Civil War Scholar
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2014
- Location
- Thassos, Greece
150 years ago, on August 14, 1864, the Second Battle of Deep Bottom began.
The Union expeditionary force was led by Winfield Scott Hancock and the Confederate defending force was led by General Charles Field and, on August 16, by General Robert E. Lee himself.
On August 14, after crossing the James River, Hancock placed the Union X Corps, under David Birney on his left and his 1st and 2nd division on his right. His 3rd division took position in his center, under Gershom Mott. Hancock ordered Mott to demonstrate against Richmond, his first two divisions (assigned to Francis Barlow) to breach the Darbytown Road. Birney was ordered to take the New Market Heights.
The Union plan went awry from the beginning. Birney's troops were halted before the New Market Heights and failed to achieve the penetration Hancock wanted. Barlow made contact with the Confederates and was surprised by their strength. Hancock ordered him and Mott to attack en masse and seize the Confederate entrenchments. Yet, their effort was poorly coordinated and they were given a handsome repulse.
On August 15, Hancock ordered Birney to join him and attack the Confederate left. Birney was slow and suffered many casualties from heat stroke. Hancock executed only a reconnaissance in force.
On August 16, the Yankees renewed their efforts. Their cavalry tried to advance to Glendale and the Charles City Road. But, General Rooney Lee was blocking their path, they were assaulted and forced back to Fisher's Farm, their prong no longer a danger. The Yankee infantrymen began with better luck. Their numerical superiority t\started to tell and Ambrose Wright's brigade from Georgia started giving way. General Robert E. Lee, upon seeing what was going on, took action. He arrived at the front and, amidst cries of "Lee to the rear!" he, with William C. Oates, led the attack that crumbled the Yankees and drove them back to where they started.
On August 17, no fighting occurred. A truce was made so that the dead and wounded would be retrieved. On the next day, General Lee planned a counterattack, which was launched on the afternoon, shortly before dark. Due to the time it started and the weariness of Lee's men, the assault didn't achieve gains in the field. Yet, it convinced Hancock that he was threatened and would be assaulted when and where General Lee wanted. Thus, on August 20, Hancock withdrew north of the James, gaining nothing apart from casualties, his expedition a total failure.
The Yankees suffered 3000 casualties in the battle and the total increases when adding the victims to heat stroke. Moreover, more than half of the Yankee losses were killed and captured.
On the other hand, General Lee and his Confederates suffered 1000 casualties, most of them wounded and quick to return in his ranks.
Civil War Scholar.
The Union expeditionary force was led by Winfield Scott Hancock and the Confederate defending force was led by General Charles Field and, on August 16, by General Robert E. Lee himself.
On August 14, after crossing the James River, Hancock placed the Union X Corps, under David Birney on his left and his 1st and 2nd division on his right. His 3rd division took position in his center, under Gershom Mott. Hancock ordered Mott to demonstrate against Richmond, his first two divisions (assigned to Francis Barlow) to breach the Darbytown Road. Birney was ordered to take the New Market Heights.
The Union plan went awry from the beginning. Birney's troops were halted before the New Market Heights and failed to achieve the penetration Hancock wanted. Barlow made contact with the Confederates and was surprised by their strength. Hancock ordered him and Mott to attack en masse and seize the Confederate entrenchments. Yet, their effort was poorly coordinated and they were given a handsome repulse.
On August 15, Hancock ordered Birney to join him and attack the Confederate left. Birney was slow and suffered many casualties from heat stroke. Hancock executed only a reconnaissance in force.
On August 16, the Yankees renewed their efforts. Their cavalry tried to advance to Glendale and the Charles City Road. But, General Rooney Lee was blocking their path, they were assaulted and forced back to Fisher's Farm, their prong no longer a danger. The Yankee infantrymen began with better luck. Their numerical superiority t\started to tell and Ambrose Wright's brigade from Georgia started giving way. General Robert E. Lee, upon seeing what was going on, took action. He arrived at the front and, amidst cries of "Lee to the rear!" he, with William C. Oates, led the attack that crumbled the Yankees and drove them back to where they started.
On August 17, no fighting occurred. A truce was made so that the dead and wounded would be retrieved. On the next day, General Lee planned a counterattack, which was launched on the afternoon, shortly before dark. Due to the time it started and the weariness of Lee's men, the assault didn't achieve gains in the field. Yet, it convinced Hancock that he was threatened and would be assaulted when and where General Lee wanted. Thus, on August 20, Hancock withdrew north of the James, gaining nothing apart from casualties, his expedition a total failure.
The Yankees suffered 3000 casualties in the battle and the total increases when adding the victims to heat stroke. Moreover, more than half of the Yankee losses were killed and captured.
On the other hand, General Lee and his Confederates suffered 1000 casualties, most of them wounded and quick to return in his ranks.
Civil War Scholar.