Civil War History - The Eastern TheaterDiscuss any and all battles, movements, and events occuring in the Eastern Theater here! This includes any actions in tha area east of the Appalachian Mountains in the vicinity of the river capitals of Richmond and Washington D.C.
Thanks for all the replies. I would really like to hear from anyone who has studied this battle in depth. To those who have not visited this battlefield, I will add a few thoughts of my own. Firstly, the tunnel for the mine was much shorter than I had imagined, the trench lines being very close. The ground falls away at the Union end of the tunnel which meant the miners could enter directly, rather than down a vertical shaft. The crater itself is not as big as I had pictured it. Interpretation boards in the park explain this. After the battle, the Confederates adapted the crater as part of their lines. This tactic was also common in World War One, where trenches were extended forward to incorporate any new large shell holes. At the end of the Civil War, the area was excavated in order to find any bodies which could be re-buried in cemeteries. Despite this, the outline of the crater does still exist. Accounts of the battle show that not all attacking Union troops charged into the crater. Many became involved in trench fighting on either side. Those who did make it through the Confederate lines did not get far. A marker shows the extent of the Union advance. This is only a few yards from the rim of the crater.
What did occur to me, is the concentrated slaughter of this battle. Union casualties are given as about 4500. Confederate casualties are unknown but accounts usually quote figures up to about 2000. The Union lines were less than 200 yards from the crater, and no significant advance was made beyond the Confederate trenches. So many casualties in a tiny area must surpass even battles such as Franklin.
Following the excellent replies I got to my questions on the stone wall at Fredericksburg, I have a question on the Crater. The Confederates were aware that the Union troops were digging a tunnel. This is clear from the fact that they dug two 'counter tunnels'. But what I cannot understand is that these two tunnels were started in front of their own lines. How did men come and go from these tunnels which were in full view of the Union trenches? The Confederate tunnels do not seem to have been very deep, so it would appear that only a half hearted effort was made. Did they not fully appreciate the danger? The end of the Union tunnel was not visible, but the ventilation shaft in no mans land would have been. A fire burned at the bottom of the shaft to draw in air from the tunnel entrance. Smoke would have been rising almost continuously.
An excellent find Cash. The description of bodies lying 8-10 deep and blood shoe high certainly confirms the concentrated slaughter of this battle. Also interesting to note that the crater was described as being only a depression as long ago as the 1900's. Glad to say, nothing remains of the 1920's golf course which was constructed on the battlefield. On my last visit to the US, the staff at the Chancellorsville visitor centre told me about the restoration work done on battlefields during the 1930's. The Battle of the Crater was part of this work.
I have read, or been told that, after the charge was detonated, 'colored" troops were sent in first, and were overwhelmed, and retreated back. I have always wondered if this was accurate.
I have read, or been told that, after the charge was detonated, 'colored" troops were sent in first, and were overwhelmed, and retreated back. I have always wondered if this was accurate.
Largely inaccurate, nut. Colored troops were to have been sent in first, and were in training for that assault shortly after the tunnel was started.
But Burnside's superiors, including Grant, thought that sending colored troops in first could be read wrong by northern papers, sent in white troops instead, followed by the coloreds. Of course, the coloreds were trained to not rush into the crater that the white troops did rush into. The coloreds were sent into the maelstrom that developed after the rebs regained their composure. Two, two -- two oooops in one.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Question, and I just want to double check it was the 48th Pa, that was made up of some coal miners that did the primary digging. Am I correct in that.
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Chaplain John J Merchlinsky III A.S.
Davison's Flying Artillery
During the recent fight on the Rappahannock, he saw a man running past him. 'Where are you going?' cried the general. 'To the rear,' replied the man. 'I am a non-combatant.' 'Who are you?' demanded the general. 'I am a chaplain,' replied the runner. 'Well,' said the general, 'here is consistency! For 20 years you have been wanting to get to heaven, and now that there is a chance, you run away from it.' " --Gen. Jubal Early
Yes, many of the 48th PA were originally miners and were well adapted to that type of warfare. Their tools weren't and had to be improvised as the Army did not support them.
I have read where Meade was not too impressed with the idea. He didnt really figure the attack after the explosion would be too successful. He figured people would think he sent the black troops in to be slaughtered, or used them for the attack incase it did not work. So they decided not to use the black troops that had ben trained for the attack.
Lt. Col ( or Col...can't quite remember) Henry Pleasants was with the 48th Penn. He was a mining engineer and it was he who proposed the digging of the tunnels.
It's also my understanding that Ledlie's men (the Union division which made the charge) tried using the crater as a rifle pit. That makes little sense to me, yet without any leadership, could have been very possible.
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"Persons can talk about the horrors of war but to witness them is a different matter altogether."
--Lt. Col. John Gibson, 14th VA Calvary, battle at Philippi, June 3, 1861
Following the excellent replies I got to my questions on the stone wall at Fredericksburg, I have a question on the Crater. The Confederates were aware that the Union troops were digging a tunnel. This is clear from the fact that they dug two 'counter tunnels'. But what I cannot understand is that these two tunnels were started in front of their own lines. How did men come and go from these tunnels which were in full view of the Union trenches? The Confederate tunnels do not seem to have been very deep, so it would appear that only a half hearted effort was made. Did they not fully appreciate the danger? The end of the Union tunnel was not visible, but the ventilation shaft in no mans land would have been. A fire burned at the bottom of the shaft to draw in air from the tunnel entrance. Smoke would have been rising almost continuously.
First, we must hail the Crater explosion as the first "Mushroom Cloud" recorded in history. I do not know or remember of the confederates digging their own tunnels to intercept the union tunnel.
The smoke was rising continuously but the confederate did not realize what the fire purpose was. The use of fire to draw air into and out of the tunnel for ventilation was a new invention by a union officer. No ventilation tunnels were needed.
Gen. Porter Alexander was concerned the union was digging a tunnel. His concerns were not followup on by the confederate leadership after he was wounded for they thought the distance was too far for unventilated tunnel.
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