The Battle of Chaffin's Farm is one of the battles of the siege of Petersberg during the American Civil War . It happened on September 29-30, 1864 at Chaffins Farm, also known as New Market Heights or Fort Harrison (about halfway between Richmond and Petersberg, on the east bank of the river). As in the battle at the crater, Negro troops were used in this battle.
| Chaffins Farm Battle | |||
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| Main Conflict: US Civil War | |||
 fights at the heights of Newmarket | |||
| date | September 29 - 30, 1864 | ||
| A place | Henrico County, Virginia | ||
| Total | US victory | ||
| Opponents | |||
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| Commanders | |||
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| Forces of the parties | |||
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| Losses | |||
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Content
Background
The nature of hostilities gradually changed in the last 10 months of the war. Maneuver warfare finally turned into a trench warfare and the battles took an appropriate form since the Battle of Cold Harbor. The battle of Chaffins Farm was a similar example of the battle of the era of the trench warfare.
From the very beginning of the war, Confederate engineers spent a lot of effort building fortifications around Richmond. By 1864, they had created a system of forts, which in the south rested against the James River at the Chaffins Farm site, named after the local landowner. The main line of fortifications was reinforced by a second line, somewhat closer to Richmond. The strength of these fortifications has not yet been verified by the federal army. It was not until September 1864 that General Grant planned an attack at the same time on Richmond and Petersberg. The attack on the north side of the river (at Richmond) began on September 29. The detachments of General Butler advanced on two fronts: the X Corps acted against the heights of New Market, and the XVIII Corps - against Fort Harris.
Newmarket Heights
Major General David Byrne directed the X Corps north of the pre-bridge fortification at Deep Bottom to fortify the enemy at the heights of New Market. Heights defended parts of General John Gregg. Federal "color" units attacked the heights, but were repelled. For this battle, the black sergeant Christian Fleetwood [1] later received the Medal of Honor . Byrne strengthened the shock force and repeated the attack. Alfred Terry's division managed to push the left flank of the enemy and forced the defenders to retreat. Just became aware of a successful attack by the northerners at Fort Harrison, so Gregg led his troops to the forts of Gilmer, Gregg and Johnson.
As soon as Byrne's troops took over New Market, the X Corps turned northwest along New Market Road and moved to the second line of fortifications that covered Richmond north of Fort Harrison. The division of General Robert Foster attacked Fort Gilmer. William Byrne, brother of David Byrne, led a "color" brigade to Fort Gregg, located south of Fort Gilmer. Despite the heroic efforts of black soldiers, these attacks were repelled.
The success went to the northerners at a high price. 850 people were killed at the heights, against 50 people who lost the Confederation.
Fort Harris
Just as Byrne launched the offensive, General Horde's 18th Corps launched an attack on Fort Harrison, west of New Market Heights. The attack was led by Gettysburg veteran General George Stennard.
The people of Stennard quickly crossed the open field and lay in a small hollow in front of the fort. Gathering strength, they again rushed forward and took the fort. The defenders of the fort retreated to the second line of fortifications. During this attack, Federal General Hiram Burnham was killed and the soldiers renamed the fort in his honor.
However, having already taken the fort, the attackers were disorganized. Stennard was wounded, and his three brigade commanders were also injured or killed. A detachment of General Charles Hackman was sent to help Stennard, but he strayed north and was recaptured. Ord personally tried to clean up the ranks of the troops, but he was seriously injured. Losses in command and the presence of enemy armadillos on the James River forced the XVIII Corps to stop the offensive.
Consequences
General Robert Lee realized the threats posed by the loss of Fort Harrison and personally sent 10,000 Charles Field men to the war zone. September 30, he ordered a counterattack and repulsed the fort, which was now commanded by Major General Godfrey Weizel, who replaced the wounded Horde. However, this attack was uncoordinated and easily repulsed.
As Grant had expected, the Chaffins Farm battle forced Lee to transfer part of his forces to the north, which ultimately helped the federal army win the battle at Peebles Farm. Chaffins Farm battles claimed 5,000 lives on both sides.
In addition to Fleetwood, the White Soldiers Nathan Edgerton, James Gardner, William Hubbell and John Schiller received the Chaffins Farm Medal of Honor.
Notes
- ↑ For picking up two banners after the death of the standard bearers.
Literature
- Crenshaw, Douglas. Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm :: To Surprise and Capture Richmond. - The History Press, 2013 .-- 144 p. - ISBN 978-1609495817 .
- Pfanz, Donald C. Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier's Life. - Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1998 .-- 655 p. - ISBN 978-0-8078-2389-7 .