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 Welcome to Beyond the Crater: The Civil War Petersburg Campaign Online. Beyond the Crater is an information compilation site focusing on the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War. The Petersburg Campaign was, rather than a true siege, a series of nine offensives by the Union forces against the Confederates defending Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. The campaign lasted from June 15, 1864 until April 2, 1865, claiming 50,000 Union soldiers and 32,000 Confederates. The campaign has been criminally neglected in the study of the Civil War, and this site aims to partially rectify that lack of coverage.
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NOTE: For the latest updates, see the posts below.
No. 168. Report of Lieutenant Jacob Federhen, Battery A, Massachusetts Light Artillery, of operations June 12-July 11.
CAMP BATTERY A, MASSACHUSETTS ARTILLERY, August 23, 1864.
SIR: +
The battery then [June 13] moved with the brigade, crossing the Richmond and York Railroad near Tunstall’s Station, thence crossing the Chickahominy at or near Jones’ Bridge on pontoons, and marched to James River, crossing on the 15th of June on pontoon bridge near Wilcox’s Landing. The battery remained on the south bank of the James until 9.30 p.m. of the 16th, when it marched with the brigade to near Petersburg. On the 18th the battery took position south by east of Petersburg, a little north of railroad to City Point. On the night or afternoon of the 19th expended four solid shot on the town in direction of the depot, and on the 20th expended eight solid shot at a train of cars and the depot. The battery sustained no loss, save the slightly wounding of one horse. Battery was relieved on the 21st, and then moved with the brigade to the left of the line on the Jerusalem plank road. Battery was in position on the Jerusalem road near Jones’ house from the night of the 22nd to the night of the 24th, and then relieved until the 27th, when it again took position near the Jerusalem road and remained there until the afternoon of the 29th, when it moved with the brigade to Reams’ Station, on the Weldon railroad, and went into position near the depot.
On the night of June 30 returned from Reams’ Station to Jerusalem plank road, and on the 2nd day of July took up its old position near Jones’ house, where it remained until 9 p.m. of July 9, and then marched with the brigade to City Point, Va., from whence it embarked on the night of the 11th for Washington on steamer Hero of Jersey.
I have also the honor to report that Captain McCartney is now away on leave, and as I was wounded on the 10th of May of Spotsylvania,
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+For portion of report [here omitted] covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p.762.
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and sent to hospital in Georgetown, I cannot give so full an account of the battery’s movements from the fact that I have but just joined the command.
J. FEDERHEN,
Lieutenant, Commanding Battery A, Massachusetts Artillery.
Lieutenant E. N. WHITTIER,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Artillery Brigade, Sixth Corps.
Source:
From Butler’s Army.
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A DEMONSTRATION AGAINST PETERSBURG.
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SEVERAL MILES OF THE PETERSBURG R.R. DESTROYED.
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FORT MONROE, June 10.
On Saturday morning a force under General Gilmore made a demonstration on Petersburg, and succeeded in carrying the enemy’s outer earthworks, with the loss of a few men. While this was being done Gen. Butler sent a force which succeeded in destroying 3 or 4 miles of the Petersburg & Richmond railroad without loss.
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Source:
From Butler’s Department.
FORTRESS MONROE, June 11.—Yesterday a force under Gen. Gillmore, made a demonstration on Petersburg and succeeded in carrying the enemy’s outer earthworks, with the loss of a few men. While this was being done, Butler sent a force which succeeded in destroying three or four miles of the Petersburg and Richmond railroad without loss.
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Source:
From Butler’s Department.
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Special Dispatch to the Sentinel.
NEW YORK, June 19.
A correspondence to the Herald, from Butler’s department, gives details of the recnt attack on Petersburg, showing that Gilmore advanced to within a short distance of that place, but being informed by a woman that the rebels were prepared to receive him, having obtained information of the movement the day previous, he decided to return, which he did safely, with only twenty five wounded.
Gen. Kautz, by another road, surprised and entered the rebel works by a brave dash, capturing several pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners, but not being cooperated with by Gilmore, was obliged to fall back to prevent being surrounded, bringing his prisoners and captured guns with him.
The gunboats in the Appomattox threw many shells into Petersburg during the movement.
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Source:
No. 167. Report of Captain Greenleaf T. Stevens, Fifth Maine Battery, of operations June 12-July 10.
SEPTEMBER 16, 1864.*
V.
On the march across the Chickahominy nothing worthy of note occurred. June 16, ordered into position with the corps, covering the crossing of the army at the James. On the 18th went into position before Petersburg, and at once remodeled an old rifle-pit of the enemy, making it appropriate for artillery, and opened, expending eight shot and twenty-four spherical case. By direction of Colonel C. H. Tompkins, one section of the battery was withdrawn at night and moved some 900 yards to the front and placed in position on the right of the road running parallel with the Appomattox. Nearly the same operations were repeated here as at Cold Harbor. The guns were unlimbered and run
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*For portion of report [here omitted] covering operations from May 4 to June 9, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p.760.
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into position by hand, ammunition chests dismounted and sunk in the ground, and horses and limbers sent to the rear. On the 21st engaged the enemy, expending forty-two shot, forty-three spherical case. At this point First Lieutenant Charles O. Hunt was captured while looking out a position for his section.
June 29, marched with the corps to Reams’ Station, and on July 6 reported to General Getty, commanding Second Division, Sixth Corps, and went into position near the left of the line, and commenced operations on an unfinished redoubt. On the night of July 9 marched to City Point, and on the evening of the 10th embarked on the steamer Jefferson and sailed at 12 o’clock under orders to proceed to Washington and rejoin the corps.*
Most respectfully submitted.
G. T. STEVENS,
Captain, Commanding Fifth Battery Maine Volunteers.
Lieutenant E. N. WHITTIER,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Artillery Brigade, Sixth Army Corps.
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*For continuation of report, see Vol. XXXVII, Part I, p.280.
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Source:
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