THE PETERSBURG SIEGE

After failing to defeat The Army of Northern Virginia during his Overland Campaign in 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant moved his forces across the James River at City Point (now called Hopewell) and proceeded in his attempt to capture Richmond by taking and going through Petersburg. Knowing that if he could close off all the supply routes for the Confederates, he could squeeze them into submission. Petersburg was the great rail hub serving not only Richmond, but General Lee’s entire Rebel Army. 

Following his failure at Cold Harbor, the Union army, under the cover of darkness, marched south to the James River. After crossing, Grant threw his troops against Petersburg from June 15th through the 18^th.  Because the Federal commanders under Grant did not press their positions and take the city, Lee was given enough time to move his army south to defend this important location. With the failed attempt on the Union’s part came a 292 day siege of Petersburg. This effort to take the city produced over 37 miles of entrenchments dug by each army, numerous battles, attacks, counter attacks, skirmishes, sharpshooters efforts, shelling of the city of Petersburg and its civilians, starvation of the Rebel forces, and casualties numbering 70,000.

Lee was, once again, numerically outnumbered. He was forced to leave troops to guard and protect Richmond, moving the larger portion south to face Grant, stop the attacks on Petersburg, and protect the many rail lines and roads that carried supplies to his troops. The problem for Lee was that Grant outnumbered him nearly 2 to 1. As Grant extended his line of troops southward around the eastern side of Petersburg and to cut off railroads, Lee would have to match his movement with a lesser number of men. Grant would move south and west. Lee would mirror his movement and dig in to keep Petersburg behind him and try to salvage rail lines. Grant would extend his line again, and Lee would do the same so that Grant could not turn the Rebel right flank. The process would happen time and time again. The difference was that Lee was continually thinning his troops to keep pace with Grant’s movements. This would, obviously, weaken Lee’s defenses as the Union grip would tighten. As everyone knew, it was now just a matter of time.

Along the eastern front of the entrenchments occurred the Battle of the Crater and the taking of Fort Stedman by the confederates, albeit only temporarily. In addition to these two major conflicts, there were constant sniper attacks along with artillery and rifle action. In many locations these trenches were yards, and sometimes only feet, apart.

The Crater Battle was a unique and unusual effort on the part of the Union troops. Opposite Lee’s lines was a brigade from the coal mining region of Pennsylvania that believed they could tunnel under the Rebel fortification known as Elliott’s Salient, plant explosives, and blow up that portion of the Confederate line thus giving the Federals direct access to Petersburg.  Under the command of Union General Ambrose Burnside, famous for his catastrophic blunder at Fredericksburg and his ineptness at the stone bridge at Antietam, he approved the tunneling plan presented to him by Lt. Col. Pleasants. Simply stated, the plan was to tunnel approximately 511 feet until it was under the Rebel fortification, “T” the tunnel for 75 feet, plant 8,000 pounds of explosives (320 kegs of gunpowder), seal the “T”, detonate the explosives, and rush the exposed area with ample infantry to secure the breach in the Confederate line. Generals Grant and Meade had little faith in this plan but allowed it mainly as a means to keep the troops busy during the long and boring siege.

Digging began in late June. During this time Burnside had a division of black troops trained to lead the assault. Anticipating the devastation and carnage that would occur with this incredible explosion, the division was instructed to not enter the crater, but to charge on either side of the rim fanning out to secure the breach.

Finally, on July 28, the powder charges were armed.  The attack was scheduled for the morning hours of July 30, prior to sunrise. On the 29^th, Meade ordered Burnside not to use the black troops to lead the assault, in spite of two weeks of intensive training. Burnside’s protest of this fell on deaf ears and a division of white soldiers under the command of Brigadier General James Ledlie was selected by “luck of the draw”.  With no training or instructions these men would now lead the charge after the explosion. After some delay, the much anticipated explosion happened just before dawn creating a massive shower of earth, men, and artillery. The ensuing crater was 170 feet long, 100-120 feet wide, and at least 30 feet deep. Not only were the Confederates stunned by the event, but also the lead division of Yankees assigned for the attack. They were not briefed on what to expect or how to react and thus just froze for a time, having never seen anything this devastating before. The Federals took ten minutes to begin to move forward and, without the promised planks to bridge their earthworks, had to climb in and out of trenches before reaching no man’s land between the two lines. Not being instructed to rim the crater; they proceeded to charge into the large hole anticipating it to be a great rifle pit for them. Ledlie, the commander in charge of the lead division is said to have been far behind the lines, giving no direction and being drunk.

 Being stunned by the explosion also, which initially claimed 278 graybacks, it took Confederate Brigadier General William Mahone one hour to rally his troops around the rim of the crater. The following action was described as a “Turkey shoot” as the Yanks in the pit had no cover and nowhere to run. Not understanding the plan had failed, Burnside set the black division under Ferrero to charge the scene. Due to flanking fire from the Southerners, Ferrero’s division was forced into the pit also. For the next few hours, Mahone’s division accompanied by Major General Bushrod Johnson’s men and artillery pounded the defenseless Federals trapped in the crater. It was a massacre. Some Union soldiers did manage to climb from the pit and temporarily push the Confederate line, but were ultimately repulsed. Late in the battle, many of the black Union soldiers were killed by bayonet and musket fire even after surrendering to the Confederates. The entire plan was a fiasco; poorly executed, and halfheartedly supported by the commanding generals – Grant, Meade, and Burnside.

Casualties for the Federals amounted to nearly 4,000 while the Rebels incurred just fewer than 1,500.

 The attack on Fort Stedman, on March 25^th, by the Rebels was Lee’s last ditch effort to break the nine month siege by the U.S. forces. As the siege wore on the Confederate forces diminished due to disease, desertion, starvation, and a shortage of supplies. By this time Lee’s troops were outnumbered by the Northerners nearly three to one and they were stretched the same mileage of entrenchments. It’s remarkable that the Southerners were still on the lines. Major General John B. Gordon, at the direction of General Lee, devised a plan to attack Fort Stedman in the early dawn hours of March 23^rd.  Selecting Fort Stedman was due to the nearness of this fort to the Confederates’ salient Colquitt, the reduced number of wooden obstructions protecting Fort Stedman, and the close proximity to a Union supply depot behind the lines. If successful with this attack, Lee planned to have his troops move north and south pushing the Yankees back and then moving toward City Point approximately ten miles east. City Point was U.S. Grant’s headquarters located at the confluence of the James and Appomattox Rivers. Also located at City Point were the main Union supply base, wharves for ship delivery, rail heads to move supplies to troops, reserve troops, and a troop hospital. I will go into further detail regarding City Point in a later blog.
For this surprise attack, Gordon was to amass nearly 50% of Lee’s infantry – 19,700 men.  The attack began before dawn as Rebel sharpshooters and engineers disguised as deserters approached Fort Stedman removing Federal pickets and wooden obstructions so the Confederate infantry would not be delayed in their advance. Following this group of Rebels were three hundred infantry whose assignment was to overwhelm the fort through surprise and speed and opening a gap in the Northerners defenses. When General Gordon arrived at the fort, he was amazed the plan had worked to open a 1,000 foot gap and immediately directed troops north and south. The Union cannon were turned by the infiltrating Confederates and opened enfilading fire in each direction. His success to the north was quickly stymied. His attention was then turned to the south intending to take Fort Haskell. The defenders in Fort Haskell returned cannon fire and attacked the charging Southern infantry with canister cutting a path in their troops. Unbeknownst to Gordon, his cavalry could not find a path to get through and a large portion of Pickett’s division encountered rail transportation problems not arriving until mid-day, much too late to participate in the battle.

In the meantime the Union was organizing and had closed the gap. Union artillery rained on Fort Stedman which was now occupied by the Rebel forces. The Federals, in a counterattack, amassed 4,000 men in a semicircle for 1-1/2 miles around Fort Stedman and moved forward pouring musket balls into the fort also. Gordon now realizing all was lost pulled his remaining troops out and back to their original lines of defense. Four hours of intense fighting produced nothing but casualties for the Rebels. Their forces were thin as it were and the last thing Lee needed was less men and no gained ground to show for it. The attack had failed.

The casualties from this battle did much greater harm to the Confederates than to the Union. Losses for the Southerners amounted to 4,000 which Lee was not able to replace. The Union, on the other hand, lost only 1,044. Lee’s lines were greatly weakened and he knew the end was at hand. This was Lee’s last offensive action. One week later the Federals broke the Confederate lines, thus ending the Richmond-Petersburg Siege. On the evening of April 2, after Grant’s troops broke through, Lee started his evacuation. This event was preceded, on April 1, by Pickett’s inability to hold at Five Forks and the loss of the final rail head – the South Side Railroad.

Cedar Mountain, Brandy Station, Yellow Tavern, Five Forks

During my travels there were several battle sites that I had a strong desire to visit. These battles, for some reason, have left an impression on me and I felt compelled to see them firsthand.  Unfortunately there was not much to see. For various reasons the sites have not been preserved, or vaguely preserved. What I had to keep reminding myself is that most all the battles occurred on someone’s farm or privately owned property and after the battle the land still belonged to that individual. Often the land would be passed down from generation to generation or sold to others. The Federal or State governments either never had the opportunity to purchase the site or felt it was not important.

The battlefield sites are Cedar Mountain, Yellow Tavern, Brandy Station, and Five Forks. I did visit each location, but there was very little to see. Some had a few interpretive signs to help understand the battle and the maneuvering of the troops, but knowing the significance of the each battle, it was very disappointing.

Cedar Mountain – This battlefield site is similar today as it was in 1862, with the exception of some roads being added or deleted from the original battle setting. It contained a couple interpretive signs but nothing else. This battle was the result of Lee sending his most trusted general, “Stonewall” Jackson, to suppress the activity of the new Army of Virginia under John Pope. As the Rebels, under General Jubal A. Early, marched toward Culpeper they encountered Union troops blocking the road. Hastily, Early formed a line perpendicular to the road and running a great distance from the Crittenden House to the base of Cedar Mountain. Shelling from the Confederate artillery began at the Crittenden House gate, the mountain, and a wooded knoll, later named “The Cedars”. Artillery fire was returned by the Federals. This duel lasted the afternoon with no conclusive results. Shortly after 5 PM, the Union infantry launched two attacks, one at the gate at the Crittenden House and the other through the cornfields toward the wooded knoll referred to as “The Cedars”. These charges broke the Confederate lines of infantry and artillery, but this success was short lived. “Stonewall” Jackson moved forward, into the line of fire, waving his sword, rusted in its scabbard, to rally his retreating troops. In addition,  A.P. Hill’s men arrived on the battlefield at this time and assisted in establishing a stronger Confederate line which was able to repel the charging Federals. As darkness took the field of battle, the Rebels were able to sweep the Union troops from the field for a victory.

From here, Jackson then reunited with Lee and next moved to Manassas Junction and what became the Second Battle of Manassas.  

Brandy Station – The significance of Brandy Station is the “coming of age” of the Union cavalry.  Up until this point in the War, the Union horsemen were considered inferior to their Southern counterparts. This is really quite understandable. The South was primarily an agricultural region built mainly with plantations and farms. The Southerners were extremely adept at riding and controlling their steeds as they spent much of their time in the saddle growing up. The North, on the other hand, was more of an industrial society. Riding horses was not something that was second nature to them, so they had the burden of learning to ride and control their mounts. This took time. During this period of learning and development, the Rebel Cavalry took advantage of their less experienced enemies and when the two cavalries met in battle, the South dominated.

Brandy Station is the site of the largest cavalry battle ever fought on the North American continent. Here, nearly 17,000 horsemen fought along with approximately 3,000 infantry.  Can you imagine that many horses with riders in combat against each other?

This conflict was the first battle in Lee’s Gettysburg campaign. Jeb Stuart’s cavalry were positioned here to shield the movement of Lee’s Army up through the Shenandoah Valley to invade the North.

 Much of the fighting of this day occurred on Fleetwood Hill, which was the location of Stuart’s headquarters. The fighting began about 4:30 AM as Union General John Buford’s cavalry of 5,500 horsemen crossed the Rappahannock River surprising the Confederate pickets. Fighting spread to Yew Ridge, the Gee House, and St. James Church on either side of Beverly’s Ford Road. The next Southern surprise happened as Union Brigadier General David Gregg’s division of 2,200 horsemen moved across the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford to proceed directly to Brandy Station. His approach was blocked by Rebels causing him to take an alternate unguarded road with no challenge to Brandy Station. Between Gregg and Buford lay Fleetwood Hill, unoccupied and unguarded as Stuart and his cavalry were at the battle front. As Gregg’s cavalry charged the hill, Confederates under “Grumble” Jones crested the hill and faced each other. Union Colonel Kilpatrick next charged Fleetwood Hill from the south and east, coinciding with the arrival of Brigadier General Wade Hampton’s brigade of gray. In addition to much confusion, a number of charges and countercharges occurred across the hillside.  Eventually the Confederates took the hill, but not before learning that their once superior cavalry was no longer. Their Union counterpart displayed a superb quality of horsemanship not before demonstrated.

Yellow Tavern – Cavalry General Jeb Stuart was, I believe, as important to General Lee as was General “Stonewall” Jackson. When Jackson was wounded at the Chancellorsville battle and died, Lee commented that “Jackson may have lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.” What Lee was referring to is that Jackson was his most dependable general of all he had. They thought alike and Lee had to simply tell Jackson what he wanted, knowing that Jackson would figure out the details to accomplish Lee’s request.

Jeb Stuart was Lee’s “eyes”. Being the daring and dashing cavalry general that he was, Stuart also scouted the enemy for Lee, finding their position and movement, and the number of troops that Lee would have to face. Also, Stuart and his cavalry would act as a shield to protect Lee’s troop movements. Lee never went into battle without information from General Stuart, with the exception of Gettysburg. General Lee explicitly trusted and relied on Jeb Stuart for intelligence gathering. In addition to Stuart’s reconnaissance ability, he was also a superb battlefield general.

May 10, 1864 brought about the movement of Union General Phillip “Little Phil” Sheridan. Encamped at Spotsylvania Courthouse as part of General Grant’s troops, Sheridan insisted that he could whip Confederate Cavalry General Jeb Stuart if given the chance. Grant turned him loose to give him that chance.  Heading toward Richmond with 10,000 horsemen, Sheridan’s movement was quickly detected by Stuart. Stuart dispatched General Fitzhugh Lee’s division to harass Sheridan’s rear while he took the remainder of his forces to ride quickly to get in front of Sheridan. The Confederates arrived first, on May 11, at the crossroads at Yellow Tavern on the northern outskirts of Richmond. Taking their positions to block Sheridan’s advance, they waited. Within the hour, the Union forces appeared. Battle waged between the two Cavalries with the Federals forcing a mild retreat of the Rebels. Reforming their lines, the men in gray waited for two hours for another assault.

During this lull in the action, Sheridan brought up his remaining forces that had repulsed an attack from Fitzhugh Lee and under the direction of General George Armstrong Custer, they attacked the Confederate left flank driving them back. Jeb Stuart rode forward attempting to rally his men. The charging Union horsemen rode past Stuart but were then repulsed and pushed back. As they retreated, Private John A. Huff of the 5^th Michigan Cavalry fired into a group of Rebel horsemen striking Jeb Stuart in the side. As Stuart grabbed his side and dipped his head, his plumed hat fell to the ground and he simply stated “I’ve been shot.” As he lay in an ambulance, Stuart was heard to say to his troops “Go back! Go back! Do your duty as I have done mine. I would rather die than be whipped.” The rebels temporarily rallied, but eventually retreated into the darkness.

Phillip Sheridan had taken the Yellow Tavern battle, instilled in his cavalry their abilities as excellent horsemen, and mortally wounded the Confederate leader, General J.E.B. Stuart, probably the finest Cavalry leader of the entire Civil War.

The following day, May 12, Stuart died of his wound at his brother-in-law’s home in Richmond. Multitudes had gathered outside the house on Grace Street and President Jefferson Davis has visited before Stuart slipped into delirium and death. Robert E. Lee remarked, when hearing of his death, “I can scarcely think of him without weeping.”

This entire battlefield is now non-existent. It is a subdivision of residences and a small business park. The only reminder of what happened on this day is a monument dedicated to Confederate Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart and a single interpretive sign. This was terribly disappointing to see. There are no directional signs to get to this location. If someone didn’t have a strong desire to find this place, it would be impossible to find. It is located on a dead-end street, quite a distance from the main road. There certainly will be no accidental drive-by visitors to find of this monument.

Five Forks – The Confederates, under General George S. Pickett, were unable to defend the South Side Railroad near Five Forks and this caused the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. This was the “Waterloo of the Confederacy” as stated by Brigadier General Thomas Munford.

As the Petersburg siege continued and the Federals had cut off all rail access for the Southern troops with the exception of the Southside Railroad, Lee ordered General George Pickett to “Hold Five Forks at all hazards. Protect road to Ford’s Depot and prevent Union forces from striking the Southside Railroad….” This order was given on April 1, 1864, just eight days before Lee surrendered his beaten and battered troops at Appomattox Court House.

The Southside Railroad lay just three miles north of the five-pronged intersection and the Northern troops, under the leadership of Major General Phillip Sheridan, were moving from the south, and Sheridan was itching for a fight. Two days Previous to Lee’s strong order to hold at all hazards, Pickett struck the Union troops below Five Forks and bested Sheridan’s troops. But General Warren’s infantry forces moved around the Rebels and cut off any support he might have received from Lee. This caused Pickett to have to fall back to the Five Forks intersection and dig in.

The First of April saw General Sheridan anxious for battle. The infantry of Warren’s had attached itself to the cavalry of Sheridan and they had the numbers. Sheridan later said, “I was exceedingly anxious to attack at once, for the sun was getting low, and we had to fight or go back….” At 4:15 p.m. the attack began. The Rebel line was hit from all sides simultaneously and they melted away. The intersection was overrun by the Federals, Pickett losing nearly a third of his troops in the melee. The Southside Railroad belonged to the Union and they also turned the right flank of the Petersburg defenses. The end was at hand for the confederates.

Upon hearing this news, General Grant immediately ordered a number of assaults for the next day along the Petersburg line. The siege of Petersburg consumed 292 days, but it was about to end. Lee began to withdraw his troops through the night, moving west and south in hopes of uniting with General Joseph E. Johnston’s army in North Carolina. This action never happened as Grant’s army followed and eventually surrounded the starving, worn, and vastly outnumbered Rebels.

Unfortunately there wasn’t much to see regarding this important battle; one open field with a few interpretive signs, of which I did not take any photos.

 

 

 

Five Forks – The Confederates, under General George S. Pickett, were unable to defend the South Side Railroad near Five Forks and this caused the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. This was the “Waterloo of the Confederacy” as stated by Brigadier General Thomas Munford.

As the Petersburg siege continued and the Federals had cut off all rail access for the Southern troops with the exception of the Southside Railroad, Lee ordered General George Pickett to “Hold Five Forks at all hazards. Protect road to Ford’s Depot and prevent Union forces from striking the Southside Railroad….” This order was given on April 1, 1864, just eight days before Lee surrendered his beaten and battered troops at Appomattox Court House.

The Southside Railroad lay just three miles north of the five-pronged intersection and the Northern troops, under the leadership of Major General Phillip Sheridan, were moving from the south, and Sheridan was itching for a fight. Two days Previous to Lee’s strong order to hold at all hazards, Pickett struck the Union troops below Five Forks and bested Sheridan’s troops. But General Warren’s infantry forces moved around the Rebels and cut off any support he might have received from Lee. This caused Pickett to have to fall back to the Five Forks intersection and dig in.

The First of April saw General Sheridan anxious for battle. The infantry of Warren’s had attached itself to the cavalry of Sheridan and they had the numbers. Sheridan later said, “I was exceedingly anxious to attack at once, for the sun was getting low, and we had to fight or go back….” At 4:15 p.m. the attack began. The Rebel line was hit from all sides simultaneously and they melted away. The intersection was overrun by the Federals, Pickett losing nearly a third of his troops in the melee. The Southside Railroad belonged to the Union and they also turned the right flank of the Petersburg defenses. The end was at hand for the confederates.

Upon hearing this news, General Grant immediately ordered a number of assaults for the next day along the Petersburg line. The siege of Petersburg consumed 292 days, but it was about to end. Lee began to withdraw his troops through the night, moving west and south in hopes of uniting with General Joseph E. Johnston’s army in North Carolina. This action never happened as Grant’s army followed and eventually surrounded the starving, worn, and vastly outnumbered Rebels.

Unfortunately there wasn’t much to see regarding this important battle; one open field with a few interpretive signs, of which I did not take any photos.

CIVIL WAR Tidbits of Facts

Did You Know………………..

…..Robert E. Lee was not the first General to command the Army of Northern Virginia. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, during the First Battle of Manassas, and during the early part of McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, Lee was a “desk general.” He was given the command when General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines.

.....Cold Harbor was not a harbor. It wasn’t even on the water. It was an inn for travel-weary people to spend the night.

…..the Union Army had a general by the name of Jefferson Davis.

…..Both President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis were born in Kentucky, which remained a neutral, or border, state throughout the war.

…..Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Lincoln, had relatives that fought and died for the Confederate effort.

…..President Lincoln was not the keynote speaker at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg. That privilege went to the great orator, Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours prior to President Lincoln’s dedication of the cemetery. The “Gettysburg Address” took a little over two minutes to deliver.

…..The name of General Ulysses S. Grant’s horse was Cincinnati.

…..At the outbreak of the war, Robert E. Lee was offered command of the entire Union Army but declined General Winfield Scott’s offer. After much thought and agony, Lee believed he could not raise a sword against his native Virginia and thus resigned his commission.

…..Both General Ulysses S. Grant and General William T. Sherman were born in Ohio.

…..Some battles have two names. The South often referred to them by the nearby town or city, while the North would use a stream or creek for the name; Manassas/Bull Run; Sharpsburg/Antietam. Other battles with two names are Fair Oaks/Seven Pines; Fort Drewry/Fort Darling.

…..Wilmer McLean experienced the first battle of the war in his yard at Manassas and moved to Appomattox Court House in the rural area of Central Virginia to get away from the war. He then experienced the end of the war in his parlor as Grant and Lee signed surrender papers.

…..Robert E. Lee’s father was a famous Revolutionary War hero,” Light Horse” Harry Lee.

…..General William T. Sherman’s father was so impressed with the Indian Chief, Tecumseh, that he named his son after the Chief.

…..Abner Doubleday, of baseball notoriety, fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter.

…..In addition to Ulysses S. Grant, other future presidents that served in the Civil War are Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, William McKinley, Benjamin Harrison, and James Garfield.

…..Montgomery, Alabama was the first Capitol of the Confederacy. The Capitol was moved to Richmond shortly after Virginia seceded from the Union.

…..Arlington Cemetery was originally part of the property of the Arlington House. Robert E. and Mary Anna Lee and their family lived at Arlington House prior to the war. It was a mansion overlooking the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. When Lee left his home for the Civil War, he never returned. Union soldiers occupied this house within two weeks of Lee’s departure. The property was eventually taken by the Federal government due to lack of payment of taxes in person. It became a Union cemetery in 1864.

…..Confederate Calvary General JEB Stuart’s given name was James Ewell Brown Stuart. This is why he is referred to as J.E.B. Stuart.

…..Mary Anna Custis Lee, the wife of General Robert E. Lee, was a step-great granddaughter of George Washington.

…..Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and George B. McClellan all fought together in the Mexican-American War.

…..George Armstrong Custer was the youngest General in the Civil War and the history of the United States Military, attaining that position at the age of 23.

…..The amputated arm of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson is actually buried in a cemetery.

…..Western Virginia broke off from the state of Virginia when the state seceded from the Union. The western populace supported the Union and eventually formed their own state.

…..The number of dead from the Civil War exceeded 620,000. Some estimates put that number at 850,000.

…..The United States Military Academy – West Point – graduated two classes in 1861. Because of the need for officers at the outbreak of the Civil War, the Academy graduated the Class of ’61 in early May, 1861 and the Class of ’62 in late June of 1861.

…..Both Presidents – Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis – each lost two sons. One each before the War and one each during the War. Both men grieved for one day for the son lost during the War and then went back to the business of the War.

…..Through the course of the War, immigration to this country continued, mostly to the Northern States. There were more foreign-born Catholics in blue uniforms than Virginians in gray uniforms.

…..While raiding merchant ships in the Pacific bound for the United States, the crew of the CSS Shenandoah did not hear of their country’s defeat until August, 1865 – four months after the surrender. The crew surrendered the vessel in Liverpool, England, on November 6, 1865.

…..General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson died of pneumonia ten days after being shot by his own men. He died at the Chandler Plantation in Guinea Station approximately 25 miles from Chancellorsville, where he was wounded.

…..Chancellorsville was not a town or city, but a house located several west of Fredericksburg.

THE BATTLE OF SECOND MANASSAS

In just thirteen months, two major armies in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War would revisit the site of the first major battle of that war – Manassas. The Army of Northern Virginia, under the leadership of General Robert E. Lee and the newly formed Union Army of Virginia commanded by recently appointed General John Pope would collide for another bloody battle not far from the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

Following General George B. McClellan’s failed Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862, Confederate General Lee decided to turn his attention to the new Army of Virginia under General Pope. Lee divided his Army in two, sending “Stonewall” Jackson’s Corps to the west of Pope’s Army, the right flank, and sending General James Longstreet’s Corps to the east of Pope. Jackson’s orders were to cut off Pope’s supply line at Manassas Junction. Jackson did just that. After capturing the depot and warehouses at the junction, he burned what he could not take. Pope ignored the information coming to him regarding Jackson’s movements and decided that Jackson’s Corps were moving to the Shenandoah Valley.

In the meantime, McClellan remained at Harrison’s Landing following his victory and retreat at Malvern Hill (see previous blog) to lick his wounds.  He and his troops had been ordered back to Washington, D.C. by President Lincoln with the intention of uniting the Army of the Potomac with the Army of Virginia, under Pope not McClellan, to strike Lee’s Army. This would give the Union a tremendous numerical advantage.  But due to political issues (McClellan being a Democrat and Lincoln a Republican) and personal issues (he was miffed that his troops were being ordered to simply protect the Capitol with support to Pope) he dragged his feet.

Following Jackson’s success at the Manassas Junction depot, He elected to go into hiding as he awaited the arrival of Longstreet and his corps. The last thing Jackson needed was to encounter Pope’s Army with a numerical disadvantage. Jackson took his troops to a wooded area near the Brawner Farm called Stony Ridge to wait. During the evening of August 28, 1862 a column of hard-nosed Union soldiers known as the “Black Hat” Brigade were marching east on the Warrenton Turnpike toward Centerville. Although Jackson did not want to tip his hand as to where he was concealing his troops, he could not pass up the opportunity to strike this column. His artillery opened fire. The Midwestern troops returned fire and over the next two hours the “Black Hat” Brigade and the “Stonewall” Brigade battled each other, sometimes exchanging musket fire within 80 yards of each other. As this opening battle of Second Manassas raged, more troops were fed into the conflict. The darkness ended this bloody standoff with nearly a third of the 7,000 troops becoming casualties.

During the evening General Pope, again ignoring intelligence information, deciding that Jackson would retreat to join Longstreet’s troops, planned a morning attack. Pope did not realize that Longstreet was, instead, advancing to join Jackson with the intent of destroying his Army. On the morning of the 29^th, Pope sent piecemeal troops to attack Jackson’s Confederates who had fortified themselves for miles at an unfinished railroad cut. This was a natural breastwork for the Rebels and they repulsed every attempt by the Yankees. Meanwhile, General McClellan refused to move any of his troops to support Pope arguing that his men were needed to protect Washington, D.C. By noon, Longstreet’s Corps had arrived on the field to Jackson’s right but did not attack. He felt it best to take a defensive position ignoring Lee’s orders to attack, rationalizing the he did not knowing the size of the Union Army.

August 30^th brought a renewed attack ordered by General Pope, apparently unaware of Longstreet’s arrival the previous day. During the previous night, several Confederate Brigades adjusted their positions and Pope mistook the movement as retreat. The Union assault by Major General Fitz John Porter’s V Corps on the Confederate right was devastated by the Confederate Artillery. Longstreet, seeing the Union troops in total disarray, counterattacked with his 25,000 Rebel Soldiers in what is regarded as the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war. Pope had stepped into a situation where he faced the entire Army of Northern Virginia, with virtually no support from McClellan’s troops, and was pushed back to Henry House Hill and then retreated across Bull Run Creek toward Washington, D. C.

Once again, General Robert E. Lee outmaneuvered and outfought the Union Army and left the field with a decisive victory. All the while McClellan sparingly fed a small number of his troops into the battle to support Pope’s efforts. He had won his battle with Lincoln over control of the Army of the Potomac.

Casualties for both sides continue to mount. This three day battle contributed approximately 10,000 Union Soldiers and approximately 8,300 Confederates.

The aftermath of the Second Battle of Manassas, or the Second Battle of Bull Run as the North referred to it, saw Lee confident and ready to move across the Potomac into Maryland. It also saw Pope relieved of his command and sent west, while his Army of Virginia was merged with the Army of the Potomac and McClellan remaining in command.

From here these two armies engaging in battle in the Eastern Theater move into Maryland to next face each other in the bloodiest day in American History at the battle that is called the Battle of Antietam, or the Battle of Sharpsburg.

SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES

The end of Union General George B. McClellan’s “Peninsula Campaign” in the summer of 1862 was brought about by a number of engagements called the “Seven Days’ Battles”. A series of events, on both the Union and Confederate sides, proceeded this decisive week of fighting.

McClellan had landed his 100,000 soldiers at Fort Monroe in the Spring and fought his way up the Virginia Peninsula to the outskirts of the Confederates’ Capitol – Richmond. By early June, his army was close enough to the city to hear the church bells tolling in the steeples every day. He seemed poised to take the city and hopefully end the Civil War. Then a blessing in disguise happened for the Rebels. Their General in charge, Joseph E. Johnston, was wounded in the Battle of Seven Pines, just east of Richmond, and was replaced by Robert E. Lee.

Lee, taking control of the Army of Northern Virginia, took a different tactic than Johnston in his attempt to defend Richmond and push McClellan out of the area. Lee immediately began to construct earthen fortifications encircling Richmond. His intent was that with these fortifications, Lee could defend Richmond with a minimal number of troops and, with pulling “Stonewall” Jackson’s Corps from the Shenandoah Valley, he would be nearer the same size Army as McClellan had. He could then go on the offensive.

Jackson’s success in various battles in “The Valley” secured that portion of Virginia and allowed Jackson to move toward Richmond to assist Lee. As Jackson’s troops arrived on June 26, both by rail and on foot, Lee added his troops and attacked the Union at Beaver Dam Creek. Interestingly, though Lee could not defeat the Union Army here, McClellan retreated and continued his run to eventually get to Harrison’s Landing on the James River.

 Following this unsuccessful conflict, the Rebels pursued the Union Army and, again, fought a major battle at Gaines’ Mill the next day. This time the Confederates were able to break through the Yankee lines, led by troops from Texas and Georgia. By nightfall, both sides contributed to over 15,000 casualties in some of the heaviest fighting during the Seven Days’ Battles.

Pursuing the retreating Union Army, Lee attacked the Yankee rear guard at Savage’s Station on the 29^th of June. Confusion reigned supreme this day as Lee’s orders were misunderstood and therefore not carried out properly. Likewise, McClellan, who was far ahead of his troops in their retreat, left no one in charge of the army guarding the rear. This, too, added to the confusion. By nightfall, this battle ended in a stalemate.

From here, the fighting continued at Frayser’s Farm, also known as Glendale.  On June 30 as Lee’s Army attacked the Union rear that was protecting a vital crossroads, McClellan continued his flight south toward the James River and away from his initial goal of Richmond. Once again the Confederates were not able to carry the day and the Union forces were able to regroup at Malvern Hill, just a short distance south.

At Malvern Hill the Union Army, although it did not dig in, was able to form a formidable defensive line composed of both artillery and infantry on the ridge top. Thus, as they possessed the better field position, McClellan’s Army of the Potomac just waited for the Rebels to attack. And attack they did.  Lee believed that if his artillery could render McClellan’s artillery useless, the Rebel infantry would surely whip the Union infantry. This never happened. The Union artillery controlled the battle and controlled the day. After a series of attempted bombardments, the Southern Army attacked. On the Union left, the Southerners had to traverse a quarter mile open field, sloping upward toward the Army of the Potomac. This bore no success for the Rebels as the brigades were mowed down by the Union cannon. On the Union right, the Rebels had to deal with a swampy front in order to attack the Union lines. This, too, failed. As it turned out, very few Union infantry was used in this battle, although there were thousands held in reserve. The Union line was composed of mostly artillery supported by infantry. They would charge periodically to fire a few volleys at the oncoming Rebels, and then return to the cover of the cannon.  This battle ended as the previous ones, due to darkness. The casualty count for the Confederates was a bit more than 5,000, while the Union incurred around 3,000 killed or wounded.

This ended the “Seven Days’ Battles” – five major conflicts with a number of smaller encounters, all within seven days. McClellan was able to retreat to Harrison Landing on the James River using the Berkeley Plantation as his headquarters, troop encampment, and hospital (see previous blog). He also used the Shirley Plantation grounds, a neighboring plantation, as a hospital (see previous blog). And Lee accomplished most of his objective – to drive the Yankees from the doorstep of his Capitol, Richmond. He also wanted to destroy the Army of the Potomac, but did not succeed.

On my tour of these sites, it was a bit disappointing. Starting with Beaver Dam Creek, there was a little bit to see. A portion of the creek area was accessible, but not much else. The old road that the Union marched in their retreat was identified as was their battle line. Gaines’ Mill was interesting, although like other battle sites, the tree growth over the last 150 years greatly alters the battlefield. It is always difficult to know which tree area was in existence at the time of the battle, and which tree area is “new”.  At both Savage’s Station and Frayser’s Farm, there were interpretive signs but not much else. Malvern Hill is the gem of this week of conflict. It is nearly as it was on July 1, 1862. There are cannon to identify both Confederate and Federal cannon positions. A 1-1/2 mile walking trail loops behind the Confederate lines, giving a great visual of what they were facing with their numerous unsuccessful infantry charges. A ravine the Confederates hid in until it was time to charge is also identified. The trail starts behind the Union cannon and to see from that vantage point is also very interesting. It is looking down a sloped hill across a completely open field. Walking this trail and reading the interpretive signs gave me a real feel and understanding of what these soldiers experienced on this battlefield. The Rebels never had a chance.

SHIRLEY PLANTATION

Can you imagine a piece of property remaining in the same family for eleven generations? The immense size of the property alone, would make it difficult. Originally 450 acres, it grew to 800 acres through the years by way of marriage and land acquisitions.

This is precisely what Shirley Plantation is. Located on the banks of the James River, near Richmond, VA, Shirley Plantation is still owned, operated, and occupied by direct descendants of the original owner – Edward Hill. In 1613 this land was settled by Sir Thomas West who, in 1638, granted a portion to Edward Hill. This began the eleven continuous generations of ownership and occupation.

Visiting this plantation was interesting in many aspects. To see how an elegant plantation is laid out in regard to the supporting buildings to the main house, the locations of those structures, and the symmetrical style was fascinating. And obviously, the history attached to this property was a huge plus in the visit.

Unfortunately, visitors are not permitted to take photos of the interior of the Great House. But to tour it is no less exciting. From the moment you walk in the main entrance you are quickly carried back to the 18^th century. Most of the Great House is still as it was when it was built. The construction started in 1723 and completed in 1738. Edward Hill III, grandson of the original property owner, built this mansion for his daughter Elizabeth who married John Carter, eldest son of prominent Virginian and land baron Robert “King” Carter.

The entry hall is more than just a hall. It is a receiving room that was used to welcome and meet with guests; some of those guests being the Harrison’s from the neighbor plantation Berkeley, in addition to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The most eye-catching item in this room is the carved walnut “Flying Staircase”. It traverses to the third floor with no visible means of support. The tables in this room are original to the house, as is the floor and plaster walls, and wall hangings. In fact, all the furnishings, wall hangings, silverware, and china are period items. Most are original to the Great House with family portraits throughout.

We were permitted to also view a bed room, parlor, and dining room – all furnished and each with its own stories. From the tales of Ann Hill Carter’s birth in this house to her marrying “Light Horse” Harry Lee in the parlor in 1793. They would later become parents of Robert E. Lee, who himself, had visited this mansion. Interesting – always a Civil War connection. The windows in the dining room are etched with names from throughout the years. The story goes that as the Hill-Carter women became engaged, they would etch their name in the windows with their engagement ring, thus testing the quality of the diamond. You can still read the names.

During the Civil War, as McClellan retreated to end his Peninsula Campaign, many of the Union’s wounded soldiers ended up on the lawn of this Mansion. Although the Hill’s supported the Southern cause, they cared for and fed these men knowing that their own relatives may be somewhere suffering the same fate and would want Northerners to treat them the same way. McClellan, seeing this, wrote a Field Order to protect the plantation from any destruction. A copy of this field order is on display.

The upper two floors are still occupied by the direct descendants of Edward Hill and, therefore, were not available for touring. The rest of the property was a self-guided tour with the exception of the farm which is still in use. Because the plantation is still family farmed, Shirley Plantation is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in North America. This property is definitely an architectural treasure. It has been extremely well preserved; the outbuildings along with the Great House.

Notice the three foot high pineapple on the roof. This was a symbol of hospitality during the Colonial era.

The Great House was supported by numerous outbuildings, all built in a symmetrical layout creating a Queen Anne Forecourt. At first arrival you will pass the ice house on one side and the store house on the opposite side of the walkway. Both are identical in style and appearance. As you near the Great House you will pass the two-story kitchen with living quarters on the right and the two-story laundry with living quarters on the left. Again, both of these buildings are identical to each other. Each contained second floor living quarters to house the workers of each building. The smokehouse, stable, corn crib, and dovecote sit outside the courtyard. The pump house is located near the kitchen, but out of view so as not to disturb the symmetry of the courtyard.

I found the dovecote to be an unusual structure. Fascinating in style and unknown for its usage, I investigated just a bit. Here are a few photos. The dovecote was used for doves to raise their young. Doves were considered a dining delicacy in the 1700’s. The interior walls house 108 roosts for the doves’ roosting. The high and pitched roof was to protect the doves from other animals.

All in all, this was a very interesting plantation to visit, both architecturally inside and out, and historically. Well worth the time.