Petersburg/Richmond A question about Petersburg...

Mr. Q

Cadet
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Location
Australia
Hi folks!
I have a question about the battle (or siege) of Petersburg...

Were there two different names for this military action, or did both sides call it Petersburg?

I'm thinking of the fact that the North often had different names for battles than the South (Manassas/Bull Run, Antietam/Sharpsburg, etc).
I've obviously searched this on the internet, but I cannot find a clear answer. Was Petersburg like Gettysburg, in the sense that both sides referred to it by the same name?

If one of you knowledgeable folks could help me out, I'd be grateful. It's research for a novel.

Thank you in advance!

--Mr. Q
 
Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi! It was called Petersburg by both sides and all of the subsequent battles/engaments until Appomattox were as well. Be sure and visit the Shiloh Forum soon.
Regards
David
 
Thanks so much, to one and all. That tells me all I need to know... for now!

I really appreciate the information and the links you've shared.

For me, this history is not one I learned in school. I'm Australian, and our schools just didn't teach much at all about the ACW. I got my interest in 19th century American history from TV and movies... everything from The Rifleman and The Outlaw Josey Wales to Little Big Man and even F Troop.
(Yeah, I'm a 1963 model... makes me 56 years old now... D'OH! How'd THAT happen?)

However, I'm no specialist; so it's great to find a forum like this one that is not only helpful for research but also entertaining. Man, the first time I came across this site, I lost hours in here!

So thanks again to all who commented... Ole Miss, Hoseman, JOHN42768 and good ol' Saint Jude!
(My main character's name is Judas... it's close!)

Cheers from Australia :smile coffee:
 
Another quick question, if I may (which is related to the topic)...

I note that the battle of Shiloh was also known as the battle of Pittsburg Landing... which of these was the Southern name for the battle?
What name would a Confederate soldier have used?
(And yes, I have Googled it... I cannot seem to find a definitive answer, other than 'the battle was also known as...')

Once again, I thank you in advance and bow to your superior knowledge.
 
Shiloh was the southern name and Pittsburg Landing northern. In general, the south preferred naming battles after places (Manassas, Murfreesboro, Sharpsburg), whereas the northern practice was to name battles after topographical features (Bull Run, Stones River, Antietam).
 
Petersburg is incredibly complicated, even trying to name the various engagements proves tricky. The easiest way to keep it clear is to break it down into a series of campaigns and offensives.

The first fighting at Petersburg predates the "Petersburg Campaign" itself. During Ben Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign, an expeditionary force from the Army of the James crossed the Appomattox River to test Petersburg's defenses before being pushed back in what became known as the Battle of Old Men and Young Boys, June 9, 1864. This is sometimes referred to as the First Battle of Petersburg.

The Army of the Potomac arrived from Cold Harbor the following week and launched attacks against the eastern defenses for four days, June 15-18. This is the first of Ulysses S. Grant's offensives against the Cockade City, but it is typically called the Second Battle of Petersburg.

Failing to take Petersburg through direct assault, Grant sought to cut the supply lines into the city and launched his Second Offensive, June 21-24, also known as Jerusalem Plank Road and First Weldon Railroad. At the same time he sent a portion of his cavalry into southern Virginia to raid the South Side Railroad and Richmond & Danville Railroad. The Wilson-Kautz Raid, June 22-July 1, was turned back at the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, June 25.

Next came the infamous Crater, July 30, but the explosion and resulting failed charge was part of a larger strategy by Grant to lure Lee into sending his men back north of the James River to protect Richmond. The Third Offensive, July 27-30 also included the fighting at First Deep Bottom. It should be noted that after the Crater, Grant won't order his men to attack fixed Confederate fortifications again until April 2, 1865.

His strategy, instead, reverts to his goal at the end of June, and the Fourth Offensive, August 14-25, involves another attempt to draw Confederates to Richmond and away from Petersburg (Second Deep Bottom), cutting another supply line (Globe Tavern or Second Weldon Railroad), and extending the damage to that railroad (Reams Station).

Every time the Union army gobbles up terrain around Petersburg, they extend their fortifications. The Confederates cause a scare the next month with the Beefsteak Raid (September 14-17), but it has little effect besides a temporary morale shift.

Grant goes back to his useful strategy again with the Fifth Offensive, September 29-October 13, capturing Confederate positions southeast of Richmond at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, but Confederate defense at Chaffin's Farm protects Richmond itself. Meanwhile, south of Petersburg, the Army of the Potomac overruns a newly built Confederate line at Peebles Farm, but can't reach their actual targets (Boydton Plank Road and the South Side Railroad).

The Union try again with a Sixth Offensive (October 27-28) that reaches the Boydton Plank Road at Burgess Mill before forced to withdraw back to the ground gained (and since fortified) around Peebles Farm. There is also fighting east of Richmond during the month, mainly small expeditions and cavalry raids, at Darbytown Road and Second Fair Oaks.

Though Union forces cut the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad in August, the Confederates continue to use it up until a point about twenty miles south of the city (and past Union control). Grant sends a large raid south along the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad supply line, hoping to destroy it all the way to North Carolina. This Hicksford Raid (December 7-12) is also known as the Stony Creek Raid or Applejack Raid.

Both armies then settle down for a few months, but a temporary break in the winter weather encourages Grant to try to cut the Boydton Plank Road again, resulting in the inconclusive battle of Hatcher's Run, or Dabney's Mill, February 5-7, 1865.

Lee's prospects continue to whittle away, as Confederate forces elsewhere rack up defeats while the Army of Northern Virginia is stuck protecting Petersburg. Desperate to force Grant to contract his ever-tightening noose around the city, Lee attacks the Union fortifications (something he hadn't tried since June) but is defeated at Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. Southwest of the city, the Union Second and Sixth Corps capture the CS picket line that afternoon at Watkins Farm and Jones Farm.

Grant's final offensive against Petersburg is sometimes lumped in with the Appomattox Campaign. Union columns continue the westward push around the Confederate lines and fight at Lewis Farm (March 29), White Oak Road (March 31), Dinwiddie Court House (March 31), and Five Forks (April 1). On April 2, Union forces attack all along the Petersburg front. This assault is sometimes referred to as the Third Battle of Petersburg, which is ridiculous considering the amount of fighting done since the "Second Battle" in June. The Ninth Corps attacks at Fort Mahone, the successful Sixth Corps charge didn't really have a proper name at first but is now known as the Breakthrough, the Second Corps fights at White Oak Road and Sutherland Station, portions of the Twenty-fourth Corps fight at Hatcher's Run and later Fort Gregg. By early afternoon, Lee has instructed his army to evacuate both Petersburg and Richmond and its on to Appomattox.

So, yeah, a lot of different names for the fighting around Petersburg.
 
Petersburg is incredibly complicated, even trying to name the various engagements proves tricky. The easiest way to keep it clear is to break it down into a series of campaigns and offensives.

The first fighting at Petersburg predates the "Petersburg Campaign" itself. During Ben Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign, an expeditionary force from the Army of the James crossed the Appomattox River to test Petersburg's defenses before being pushed back in what became known as the Battle of Old Men and Young Boys, June 9, 1864. This is sometimes referred to as the First Battle of Petersburg.

The Army of the Potomac arrived from Cold Harbor the following week and launched attacks against the eastern defenses for four days, June 15-18. This is the first of Ulysses S. Grant's offensives against the Cockade City, but it is typically called the Second Battle of Petersburg.

Failing to take Petersburg through direct assault, Grant sought to cut the supply lines into the city and launched his Second Offensive, June 21-24, also known as Jerusalem Plank Road and First Weldon Railroad. At the same time he sent a portion of his cavalry into southern Virginia to raid the South Side Railroad and Richmond & Danville Railroad. The Wilson-Kautz Raid, June 22-July 1, was turned back at the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, June 25.

Next came the infamous Crater, July 30, but the explosion and resulting failed charge was part of a larger strategy by Grant to lure Lee into sending his men back north of the James River to protect Richmond. The Third Offensive, July 27-30 also included the fighting at First Deep Bottom. It should be noted that after the Crater, Grant won't order his men to attack fixed Confederate fortifications again until April 2, 1865.

His strategy, instead, reverts to his goal at the end of June, and the Fourth Offensive, August 14-25, involves another attempt to draw Confederates to Richmond and away from Petersburg (Second Deep Bottom), cutting another supply line (Globe Tavern or Second Weldon Railroad), and extending the damage to that railroad (Reams Station).

Every time the Union army gobbles up terrain around Petersburg, they extend their fortifications. The Confederates cause a scare the next month with the Beefsteak Raid (September 14-17), but it has little effect besides a temporary morale shift.

Grant goes back to his useful strategy again with the Fifth Offensive, September 29-October 13, capturing Confederate positions southeast of Richmond at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, but Confederate defense at Chaffin's Farm protects Richmond itself. Meanwhile, south of Petersburg, the Army of the Potomac overruns a newly built Confederate line at Peebles Farm, but can't reach their actual targets (Boydton Plank Road and the South Side Railroad).

The Union try again with a Sixth Offensive (October 27-28) that reaches the Boydton Plank Road at Burgess Mill before forced to withdraw back to the ground gained (and since fortified) around Peebles Farm. There is also fighting east of Richmond during the month, mainly small expeditions and cavalry raids, at Darbytown Road and Second Fair Oaks.

Though Union forces cut the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad in August, the Confederates continue to use it up until a point about twenty miles south of the city (and past Union control). Grant sends a large raid south along the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad supply line, hoping to destroy it all the way to North Carolina. This Hicksford Raid (December 7-12) is also known as the Stony Creek Raid or Applejack Raid.

Both armies then settle down for a few months, but a temporary break in the winter weather encourages Grant to try to cut the Boydton Plank Road again, resulting in the inconclusive battle of Hatcher's Run, or Dabney's Mill, February 5-7, 1865.

Lee's prospects continue to whittle away, as Confederate forces elsewhere rack up defeats while the Army of Northern Virginia is stuck protecting Petersburg. Desperate to force Grant to contract his ever-tightening noose around the city, Lee attacks the Union fortifications (something he hadn't tried since June) but is defeated at Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. Southwest of the city, the Union Second and Sixth Corps capture the CS picket line that afternoon at Watkins Farm and Jones Farm.

Grant's final offensive against Petersburg is sometimes lumped in with the Appomattox Campaign. Union columns continue the westward push around the Confederate lines and fight at Lewis Farm (March 29), White Oak Road (March 31), Dinwiddie Court House (March 31), and Five Forks (April 1). On April 2, Union forces attack all along the Petersburg front. This assault is sometimes referred to as the Third Battle of Petersburg, which is ridiculous considering the amount of fighting done since the "Second Battle" in June. The Ninth Corps attacks at Fort Mahone, the successful Sixth Corps charge didn't really have a proper name at first but is now known as the Breakthrough, the Second Corps fights at White Oak Road and Sutherland Station, portions of the Twenty-fourth Corps fight at Hatcher's Run and later Fort Gregg. By early afternoon, Lee has instructed his army to evacuate both Petersburg and Richmond and its on to Appomattox.

So, yeah, a lot of different names for the fighting around Petersburg.
Great first post. Welcome to CivilWarTalk. Is the Siege Museum back open yet?
 
Budget issues forced the city to close all its museums in August 2016, but they afterward partnered with a newly created non-profit organization, the Petersburg Preservation Task Force, to reopen them. The Exchange Building (housing the Siege Museum) needed a lot of work done and as part of the renovation it was decided to focus on Petersburg's entire history, with elements of the Siege Museum incorporated in. The Exchange Building reopened with limited hours to the public last summer.
 
Thank you for that great run down of the fighting around Petersburg @ealexander1865 .

I have a special interest in the Wilson-Kautz raid which you have mentioned.

I'm also wondering why Grant wanted to draw the Confederates to Richmond and away from Petersburg? Surely Richmond was the prize?
 
Richmond might have been the ultimate prize but Grant wanted to first destroy Lee's army (or at least its ability to fight well). With that accomplished, the Confederate capital would be easy pickings. If Lee was backed into the elaborate Richmond fortifications, Grant would but unable to accomplish his goal except through siege. Northern leaders did not want to go that route for fear that an extended operation, coupled with slow progress on other fronts, would sink Lincoln's chance for reelection. So Grant targeted Petersburg instead, the supply hub for Richmond, whose capture he hoped would force the Confederates out of their defenses.

Now in order to capture Petersburg, Grant needed Lee to think Richmond was still the target. Grant wisely understood that Jefferson Davis's concern for Richmond's safety would handcuff Lee's strategy. So each time Grant planned to maneuver at Petersburg, he first sent an expedition toward Richmond. This effectively kept Lee off-balance through the summer and fall. On July 30, for instance, when the mine exploded at Petersburg, six Confederate divisions were north of the Appomattox River, at Bermuda Hundred and Chaffin's Bluff, and and only three divisions around Petersburg. The debacle of the Crater unraveled what would have been a good strategy otherwise, (Warren's Fifth Corps had an open shot at the railroads south of Petersburg), but gains made in the Fourth and Fifth Offensives were enabled by Petersburg's garrison being similarly diverted. Even after Lincoln's reelection bought Grant more time, he continued to focus on Petersburg as the key to Lee, Richmond, and ultimate victory.
 
Richmond might have been the ultimate prize but Grant wanted to first destroy Lee's army (or at least its ability to fight well). With that accomplished, the Confederate capital would be easy pickings. If Lee was backed into the elaborate Richmond fortifications, Grant would but unable to accomplish his goal except through siege. Northern leaders did not want to go that route for fear that an extended operation, coupled with slow progress on other fronts, would sink Lincoln's chance for reelection. So Grant targeted Petersburg instead, the supply hub for Richmond, whose capture he hoped would force the Confederates out of their defenses.

Now in order to capture Petersburg, Grant needed Lee to think Richmond was still the target. Grant wisely understood that Jefferson Davis's concern for Richmond's safety would handcuff Lee's strategy. So each time Grant planned to maneuver at Petersburg, he first sent an expedition toward Richmond. This effectively kept Lee off-balance through the summer and fall. On July 30, for instance, when the mine exploded at Petersburg, six Confederate divisions were north of the Appomattox River, at Bermuda Hundred and Chaffin's Bluff, and and only three divisions around Petersburg. The debacle of the Crater unraveled what would have been a good strategy otherwise, (Warren's Fifth Corps had an open shot at the railroads south of Petersburg), but gains made in the Fourth and Fifth Offensives were enabled by Petersburg's garrison being similarly diverted. Even after Lincoln's reelection bought Grant more time, he continued to focus on Petersburg as the key to Lee, Richmond, and ultimate victory.
:smile: Your degree of knowledge around all this is astounding! Thank you so much for clarifying those details. Much appreciated.

What we also have, though, is a siege of Petersburg as opposed to a siege of Richmond.

I think I'm going to need maps!

Maybe someone could link us some threads here as I'm sure there are plenty to fill out the details you have already provided.

Great stuff.

And, as always, politics plays a part.
 
:smile: Your degree of knowledge around all this is astounding! Thank you so much for clarifying those details. Much appreciated.

What we also have, though, is a siege of Petersburg as opposed to a siege of Richmond.

I think I'm going to need maps!

Maybe someone could link us some threads here as I'm sure there are plenty to fill out the details you have already provided.

Great stuff.

And, as always, politics plays a part.
Actually the siege involved both cities. In the summer / autumn of 1864 Grant would make a move north of the James directed at the Richmond defenses. Lee would reinforce those lines whereupon Grant would move west below Petersburg. When Longstreet was able to return after recovering from his Wilderness wound he was assigned to command the troops north of the James River and at Bermuda Hundred. Longstreet spent virtually no time at Petersburg.
 
I try to avoid calling it a siege, though I slip sometimes. Many esteemed historians do consider Petersburg-Richmond to be a siege, but in my opinion it isn't because:

1. The Confederates always had a way in/out. Lee was constantly shifting troops around in between the two cities' defenses as well as around Virginia and the Carolinas. He was no longer able to get the right troops in the right place at the right time, however. But, when the defenses are finally breached on April 2, 1865, the Confederates do have an easily available escape route (for a week).

2. Much of the fighting takes place outside of the fortifications. Grant does not attempt a frontal assault at Petersburg from July 30, 1864 to April 2, 1865. Lee doesn't attempt one in between June 24, 1864 and March 25, 1865. They fight outside the main trenches with some limited field works and then fortify in large scale after each offensive settles down.

3. There is not real starvation for soldiers and civilians. Some hardships, sure, but not to the degree that is sometimes exaggerated.

4. This is mostly opinion based, but calling it a siege limits the agency of the soldiers themselves in determining their own fate. Historian Steven Sodergren has a fantastic new book (The Army of the Potomac in the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns) that suggests that Union morale actually improved in the trenches. It was definitely a confident army that defeated Lee in 1865.

That said, trench warfare is a feature of the Petersburg campaign and many of the soldiers themselves considered it a siege, so this is just semantics.
 
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