One of my side projects here at the Siege of Petersburg Online has been tracking down the civilian steamboats, transports, mail boats and hospital boats that kept Grant’s armies supplied during the siege. Nearly every man, horse, shell, cracker and letter that reached the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James came by water, up the James River or, early on, the Pamunkey and York. Most of it came on boats whose names almost nobody remembers today. I want to change that, and today I’m sharing the first real results.

How the Data Was Gathered

In plain terms, here is what I did:

1. I picked one newspaper and read all of it. The Washington Evening Star printed a steady stream of steamer news during the siege: mail boats arriving from City Point, transports clearing for Fortress Monroe, hospital boats coming up the Potomac with wounded, and the occasional Confederate gunboat spotted at Chaffin’s Bluff. I went through every page of every issue from June 10, 1864 to April 15, 1865, column by column, with the help of an AI research assistant, Claude Opus Model 5 and 5.5.
2. Every time a vessel was mentioned, I logged it: the boat’s name, the date, where it was, what it was doing (arrived, sailed, lying at anchor, under fire), who commanded it, and an exact citation down to the page and column. That came to more than 12,000 mentions of boats of every kind.
3. I then kept only the mentions tied to the Petersburg theater: City Point, Bermuda Hundred, Deep Bottom, Fortress Monroe, Hampton Roads, White House, and the James and York Rivers, along with boats sailing to or from those places.
4. Wherever I could, I checked each boat against the standard registers of the era, especially Lytle and Holdcamper’s list of American merchant steamers, to make sure that a Connecticut or a New York in the paper was the same hull I already had on my lists and not another boat with the same name.

The result: 307 named vessels reported on 278 different days between June 1864 and April 1865.

A couple of caveats. A newspaper only reports what someone happened to send in, so a boat that is missing on a given day was not necessarily gone; it just was not mentioned. The counts below are boats the Star mentioned on each date, not every boat on the river. And the identifications are a work in progress. A handful of names still need a final ruling, and I will be correcting things as I go.

What Comes Next

The Evening Star is only one paper. Next, I plan to give the same cover-to-cover treatment to papers from the major Northern ports that fed the army: New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. Their marine columns logged ships clearing for and arriving from Fortress Monroe and City Point day after day, and many boats that sailed out of New York or Baltimore never made the Washington papers at all. Every paper added will fill in more of the gaps, and you will see these charts grow as it does.

The Data, in Pictures

Boats on the River, Day by Day. Each square below is one day of the siege; the number is how many steamers the Star reported in the theater that day. The busiest day in the paper was December 1, 1864, when the Star reported fourteen vessels, including the Confederate James River Squadron lying at Chaffin’s Bluff. Tap any day to see which boats were reported and what they were doing, with the source citation.

The Workhorses of the James. Here every steamer gets its own row and every dot is a day the paper reported her. The steamers Dictator (46 days) and Daniel Webster (42) were the most reported vessels of the siege, running regularly between Washington and City Point. Use the buttons to show only civilian boats, the Union navy, or the Confederate navy, or to sort the boats by when they first appear. Tap any dot for the report.

The River, Day by Day, on the Map. Finally, here is every one of those 278 days on an 1864 U.S. Coast Survey map of southeastern Virginia from the Library of Congress. Each red pin marks a landing where the paper placed a boat that day; a hollow pin marks a boat on the run to or from that landing, such as a mail boat reaching Washington from City Point. Pick a date, step forward or back a day at a time, drag the slider, or press Play and watch the traffic on the James and York come and go across the siege.

If you have a diary, letter or regimental history that mentions a boat by name (“we went down to City Point and boarded the steamer ___”), please send it my way. Those mentions are exactly what this project is built on.

Editor’s Note: This article was provided by John Hennessy and transcribed by Jackie Martin.

LETTER FROM THE 23D MASS[ACHUSETTS]. REG[IMEN]T.

Co. C, 23d Mass[achusetts].

BERMUDA HUNDRED, Va., Aug. 31, 1864.

MR. EDITOR :—We still remain at Bermuda Hundred, and all is comparatively quiet. It seems rather strange to us to be where we do not hear much cannonading. We seldom hear a gun now, that is anywhere near us. We can hear them from in front of Petersburg quite often, and up on the James River occasionally, but seldom in our front. The Johnnies have thrown a few shot and shell in this direction, but they are soon silenced, as the batteries here have got a complete range of the rebel batteries. They threw three shells yesterday [August 30, 1864], and one of them struck in the camp of the [1]58th New York regiment, but did no damage. When we first arrived here they threw a few shells among us, some striking in the camp of the 27th Mass[achusetts]., doing no damage but to frighten a horse that was standing there, and waking up some of the men. I should think they would get tired of that kind of fun.¹

We are having some splendid weather, though it is rather cool nights, and we have a shower nearly every afternoon.

We are awaiting orders to leave for North Carolina, but presume we shall have to wait till Gen. Butler gets back from his ten days’ leave of absence.²

Yours,               GUARD³

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Source/Notes:

Editor’s Note: This article was provided by John Hennessy and transcribed by Jackie Martin.

WAR CORRESPONDENCE.

_____

LETTER FROM THE 32D MASS[ACHUSETTS] REG[IMEN]T.

Camp 32d Regt. Co. D, Capt. Rich,

On the Weldon Railroad, Va.

Aug. 29^th, 1864.

MR. EDITOR:—The old Fifth Corps are still in possession of the Weldon Railroad, and will continue to be for all that our neighbors, the rebels, can do to regain its possession. Since the date of my last (22d inst.,) [August 22, 1864] there has been no fighting in front of our Corps.  It is supposed the rebels suffered a little too much in their last engagement (21^st) [August 21, 1864] to try the same again with us, in our strong works.¹

Everything remained quiet until the 25^th [August 25, 1864], when there was a battle fought by two divisions of the Second Corps, and a portion of our Cavalry, who went out on our left for the purpose of destroying more of the Railroad, which they had done for the distance of five miles or more, when they were attacked by a heavy force of rebels, who charged on them, forcing them back a short distance into their works.  Here they were able to repulse the rebels for some time, until being greatly outnumbered by the enemy they were obliged to abandon the position, leaving several of their cannon in the hands of the rebels.  The third division of our [Fifth] corps, with a portion of the Ninth Corps, started for their assistance, but were not needed, and the order being countermanded they returned to their works.  During the night the second corps returned to their old position on the plank road.²

Since the last-mentioned engagement [Second Reams’ Station] an unusual quietness has prevailed along our lines.  Anybody would suppose that the rebels had left these parts altogether, but [Major] Gen. [Gouverneur K.] Warren, who like the good sailor prepares for a storm while the calm lasts, does not think such to be the case.  I should judge from the way we have been fortifying for the last week that a heavy storm was brewing, which was likely to burst upon us at any moment.  And such is undoubtedly the case, for our position is too important to the success of the Rebellion to be abandoned without a desperate struggle on their part.—If it comes it will find us prepared to withstand the shock, as our breastworks almost completely encircle the whole corps, trains, and all belonging to it.  If a stranger were among us now he would no doubt inquire in what direction the rebels were, as our works are so constructed as to resist an attack from any quarter.³

Last Friday [August 26, 1864] Capt. [Stephen] Rich was detailed as Brigade officer of the picket, for forty-eight hours.—He had with him a detail from each regiment in the brigade [2/1/V/AotP].  The picket line is about three-fourths of a mile in front of the works.⁴

Yesterday [August 28, 1864] the work of bending all the track that remained within our works was completed.  Perhaps your readers would like to know the MODUS OPERANDI of bending railroad iron to render it unfit for further use.  First the ties are built up in piles, across each other at right angles; across these the rails are laid, with the ends overhanging, so that when heated by the burning of the ties the weight at the end bends the rail; this comprises the whole art.

To-day [August 29, 1864] Generals Grant, Meade and others rode around our lines, viewing the strength of our works.

The health of our regiment is not quite as good as it has been, on account of the swampy country that we are operating in.

Having used up all my small stock of items in regard to the 32d [Massachusetts], I will now say a few words in regard to the letter of my brother Vet[eran]. (Guard), which I read in your paper of the 24^th inst. [August 24, 1864]  I was well pleased with its contents, especially to know that he took what I said in good part.  But I see he does not intend to bring on a general engagement to argue the point with me, but chooses to act on the defensive, and await further movements on my part.  But I have concluded to take the defensive myself, by laying a siege to hold the position which I assumed on the 13^th, until he attacks me with more force.  If he should force me to abandon it, I will, with my forces, retreat to a more secure and stronger position in my rear.—As the thing now stands I will establish a strong picket line, then return to my quarters and try to answer some of his questions, and perhaps ask him some in return.  In the first place he informed me that he was a Vet[eran]., as far as that is concerned we will be able to understand ourselves very well hereafter.  He thought that I was piling it on rather thick; but not so thick, after all, but what he could see out and call it a square thing on his part.  He wished to know where I gained my information in regard to the guides.  I think I can satisfy him on that point by telling him I gained it from a Gloucester paper in the Spring of ’62, written by a correspondent from his regiment.  But “how are you” general guides in the Army of the Potomac?  What a fine sight it must have been to see a regiment advance in that manner “right smart.”  I reckon it may be done by the 32d [Massachusetts] before they get out of the army, but “I don’t see it.”  He says I would not find much pleasure marching in North Carolina.  Agreed; I am no lover of travel at any time, but as regards the marching in N. Carolina, it is about the same now as it has been in Virginia the last three years; the great army worm has destroyed all the sweet potato and peanut plantations.⁵

But I fear, Mr. Editor, that my letter is getting rather lengthy for the patience of your readers, so I will bring it to a close by informing Guard that if he should come to the extreme left of the army he will find the siege progressing finely and always open to receive its old friends, such as I take him to be.  But previous to that visit we should like to see that man that our Uncle Sam keeps to deal out to the troops their regular rations of greenbacks.  Then perhaps he will find right side up his and

Yours,                                          SIEGE. ⁶

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Other Massachusetts’ Soldier Letters in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph

• NP: July 9, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 59th MA at Second Petersburg, June 17, 1864
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 13th MA, Last Days at Petersburg
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA at Petersburg, Late June to Early July 1864
• NP: July 23, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Fourth of July
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: August 6, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA And Shelling Along The Lines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and Confederate Countermines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA, the Crater, and a Feud
• NP: August 20, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and the City Point Explosion
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Feuds with the 32nd MA
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Shelling and Explosions at Petersburg
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at the Siege of Petersburg, Late August 1864
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA at the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 18-21, 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at Bermuda Hundred, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Late August 1864

Source/Notes:

One of “Old Rock’s” Brigade¹

Editor Journal: Words cannot possibly express to you the full measure of pleasure that has been enjoyed for so many months now by many “old Rebs,” who are yet left in Dixie awaiting final orders to “strike tents” and be ready to cross over the River of Death and rest under the shade of the trees. No one but a participant in those day of heroic sacrifice and suffering can fully appreciate these biographical sketches of the many scenes that tried the patriotism and courage of those who followed our battle cross through so much blood and suffering for four long, weary years.

Reading an article a few days ago from the pen of one of my old brigade, viz., Benning’s [Benning/Field/First/ANV], giving some of the incidents of the fall of Fort Harrison in the fall of 1864, has tempted me to scribble a little myself and give you a few of my own recollections of that event.

Bennings’ [sic, Benning’s][Benning/Field/First/ANV] and Robertson’s [Gregg/Field/First/ANV, the famous Texas Brigade] brigades of infantry had been taken from the trenches in front of Petersburg and sent to the north side of Richmond to protect a line of works stretching out two or three miles north and supporting Fort Harrison, which was near James river. It was a rare treat for us to get a rest from life in the hot trenches and from the constant care of dodging the crack of the sharpshooter’s deadly rifle. It was during that halcyon season of the year (September [1864]) when summer is quickly passing away, and the cool days of autumn are coming in to sweeten the air and give new life to the stagnant blood. We kept up a strong picket line some mile in front of our line of works, and for weeks we kept the enemy fooled as to our real strength. As Mr. [George] McRae says, we soon established a truce between the pickets, so that for several weeks we had no fighting at all.²

What a glorious rest it was for the Johnnies after five months of constant and hard campaigning from the Wilderness, May 5th [1864], till September. My brigade had a most delightful place to camp, a beautiful piece of wooded land, with plenty of shade to shelter us, good springs close by to get drinking and cooking water and a large clear creek close by to bathe in. It was a treat to see how the boys revelled in these matchless luxuries. You could see them sitting here and there under nearly every tree, writing to their “best girl” back in Georgia, or to their precious loved ones at home. Here with plenty of wood and water convenient they could once more enjoy the luxury of a biled shirt.³

And now I wanted to tell of something that was to me the most remarkable thing that I witnessed during the whole war. While here enjoying our rest from war a prayer meeting was started among the private soldiers. It soon began to grow in interest and was taken charge of by two chaplains of the brigade, one a Baptist, of the 17th Georgia, and the other a Methodist, of the 15th Georgia regiment, who is yet living and is the loved and honored pastor of a church at Eatonton, Ga., Rev. W[illiam]. F. Robinson.⁴

The interest rapidly grew in religious zeal and soon developed into a genuine revival. Many old seasoned vets were happily converted and joined the churches by letter; and at the close of the meeting they all repaired to the creek close by camp and all were baptized by immersion at the same time. Some by the Baptist minister and others by the Methodist, and the impression made on the mind of your scribe, who was not then a member of the church, was that religion is certainly a genuine reality and the work of God. I heard men who had been noted for their extreme wickedness up to that time, shout aloud with the joy’s of the new born soul. But all these happy peaceful scenes were soon to be marred. The enemy by some means, found out how weak our line was. I heard the day before we were attacked by two corps[,] that a captain in charge of the picket line, I believe that he belonged to the 17th Georgia, had deserted and gone over to the enemy, giving away our whole situation. I can’t vouch for this fact, but it was currently reported about camp the day before they attacked. I do know though that at day dawn on the morning of the 29th of September [1864], our line was attacked simultaneously at two points over a mile apart, one in our immediate front by one corps [at New Market Heights] and the other at Fort Harrison.⁵ We fought them in our front and repulsed three successive charges before breakfast. About this time we were ordered to double-quick to the relief of Fort Harrison, which we did as quick as possible. But alas! when we got in sight of it and while a quarter of a mile distant, the enemy, another corps had already taken it and were pouring over our lines without opposition. We took position as near as possible and gave them all we could for breakfast, but we were soon flanked out of our position. My right was stampeded and your scribe with quite a number of others were taken in out of the wet and in a few days sailed down the James [River] to spend the winter at Point Lookout.⁶ So I closed my war record there, freezing and starving in cloth tents. I have seen but few of my old regiment since the war, but my heart goes out to them in loving regards, wherever they may be.

W[ILLIAM]. S. NEEL.

Co[mpany]. K., 15th [Georgia] Reg[iment]. “Old Rock’s” [Benning’s] Brigade.

Social Circle, Ga.⁷

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Google Gemini Pro and reviewed for accuracy by Brett Schulte.

If you are interested in helping us transcribe newspaper articles like the one above, either utilizing AI or doing it the old fashioned way, please CONTACT US.

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Source/Notes:

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A BRAVE PICKET

BY GEO[RGE]. M[C]RAE.¹

SHELL BURST OVER HIM AS HE LAY ASLEEP–AN INCIDENT NEAR RICHMOND.

Late in the year 1864 Longstreet’s corps occupied the breastworks below Richmond, north of James’ river [sic, the James River], the right of Benning’s brigade [Benning/Field/First/ANV] being near Fort Harrison, which was the most important strong hold for defense on that part of our lines. At this point our picket line was about a mile in front of our main line, and the space between thickly wooded, it could not be seen from the main line. The enemies’ pickets were about 150 yards from ours and in plain view of each other. Each picket line had rifle pits, though at this point they were not using them as they were friendly and by mutual understanding refrained from firing on each other. They would occasionally meet between the lines and exchange newspapers, giving us the New York papers for the Richmond papers. They would frequently do other trading in a small way, generally giving our men ground coffee mixed in sugar in exchange for tobacco. While we always had plenty of tobacco and [were] scarce of coffee, they always had plenty of coffee and were scarce of tobacco; though I could not understand the cause of their scarcity of tobacco when all the markets of the world were open to them.

It was the custom when a picket desired to meet an opposite picket for the purpose of exchange, he would wave a newspaper which would be in like manner answered by an opposite picket, and each would immediately start to meet the other, leaving their arms behind. These conferences were always very brief.

But those who have had no experience in war must not suppose that such was the case on all parts of the line all the time. At the same time the opposing pickets were friendly at some points on the line, at other places it would be their constant study to gain an advantage and contrive ways openly or be stealthy craft to kill each other. But at points where they were friendly and either side for some cause desired to resume hostilities, they would first put the other side on fair notice.

While we were occupying this line the enemy would at intervals each day send a shell from a gunboat in James river over their line and ours, for as those on the gunboat could not see or locate our line to get the range, the shells, which were very large, round ones, would always fall or explode somewhere between our picket and main line, where there was no one for them to hurt. But it happened different on one occasion. An old man who was a conscript that had recently been sent to one of the companies of Benning’s brigade, was out one day on picket for the first time. He was not cowardly, but seemed to be a careful, methodical old man. Not being used to them, it was natural that he should not enjoy the strange, unearthly screeching of the huge shells as they would occasionally pass over. Desiring to take some sleep while off duty, he spread his blanket on the bottom of one of the rifle pits as a place least likely to be disturbed by the shells, and, lying down, was soon fast asleep, and perchance, was dreaming of his beloved family and little farm in far-away Georgia, and it seemed that no human forethought could have made a better selection for a place of safety. It seemed next to impossible for one of the shells from the gunboat to have injured him. But he was scarcely more than asleep when one of the shells, for the first and only time, fell short, striking the ground in front of us, but nearer to their own pickets, and ricocheting, passed directly over and high above the rifle pit, striking a tall, springy tree high up near its top, its force being nearly spent, rebounded back and exploded with terrific force as it fell on the old man lying asleep in the rifle pit, scattering his body in all directions in minute fragments.²

One night [September 28-29, 1864] we could hear the enemy crossing James river on a pontoon bridge. They seemed to be travelling rapidly; footmen, horsemen and artillery; and the length of time they were crossing indicated a large force, and we felt sure a sudden attack would be made on us at some point. But we could not know by the noise made crossing the bridge which direction they were marching, whether they were going from the north side, which was our side, to attack some point on the south side, or whether they were coming from the south side to attack us on the north side of the James river. I do not know what time it was when General Lee received correct information as to which direction they were moving. However, they attacked us on the north side at daylight, and it was late in the day before reinforcements from the south side reached us, a few minutes too late to assist us.³

We supposed that if they were coming to attack us on the north side they would strike us on our extreme left, and in this way turn us out of our works before the reinforcements could arrive from the south side to assist us. Fort Harrison was almost the last point we expected they would attack, as it would be folly for them to attack it unless they could surprise it, and it was situated at such a distance in rear of the picket line it was not thought they could come on it by surprise. But at daylight [September 29, 1864] we who were on the picket line were astonished to hear sudden and rapid firing at Fort Harrison, a mile in our rear.⁴

They had formed their attacking column in perfect quietness near their picket line before daylight, and a little to the right of where we of Benning’s brigade [Benning/Field/First/ANV] were on picket. They formed their line in the shape of the letter V, with the point directed to Fort Harrison, and before it was quite daylight they moved rapidly on the fort and took it, and as they could enfilade our lines from the fort, our troops were compelled to abandon them at once, and thus the two wings of the enemy’s line straightened out and passed over them; we who were out on the picket line barely escaping out before being cut off.

We retired to another line of works we had already prepared about two miles in rear of those we were forced out of. On this line was a fort called Fort Gilmer. We only had men enough to occupy these works from Fort Gilmer to the right, and for about two hundred yards to the left of the fort. The balance of our works were empty when the enemy attacked Fort Gilmer later in day. That part of our works unoccupied and defenseless, was quite hidden by dense woods from the view of the enemy, but directly in front of Fort Gilmer was open level ground for a mile from the fort. If the enemy had known our works were defenseless and made their second attack there they would have turned us out of that line also, unless our reinforcements who were already near us and fast approaching, would be strong enough to drive them back again. They did not suppose we had time to fully man Fort Gilmer, and their idea was to hasten and capture it before our reinforcements could arrive, and which they well knew were on the way from the south side; and though they failed in their attack on the fort they succeeded in making the attack a few minutes before our reinforcements arrived and occupied the vacant works.⁵

But what made it the more interesting, enlivening as well as amusing, our reinforcements who were just arriving in sight, did not know the enemy were defeated and were retreating. As they were advancing in line of battle at double quick, their course directed towards the vacant portion of the breastworks, they first came in view of the vacant works when they were about two hundred yards from them. The guns were firing rapidly from Fort Gilmer at the retreating enemy; but the reinforcements thought that Fort Gilmer was firing on the advancing enemy, and supposing it was a race between themselves and the enemy which would reach the works first, every man of them increasing their speed struck out with all possible haste for the breastworks, in order to reach them before the enemy could.

If the enemy had let well enough alone and contented themselves with driving us out of our first line of works, they would have had much the best of the day, but as it was, before the day ended they got much the worst of it, losing many more men than we did. They advanced to the attack on Fort Gilmer in two lines. The first line was composed of negro troops, and the second line close following it were white troops. The negro prisoners afterwards told us there was no escape for them, that they were warned that if they turned back the white troops would fire on them. But the fort was better prepared for defense than they supposed, and the white troops were glad enough to get out of the reach of its guns. Many of the negroes did reach the fort, but without any intention of taking it, but to beg to be taken over as prisoners.⁶,⁷

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Google Gemini Pro and reviewed for accuracy by Brett Schulte.

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Source:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from the Lytle-Holdcamper List and Erik Heyl’s Early American Steamers)¹,²,³,⁴

Images:

⁵

Captain(s):
Captain Carpenter
Captain Image

Captain Pepper
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Captain 3
Captain Image

Pre-Siege (June 1-12, 1864):

• Captain:
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 2, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on June 2, 1864.⁶

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Captain:
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 14, 1864, no time listed: The Admiral DuPont left White House on the morning of June 13 with matters quiet and unchanged in the Army of the Potomac. Guerrillas were reported becoming troublesome in the vicinity of White House. Shortly after leaving, eight deserters were found secreted on board and put under guard. As she neared Alexandria on the morning of June 14 three jumped overboard attempting to escape; two reached shore and got away, the third was drowned. The remaining five were taken in charge by the Provost Marshal on the boat’s arrival. No names were obtained.⁷,⁸,⁹
  • June 15, 1864, no time listed: On the morning of June 15, 1864 the Admiral DuPont and the North Point left the Sixth Street wharf at Washington with three hundred and twenty-four Confederate prisoners who had been confined in the Old Capitol Prison, to be conveyed to Fort Delaware.¹⁰

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (June 19, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 19, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Delaware, 18 hours, in ballast.¹¹,¹²

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (July 3-21, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • July 3, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 23 hours, in ballast, to the U.S. Quartermaster. Detained off Sandy Hook by a thick fog.¹³
  • July 6, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on July 6, 1864, heading the day’s list of sailings.¹⁴,¹⁵
  • July 21, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 40 hours, in ballast, to the U.S. Quartermaster.¹⁶
  • July 25, 1864, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Fort Monroe from New York with 108 bounty jumpers and deserters, also some 800 convalescents. Arrivals from the front that day reported no important movements.¹⁷,¹⁸,¹⁹

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (August 7-26, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • August 7, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 32 hours, to the U.S. Quartermaster, having had the Gabriel in tow.²⁰
  • August 18, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, in ballast, to the U.S. Assistant Quartermaster. The passage is given as 23 hours in three accounts and as 36 hours in a fourth.²¹,²²,²³,²⁴
  • August 22, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on August 22, 1864, in company with the General Meigs.²⁵
  • August 26, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 23 hours, in ballast.²⁶,²⁷

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (September 2-27, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • September 2, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, arrived at New York from Washington, D.C.²⁸
  • September 8, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Portland, Maine from New York.²⁹,³⁰,³¹
  • September 9, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, cleared Portland, Maine for New York.³²,³³
  • September 14, 1864, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont was to take 400 men from Hart’s Island to Washington, while the Blackstone conveyed 700 from the same rendezvous to the James River.³⁴,³⁵
  • September 15, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on September 15, 1864, in company with the Blackstone, the Western Metropolis, the California and the Tubal Cain.³⁶
  • September 27, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from New Haven.³⁷
  • October 4, 1864, no time listed: The 23rd Massachusetts regiment, 180 men under command of Capt. Addison Centre of Gloucester, arrived at New York on the morning of October 4 aboard the steamer Admiral DuPont from Fort Monroe, and left that afternoon for Boston on the steam transport Charles Thomas to be mustered out of the service.³⁸,³⁹

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

• Captain: Pepper (October 16-27, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • October 16, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Washington, 40 hours.⁴⁰
  • October 27, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 22 hours, in ballast.⁴¹

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Captain: Pepper (November 5-15, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • November 5, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Pepper, arrived at New York from City Point, 30 hours, with 870 men of the 11th US Infantry.⁴²
  • November 15, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 35 hours, to the U.S. Army Quartermaster.⁴³

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

• Captain: Pepper (February 17-21, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • February 12, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Port Royal, South Carolina, from New York, in company with the America.⁴⁴
  • February 17, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, cleared Port Royal, South Carolina, for New York.⁴⁵
  • February 21, 1865, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont, Captain Pepper, arrived at Fort Monroe from Hilton Head, S.C., having sailed on the 17th instant, via Beaufort, N.C. She brought the mails and important despatches for the War Department. Nothing was known at Hilton Head of General Sherman’s movements, as his base of operations was so far removed that there was but little communication carried on with his army except by mounted couriers.⁴⁶,⁴⁷,⁴⁸,⁴⁹,⁵⁰,⁵¹,⁵²

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

• Captain: Pepper (March 18, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • March 18, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 18 hours.⁵³
  • March 22, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on March 22, 1865, listed among the day’s steamer sailings.⁵⁴

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• None

Ship History:⁵⁵

As the ANGLIA the steamer was a well-known Irish cross-channel steamer running on the Holyhead Dublin route in consort with her sister the SCOTIA. After fourteen years of service both steamers were superseded by newer, larger and faster vessels. In 1861 the ANGLIA was bought by Alexander Duranty of Liverpool, who promptly converted her into a blockade runner. At that time the blockade was as yet not very stringent and a rather old and slow steamer like the ANGLIA had a good chance of evading any blockading men-of-war.

ANGLIA made a few successful trips through the Federal fleet, the profits of which probably repaid her owners their investment or speculation. But on October 27, 1862 she was met by USS FLAG at Bull’s Bay, S. C. and compelled to heave to. She was carrying a load of drugs and supplies consigned to Wilmington, N. C. from Nassau. Sent north the ANGLIA was condemned in prize court and sold to private parties, as she was too old and In too bad a state of repair to be of any use for naval services. The purchaser was Caleb Pierce of Boston, Mass., with whom the Whitney’s were associated.

Renamed ADMIRAL DUPONT she was put into service between Boston, Portland and St. John, N. B. for about a year or so. Apparently she was not a successful steamer on this route for in 1864 she was sold to Nathaniel McCready of New York, who transferred the ADMIRAL DUPONT to New York and ran her between New York and some of the open ports of the south, varied by occasional trips to Boston.

June 7, 1865 the ADMIRAL DUPONT left New York with a small detachment of some forty soldiers returning from their furloughs to their various commands at Fort Monroe. During the night a very heavy fog was encountered. At 4:20 AM June 8 the ship STADACONA was suddenly seen through a rift in the fog steering on an intercepting course. The helm of the ADMIRAL DUPONT was put hard aport, her engines were immediately stopped and then reversed but she had too much headway and the STADACONA drove into the ADMIRAL DUPONT‘s starboard side, Just forward of the wheel-housing.

The steamer was cut open nearly down to her keel; the fore-mast was carried away and she began to settle fast. The only people of the ADMIRAL DUPONT which were saved were those who had happened to be on deck and had Jumped over onto the STADACONA. Between fifteen and twenty lives were lost, while the monetary loss of the steamer and cargo, which were only insured for $50,000.-, ran well over $40,000.-.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• Admiral DuPont (Steamship) (1847-1865)

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from the Lytle-Holdcamper List and Erik Heyl’s Early American Steamers)¹,²

Images:

³

Captain(s):
Captain James Cannon (June 6, 1864 to March 17, 1865 and April 6-14, 1865)
Captain Image

Captain Bloodsworth (March 21 to April 6, 1865)
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

Pre-Siege (June 1-12, 1864):

Captain: Captain James Cannon (June 6, 1864 through March 13, 1865, and again April 6/10 through April 14, 1865)

• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 6, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴,⁵
  • June 6, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶,⁷
  • June 8, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸
  • June 10, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹
  • June 10, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Captain:
• Locations Mentioned:

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon (June 20-28, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 20, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹
  • June 20, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹²
  • June 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹³,¹⁴
  • June 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁵,¹⁶
  • June 24, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon. Reported off the Patuxent River a Baltimore-bound brig, above Poplar Island a ship, and off Thomas Point a bark, all at anchor and supposed bound up.¹⁷,¹⁸
  • June 24, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹,²⁰
  • June 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²¹
  • June 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²²

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon
• Locations Mentioned:

• • July 12, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²³
  • July 12, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁴
  • July 13, 1864, no time listed: The Philadelphia Railroad Company chartered the Adelaide and another boat to run passengers and mail daily to Perryville at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., in connection with Col. Markland, agent of the Post Office Department, after Confederate raiders (Gilmor and Johnson, part of Jubal Early raid on Washington/Baltimore) burned bridges on the Northern Central and Western Maryland Railroads.²⁵
  • July 14, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁶
  • July 14, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁷
  • July 18, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁸
  • July 18, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁹
  • July 19, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Fort Monroe from Baltimore. Major General (William F. “Baldy”) Smith arrived at Fortress Monroe aboard the Adelaide this morning from Baltimore, and left for the front in a special boat. (Same dispatch also reported the flag-of-truce steamer C. W. Thomas going down with the Assistant Commissioner of Exchange and a few prisoners, and unconfirmed rumors of an attack on the army gunboat Charles Chamberlain carrying Gen. Butler, near Wilcox’s Landing.).³⁰,³¹
  • July 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³²
  • July 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³³
  • July 26, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³⁴
  • July 26, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³⁵
  • July 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³⁶
  • July 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³⁷

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon (August 3-22, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • August 3, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon. Passed off New Point a ship and a bark bound up.³⁸
  • August 3, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.³⁹
  • August 5, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴⁰
  • August 5, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴¹
  • August 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴²
  • August 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴³
  • August 10, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Fort Monroe from Baltimore, under Captain James Cannon. The U.S. mail steamer Adelaide, Capt. Jas. Cannon, arrived from Baltimore carrying several paymasters with well-filled pouches of greenbacks to pay the army in front of Petersburg, joining paymasters who had arrived earlier that day aboard the steamer Keyport from Washington (with Major Marvin and four others); the combined party left for the front at 10 a.m. Some soldiers had not been paid since the previous February.⁴⁴,⁴⁵
  • August 11, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴⁶
  • August 11, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴⁷
  • August 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴⁸
  • August 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁴⁹
  • August 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁰
  • August 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵¹
  • August 17, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵²
  • August 17, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵³
  • August 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁴

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon (September 22 to October 12, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • September 22, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁵
  • September 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁶
  • September 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁷
  • September 30, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁸
  • September 30, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁵⁹
  • October 2, 1864, no time listed: A satirical “Talk in Town” column reported Norfolk-area gossip comparing the three Baltimore line steamers running the Baltimore-Old Point-Norfolk route: the Louisiana, Georgiana, and Adelaide. A speaker defended the Adelaide as “a trim boat, clean and safe,” while the Louisiana and Georgiana were criticized by others as “old, dirty, badly ventilated and scarcely seaworthy” and “overcrowded with passengers and freight,” with the line’s owners accused of caring only to “get money.” The piece called for a new, enterprising company to put modern boats on the route.⁶⁰
  • October 3, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide sailed from Fort Monroe for Baltimore. The steam frigate Powhatan, Commander Wm. Ronckendorff, arrived at Fortress Monroe from Cape Haytien (Cap-Haitien, Haiti) carrying Rear Admiral James T. Lardner, who left shortly after aboard the mail steamer Adelaide bound for Baltimore, thence Washington, and on to Philadelphia to relieve Acting Rear Admiral Stribling. (The same dispatch reported Lt. Cmdr. John H. Upshur detached from the frigate Minnesota to command the captured blockade runner A. D. Vance, with Commodore Joseph Lanman assuming command of the Minnesota.).⁶¹,⁶²
  • October 6, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶³
  • October 6, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁴
  • October 12, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁵
  • October 12, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁶

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon (October 23-28, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • October 23, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁷
  • October 24, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁸
  • October 24, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁶⁹
  • October 26, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁰
  • October 26, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷¹
  • October 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷²
  • October 28, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷³

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Captain: James Cannon (November 1 to December 27, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • November 1, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁴
  • November 1, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁵
  • November 3, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁶
  • November 3, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁷
  • November 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁸
  • November 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁷⁹
  • November 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁰
  • November 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸¹
  • November 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸²
  • November 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸³
  • November 11, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁴
  • November 11, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁵
  • November 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁶
  • November 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁷
  • November 17, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁸
  • November 17, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁸⁹
  • November 19, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon. The steamer Adelaide arrived at Baltimore this morning. Her passengers reported that the mission upon which the fleet at Fortress Monroe was to be engaged had been virtually abandoned, with many of the vessels comprising it ordered to rejoin the blockading forces (likely referring to the planned Fort Fisher/Wilmington expedition).⁹⁰
  • November 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹¹
  • November 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹²
  • November 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹³
  • November 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹⁴
  • November 23, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon. Passed off the Wolf Trap a full-rigged brig bound up.⁹⁵
  • November 23, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹⁶
  • November 29, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹⁷,⁹⁸
  • November 29, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.⁹⁹,¹⁰⁰
  • November 29, 1864 (date derived from the phrase “Tuesday last” in a correspondent’s letter datelined James River, December 4, 1864), no time listed: Governor Bradford of Maryland and his party — Adjutant General Berry and Colonel Thomas J. Morris of his staff, General Schriver of Frederick, Judge Morris Cochrane, Dr. Ward, Owen A. Gill, Augustus Bradford, Jr., Charles C. Fulton, and Richard King, the Maryland State Agent — left Baltimore on the Adelaide for the Army of the Potomac, to present to the Maryland regiments in the field the flags ordered by the last Legislature, in token of the appreciation in which their gallantry was held by the citizens of the State. They were met on board by Colonel Moor N. Falls, and Mr. Charles Klasson, the clerk, attended to the comfort of the party.¹⁰¹
  • December 1, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰²
  • December 1, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰³
  • December 5, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰⁴,¹⁰⁵
  • December 5, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰⁶,¹⁰⁷
  • December 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰⁸
  • December 7, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁰⁹
  • December 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁰
  • December 9, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹¹
  • December 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹²
  • December 15, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹³
  • December 19, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁴
  • December 19, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁵
  • December 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁶
  • December 21, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁷
  • December 23, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁸
  • December 23, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.¹¹⁹
  • December 27, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²⁰
  • December 27, 1864, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²¹

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

• Captain: James Cannon (January 2 to February 27, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • January 2, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²²
  • January 2, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²³
  • January 4, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²⁴
  • January 4, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²⁵
  • January 6, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²⁶
  • January 6, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹²⁷
  • January 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore. Amid harbor ice, the steamer Adelaide, of the bay line, came up to Baltimore about the usual time, having made her way safely through ice at the mouth of the river, from Bodkin Point to the wharf.¹²⁸
  • January 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe. The steamer Adelaide left Baltimore again last evening for Fortress Monroe amid harbor ice; sailing vessels were having no difficulty arriving or departing with the aid of tug-boats.¹²⁹
  • January 10, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁰,¹³¹
  • January 10, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³²,¹³³
  • January 12, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁴
  • January 12, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁵
  • January 14, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁶
  • January 14, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁷
  • January 16, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹³⁸,¹³⁹
  • January 16, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁴⁰,¹⁴¹
  • January 18, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁴²
  • January 18, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁴³
  • January 20, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁴⁴
  • January 20, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁴⁵
  • January 22, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Annapolis from Fort Monroe. The steamer Adelaide arrived at Annapolis from Fortress Monroe (departed the 21st inst.), bringing dispatches datelined Fortress Monroe, Jan. 21, 1865, reporting the arrival there that day of the steamer De Molay from Fort Fisher with eight hundred rebel prisoners captured in the assault, and a heavy rain storm that had commenced that morning and continued into the evening. The Philadelphia Inquirer (Baltimore correspondence) later explained the cause: for the first time in thirty years the Patapsco River was so choked with drifting ice that the Adelaide, having left Baltimore on the 20th, could not force her way back and was obliged to put into Annapolis; once her safety and whereabouts were confirmed in Baltimore, the Bay Line dispatched the steamer Louisiana (preceded by the icebreaker steamer Georgia) on Sunday morning, the 22d, to force a passage through the ice.¹⁴⁶,¹⁴⁷,¹⁴⁸,¹⁴⁹,¹⁵⁰
  • January 23, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Fort Monroe from Annapolis. After the ice-blockaded steamers Louisiana and Georgia were forced to turn back to Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 22 (arriving 8 p.m.), the Bay Line rerouted passengers for Fortress Monroe via Annapolis: on Monday, Jan. 23, roughly two hundred passengers — including a U.S. Christian Commission delegate who led shipboard Divine services — took the 4:30 p.m. train to Annapolis, arrived after dark in muddy, rainy conditions, and with the help of a local boy located the steamer Adelaide at the wharf. The Adelaide carried them safely to Fortress Monroe, arriving the evening of the 23rd, to the reported relief of residents of Fortress Monroe and Norfolk who had been without mail and newspapers for three days.¹⁵¹
  • January 26, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon. Reports several vessels in the lower part of the bay hove up (ice-bound). The Sun additionally reported bitter cold (thermometer 24-26 degrees) and that the Adelaide came up from Norfolk through the ice track, with the steamship Seagull also arriving from New York and mooring at Locust Point, and numerous oyster boats reported ice-bound near North Point.¹⁵²,¹⁵³
  • February 2, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk and Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon. The Sun reported little obstruction to navigation in the harbor; the Adelaide, of the Bay Line, came up to her wharf, having come from Norfolk and Fortress Monroe, and Captain Cannon reported large quantities of heavy drift ice all the way from Sandy Point to the city.¹⁵⁴
  • February 4, 1865, no time listed: The steamer Adelaide, due at an early hour Saturday morning, was forced by drift ice to put into Annapolis; a number of her passengers came the rest of the way to Baltimore by railroad.¹⁵⁵
  • February 4, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Annapolis. After putting into Annapolis that morning on account of drift ice, the Adelaide got under way again in the afternoon and reached her Baltimore wharf shortly before six o’clock that evening.¹⁵⁶
  • February 5, 1865 (date derived from “yesterday afternoon” in the issue of February 6, 1865), about 3:00 p.m.: Shortly before the Adelaide started from her Baltimore wharf, a valuable horse belonging to an officer, which was being placed on board, fell from the gang-board into the water. Some time elapsed before the animal was gotten out, and it was almost frozen to death.¹⁵⁷
  • February 6, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁵⁸
  • February 7, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon. Reports the river and bay clear of ice except what made last night.¹⁵⁹
  • February 7, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁰
  • February 8, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶¹
  • February 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶²
  • February 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶³
  • February 11, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁴
  • February 11, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁵
  • February 13, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁶
  • February 13, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁷
  • February 14, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon. Encountered heavy ice down to Annapolis.¹⁶⁸
  • February 15, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁶⁹
  • February 17, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon. Reports the ice very heavy and running. Passed off Sharp’s Island, bound up, with a tug ahead of her.¹⁷⁰,¹⁷¹
  • February 17, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁷²,¹⁷³
  • February 21, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁷⁴,¹⁷⁵
  • February 21, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁷⁶,¹⁷⁷
  • February 23, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁷⁸
  • February 23, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁷⁹
  • February 24, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸⁰
  • February 24, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸¹
  • February 25, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸²
  • February 25, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸³
  • February 27, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸⁴,¹⁸⁵
  • February 27, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸⁶,¹⁸⁷

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

• Captain:
  • James Cannon (March 1-17, 1865)
  • Bloodsworth (March 21-31, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • March 1, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁸⁸,¹⁸⁹
  • March 1, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹⁰,¹⁹¹
  • March 7, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹²
  • March 7, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹³
  • March 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹⁴,¹⁹⁵
  • March 9, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹⁶,¹⁹⁷
  • March 11, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹⁸
  • March 11, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.¹⁹⁹
  • March 13, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain James Cannon.²⁰⁰,²⁰¹
  • March 13, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.²⁰²,²⁰³
  • March 14, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide sailed from Fort Monroe for Baltimore. Maj. Gens. George Crook and Benjamin Franklin Kelley, exchanged the previous day at Varuna after their February 1865 capture at Cumberland, MD, arrived at Fort Monroe that afternoon from City Point on the mail steamer Dictator, then left for Baltimore aboard the Adelaide.²⁰⁴
  • March 14, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Fort Monroe for Baltimore. Major Generals George Crook and Benjamin F. Kelley, who had been captured by Confederate partisan rangers at Cumberland, Maryland in February and were exchanged the previous day (March 13) at Varina, arrived at Fortress Monroe this afternoon aboard the mail steamer Dictator from City Point, and left for Baltimore on the steamer Adelaide. (Same dispatch reported the steamship Champion had arrived at Fortress Monroe that morning from Wilmington, N.C., carrying the first definite intelligence of General Sherman’s army reaching Fayetteville, N.C.).²⁰⁵,²⁰⁶
  • March 17, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.²⁰⁷
  • March 17, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Norfolk, under Captain James Cannon.²⁰⁸
  • March 21, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²⁰⁹
  • March 21, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹⁰
  • March 23, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, Va, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹¹
  • March 23, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, Va, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹²
  • March 27, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹³,²¹⁴
  • March 27, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹⁵,²¹⁶
  • March 29, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹⁷,²¹⁸
  • March 29, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²¹⁹,²²⁰
  • March 31, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide arrived at Baltimore from Fort Monroe, under Captain Bloodsworth.²²¹
  • March 31, 1865, no time listed: The Adelaide cleared Baltimore for Fort Monroe, Va, under Captain Bloodsworth.²²²

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• None

Ship History:²²³

According to scuttlebutt ADELAIDE was designed and laid down for Cornelius Vanderbilt who planned sending her to California to run on the Sacramento River and its tributaries, the rush to the gold fields being at its height. However she was purchased on the stocks by the Calais Steamboat Company and on completion was put on the Boston and St. John, N.B. run, with calls en route at Portland and Eastport.

ADELAIDE remained on this service until 1859 when she was sold to the Baltimore Steam Packet Co., for $91,250. and sent to Baltimore. The “Old Bay Line” urgently needed a replacement for their burned NORTH CAROLINA and ADELAIDE most closely resembled her. She arrived at Norfolk just one month after the loss of her predecessor and joined the LOUISIANA and GEORGEANNA on the Baltimore-Norfolk service.

Following the outbreak of the Civil War the “Old Bay Line” continued operating between Baltimore and Norfolk until May 7, 1861 when Federal authorities detained ADELAIDE at Fortress Monroe and compelled her to land her passengers and mail. From then on the Baltimore boats could proceed only as far as Old Point.

During the summer of 1861 both ADELAIDE and GEORGE PEABODY were chartered by the U.S. War Department and in the middle of August 1861 were readied to tow nineteen stone-laden old schooners to block the inlets to the North Carolina sounds.

August 26, 1861 a combined naval-military squadron under Flag Officer Stringham and General Butler left Hampton Roads for Hatteras Inlet, N. C., the main channel into Pamlico Sound. ADELAIDE, Butler’s flagship and GEORGE PEABODY transported about 900 troops. Following the surrender of Forts Hatteras and Clark and the securing of Hatteras Inlet, General Butler returned in the ADELAIDE to Hampton Roads to report to Washington. She continued under charter to the War Department but was not mentioned in connection with any important service.

After the end of the war the Baltimore Steam Packet Co., resumed Chesapeake Bay services with ADELAIDE, LOUISIANA, GEORGEANNA and THOMAS KELSO; at Fortress Monroe THOMAS COLLYER and MILTON MARTIN made connections for James River landings and Richmond. ADELAIDE continued running for the “Old Bay Line” until 1879 when she was turned over to Harlan & Hollingsworth, probably as part payment for the VIRGINIA then being built at Wilmington.

Resold in the same year to Joseph Martin & Co., of New York, who operated her between New York and Long Branch, N.J., where she docked at the famous Ocean Pier.

On June 19, 1880 ADELAIDE had returned early in the evening from Long Branch having landed all but one passenger at the West 23rd Street pier. At 7:00 PM the excursion steamer GRAND REPUBLIC had discharged at a Brooklyn pier a large crowd of members of Henry Ward Beecher’s church returning from a special excursion to Cold Spring and was on her way to her 23rd Street pier, rounding the Battery.

ADELAIDE was heading for her wharf at the foot of Hudson Street, Jersey City, N. J., when the GRAND REPUBLIC was sighted about half-a-mile distant. Despite frantic cross-signalling both boats stuck obstinately to their courses with the upshot that the excursion steamer tore into the ADELAIDE on the port side, broke the hog frame and crushed the boiler, escaping steam roaring thru the hull. ADELAIDE at once began to settle but some tugs took her in tow to haul her to the foot of West 13th Street where some large derricks might have kept her from sinking.

But at the foot of 11th Street ADELAIDE ran aground, stuck fast and settled to her hurricane deck. About 10 PM she suddenly heeled over and sank, only her wheel housing remaining visible above the water. While awash much of her cabin furniture floated away, a welcome windfall, undoubtedly, to the lucky salvagers. ADELAIDE’S general condition, plus the damages sustained in the collision and subsequent submerging and salvaging made repairs prohibitive and she was abandoned.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• Adelaide (Steamship) (1854-1880)
• NP: February 25, 1925 Potsdam NY Courier and Freeman: Orlando P. Benson Diary, 92nd NY, Part 3

Sources:

Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18–July 1, 1864

by John Horn

SOPO’s Take: Coming soon!

Book Summary/Review:

BTC Siege of Petersburg Book Notes:

BTC Siege of Petersburg Book Sources:

Publisher Info:

The nine-month siege of Petersburg was the longest continuous operation of the Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, it was anything but static trench warfare, as John Horn ably demonstrates in Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864. Large-scale Union “offensives”—grand maneuvers that triggered some of the large-scale battles—broke the monotony of siege warfare. Once his First Offensive (the assaults of June 15-18) failed to capture the city, the Union commander planned and launched his next major effort within hours. This Second Offensive was one of the most dramatic operations of the entire war.

To pave the way for success, Grant brought the city’s bridges under the fire of his siege guns to slow the transfer of enemy troops in and out of Petersburg. He also seized a bridgehead at Deep Bottom on the James River’s north bank to draw Confederate forces out of Petersburg by menacing Richmond. Next, he took more ambitious measures by sending infantry to hem in Petersburg from the Appomattox River above and below the city. The move was designed to cut the critical Weldon and South Side railroads and force the Rebels to abandon Petersburg and Richmond. As his infantry went to work, his cavalry set out to cut the Confederate railroads below Petersburg to slow reinforcements coming up from the south and west.

Grant’s opponent, however, was General Robert E. Lee with his veteran infantry, not the inept John Floyd of Fort Donelson or the distracted John C. Pemberton of Vicksburg. Lee and his infantry subordinate, William Mahone, marched to meet the enemy and, in a stunning turn of events, routed Grant’s foot soldiers at Jerusalem Plank Road. Together, Confederate cavalry leader Wade Hampton and Mahone smashed Grant’s troopers at the battles of Sappony Church and First Reams Station. Thousands of Federal prisoners of war flooded into Confederate camps. Not until April 1865, after seven more offensives, would Grant reach the Appomattox above Petersburg and force Lee to relinquish that city and the capital of Richmond.

This is tactical battle action at its finest. Horn’s explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864 is the first full-length book to put Grant’s second effort into its proper perspective—not only in the context of Petersburg’s siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare’s history.

Advance Praise

“I’ve been editing books and magazine articles on the Civil War for decades, but Lee Besieged is in a class of its own. Elegantly written and deeply researched, it abounds with judicious assessments of commanders, strategy, tactics, and leadership at all levels. Horn’s use of more than 1,000 quotations from participants on both sides puts everything in context and takes you back in time like few other books I have read. Highly recommended!” — Keith Poulter, publisher North & South magazine

“The Second Petersburg Offensive of late June 1864 is among the least understood operations of the entire campaign. Through exhaustive research, engaging prose, and thoughtful analysis, John Horn provides the most detailed account yet written of this Union effort to conquer the Cockade City.” — A. Wilson Greene, author of A Campaign of Giants: The Battle for Petersburg

“John Horn’s Lee Besieged adds considerably to our knowledge of the Petersburg Campaign. It is also the first to deal in depth with Grant’s ill-fated Second Offensive. It is yet another excellent study by Horn.” — Sean Michael Chick, author of The Battle of Petersburg, June 15–June 18, 1864

“John Horn’s Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive adds a much-needed volume to his extensive writings and study of the Petersburg Campaign. Grant’s Second Offensive is often overlooked and hard to comprehend, but Horn’s thorough research and writing carries readers through every aspect of the offensive, providing enjoyment and understanding for the Civil War enthusiast. Firsthand accounts populate the narrative, adding powerful insights into the struggle and fighting of June 1864.” — Jerry Netherland, Petersburg Battlefields Foundation

Hardcover Edition

• Buy the Hardcover Edition

ISBN: 978-1-61121-738-4

Publisher: Savas Beatie

Release Date: June 2025

Pages: 448 pages

The Siege of Petersburg Online Pages Which Mention This Book:

• Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18–July 1, 1864 by John Horn

A Grand Opening Squandered: The Battle for Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864

by Sean M. Chick

SOPO’s Take: Another in the now well-established Emerging Civil War Series, and the second book by the author in a series of studies covering the 1864-65 Campaigns around Richmond.  Other authors will presumably be called in for their battles/offensives of expertise.  This book provides an introductory look at the Second Battle of Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864.  With maps by the always excellent Edward Alexander, this ECW series book is a GREAT way to understand what happened at Petersburg in those four high-stakes days. Had the Federals broken through here, there would have been no Siege of Petersburg and Richmond would have fallen much more quickly, with massive ripple effects on the rest of the war.  As always, the end of the book contains an excellent section on further reading during the Siege of Petersburg.

Book Summary/Review:

SOPO Siege of Petersburg Book Notes:

SOPO Siege of Petersburg Book Sources:

Publisher Info:

Author: Sean Michael Chick

Pub Date: January 2025

ISBN: 978-1-61121-721-6

eISBN: 978-1-61121-722-3

Binding: Trade paper

Specs: 100 images; 10 maps; 192 pp.

May and June 1864 in Virginia witnessed some of the most brutal and bloody fighting of the Civil War. After the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, and Cold Harbor, combined losses for the two armies exceeded 80,000 men killed, wounded, and captured. And the result after all that carnage was a stalemate outside the gates of Richmond.

Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant remained undeterred and set his armies toward their next target: The logistical powerhouse of Petersburg. Grant’s surprising maneuver, which included the construction of a massive pontoon bridge across the broad James River and a surprise march against Petersburg, caught Confederate commander Robert E. Lee by surprise. Petersburg was but lightly guarded and seemed at the mercy of the aggressive Federal commander. Its fall would cut the lifelines into Richmond and force the evacuation of the Southern capital. Ther capture of the city would ensure President Abraham Lincoln’s reelection and eliminate whatever thin hopes the Confederacy still had for victory.

Petersburg was fortified, its garrison small but determined to hold the city. Department commander, Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, realized the danger and shifted as many men as he could spare into the defenses and took the field himself. North of the river, meanwhile, Lee remained unconvinced that Grant had stolen a march on him. Three days of battle (June 15-17) followed. The Federals bungled the effort, and somehow the understrength Confederates managed to fight the Federals to a standstill. Reinforcements from Lee’s army finally arrived on June 18. Petersburg would hold—for now.

Beauregard had won one of the Confederacy’s most impressive victories and one of the Confederacy last strategic victories.

Sean Chick’s A Grand Opening Squandered: The Battle for Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864 provides fresh and renewed attention to one of the most important, fascinating, and yet oddly forgotten battles of the Civil War. Inside are original maps, new research, and dozens of images—many published here for the first time. A Grand Opening Squandered is the first in a series on the Petersburg Campaign, which will provide readers with a strong introduction to the war’s longest campaign.

Paperback Edition

• Buy the Paperback First Edition (Savas Beatie)
• Buy the Paperback First Edition (Amazon)

ISBN: 978-1-61121-721-6

Publisher: Savas Beatie

Release Date: January 2025

Pages: 192 pages

The Siege of Petersburg Online Pages Which Mention This Book:

• A Grand Opening Squandered: The Battle for Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864 by Sean M. Chick