Union attack, following Longstreets wounding, Anderson was transferred to command the First Corps, with William Mahone taking command of Andersons division. During the march to Spotsylvania Court House on May 8th, Hill fell ill and was replaced by Jubal Early from the Second Corps, Early arrived at Spotsylvania near dawn on May 9th and covered the Confederate right wing. The corps held against the attacks of the IX Corps during May 12th but was able to send two brigades to help with the Confederate counterattacks in the Mule Shoe salient
14.
Siege of Petersburg
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The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9,1864, to March 25,1865, during the American Civil War. Numerous raids were conducted and battles fought in attempts to cut off the Richmond, many of these battles caused the lengthening of the trench lines, overloading dwindling Confederate resources. Lee finally gave in to the pressure and abandoned cities in April 1865, leading to his retreat and surrender at Appomattox Court House. The Siege of Petersburg foreshadowed the trench warfare that was common in World War I and it also featured the wars largest concentration of African American troops, who suffered heavy casualties at such engagements as the Battle of the Crater and Chaffins Farm. In March 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to lieutenant general and was given command of the Union Army. He devised a strategy to apply pressure on the Confederacy from many points. Grant put Maj. Gen. William T, George Crook and William W. Averell to operate against railroad supply lines in West Virginia, and Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Most of these failed, often because of the assignment of generals to Grant for political rather than military reasons. Butlers Army of the James bogged down against inferior forces under Gen. P. G. T, Beauregard before Richmond in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Sigel was soundly defeated at the Battle of New Market in May, banks was distracted by the Red River Campaign and failed to move on Mobile. However, Crook and Averell were able to cut the last railway linking Virginia and Tennessee, on May 4, Grant and Meades Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River and entered the area known as the Wilderness of Spotsylvania, beginning the six-week Overland Campaign. Grant spent the remainder of May maneuvering and fighting battles with the Confederate army as he attempted to turn Lees flank. Grant knew that his army and base of manpower in the North could sustain a war of attrition better than Lee. This theory was tested at the Battle of Cold Harbor when Grants army once again came into contact with Lees near Mechanicsville and he chose to engage Lees army directly, by ordering a frontal assault on the Confederate fortified positions on June 3. This attack was repulsed with heavy losses, Cold Harbor was a battle that Grant regretted more than any other and Northern newspapers thereafter frequently referred to him as a butcher. On the night of June 12, Grant again advanced by his left flank and he planned to cross to the south bank of the river, bypassing Richmond, and isolate Richmond by seizing the railroad junction of Petersburg to the south. While Lee remained unaware of Grants intentions, the Union army constructed a pontoon bridge 2,100 feet long, what Lee had feared most of all—that Grant would force him into a siege of Richmond—was poised to occur. This represented a change of strategy from that of the preceding Overland Campaign, Lee at first believed that Grants main target was Richmond and devoted only minimal troops under Gen. P. G. T
15.
Second Battle of Petersburg
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The Second Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Assault on Petersburg, was fought June 15–18,1864, at the beginning of the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign. Union forces under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant attempted to capture Petersburg, Virginia, the four days included repeated Union assaults against substantially smaller forces commanded by Gen. P. G. T. Beauregards strong defensive positions and poorly coordinated actions by the Union generals made up for the disparity in the sizes of the armies, by June 18, the arrival of significant reinforcements from Lees army made further assaults impractical. The failure of the Union to defeat the Confederates in these actions resulted in the start of the ten-month Siege of Petersburg, the Confederates, under the overall command of Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, numbered only 2,500, many of whom were teenage boys and elderly men. Timid leadership on the part of Union Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore and Brig. Gen. August Kautz led to the failure of the assault, Butlers men returned to their positions in Bermuda Hundred. After the Battle of Cold Harbor in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grants 1864 Overland Campaign, Grant knew that Lee could not protect Richmond if Petersburg fell and he would be forced to battle Grant in the open. He also knew from the unsuccessful first assaults on June 9 how weak the Petersburg defenses actually were, speed was essential to Grants plan, requiring success before Lee realized Grants objective and could reinforce Petersburg. Lee was not in fact fully cognizant of Grants moves until June 18, Beauregard, however, had been loudly warning of the danger to Petersburg since June 9. Inexplicably, Grant selected Butlers Army of the James, which had performed poorly in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign, the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, would follow Smith. Grant wrote in his memoirs, I believed then, and still believe. Even with his concentration, infantrymen were spaced an unacceptable 10 feet apart and his remaining 3,200 men were facing Butlers army at Bermuda Hundred. Baldy Smith and his men crossed the Appomattox shortly after dawn on June 15 and his force consisted of the infantry divisions of Brig. William T. H. Brooks, John H. Martindale, and Edward W. Hinks, the transport vessels delivered these divisions almost at random to landing sites on the opposite shore, confusing Smiths plans and wasting time reorganizing. Kautzs cavalry division was ordered to clear the line of advance for the infantry, Brooks and Martindale would march down the City Point Railroad, colored Troops would approach on the Jordan Point Road. Delays in the advance continued after the landing, the cavalry encountered an unexpected stronghold at Baylors farm northeast of Petersburg. Hinkss men launched two attacks on the Confederates and captured a cannon, but the advance was delayed until early afternoon. Smith performed a reconnaissance and, despite his sense of nervousness about the strength of the enemy position and he was delayed again when his artillery commander allowed all of the horses to be watered simultaneously, making it impossible to bring up his guns until about 7 p. m
16.
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
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The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, also known as the First Battle of the Weldon Railroad, was fought June 21–23,1864, near Petersburg, Virginia. It was the first of a series of battles during the Siege of Petersburg aimed at extending the Union siege lines to the west and cutting the rail lines supplying Petersburg. The inconclusive battle left the Weldon Railroad temporarily in Confederate hands, the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, entrenched east of the city, running from near the Jerusalem Plank Road to the Appomattox River. Meade selected the II Corps, temporarily commanded by Maj. Gen. David B, birney while Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock was suffering from his lingering wound incurred at Gettysburg, and the VI Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright. The positions in the lines occupied by these two corps were to be filled in by units of the Army of the James that would be moved from Bermuda Hundred. He told Grant, I just thought I would jump aboard a boat and come down and see you. I dont expect I can do any good, and in fact Im afraid I may do some harm, after discussing strategy with Grant, Lincoln visited some of the VI Corps troops who would participate in the upcoming battle. On June 21, elements of the II Corps probed toward the railroad, the plan of attack was that both the II and VI Corps would cross the Jerusalem Plank Road and then pivot northwest about 2 miles to reach the railroad. Difficult terrain—swamps and thickets—slowed their advance and by the morning of June 22, Brig. Gen. William Mahone, another division commander in Hills corps, observed that the gap between the two Union corps was widening, creating a prime target. Robert E. Lee approved Mahones plan and at 3 p. m. on June 22, a soldier wrote, The attack was to the Union troops more than a surprise. Barlows division quickly collapsed under the surprise assault, the division of Brig. Gen. John Gibbon, which had erected earthworks, was also surprised by an attack from the rear and many of the regiments ran for safety. The II Corps troops rallied around earthworks that they had constructed on the night of June 21, on June 23, the II Corps advanced to retake its lost ground, but the Confederates had pulled back, abandoning the earthworks they had captured. Under orders from General Meade, the VI Corps sent out a skirmish line after 10 a. m. in a second attempt to reach the Weldon Railroad. Men from Brig. Gen. Lewis A, grants 1st Vermont Brigade had begun tearing up track when they were attacked by a larger force of Confederate infantry. Numerous Vermonters were taken prisoner and only about.5 miles of track had been destroyed when they were chased away. Meade repeatedly urged Horatio G. Wright to move forward and engage the enemy, at 7,35 p. m. Meade gave up and told Wright, Your delay has been fatal. Meades aide Theodore Lyman wrote, On this particular occasion Wright showed himself totally unfit to command a corps, Union casualties were 2,962, Confederate 572. The battle was inconclusive, with advantages gained on both sides, the Confederates were able to retain control of the Weldon Railroad
17.
Battle of Staunton River Bridge
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The Battle of Staunton River Bridge was an engagement on June 25,1864, between Union and Confederate forces during Wilson-Kautz Raid of the American Civil War. The battle took place around the Staunton River Bridge, over the Staunton River, in Halifax and Charlotte counties, thus, Grant decided to dispatch Union cavalry to raid the rail lines and destroy them, thus cutting Lee off from his supplies. On June 22,5,000 Union cavalry and 16 artillery pieces were pulled from the siege of Petersburg and sent, james H. Wilson and August V. Kautz, to destroy the lines of supply. During the next three days, despite pursuit and harassment from Confederate cavalry under the command of Maj. Gen. W. H. F, Rooney Lee, the Union cavalry succeeded in destroying 60 miles of railway. The bridge was defended by 296 Confederate reservists under the command of Captain Benjamin L. Farinholt, the illusion was further strengthened by Mrs. In reality, there were only 938 men and he also had constructed a network of concealed rifle trenches between the earthwork defenses and the bridge itself. At 3,45 p. m. according to reports by Farinholt, however, Farinholts opening salvo fell short. Kautz dismounted with his cavalry opposite the bridge, and advanced both the east and the west. Around sunset, Rooney Lee arrived on the field with the Confederate cavalry forces that had been pursuing the Union raiders, Lee attacked the Union forces in the rear, and Wilson was forced to retire by midnight. The following morning, Farinholt advanced with skirmishers onto the vacated Union positions, taking 8 prisoners, casualties on the Union side amounted to 42 killed,44 wounded, and 30 missing or captured, Confederate losses were 10 killed and 24 wounded. The defense of the Staunton River Bridge ensured the survival of the Richmond & Danville rail supply line, however, Lee was forced to abandon Petersburg in April 1865 when his supply lines were finally cut. The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide, Stackpole Books,2001, ISBN 0-8117-2868-4
18.
Battle of Sappony Church
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Petersburg, Virginia, was the supply center for the Confederate capital of Richmond, and was under siege by Union forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. On June 22, Grant dispatched a 3,300 strong cavalry unit under the command of Brig, james H. Wilson and August V. Kautz to cut the rail lines. Since the outset of the raid, the Union force had been pursued by Confederate Maj. Gen. W. H. F. Lees forces had finally been able to catch up to the Union cavalry at Staunton Bridge, on June 28, the Union cavalry crossed the Nottoway River and reached the Stony Creek Depot on the Weldon Railroad. Here, they were attack by Confederate Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton, during the resulting battle, Lee arrived on the field with his own forces and attacked the Union raiders. By nightfall, Kautz and Wilson ordered their forces to back in an attempt to reach Reams Railway Station to the north. During the retreat, a number of slaves who had been accompanying the Union forces were left behind. National Park Service battle description CWSAC Report Update Kennedy, Frances H. ed, the Civil War Battlefield Guide, 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin Co. Longacre, Edward G. Lincolns Cavalrymen, A History of the Mounted Forces of the Army of the Potomac, Stackpole Books,2000, the Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide, Stackpole Books,2001, ISBN 0-8117-2868-4
19.
First Battle of Ream's Station
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The First Battle of Reams Station was fought on June 29,1864, during the Wilson-Kautz Raid of the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. William Mahone and Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee defeated Union cavalry raiding Confederate railroads south of Petersburg, on June 29 the division reached Reams Station south of Petersburg on the Weldon Railroad, which was thought to be held by Union infantry. Instead, Kautz found the road barred by Mahones Confederate infantry division, wilsons division, fighting against elements of Maj. Gen. W. H. F. Rooney Lees cavalry, joined Kautzs near Reams Station, where they were virtually surrounded, around noon, Mahone led Confederate infantry against the Union front while cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee attacked the Union left flank. The fierce assault split the Union forces, wilson and Kautz were forced to withdraw quickly, burning their supply wagons and abandoning their artillery. Wilson continued east to the Blackwater River before turning north, eventually reaching Union lines at Light House Point on July 2, the Wilson-Kautz raid tore up more than 60 miles of track, temporarily disrupting rail traffic into Petersburg, but at a great cost in men and mounts. National Park Service battle description CWSAC Report Update Linedecker, Clifford L. ed. Civil War, A-Z, The Complete Handbook of Americas Bloodiest Conflict
20.
First Battle of Deep Bottom
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A Union force under Maj. Gens. Winfield S. Hancock and Philip H, Deep Bottom is the colloquial name for an area of the James River in Henrico County 11 miles southeast of Richmond, Virginia, at a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river known as Jones Neck. It was a convenient crossing point from the Bermuda Hundred area on the side of the river. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant began a siege of the city of Petersburg, Virginia, after initial assaults on the Confederate lines, June 15–18,1864, failed to break through. Hoping to increase the chances for success at Petersburg, Grant planned a movement against Richmond that Gen. Robert E. Lee would likely counter with troops taken out of the Petersburg line. A division of the X Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Robert S. Foster, had crossed on a second pontoon bridge just upstream to secure a bridgehead on the north bank of the river. Grants plan called for Hancock to pin down the Confederates at Chaffins Bluff and prevent reinforcements from opposing Sheridans cavalry, the Confederate fieldworks protecting Richmond were commanded by Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell. When Lee found out about Hancocks pending movement, he ordered that the Richmond lines be reinforced to 16,500 men, the four brigades of Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaws division joined Col. John S. Fultons brigade of the Department of Richmond, James H. Lane and Samuel McGowan from Maj. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcoxs division. The reinforcements moved east on New Market Road and took up positions on the face of New Market Heights. Hancock and Sheridan crossed the bridge starting at 3 a. m. The II Corps advanced with the division of Maj. Gen. John Gibbon on the left, barlow in the center, and Brig. Gen. Gershom Mott on the right. They broke through the Confederate rifle pits on the New Market Road, captured four cannons, Sheridans cavalry rode to the high ground on the right, overlooking the millpond. The cavalry division of Brig. Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert captured the high ground near Fussells Mill, the Confederate works on the west bank of Baileys Creek were formidable and Hancock chose not to attack them, spending the rest of the day performing reconnaissance. While Hancock was stymied at Baileys Creek, Robert E. Lee began bringing up reinforcements from Petersburg. He assigned Lt. Gen. Richard H. Anderson to take command of the Deep Bottom sector and sent in Maj. Gen. Henry Heths infantry division, troops were also hurriedly detailed from the Department of Richmond to help the man the trenches. Sheridans men attempted to turn the Confederate left with an advance against Gravel Hill, three brigades—Lanes, McGowans, and Kershaws —attacked Sheridans right flank. The Union cavalrymen formed a line in which they were lying prone just beyond a shallow ridgeline
21.
Battle of the Crater
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The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30,1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade. After weeks of preparation, on July 30, Union forces exploded a mine in Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnsides IX Corps sector, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg, from this propitious beginning, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union attackers. Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where soldiers milled in confusion, Grant considered the assault the saddest affair I have witnessed in the war. The Confederates quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks led by Brig. Gen. William Mahone, the breach was sealed off, and Union forces were repulsed with severe casualties. Brig. Gen. Edward Ferreros division of soldiers were badly mauled. This may have been Grants best chance to end the Siege of Petersburg, instead, the soldiers settled in for another eight months of trench warfare. Burnside was relieved of command for the last time for his role in the debacle, during the Civil War, Petersburg, Virginia, was an important railhead, where four railroad lines from the south met before continuing to Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy. Most of the supplies to Lees army and to the city of Richmond funneled through this point, consequently, the Union regarded it as the back door to Richmond, without which defending the Confederate capital would be impossible. The result was the Siege of Petersburg, after Lee held at bay Grants attempt to seize Petersburg on June 15, the battle settled into a stalemate. Grant had learned a lesson at Cold Harbor about attacking Lee in a fortified position and was chafing at the inactivity to which Lees trenches. Finally, Lt. Col. Henry Pleasants, commanding the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnsides IX Corps, if successful, this would not only kill all the defenders in the area, it would also open a hole in the Confederate defenses. Digging began in late June, but even Grant and Meade saw the operation as, A mere way to keep the men occupied, and doubted it of any actual tactical value. They quickly lost interest and Pleasants soon found himself with few materials for his project, to the extent that his men had to forage for wood to support the structure. The shaft was elevated as it moved toward the Confederate lines to make sure moisture did not clog up the mine, a canvas partition isolated the miners air supply from outside air. The miners had constructed a vertical exhaust shaft located well behind Union lines, at the vertical shafts base, a fire was kept continuously burning. A wooden duct ran the length of the tunnel and protruded into the outside air. The fire heated stale air inside of the tunnel, drawing it up the exhaust shaft, the resulting vacuum then sucked fresh air in from the mine entrance via the wooden duct, which carried it down the length of the tunnel to the location where the miners were working
22.
Second Battle of Deep Bottom
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On August 14, the X Corps closed on New Market Heights while the II Corps extended the Federal line to the right along Baileys Creek. During the night, the X Corps was moved to the flank of the Union line near Fussells Mill. On August 16, Union assaults near the mill were initially successful, after days of indecisive skirmishing, the Federals returned to the south side of the James on the night of August 20. The Confederates achieved their objective of driving back the Union threat, Deep Bottom is the colloquial name for an area of the James River in Henrico County 11 miles southeast of Richmond, Virginia, at a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river known as Jones Neck. It was so-named because of the depth of the bottom at that point. It was a convenient crossing point from the Bermuda Hundred area on the side of the river. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant began a siege of the city of Petersburg, Virginia, after initial assaults on the Confederate lines, June 15–18,1864, failed to break through. While Union cavalry conducted the Wilson-Kautz Raid in an attempt to cut the lines leading into Petersburg, Grant. In the First Battle of Deep Bottom, July 27–29, Grant sent a force under Maj. Gens, winfield S. Hancock and Philip H. Sheridan on an expedition threatening Richmond and its railroads, intending to attract Confederate troops away from the Petersburg defensive line. On the same day the Union failed at the Crater, Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early was burning the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, as he operated out of the Shenandoah Valley, threatening towns in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Gen. Robert E. Lee sent the infantry division of Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Grant misinterpreted this movement and assumed that Andersons entire corps had been removed from the vicinity of Richmond and he determined to try again with an advance toward the Confederate capital. This would either prevent reinforcements from aiding Early or once again dilute the Confederate strength in the lines around Petersburg. Once again, Hancock would be the general on the expedition. On August 13, the X Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. David B, Greggs cavalry division, and Hancocks II Corps artillery crossed pontoon bridges from Bermuda Hundred to Deep Bottom. Meanwhile, the remainder of the II Corps conducted a ruse to make the Confederates think that Hancock was being sent north to reinforce Sheridan. A tugboat followed the flotilla and brought new orders, which caused the ships to turn around. The landings were not managed well and fell behind schedule, Grants staff had not arranged for adequate wharves to handle the deep-water steamers, Birney was ordered to demonstrate against New Market Heights while the II Corps divisions attempted to turn the Confederate left
23.
Battle of Globe Tavern
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A Union force under Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren destroyed miles of track and withstood strong attacks from Confederate troops under Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard and Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill and it was the first Union victory in the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. It forced the Confederates to carry their supplies 30 miles by wagon to bypass the new Union lines that were extended farther to the south and west. In the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, June 21–23,1864, in August, the II Corps operated north of Petersburg, threatening Richmond and its railroads in the Second Battle of Deep Bottom. Simultaneously, Grant planned another attack against the Weldon, while the overall Confederate commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee, was observing at the Deep Bottom battle, Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard was the commander at Petersburg. Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill commanded the Third Corps, hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible. Grant remarked to his staff, The President has more nerve than any of his advisors. At dawn on August 18, Warren advanced to the south through rain and over roads, pushing aside Confederate pickets and a cavalry brigade. Parts of the division under Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin began to destroy the track while a brigade from Brig. Gen. Romeyn B, Ayress division formed in line of battle and moved north to block any Confederate advance from that direction. Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutlers division was held in reserve, ayres encountered Confederate troops at about 1 p. m. and Warren ordered the division under Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford to move forward on Ayress right in an attempt to outflank the Confederate left. A. P. Hill sent two brigades of Maj. Gen. Henry Heths division and a brigade from Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hokes division to meet the advancing Union divisions. At about 2 p. m. they launched a strong attack, Warren counterattacked and regained his lost ground. His men entrenched for the night, reinforcements arrived during the night—the Union IX Corps under Maj. Gen. John G. Parke and Confederate Maj. Gen. W. H. F. Rooney Lees cavalry division and three brigades from the division of Maj. Gen. William Mahone. Contact was limited to skirmishing through the heavy rain most of the day on August 19, Crawford galloped amongst his men, attempting to rally them, and was almost captured. Almost two full brigades were lost as prisoners, while Mahone attacked the Union right, Heth launched a frontal assault against the center and left, which was easily repulsed by Ayress division. The IX Corps counterattacked and the widespread hand-to-hand fighting ended at dusk, fair weather returned on the morning of August 21 and the Confederates attacked beginning at 9 a. m. with Mahone striking the Federal left and Heth the center
24.
Second Battle of Ream's Station
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The Second Battle of Reams Station was fought during the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War on August 25,1864, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. A Union force under Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock began destroying part of the Weldon Railroad, which was a vital supply line for Gen. Robert E. Lees Confederate army in Petersburg, Virginia. Lee sent a force under Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill to challenge Hancock, however, they lost a key portion of the railroad, causing further logistical difficulties for the remainder of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Beauregard and Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill and this Union victory forced the Confederates to carry their supplies 30 miles by wagon to bypass the new Union lines that were extended farther to the south and west. However, this was not yet a problem for the Confederates. A member of Lees staff wrote, Whilst we are inconvenienced, general Grant wanted the Weldon closed permanently, destroying 14 miles of track from Warrens position near Globe Tavern as far south as Rowanty Creek. He assigned the operation to Hancocks II Corps, which was in the process of moving south from their operation north of the James River at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, Grant augmented Hancocks corps with the cavalry division of Brig. Gen. David McM. He also saw an opportunity—that he could impose a stinging defeat on the Union Army not long before the election in November. Hill, who was suffering one of his periodic bouts of illness, assigned Heth to tactical command. Hancock arrived personally at Reams Station on August 24 and by evening the Union troops had destroyed track for 3 miles south of the station. On the morning of August 25 they left their earthworks to start working on the remaining 5 miles of track, after the Confederate cavalry pushed back Greggs cavalry, Hills column advanced down the Dinwiddie Stage Road. Wilcoxs three infantry brigades assaulted the Union position at about 2 p. m. on August 25, despite launching two attacks, Wilcox was driven back by Miless division, which was manning the northern part of the earthworks. To the south, Gibbons division was blocking the advance of Hamptons cavalry, Meade, however, cautiously assumed a defensive stance and rushed reinforcements to his flank, thinning his own lines. The only point that Meade did not reinforce was the sector commanded by his trusty subordinate Hancock, Confederate reinforcements from Heths and Mahones divisions arrived while the Confederate artillery under Col. William Pegram softened up the Union position. The final attack began around 5,30 p. m. Miles ordered his brigade under Col. Horace Rugg to close the gap. Heth personally led the charge through the earthworks, tussling with Sgt, thomas Minton of the 26th North Carolina about who would carry the colors forward. Hancock desperately galloped from one threatened point to the next, attempting to rally his men, at one point his horse dropped from under him and, assuming that it had been killed, Hancock proceeded on foot. The horse later jumped to its feet, having been paralyzed by a glancing blow to the spine
25.
Beefsteak Raid
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The Beefsteak Raid was a Confederate cavalry raid that took place in September 1864 as part of the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War. Confederate Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton led a force of 3,000 troopers on what was to become a 100-mile ride to acquire cattle that were intended for the consumption of the Union Army. Always lacking in supplies, the Confederate forces that were defending the capital of Richmond were beginning to run out of food, a report by General Robert E. Lee on August 22,1864, stated that corn to feed the Southern soldiers was exhausted. Sensing an opportunity to increase the food stores, Hampton arranged for 3,000 troops to follow him. These men included several certified Texas cattle thieves, Hampton led his men to the south of the cities, behind Union lines, on September 14. He chose to cross where the Cooks Bridge over the Blackwater River once stood and he had some engineers reconstruct the bridge. At 5 a. m. on September 16, Hamptons force attacked with a three-prong strike, with the center directed toward the cattle. Hamptons force captured more than 2,000 cattle, along with 11 wagons and 304 prisoners, the total losses for the Confederates, who saw some opposition, were 10 killed,47 wounded, and 4 missing. The official count of cattle successfully reaching the Confederates for food was 2,468, despite the raids success, its strategic impact was not as great as the large number of cattle taken might seem to indicate. For whereas the Union had the resources to replace its lost cattle and they were therefore forced to slaughter the cattle almost as soon as they had secured them. The ensuing feast on the Confederate side might be described as a rush to consume the beef before it spoiled. For days afterwards, the southerners would taunt the northern sentries, thanking them for all the food, after the beef was eaten or spoiled, the Confederates reverted to their previous, dire food situation. Abraham Lincoln called the raid the slickest piece of cattle-stealing he ever heard of, General Lees adjutant Walter H. Taylor said it made up for the loss of the Weldon Railroad, a claim most historians consider to be overstated. A fictionalized depiction of the raid is featured in the 1966 film Alvarez Kelly, the Prince George County Historical Society holds an annual steak dinner on the anniversary of the Beefsteak raid to commemorate the event
26.
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
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From the very beginning of the war, Confederate engineers and slave laborers had constructed permanent defenses around Richmond. By 1864, they had created a system anchored south of the capital on the James River at Chaffins Farm and this outer line was supported by an intermediate and inner system of fortifications much closer to the capital. In July and August 1864, these lines were tested by Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in offensives designed to attack north and south of the James. The second battle was also a Confederate victory, but it forced Lee to weaken his Petersburg defenses, in late September, Grant planned another dual offensive. Historians sometimes enumerate Grants offensives during the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign, Richard J. Sommers, John Horn, and Noah Andre Trudeau call these operations Grants Fifth Offensive. Grants primary objective was to cut the supply lines to the south of Petersburg. He planned to use a cavalry division under Brig. Gen. David McM. Once again hoping to distract Robert E. Lee and draw Confederate troops north of the river, Butler devised a plan that historian John Horn called his best performance of the war. Rather than repeat the efforts of July and August to turn the Confederate left, Butler planned surprise attacks on the Confederate right and his XVIII Corps under Maj. Gen. Edward O. C. Ord, would cross the James River to Aikens Landing by a newly constructed pontoon bridge, at the original Deep Bottom pontoon bridge, his X Corps under Maj. Gen. David B. Birney would cross, followed by his cavalry under Brig. Gen. August V. Kautz, in a two-pronged attack, the right wing would assault the Confederate lines at New Market Road and drive on to capture the artillery positions behind it on New Market Heights. This action would protect the flank of the wing, which would attack Fort Harrison from the south-east. Then, the wing would assist the left by attacking Fort Gregg and Fort Gilmer. Kautzs cavalry would exploit Birneys capture of the New Market Road by driving for Richmond, Birney moved the X Corps north from the Deep Bottom bridgehead toward the Confederate works atop New Market Heights manned by Brig. Gen. John Gregg. Colored Troops attacked the heights but was repulsed, in this attack, Christian Fleetwoods actions would later earn him the Medal of Honor. Birney reinforced the assault force and stormed the heights again, alfred H. Terrys division managed to turn the Confederate left flank, thus turning the tide of the battle. Word of Union success against Fort Harrison then reached Gregg, compelling him to pull Confederate troops back to Forts Gregg, Gilmer and Johnson. Confederate defenders at New Market Heights were Lees Grenadier Guards, the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas and they inflicted 850 casualties on the attacking 13,000 Union troops while suffering only 50 casualties
27.
Battle of Peebles's Farm
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In September 1864, Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant planned simultaneous attacks against both flanks of Gen. Robert E. Lees Confederate army. The eastern attack would be carried out by the Army of the James under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler against the Confederate works at Chaffins Farm, Grant had two intentions for Warren. First was to attack the opposite end of Lees line to relieve pressure on Fort Harrison, the second was to take advantage of the units Lee had removed from his right to retake Fort Harrison. Warrens attack was aimed at the fortifications guarding the Boydton Plank Road and this line was being extended to reach the vicinity of the Union flank at Globe Tavern. While the lines were being constructed a line was held along the Squirrel Level Road. Lee had indeed pulled forces from this flank for the counterattack on Fort Harrison so Warren was marching against Lt. Gen. A. P. Hills reduced corps, Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin led the attack against the Confederates near the Poplar Springs Church. Griffin quickly captured Fort Archer on the extreme Confederate flank and the Squirrel Level line broke, Warren halted the attack to fortify the new position and not advance too far in front of the IX Corps. The Union attack forced Lee to recall the Light Division from its march towards Fort Harrison, the IX Corps under Maj. Gen. John G. Parke moved up on Warrens left but did not make an effective link with the V Corps flank. Maj. Gen. Henry Heth was preparing to mount a counterattack, Warren, who had originally feared a counterattack, now helped rally the broken IX Corps units and check Heths attack and the fighting died down. Heth tried another attack the following day, which was repulsed at the Battle of Vaughan Road. On October 2 the Union position was reinforced by Brig. Gen. Gershom Motts division from the II Corps, mott spearheaded a Union attack that day, which was aimed for the Boydton Plank Road. The attack easily overran Fort McRae but was checked before it reached the Boydton Plank Road, the Confederate defenders lost works on both sides of their lines. The Union army extended the siege lines past the Peebless Farm area, the Union army was firmly entrenched in the area and later that month the II Corps would make an attempt to cut the Boydton Plank Road. The Longest Night, A Military History of the Civil War, new York, Simon & Schuster,2001. Esposito, Vincent J. West Point Atlas of American Wars, new York, Frederick A. Praeger,1959. The collection of maps is available online at the West Point website, sommers, Richard J. Richmond Redeemed, The Siege at Petersburg. National Park Service battle description Peebles Farm National Park Handbook CWSAC Report Update
28.
Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads
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The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign was a Union effort to capture the city of Petersburg, Virginia, from Confederate forces under the command of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. During the Battle of Chaffins Farm, Union forces captured Fort Harrison from the Confederates on September 30. This prompted Lee to order an offensive on the flank of the Union forces. The Union defensive lines, commanded by Brig. Gen. August V. Kautz, birney, were positioned along the length of New Market Road, with further Union cavalry defending Darbytown Road. The initial Confederate attack, commanded by Maj. Gens, Robert Hoke and Charles W. Field, was successful in dislodging the Union Cavalry from Darbytown Road. The cavalry forces routed from the field, and the confederates attacked the Union defensive lines on the New Market Road, during this attack, the Confederate Texas Brigades commander Brig. Gen. John Gregg was killed, and the attack was repulsed. The engagement resulted with a Confederate withdrawal to Richmond and thus Union victory, the Civil War Battlefield Guide, 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin Co. National Park Service battle summary CWSAC Report Update and Resurvey, Individual Battlefield Profiles
29.
Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road
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The Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road was fought October 27–28,1864, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In combination with movements against the Boydton Plank Road at Petersburg, the XVIII Corps marched north to Fair Oaks where it was soundly repulsed by Maj. Gen. Charles W. Fields Confederate division. Confederate forces counterattacked, taking some 600 prisoners, of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grants offensives north of the James River, this was repulsed most easily. Union casualties were 1,603, Confederates fewer than 100, the following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road. It is compiled from the official tabulation of casualties, so includes only units which sustained casualties, MG Benjamin F. Butler BG Alfred H. Terry MG Godfrey Weitzel The following Confederate army units and commanders fought at the battle. The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide
30.
Battle of Trent's Reach
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The Battle of Trents Reach was one of the final major naval battles of the American Civil War. Grant who was besieging Petersburg, Virginia, after two days of fighting the rebels withdrew back up the river without completing their objectives. Confederate forces were under the direction of Commodore John K. Mitchell who commanded the James River Squadron in his flagship, weighing an estimated 2,500 tons, the Fredericksburg was a formidable opponent armed with one 11-inch smoothbore cannon and three smaller rifled guns. The ironclad rams CSS Richmond and CSS Virginia II also participated in the attack, Richmond weighed an estimated 800 tons and carried six guns. The 650 ton Virginia II was armed with four guns and had a crew of about 150 officers and men, the same complement as the other two ironclads. Confederate forces deployed eight other vessels, three of which were lashed to the sides of the ironclads and the torpedo boat CSS Scorpion was towed down river by the gunboat Drewry. The other vessels were the gunboats Nansemond, Hampton, Beaufort and Torpedo, the torpedo boats CSS Wasp and CSS Hornet were the last two ships in the fleet. All three of the boats carried only one spar torpedo and they were not used in the engagement at Trents Reach. However, to get to the base, the rebels had to fight their way past multiple obstacles in and along the river, including warships, a mine field and net, Fort Brady. The Union fortifications were under the command of Colonel Henry H. Pierce of the 1st Connecticut Artillery, at the time Onondaga was the only Union monitor on the river though she was accompanied by the side-wheel gunboats USS Massasoit and USS Hunchback. USS Massasoit was a ship, weighing 974 tons, so she was fitted out for ten guns of different sizes. Hunchback weighed 512 tons and had an armament of four guns, Commodore Mitchell lifted anchor at Chaffins Bluff just after sunset, his first task would be to sneak by the Union battery on Signal Hill and Fort Brady in the darkness. The first shot of the battle was from a gun mounted in the fort. Some twenty-five rounds were discharged by the gunners in this first action. After getting past the fort, Commodore Mitchell continued on for the mine field at Trents Reach. Meanwhile, two Confederate batteries, consisting of at least sixteen cannon, opened up on Pierces position, among the mine field were the hulks of several sunken vessels, in between them there was placed a spar torpedo, preventing any ship from passing through. The crew of the Fredericksburg went to work on removing the spar while the three boats under Lieutenant Charles Savvy Read, made a reconnaissance of the channel. All of this was done under a rain of missiles from three Union shore batteries and sharpshooters who were in control of the area
31.
Battle of Fort Stedman
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The Battle of Fort Stedman, also known as the Battle of Hares Hill, was fought on March 25,1865, during the final days of the American Civil War. The Union Army fortification in the lines around Petersburg, Virginia, was attacked in a pre-dawn Confederate assault by troops led by Maj. Gen. John B. The attack was the last serious attempt by Confederate troops to break the Siege of Petersburg, after an initial success, Gordons men were driven back by Union troops of the IX Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. John G. Parke. Johnston, jointly defeat Sherman, and then go after Grant, third, on March 6, however, Gordon was summoned back to headquarters and Lee told him that there seemed to be but one thing that we could do—fight. It could only be if we fought and failed. Stedman, a Union colonel from Connecticut who had killed in the vicinity in August 1864. It was one of the closest spots to the Confederate works, there were fewer wooden chevaux de frise obstructions protecting it, Military Railroad was less than a mile behind the fort. Lee had also ordered the division of Maj. Gen. George Pickett of the First Corps to move from its north of the James River in time to join the action. Rooney Lees cavalry division was designated to exploit the expected infantry breakthrough, parkes 3rd Division, under Brig. Gen. John F. Hartranft, was in reserve behind the lines. While Maj. Gen. George G. Meade was away at City Point with Grant, Parke was the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Gordons attack started at 4,15 a. m, lead parties of sharpshooters and engineers masquerading as deserting soldiers headed out to overwhelm Union pickets and to remove obstructions that would delay the infantry advance. They were followed by three groups of 100 men assigned to storm the Union works and stream back into the Union rear area and these men relied on surprise and speed—they carried unloaded muskets so that no one could accidentally fire and alert the enemy. The main thrust was between Batteries XI and X, with one group moving north for Battery XI and the two for X and Stedman. Assuming that he had sealed the breach in the line. He suddenly realized that the men he was ordering were Confederates and they realized he was a Union general and he was taken back across no mans land and surrendered his sword personally to Gordon. Gordon soon arrived at Fort Stedman and found his attack had so far exceeded his most sanguine expectations, within minutes, Batteries X, XI, and XII and Fort Stedman had been seized, opening a gap nearly 1,000 feet long in the Union line. Confederate artillerists under Lt. Col. Robert M. Stribling used the guns in Stedman. The attack began having difficulty at Battery IX to the north, where the Union troops formed a battle line, Gordon turned his attention to the southern flank of his attack and Fort Haskell, against which he launched his division under Clement Evans
32.
Union Army
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The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War,1861 to 1865. It included the permanent regular army of the United States, which was augmented by numbers of temporary units consisting of volunteers as well as conscripts. The Union Army fought and eventually defeated the Confederate Army during the war, at least two and a half million men served in the Union Army, almost all were volunteers. About 360,000 Union soldiers died from all causes,280,000 were wounded and 200,000 deserted. When the American Civil War began in April 1861, there were only 16,000 men in the U. S. Army, and of these many Southern officers resigned and joined the Confederate army. The U. S. Army consisted of ten regiments of infantry, four of artillery, Lincolns call forced the border states to choose sides, and four seceded, making the Confederacy eleven states strong. The war proved to be longer and more extensive than anyone North or South had expected, the call for volunteers initially was easily met by patriotic Northerners, abolitionists, and even immigrants who enlisted for a steady income and meals. Over 10,000 Germans in New York and Pennsylvania immediately responded to Lincolns call, as more men were needed, however, the number of volunteers fell and both money bounties and forced conscription had to be turned to. Nevertheless, between April 1861 and April 1865, at least two and a million men served in the Union Army, of whom the majority were volunteers. It is a misconception that the South held an advantage because of the percentage of professional officers who resigned to join the Confederate army. At the start of the war, there were 824 graduates of the U. S, Military Academy on the active list, of these,296 resigned or were dismissed, and 184 of those became Confederate officers. Of the approximately 900 West Point graduates who were civilians,400 returned to the Union Army and 99 to the Confederate. Therefore, the ratio of Union to Confederate professional officers was 642 to 283, the South did have the advantage of other military colleges, such as The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute, but they produced fewer officers. The Union Army was composed of numerous organizations, which were generally organized geographically, Military Division A collection of Departments reporting to one commander. Military Divisions were similar to the modern term Theater, and were modeled close to, though not synonymous with. Department An organization that covered a region, including responsibilities for the Federal installations therein. Those named for states usually referred to Southern states that had been occupied and it was more common to name departments for rivers or regions. District A subdivision of a Department, there were also Subdistricts for smaller regions
33.
Southside Railroad (Virginia)
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The Southside Railroad was formed in Virginia in 1846. Construction was begun in 1849 and completed in 1854, the 5 ft gauge railroad connected City Point, a port on the James River with the farm country south and west of Petersburg, Virginia, to Lynchburg, Virginia, a distance of about 132 miles. The Southside Railroad was important to the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, ravaged by the war, it was rebuilt and later became an important part of Norfolk and Western and Norfolk Southerns coal route from the mountains to port at Hampton Roads. In addition to coal, most of the route is in use in the 20th century for intermodal container and automobile parts. The charter for the new Southside Railroad was issued by the State of Virginia in 1846, construction began from the eastern end in 1849, reaching Burkeville and a connection with the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1852. The structure was 2,400 feet long and as high as 117 feet in the center, the Southside Railroad was completed to Percival Island across the James River from Lynchburg in 1854. Also in 1854, the Southside Railroad acquired the 9-mile long City Point Railroad and it had been purchased by the City of Petersburg in 1847, and renamed Appomattox Railroad. Beyond the lines of battle until the wars last year, the damage it suffered was the financial weakness caused by Confederate compensation policies. Ironically, the City Point Railroad portion of the Southside Railroad was of value to the Union forces during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-65. General Ulysses S. Grant used and extended it to move supplies and troops from the port at City Point to the south and east of Petersburg. In a meeting at Appomattox about the time of the surrender, defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee urged his generals to go home, to the good fortune of the Southside Railroad, one of his more able young commanders, Major General William Mahone, did just that. In the pre-war years, Little Billy Mahone of Southampton County had been educated at Virginia Military Institute as a civil engineer. Mahone had been President of the N&P prior to the war and he was an able leader during the war, best known as the hero of the Battle of the Crater in 1864, in which he rallied troops and foiled an initial Union success during the Siege of Petersburg. The war had demonstrated the need to consolidate resources and connections, in the post-war years, William Mahone became the driving force in the linkage of N&P, Southside Railroad and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He was president of all three by the end of 1867, Mahone wanted to combine them into a single entity and expand westward. The letters A, M & O were said to stand for All Mine, the Mahones lived in Lynchburg, Virginia during this time, but moved to Petersburg in or before 1880. The former Southside Railroad was originally one of 3 A, M & O divisions, the A, M & O did well for several years, but fell on hard times in the financial panic of 1873, which negatively impacted almost all of the railroads. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahones role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern interests purchased the A, M, & O and renamed it Norfolk and Western
34.
Confederate States Army
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The Confederate States Army was the military ground force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. S. Military Academy and colonel of a regiment during the Mexican War. In March 1861, the Provisional Confederate Congress established a more permanent Confederate States Army, the better estimates of the number of individual Confederate soldiers are between 750,000 and 1,000,000 men. This does not include a number of slaves who were pressed into performing various tasks for the army, such as construction of fortifications. Since these figures include estimates of the number of individual soldiers who served at any time during the war. These numbers do not include men who served in Confederate naval forces, although most of the soldiers who fought in the American Civil War were volunteers, both sides by 1862 resorted to conscription, primarily as a means to force men to register and to volunteer. In the absence of records, estimates of the percentage of Confederate soldiers who were draftees are about double the 6 percent of Union soldiers who were conscripts. Confederate casualty figures also are incomplete and unreliable, one estimate of Confederate wounded, which is considered incomplete, is 194,026. These numbers do not include men who died from causes such as accidents. Other Confederate forces surrendered between April 16,1865 and June 28,1865, by the end of the war, more than 100,000 Confederate soldiers had deserted. The Confederacys government effectively dissolved when it fled Richmond in April, by the time Abraham Lincoln took office as President of the United States on March 4,1861, the seven seceding slave states had formed the Confederate States. The Confederacy seized federal property, including nearly all U. S. Army forts, Lincoln was determined to hold the forts remaining under U. S. control when he took office, especially Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Under orders from Confederate President Jefferson Davis, C. S. troops under the command of General P. G. T, Beauregard bombarded Fort Sumter on April 12–13,1861, forcing its capitulation on April 14. The Northern states were outraged by the Confederacys attack and demanded war and it rallied behind Lincolns call on April 15, for all the states to send troops to recapture the forts from the secessionists, to put down the rebellion and to preserve the Union intact. Four more slave states joined the Confederacy. The Confederate Congress provided for a Confederate army patterned after the United States Army and it was to consist of a large provisional force to exist only in time of war and a small permanent regular army. Although the two forces were to exist concurrently, very little was done to organize the Confederate regular army, the Provisional Army of the Confederate States began organizing on April 27. Virtually all regular, volunteer, and conscripted men preferred to enter this organization since officers could achieve a rank in the Provisional Army than they could in the Regular Army
35.
Major general (United States)
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In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general, a major general typically commands division-sized units of 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Major general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the United States Navy. The United States Code explicitly limits the number of general officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 231 for the Army,61 for the Marine Corps, some of these slots are reserved or finitely set by statute. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank and this list is then sent to the service secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for review before it can be sent to the President, through the Secretary of Defense for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the secretary, and if applicable. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, the Senate must then confirm the nominee by a majority vote before the officer can be promoted. Once confirmed, the nominee is promoted to rank on assuming a position of office that requires an officer to hold the rank. For positions of office that are reserved by statute, the President nominates an officer for appointment to fill that position, since the grade of major general is permanent, the rank does not expire when the officer vacates a two-star position. Tour length varies depending on the position, by statute, and/or when the officer receives a new assignment or a promotion, in the case of the Air National Guard, they may also serve as The Adjutant General for their state, commonwealth or territory. Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement of general officers, all major generals must retire after five years in grade or 35 years of service, whichever is later, unless appointed for promotion or reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise, all officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However, the Secretary of Defense may defer a general officers retirement until the officers 66th birthday, because there are a finite number of General Officer positions, one officer must retire before another can be promoted. As a result, general officers typically retire well in advance of the age and service limits. The rank of general was abolished in the U. S. Army by the Act of March 16,1802. Major general has been a rank in the U. S. Army ever since, to address this anomaly, Washington was posthumously promoted by Congress to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States in 1976. The position of Major General Commanding the Army was entitled to three stars according to General Order No.6 of March 13,1861
36.
Brigadier general (United States)
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In the United States Armed Forces, brigadier general is a one-star general officer with the pay grade of O-7 in the U. S. Army, U. S. Marine Corps, and U. S. Air Force. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general, the rank of brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed services. The rank of brigadier general has existed in the U. S. military since the inception of the Continental Army in June 1775, later, on June 18,1780, it was prescribed that brigadier generals would instead wear a single silver star on each epaulette. At first, brigadier generals were infantry officers who commanded a brigade, however, over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the responsibilities of the rank expanded significantly. During the period from March 16,1802, to January 11,1812, foreseeing the need for an expanded general staff in case of war, which seemed imminent, Congress restored the rank of major general in January 1812. The first brigadier general in the U. S. Marine Corps was Commandant Archibald Henderson, the insignia for a brigadier general is one silver star worn on the shoulder or collar, and has not changed since the creation of the rank two centuries ago. Since the Mexican-American War, however, the rank of colonel has been the normal rank appointed to command a brigade that is organic to a division. In an infantry brigade not organic to a division, a brigadier general serves as the units commander, an Air Force brigadier general typically commands a large wing. Additionally, one-star officers of all services may serve as staff officers in large military organizations. U. S. Code of law explicitly limits the number of general officers who may be on active duty. The total of active duty general officers is capped at 230 for the Army,60 for the Marine Corps, the President or Secretary of Defense may increase the number of general slots in one branch, so long as they subtract an equal number from another. Some of these slots are reserved by statute, for promotion to the permanent grade of brigadier general, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers from their branch of service. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank and this list is then sent to the service secretary and the joint chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President, through the defense secretary, for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the Secretary of Defense, the secretary, and if applicable. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, the Senate must then confirm the nominee by a majority vote before the officer can be promoted. Once the nominee is confirmed, they are promoted to that once they assume or hold an office that requires or allows an officer of that rank. For positions of office reserved by statute, the President nominates an officer for appointment to fill that position, for all three uniformed services, because the grade of brigadier general is a permanent rank, the nominee may still be screened by an in-service promotion board. The rank does not expire when the officer vacates a one-star position, tour length varies depending on the position, by statute, or when the officer receives a new assignment
37.
David McMurtrie Gregg
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David McMurtrie Gregg was a farmer, diplomat, and a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War. Gregg was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and he was the first cousin of future Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin and the grandson of Pennsylvania Congressman Andrew Gregg. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1855 and was given a commission as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U. S. Dragoons Regiment. During his tenure at West Point, he interacted with two classmates who would become great cavalry generals—an opponent and a commander, respectively, J. E. B, Stuart, class of 1854, and Philip Sheridan, class of 1853. His first real assignment was in the New Mexico Territory, as a commander in the 1st U. S. Dragoons. His unit was ordered to California and he traveled with his friend Dorsey Pender and his company then marched to Fort Vancouver, in Washington Territory. During this tour of duty, Lt. Gregg had his first taste of combat, engaged with 160 men against 1,000 Indian warriors, the fighting lasted for three days, although casualties were minor, and Gregg managed a fighting retreat. At the start of the Civil War, Gregg returned to Washington, D. C. where he was promoted to captain in the 3rd U. S. Cavalry and he developed typhoid fever and barely escaped death when his Washington hospital caught fire. In January 1862 he became colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Gregg and the 8th Pennsylvania fought in the Peninsula Campaign, where he distinguished himself in the Seven Days Battles, expertly screening retreating Union infantry. The Battle of Antietam was his engagement, but cavalry played little role. He received a furlough and married Ellen F. Sheaff on October 6,1862, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Gregg was promoted to brigadier general just before the Battle of Fredericksburg. As at Antietam, the cavalry was underutilized and held in reserve and he commanded a brigade in the division of Alfred Pleasonton. Gregg was sent to command of another cavalry brigade when its commander. After Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker assumed command of the demoralized Army of the Potomac, he shook up the cavalry organization and he removed cavalry units from corps and divisions, and consolidated them as a separate Cavalry Corps, under Maj. Gen. George Stoneman. Gregg assumed command of the 3rd Division in February 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Stonemans corps, including Greggs division, was dispatched on a raid around Lees left flank to destroy facilities in his rear. Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton replaced Stoneman in command of the Cavalry Corps, during the start of the Gettysburg Campaign, Lees stealthy troop movements away from the Fredericksburg area caused Union consternation and Pleasonton was ordered to find out where they were going. Launching a surprise attack on Maj. Gen. J. E. B, Stuart at Brandy Station resulted in the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the war. The initial assault crossed the Rappahannock River at Beverly Ford under command of Brig. Gen. John Buford
38.
Gershom Mott
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Gershom Mott was a United States Army officer and a General in the Union Army, a commander in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. General Mott was born in Lamberton, New Jersey, a town outside of Trenton and he was the grandson of American Revolutionary War Captain John Mott, who guided General George Washington’s army down the Delaware River to the celebrated victory at the Battle of Trenton. The reliability of this claim has come under question. His parents were Gershom and Phebe Rose Scudder Mott, Gershom Mott was the youngest of five children. He received his education at the Trenton Academy, which is now the Trenton Public Library, Gershom Mott began to work when he was only fourteen years old as a sales clerk in a dry goods store in New York City. He became a lieutenant in the 10th U. S. On August 8,1849, Gershom Mott married Elizabeth Smith and they had one child, Kate, who recorded and published the family genealogy in later years. From 1849 to 1861, Mott held a variety of jobs in New Jersey with the Lamberton Port, Bordentown, Delaware & Raritan Canal Co. and the Bordentown Bank. In the summer after the start of the Civil War, Mott was appointed the lieutenant colonel of the 5th New Jersey Infantry, part of the Army of the Potomac. His regiment fought in the Peninsula Campaign and shortly after the Battle of Williamsburg he was promoted to colonel and he was commended for bravery in the Battle of Seven Pines, but he and his regiment saw little action in the Seven Days Battles. During the Second Battle of Bull Run, Mott was severely wounded in the arm and he was forced to recuperate during the Battle of Antietam and returned to the Army just after the Battle of Fredericksburg. Mott led a brigade in the III Corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville and his brigade was commanded by Colonel George C. Mott returned to duty in the fall of 1863 and led his brigade in the Bristoe and he commanded the 4th Division of the II Corps during the 1864 Overland Campaign. At the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House his division suffered heavy losses during an assault on the Mule Shoe that they were dispersed. In addition, Mott and his division, once the proud command of Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, were thought unreliable by Winfield S. Hancock, Mott continued as a brigade commander under Maj. Gen. David B. Birney and was restored to command in July, performing well during the Siege of Petersburg. He was one of the few Union officers to be commended for his actions in the disastrous Battle of the Crater, three days before the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Mott was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Amelia Springs. He attained by wars end a reputation for competency and bravery, on December 1,1865, he was promoted to major general, effective May 26,1865
39.
Plank road
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A plank road is a dirt path or road covered with a series of wooden planks. Plank roads were found in the Canadian province of Ontario. They were often built by turnpike companies, in the late 1840s plank roads led to an investment boom and subsequent bust. The first plank road in the US was built in North Syracuse, New York in order to transport salt and other goods, ultimately the technology failed to live up to its promise and millions of dollars in investments evaporated almost overnight. Three plank roads, the Hackensack, the Paterson, and the Newark, were major arteries in northern New Jersey, the roads travelled over the New Jersey Meadowlands, connecting the cities for which they were named to the Hudson River waterfront. Kingston Road, Danforth Avenue in Toronto were plank roads built by the Don and Danforth Plank Road Company in the late 18th, highway 2 from Toronto eastwards was once plank roads in the 19th century and later paved. In Perth, Western Australia, plank roads were important in the growth of the agricultural and outer urban areas, given the distances imposed by swamps. As it cost UK£2,000 per kilometre to construct roads by conventional means, the 90-centimetre gap was filled with limestone rubble to be used by horses. This reduced the cost of building by up to 85 percent after their widespread introduction in 1908. However, increased traffic and suburban development rendered these routes unsatisfactory over time and by the 1950s they had been replaced with bitumen surfaced roads
40.
Wade Hampton III
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Wade Hampton III came from a wealthy planter family and shortly before the war was one of the largest slaveholders in the Southeast. He was elected to the state legislature, during the American Civil War, he served as a Confederate cavalry leader, reaching the rank of lieutenant general. In the postwar years, he returned to serve as a Democratic Party politician from South Carolina, near the end of the Reconstruction, Hampton was elected as the 77th Governor of South Carolina, serving 1876-1879, and later was elected as a U. S. Senator. His campaign as governor was marked by violence by the Red Shirts. They contributed to the Democrats regaining control of the government in this period. Wade Hampton III was born in 1818 at 54 Hasell St. in Charleston, South Carolina, the eldest son of Wade Hampton II, known as Colonel Wade Hampton and his mother was from a wealthy family in Charleston. After the War of 1812, his father had built his own fortune on land speculation in the Southeast, together with owning extensive plantation lands in South Carolina and Mississippi, he was said to own the highest number of slaves in the South. The senior Hampton was an officer of dragoons in the War of 1812, and an aide to General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. The boy was the grandson of Wade Hampton, lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the American War of Independence, member of the U. S. House of Representatives, and brigadier general in the War of 1812. Wade IIIs uncle by marriage, James Henry Hammond, was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, in the late 1850s he was elected to the U. S. Senate. Wade Hampton III grew up in a planter family, receiving private instruction. His was an outdoor life, he rode horses and hunted, especially at his familys North Carolina summer retreat. The youth was known for taking hunting trips alone into the woods, some accounts credit him with killing as many as 80 bears. In 1836 Hampton graduated from South Carolina College, and was trained for the law and his father assigned certain plantations to him to manage in South Carolina and Mississippi. The younger man also active in Democratic state politics. He was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 1852, after Hamptons father died in 1858, the son inherited his vast fortune, the plantations, and one of the largest holdings of slaves in the South. Although Hampton was conservative on issues of secession and slavery, and he had opposed the division of the Union as a legislator and he resigned from the US Senate and enlisted at the age of 42 as a private in the South Carolina Militia. The governor of South Carolina insisted that Hampton accept a colonels commission, although he had no military experience, his years of managing plantations and serving in state government were considered signs of leadership
41.
General officers in the Confederate States Army
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The general officers of the Confederate States Army were the senior military leaders of the Confederacy during the American Civil War of 1861–1865. They were often former officers from the United States Army prior to the Civil War, most Confederate generals needed confirmation from the Confederate Congress, much like prospective generals in the modern U. S. armed forces. Much of the design of the Confederate States Army was based on the structure, the Confederate Army was composed of three parts, the Army of the Confederate States of America, the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and the various Southern state militias. Graduates from West Point and Mexican War veterans were highly sought after by Jefferson Davis for military service, like their Federal counterparts, the Confederate Army had both professional and political generals within it. Ranks throughout the CSA were roughly based on the U. S. Army in design and seniority. On February 27,1861, a staff for the army was authorized, consisting of four positions, an adjutant general, a quartermaster general, a commissary general. Initially the last of these was to be a staff officer only, the post of adjutant general was filled by Samuel Cooper and he held it throughout the Civil War, as well as the armys inspector general. As officers were appointed to the grades of general by Jefferson Davis. The dates of rank, as well as seniority of officers appointed to the grade on the same day, were determined by Davis usually following the guidelines established for the prewar U. S. Army. These generals were most often infantry or cavalry brigade commanders, aides to other higher ranking generals, and War Department staff officers. By wars end the Confederacy had at least 383 different men who held this rank in the PACS, the organization of regiments into brigades was authorized by the Congress on March 6,1861. Brigadier generals would command them, and these generals were to be nominated by Davis and these generals also often led sub-districts within military departments, with command over soldiers in their sub-district. These generals outranked Confederate Army colonels, who commonly led infantry regiments and this rank is equivalent to brigadier general in the modern U. S. army. These generals were most commonly infantry division commanders, aides to other higher ranking generals and they also led the districts that made up military departments, and had command over the troops in their districts. By wars end, the Confederacy had at least 88 different men who had held this rank, divisions were authorized by the Congress on March 6,1861, and major generals would command them. These generals were to be nominated by Davis and confirmed by the Senate, Major generals outranked brigadiers and all other lesser officers. This rank was not synonymous with the Unions use of it, as Northern major generals led divisions, corps and this rank is equivalent in most respects to major general in the modern U. S. Army. All of the Confederacys lieutenant generals were in the PACS, the Congress legalized the creation of army corps on September 18,1862, and directed that lieutenant generals lead them
42.
A. P. Hill
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Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr. was a Confederate army general who was killed in the American Civil War. A native Virginian, Hill was a career United States Army officer who had fought in the Mexican–American War, Hill is usually referred to as A. P. Hill, to differentiate him from another, unrelated Confederate general, D. H. Hill. Hill, known to his family as Powell, was born in Culpeper, Virginia, Hill was nominated to enter the United States Military Academy in 1842, in a class that started with 85 cadets. He made friends easily, including such prominent future generals as Darius N. Couch, George E. Pickett, Jesse L. Reno, George Stoneman, Truman Seymour, Cadmus M. Wilcox, and George B. McClellan. His future commander, Thomas J. Jackson, was in the same class, Hill had a higher social status in Virginia and valued having a good time in his off-hours, whereas Jackson scorned levity and practiced his religion more fervently than Hill could tolerate. In 1844, Hill returned from a furlough with a case of gonorrhea, reassigned to the class of 1847, he made new friendships in particular with Henry Heth and Ambrose E. Burnside. He graduated in 1847, ranking 15th of 38 and he was appointed to the 1st U. S. Artillery as a second lieutenant. He served in a company during the final months of the Mexican-American War. After some garrison assignments along the Atlantic seaboard, he served in the Seminole Wars, again arriving near the end of the war and he was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1851. From 1855 to 1860, Hill was employed on the United States coastal survey and he was once engaged to Ellen B. Marcy, the wife of Hills West Point roommate George B. McClellan, before her parents pressured her to break off the engagement, on July 18,1859, he married Kitty Morgan McClung, a young widow, thus becoming the brother-in-law of future Confederate cavalry generals John Hunt Morgan and Basil W. Duke. On March 1,1861, just before the outbreak of the Civil War, after Virginia seceded, he was appointed colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment. The 13th Virginia was one of the regiments in Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Hill was promoted to general on February 26,1862. Hills division initially formed part of James Longstreets command and his division did not participate in the Battle of Seven Pines, the battle in which Joseph E. Johnston was wounded and replaced in command of the Army of Northern Virginia by Robert E. Lee. June 1 was the first day that Hill began using a nickname for his division and this contradictory name for the largest division in all of the Confederate armies may have been selected because Hill wished his men to have a reputation for speed and agility. Hill launched multiple attacks throughout the Seven Days Battles, including at Mechanicsville, Gainess Mill, and Glendale, his division was held in reserve at Malvern Hill
United States (Union)
CSA (Confederacy)