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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:28 pm to Pavoloco83
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:28 pm to Pavoloco83
Several, Pavoloco. Mainly Chronologies from the Army & Navy; soldiers' letters & diaries; info from history websites, the Civil War Trust and National Park Service; and my 30+ year old Civil War Almanac. Needless to say, I find discrepancies in casualty counts, place names, proper names, etc almost weekly.
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Posted on 9/30/14 at 5:16 am to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 30 September 1864
The Battle of Peebles Farm, as it came to be known, continued where it left off yesterday on the south end of the Petersburg lines. General Gouverneur Kemble Warren’s Fifth Corps did well at first and headed for Poplar Springs Church with the Ninth Corps close behind. Progress stalled when they encountered General A. P. Hill’s men, and the Federals entrenched at the charmingly named Squirrel Level Road. At the other end of the line the Federals had taken Fort Harrison yesterday and turned it into a Union establishment. General Robert Edward Lee ordered a desperate attempt to retake the fort, but it could not be done. The Southerners withdrew to new lines, closer to Richmond.
Full report: The Battle of Poplar Springs Church, or Peebles Farm, came after more than three months of trench warfare, a precursor to what the world would see in the early 20th century during WWI. Union commander General Hiram U. Grant and Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee had fought a costly and fast-moving campaign in the spring--Grant suffering around 60,000 casualties--but by June they had settled into trenches around Petersburg. The lines extended a full 25 miles north to Richmond. Grant had made sporadic attacks to break the stalemate, and this battle was yet another attempt to drive Lee's men from the trenches.
The attack coincided with a Federal assault at New Market Heights, near Richmond. The day before, Union forces had captured two strongholds in the Richmond defense system, but were unable to penetrate any further. A Confederate counterattack on September 30 failed to recapture the positions.
Grant hoped that launching a strike around the same time at the other end of the line would keep Lee from sending reinforcements to both locations. On September 30, four divisions from Generals Gouverneur K. Warren's and John G. Parke's corps struck a Rebel redoubt (an earthen fortress) at Poplar Springs Church that was easily captured along with a section of trenches. But Confederate General Ambrose P. Hill, in charge of the Petersburg defenses, was able to bring two divisions from other parts of his line to stop the Yankees, and a counterattack prevented the loss of any more territory. The Yankees would try again on October 1, but would be unsuccessful.
The Union lost over 2,800 troops, including nearly 1,300 captured during the Confederate counterattack. Lee's army suffered only 1,300 casualties, but they were much more difficult for him to replace. The Southside Railroad, the object of the attack, was still in Confederate hands, and the armies settled back into their trenches.
The USS Niphon, under Acting Master Kemble, forced the blockade running British steamer Night Hawk aground off Fort Fisher and burned her. Late on 29 September, Niphon fired upon Night Hawk as she attempted to run into New Inlet, and observed her go aground. A boat crew led by Acting Ensign Semon boarded the steamer, and under the fire of Fort Fisher set her ablaze and brought off the crew as prisoners. Ensign Semon's conduct on this occasion became the subject of a diplomatic note from the British Ambassador, the latter alleging cruel treatment of the officers of Night Hawk and a premature burning of the ship. Semon was subsequently cleared of all implications of misconduct by a court of inquiry.
October Ships of the Confederate James River Squadron, commanded by Flag Officer Mitchell, supported Southern troops in attacks against Fort Harrison, as well as Chaffin's Farm, James River, Virginia. Though the Confederates failed to retake Fort Harrison, with the aid of heavy fire from Mitchell's ships, they prevented Union soldiers from capturing Chaffin's Bluff.
The Battle of Peebles Farm, as it came to be known, continued where it left off yesterday on the south end of the Petersburg lines. General Gouverneur Kemble Warren’s Fifth Corps did well at first and headed for Poplar Springs Church with the Ninth Corps close behind. Progress stalled when they encountered General A. P. Hill’s men, and the Federals entrenched at the charmingly named Squirrel Level Road. At the other end of the line the Federals had taken Fort Harrison yesterday and turned it into a Union establishment. General Robert Edward Lee ordered a desperate attempt to retake the fort, but it could not be done. The Southerners withdrew to new lines, closer to Richmond.
Full report: The Battle of Poplar Springs Church, or Peebles Farm, came after more than three months of trench warfare, a precursor to what the world would see in the early 20th century during WWI. Union commander General Hiram U. Grant and Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee had fought a costly and fast-moving campaign in the spring--Grant suffering around 60,000 casualties--but by June they had settled into trenches around Petersburg. The lines extended a full 25 miles north to Richmond. Grant had made sporadic attacks to break the stalemate, and this battle was yet another attempt to drive Lee's men from the trenches.
The attack coincided with a Federal assault at New Market Heights, near Richmond. The day before, Union forces had captured two strongholds in the Richmond defense system, but were unable to penetrate any further. A Confederate counterattack on September 30 failed to recapture the positions.
Grant hoped that launching a strike around the same time at the other end of the line would keep Lee from sending reinforcements to both locations. On September 30, four divisions from Generals Gouverneur K. Warren's and John G. Parke's corps struck a Rebel redoubt (an earthen fortress) at Poplar Springs Church that was easily captured along with a section of trenches. But Confederate General Ambrose P. Hill, in charge of the Petersburg defenses, was able to bring two divisions from other parts of his line to stop the Yankees, and a counterattack prevented the loss of any more territory. The Yankees would try again on October 1, but would be unsuccessful.
The Union lost over 2,800 troops, including nearly 1,300 captured during the Confederate counterattack. Lee's army suffered only 1,300 casualties, but they were much more difficult for him to replace. The Southside Railroad, the object of the attack, was still in Confederate hands, and the armies settled back into their trenches.
The USS Niphon, under Acting Master Kemble, forced the blockade running British steamer Night Hawk aground off Fort Fisher and burned her. Late on 29 September, Niphon fired upon Night Hawk as she attempted to run into New Inlet, and observed her go aground. A boat crew led by Acting Ensign Semon boarded the steamer, and under the fire of Fort Fisher set her ablaze and brought off the crew as prisoners. Ensign Semon's conduct on this occasion became the subject of a diplomatic note from the British Ambassador, the latter alleging cruel treatment of the officers of Night Hawk and a premature burning of the ship. Semon was subsequently cleared of all implications of misconduct by a court of inquiry.
October Ships of the Confederate James River Squadron, commanded by Flag Officer Mitchell, supported Southern troops in attacks against Fort Harrison, as well as Chaffin's Farm, James River, Virginia. Though the Confederates failed to retake Fort Harrison, with the aid of heavy fire from Mitchell's ships, they prevented Union soldiers from capturing Chaffin's Bluff.
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