Richmond

[MikeyB]

Just how fortified was Richmond during the gettysburg campaign? How many troops were guarding it? If the Union pushed, could they have redeployed NC and other troops by sea and collected various other contingents hanging around VA and made a concerted effort to go after Richmond while Lee was up North? If nothing else, to scare Davis into recalling Lee back?

 

[rbasin]

There's a map in Google for the field works. It's fairly extensive. The opportunity, to me , was to come in from the nw.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3884r.cw06310002/?r=0.262,0.411,0.25,0.37,0

 

[rbasin]

Troop wise, I'd imagine that the fortifications would have held until Lee sent troops.

 

[danny]

7/20/63 Troops in the Dept of Richmond, Gen Elzey

Wise`s Bgde.
26th Va, Col P. R. Page.
46th Va, Col R. T. W. Duke.
59th Va, Col William B. Tabb.
4th Va Hvy Arty, Col J. T. Goode.

Holcombe Legion (Cav), Col W. P. Shingler.
10th Va Cav, Co D, Capt L. J. Hawley.
15th Va Cav, Co C, Capt E. W. Capps.
32nd Va Bn, Maj J. R. Robertson.

Stark`s Arty Bn, Maj A. W. Stark.

Cooke`s Bgde.
15th NC
27th NC
44th NC * Col T. C. Singeltary
46th NC Col E. D. Hall
48th NC
Claytor`s Btry, Capt R. B. Claytor.
Cooper`s Btry, Capt R. L. Cooper.
* Belongs to Pettigrew`s Bgde. Left at Hanover Junction, & reporting through Gen Cooke.


Jenkins` Bgde
1st SC (Vols), Col F. W. Kilpatrick.
2nd SC (Rifles), Col Thomas Thomson
5th SC, Col A. Coward.
6th SC, Col John Bratton.
Hampton Legion, Col M. W. Gary
Palmetto SS, Col Joseph Walker



Richmond Defenses Col T. S. RHETT

10th Va Bn # Hvy Arty, Maj J. O. Hensly.

18th Va Bn + Hvy Arty, Maj M. B. Hardin.

19th Va Bn! Hvy Arty, Maj N. R. Cary.

20th Va Bn Hvy Arty, & Hvy Arty, Maj J. E. Robertson.

Alexandria Light Arty, & Capt D. L. Smoot

Caroline Arty & Capt T. R. Thronton

Nelson Arty, & Capt J. H. Rives.

Surry Arty & Capt J. D. Hankins



Chaffin`s Farm. Lt Col J. M. MAURY.

Gloucester Arty, Capt T. B. Montague.

King & Queen Arty, Capt A. F. Bagby.

Lunenburg Arty, Capt C. T. Allen.

Pamunkey Arty, Capt A. J. Jones.



Drewry`s Bluff. Maj F. W. SMITH.

Johnston Arty, Capt B. J. Epes.

Neblett Arty, Capt w. G. Coleman.

Southside Arty, Capt Thomas Kevill.

Godwin`s Command. Col D. J. Godwin

Va Cav (four Co's).

---------------


# In "1st Div, Inner Line," Lt Col J. W. Atkinson cdg.

+ In "2nd Div, Inner Line," Lt Col James Howard cdg.

& Lt Col C. E. Lightfoot, cdg Light Arty Bn

 

[MikeyB]

7/20/63 Troops in the Dept of Richmond, Gen Elzey

Wise`s Bgde.
26th Va, Col P. R. Page.
46th Va, Col R. T. W. Duke.
59th Va, Col William B. Tabb.
4th Va Hvy Arty, Col J. T. Goode.

Holcombe Legion (Cav), Col W. P. Shingler.
10th Va Cav, Co D, Capt L. J. Hawley.
15th Va Cav, Co C, Capt E. W. Capps.
32nd Va Bn, Maj J. R. Robertson.

Stark`s Arty Bn, Maj A. W. Stark.

Cooke`s Bgde.
15th NC
27th NC
44th NC * Col T. C. Singeltary
46th NC Col E. D. Hall
48th NC
Claytor`s Btry, Capt R. B. Claytor.
Cooper`s Btry, Capt R. L. Cooper.
* Belongs to Pettigrew`s Bgde. Left at Hanover Junction, & reporting through Gen Cooke.


Jenkins` Bgde
1st SC (Vols), Col F. W. Kilpatrick.
2nd SC (Rifles), Col Thomas Thomson
5th SC, Col A. Coward.
6th SC, Col John Bratton.
Hampton Legion, Col M. W. Gary
Palmetto SS, Col Joseph Walker



Richmond Defenses Col T. S. RHETT

10th Va Bn # Hvy Arty, Maj J. O. Hensly.

18th Va Bn + Hvy Arty, Maj M. B. Hardin.

19th Va Bn! Hvy Arty, Maj N. R. Cary.

20th Va Bn Hvy Arty, & Hvy Arty, Maj J. E. Robertson.

Alexandria Light Arty, & Capt D. L. Smoot

Caroline Arty & Capt T. R. Thronton

Nelson Arty, & Capt J. H. Rives.

Surry Arty & Capt J. D. Hankins



Chaffin`s Farm. Lt Col J. M. MAURY.

Gloucester Arty, Capt T. B. Montague.

King & Queen Arty, Capt A. F. Bagby.

Lunenburg Arty, Capt C. T. Allen.

Pamunkey Arty, Capt A. J. Jones.



Drewry`s Bluff. Maj F. W. SMITH.

Johnston Arty, Capt B. J. Epes.

Neblett Arty, Capt w. G. Coleman.

Southside Arty, Capt Thomas Kevill.

Godwin`s Command. Col D. J. Godwin

Va Cav (four Co's).

---------------


# In "1st Div, Inner Line," Lt Col J. W. Atkinson cdg.

+ In "2nd Div, Inner Line," Lt Col James Howard cdg.

& Lt Col C. E. Lightfoot, cdg Light Arty Bn

great data, how many men do you think that roughly equates to all in?

 

[danny]

great data, how many men do you think that roughly equates to all in?

Here is a report from July 31, 1863 of the troops present "at that time." Of course, the various units at or near Richmond fluctuated quite often.

7/31/63	Pres for duty	Pres for duty	Eff total present	Agg present
	Officers	Men
Ransom Div*	614	8883	9304	10,464
Wise Bgde	169	2263	2484	2949
Local Def-G Lee	137	2075	2075	2300
Godwin's Cav	16	168	189	225
Chafin's	24	327	378	473
Drewry's	17	265	386	434
Richmond defenses	86	1433	1575	1863
Totals	1074	15,364	16,481	18719

* Temporarily in the district-Ransom, Cook & Jenkins with 3 Arty Bns, 2 Btrys & 3rd NC Cav

 

[MikeyB]

Here is a report from July 31, 1863 of the troops present "at that time." Of course, the various units at or near Richmond fluctuated quite often.

7/31/63	Pres for duty	Pres for duty	Eff total present	Agg present
	Officers	Men
Ransom Div*	614	8883	9304	10,464
Wise Bgde	169	2263	2484	2949
Local Def-G Lee	137	2075	2075	2300
Godwin's Cav	16	168	189	225
Chafin's	24	327	378	473
Drewry's	17	265	386	434
Richmond defenses	86	1433	1575	1863
Totals	1074	15,364	16,481	18719

* Temporarily in the district-Ransom, Cook & Jenkins with 3 Arty Bns, 2 Btrys & 3rd NC Cav

So let's say 20k men to make it simple. In defensive positions and works, multiplying their effectiveness. Union would probably need to field 50k+ men to have a shot?

 

[ErnieMac]

You should remember that it was mid-June before the Federals realized the Confederates were moving North. By the time a plan could be developed, orders could be given, troops and supplies amassed, etc. the Battle of Gettysburg was being fought. Even if Davis had tried to recall Lee, it would have likely taken a week or two to get the message to him. Also note that a half-hearted attempt to distract the Confederates by moving Federal troops under the command of John Dix up the Peninsula in late June 1863.