Second Battle of Deep Bottom

Second Battle of Deep Bottom
Part of the American Civil War
DateAugust 14–20, 1864
Location
Result Strategic Union Victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Ulysses S. Grant
Winfield S. Hancock
Robert E. Lee
Charles W. Field
Strength
28,000[1] 8,500–20,000[2]
Casualties and losses
2,899 total
327 killed
1,851 wounded
721 missing/captured [3]
1,500
200 killed
900 wounded
400 missing/captured[3]

The Second Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as Fussell's Mill (particularly in the South), New Market Road, Bailey's Creek, Charles City Road, or White's Tavern, was fought August 14–20, 1864, at Deep Bottom in Henrico County, Virginia, during the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (Siege of Petersburg) of the American Civil War.

During the night of August 13–14, a force under the command of Major General. Winfield Scott Hancock crossed the James River from the south at Deep Bottom to threaten Richmond and attract Confederate forces away from the Petersburg, Virginia, trenches and the Shenandoah Valley.

On August 14, the X Corps closed on New Market Heights while the II Corps extended the Federal line to the right along Bailey's Creek. During the night, the X Corps was moved to the right flank of the Union line near Fussell's Mill and Charles City Road. On August 16, Union assaults near the mill were initially successful, but Confederate counterattacks drove the Federals back.

After days of indecisive skirmishing, the Federals returned to the south side of the James on the night of August 20. The Confederates achieved their objective of driving back the Union threat, but at a cost of diluting their forces, the result the Union wanted.

  1. ^ Davis, p. 99.
  2. ^ Trudeau, pp. 149, 155; Davis, p. 99. Trudeau cites 8,500 for August 13 and 15,000 for August 16.
  3. ^ a b Bonekemper, p. 314. The author presents casualty figures from a wide variety of sources and provides his best estimate. Trudeau, p. 170, estimates 2,901 Union, 1,000 Confederate. Salmon, p. 418, and Kennedy, p. 357, estimate 2,900 Union, 1,300 Confederate. Horn, p. 108, estimates 2,901 Union, 1,500 Confederate.

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