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Siege of Petersburg
The Siege of Petersburg refers to a group of battles that took place from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865 near Petersburg, Virginia. Ask questions about these famous US Civil War battles here.
95 Questions
What is battle of petersburg significance?
The siege of Petersburg was an example of "Trench Warfare", with two armies facing each other in an endless battle of attrition, like those which would have been fought during the WW1 on the European western front.
Why was the siege of petersburg important and what was the outcome?
The siege of Petersburg was important because Lee was pinned down to defend
the fortified system Richmond-Petersburg and the vital railroads and communication lines which fed the Confederate Army of the Northern Virginia and Richmond with its industrial and military factories. Therefore, having lost his freedom of movement he was subjected to Grant's initiative in an endless
war of attrition that was slowly leading to an inevitable collapse of his army, due to its inferior number and equipment, whose losses were getting more and more difficult to replace.
The final loss of the Shenandoah Valley after the annihilation of Early's Confederate army further worsened the situation, making available Sheridan's Cavalry Corps for the set up of a powerful mobile force that was employed to outflank the Rebel defensive line southwest Petersburg and the consequent evacuation of both Richmond and Petersburg by Lee's army, on April 2,1865, after the battle of Five Forks, fought the day before.
How long was the siege of Petersburg VA?
The siege of Petersburg lasted from June 15, 1864 to April 3, 1865 at 4,28 AM, when the Federal Units entered the city.
The Transportation and distibution of supplies going from City point to the Petersburg Front evolved as follows:
1 - An already existing railroad was properly repaired allowing the flux of reinforcement and supplies from City Point up to the front, linking the Union Headquarter and the logist base to the entrenchments.
2 - Behind those and side by side was built a new military railroad which allowed the quick displacement of men, artilleries, munition and supplies from one to the other point of the front.
3 - At City Point were built large piers and jetties for the berthing and docking of the ships, warehouses and barracks.
What was the outcome of the siege of petersburg?
The Union Army managed to break through the Confederate lines at Five Forks, menacing to outflank Lee's Army right wing. That forced the Confederates to abandon Petersburg and evacuate Richmond to prevent them being encircled.
Some 30.000 Confederates troop began to retreat westward along the Appomattox river, giving the start to the last stage of the war in Virginia, which culminated with Lee's surrendering at Appomattox Court House on Apr. 9,1865.
Why do you still remember the battles of petersburg?
Because after the failed attempt to take Petersburg by assault carried on June 15, 1864 by the XVIII Corps of the Army of the Potomac, the battle became a siege, that gave the start to a trench warfare like that one fought on the EuropeanWestern Front of the WW1.
Furthermore because it deprived Lee once for all of his freedom of movement, making him pinned down to Grant's initiative and to a war of attrition that, thanks to the Union's great superiority in terms of men and means, would have led to the collapse of the Confederate Eastern Front.
How did the battle of Petersburg begin?
By means of a feint towards Richmond, carried on by the V Corps and Wilson's cavalry division , which crossed over the Chickahominy River, Grant managed to make the bulk of his army cross over unopposed both the Chickahominy and the James Rivers, deploying his units for the investment of Petersburg, south of the James.
Lee, cheated by Grant's manoeuvre, make the Confederate Army cross the Chickahominy River and deploy about 10 kilometers north of the James, facing east, to cover Richmond.
Petersburg would have been immediately taken by assault by the Union Army had the Federals carried the action energetically. That would have probably shortened the duration of the war, due to the inadequate number of Confederate troops manning the defensive line: no more than 3,000 men.But it was not to be due to the excessive caution with which the attackers, 13,700 men under gen. Smith, were advancing, thus allowing the enemy commander General Beauregard to rush reinforcements to the positions, succeeding in preventing the deadly threat.
That led to stabilize the tactical situation and gave the start to a regular siege of Petersburg and to a consequent war of position characterized by a slow, slight but continuous lengthening of the entrenchments south and then westward:
the Northerners attempting to outflank the enemy defense system and aiming to interrupt the vital railroads securing the flux of supply, indispensable to maintain the Confederates' war effort;
the Southerners managing to stop the menace, extending their net of entrenchments.
Every prolongation of the entrenchment was marked by violent fighting or local battles which cost heavy casualties to both sides, with but no decisive outcome
What where the Events leading to siege of petersburg?
The Siege of Petersburg started after the Battle of the Wilderness, as per the undermentioned events and displacements:
From the Wilderness up to Spotsylvania:
A - Union Army:
V Corps (Warren) and II Corps (Hancock) - The Wilderness - Todd's Tavern - Spotsylvania;
VI Corps (Sedgwick) and IX Corps (Burnside) - The wilderness - Chancellorsville -Aldrich - Spotsylvania;
B - Confederate Army :
Cavalry divisions Fitzhugh Lee and Hampton, Cavalry brigade Rosser and I Corps (R.C. Anderson) - The Wilderness - Corbin Bridge - Blockhouse Bridge - Spotsylvania; Battle of Spotsylvania.
II Corps (Ewell) and III Corps (Early) - The Wilderness - White Hall - Shady Grove Church - Blockhouse Bridge - Spotsylvnia.
From Spotsylvania up to Cold Harbor:
A) from May 20 through May 26, 1864 Spotsylvania - Milford Station - crossed over the Mattapony River - Chesterfield - North Anna River - crossed the Pamunkey River - Totopotomoy - Cold Harbor.
B) - Spotsylvania - North Anna River - Totopotomoy River - Cold Harbor; Battle of Cold Harbor.
From Cold Harbor up to Petersburg:
A) From June 12 up to June 14, 1864. By means of a feint towards Richmond, carried on by the V Corps and Wilson's cavalry division , which crossed over the Chickahominy River, Grant managed to make the bulk of his army cross over unopposed both the Chickahominy and the James Rivers, deploying his units for the investment of Petersburg, south of the James. Siege of Petersburg.
B) Lee, cheated by Grant's manoeuvre, make the Confederate Army cross the Chickahominy River and deploy about 10 kilometers north of the James, facing east, to cover Richmond.
Did the battle of petersburg have any influence on the civil war?
ANSWER
The decisive Union victory at Petersburg led to the collapse of the Confederate Eastern Front, the seize of Richmond and the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. The war was next to the end.
How many soldiers died in the siege of petersburg?
Union= 8150 casualties
Confederate= 3236 casualties
What was the cause of the petersburg cilver war?
From June 12 up to June 14, 1864, by means of a feint towards Richmond, carried on by the V Corps and Wilson's cavalry division , which crossed over the Chickahominy River, Grant managed to make the bulk of his army cross over unopposed both the Chickahominy and the James Rivers, deploying his units for the investment of Petersburg, south of the James.
B) Lee, cheated by Grant's manoeuvre, make the Confederate Army cross the Chickahominy River and deploy about 10 kilometers north of the James, facing east, to cover Richmond. Petersburg would have been immediately taken by assault by the Union Army had the Federals carried the action energetically. That would have probably shortened the duration of the war, due to the inadequate number of Confederate troops manning the defensive line.
But it was not to be due to the excessive caution with which the attackers were advancing, thus allowing the enemy commander General Beauregard to rush reinforcements to the positions, succeeding in preventing the deadly threat.
That led to stabilize the tactical situation and gave the start to a regular siege of Petersburg and to a consequent war of position characterized by a slow, slight but continuous lengthening of the entrenchments south and then westward:
the Northerners attempting to outflank the enemy defense system and aiming to interrupt the vital railroads securing the flux of supply, indispensable to maintain the Confederates' war effort;
the Southerners managing to stop the menace, extending their net of entrenchments.
Every prolongation of the entrenchment was marked by violent fighting or local battles which cost heavy casualties to both sides, with but no decisive outcome.
Who fought in the battle of petersburg?
The Union armies of the James and the Potomac under the overall command of Grant end the Confederate Army of the Northern Virginia, under the overll command of Lee.
The battle of Peters burg was one of the last battles of the Civil War. Neither the North or the South won.
What was the battle of petersburg?
The Battle, or better said the Siege of Petersburg was mainly a trench warfare and a war of attrition.
What body of water did the troops cross to get to the Siege of Petersburg during the Civil War?
The James River
1 - The Battle of Fort Stedman of March 25,1865, that was the last attempt to break through the Federal Lines east of Petersburg.
2 - The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House of March 31, 1865, when Pickett's Units of cavalry and infantry drove back Sheridan Army from Five Forks up to Dinwiddie but were not able to defeat the Federals, who, after a day long combat fought back, supported by the Fifth Corps lead by Gen. Warren.
The Confederates were then forced to retreat to the position of Five Forks.
Why did the Confederate army defend Petersburg?
Petersburg was a rail link to the Confederate capital.
The Confederates defended so fiercely Petersburg because that fortified town covered Richmond, their Capital city, its complex of military installation and industries and the strategic railroad net leading to the area Richmond-Petersburg, vital for the prosecution of the war.
