Frank varney has written two different books about grant and how he treated his rivals.
After Thomas won the greatest union victory of the war at Nashville, grant rewarded him by taking away from him Schofield and the 23rd corps and James H Wilson cavalry corps. Thomas spent January through April 1865 sitting on the sidelines.
This is a link to an article that I published in Kansas history during the 1980s.
https://www.kansashistory.gov/publicat/history/1983spring\_suderow.pdf
Some of you may be interested in reading a US Army first person account by an officer of the union capture of Fort Fisher in 1865. If you wish to read the account, let me know and I’ll photograph the pages for you BRYCE SUDEROW streetstories@juno.com
The arrival of Grant outside Richmond on the North Bank of the James River, accompanied by the second army corps and the 10th Army corps under Winfield Scott Hancock convinced Robert Edward Lee that Richmond itself was in danger. Lee shifted his headquarters to the North Bank and over Several days most of the army of Northern Virginia with him.
On August 18th 1864 major general G. K. Warren marched from the Jerusalem and plank Road to globe tavern on the. Weldon railroad.
The confederate Garrison at Petersburg, which was commanded by P. G. T Beauregard attacked Warren on August 18 and August 19. The confederate captured nearly 3000 prisoners when Beauregard sent William Mahone against wars right flank. In disobedience to orders,
Lee reached Petersburg on August 20. Beauregard urged Lee to attack immediately but Lee decided to wait until he more of his army arrived from Richmond.
Grant and Meade had ordered Warren to remain at globe tavern , but after dark on August 20 Warren left his vulnerable position and moved to a bluff that had a good field of fire in all directions.
On August 21, the Confederate attack the vacated union positions at Globe Tavern. Once they located Warren‘s new position, they attacked from the north and the west and were bloodily repulsed.
Thanks to Warren the Confederate had been unable to dislodge the Yankees from the Weldon railroad.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
the second battle of deep bottom – – August 15, 1864 part one
Before I start writing about the events of August 15, 1864 I want to acknowledge that I am basing my writing on August 15th partly on a book by John Horn, The siege of Petersburg: the battles for the Weldon railroad August 1864 pages 47 through 60I. I also consulted reports and correspondence in the official records, volume 42 part one and part two
I should point out the fact that David Birney created a temporary and provisional division for his older brother William. A glance at the battle records from August 1864 to the end of the war reveal that William Birney was not a very good general.
Robert E. Lee took grant’s appearance north of the James very seriously. On the evening of August 14 he canceled the departure to the valley of Charles Field and his division of infantry. He ordered his son, William HF (“Rooney”) Lee and his cavalry division from Petersburgto the north side of the James River. William Mahone dispatched two of his infantry brigades under Sanders and Girardey Petersburgto join Charles Field. Lee also recalled to Richmond wade Hampton and Butler’s cavalry division which had been en route to the Shenandoah Valley
In obedience to suggestions from u.s. Grant to turn the Confederate left flank north of FUSSELL’S mill pond, The commander of the expedition, general Winfield ScottHancock ordered David Birney to abandon the battlefield of August 14 and to move his command to a position on the new market road north Tillman’s gate. Part of the 10th Army Corps Reached their objective by passing over two pontoon, bridges, an exhausting process that took many hours. The rest of the soldiers crossed 4 mile Creek and passed through Mott’s Infantry division on their way to Newmarket Road.
During the night of August 14th it rained heavily. During the storm General David Birney and his two divisions of infantry departed the Battlefield, August 14 and crossed four Mile Creek and spent the night on the Newmarket Road north of tilman’s wharf.
At sunrise the union, the second army corps was deployed in front of major general Charles Fields division along the eastern end of the Newmarket Heights line.
General Mott’s third division occupied trenches that stretched from the Newmarket road to the Long Bridge Road. Barlow‘s first division was positioned on its right point to the north. On the far right and northern end of the union line, General Smyth and his second division occupied the union right with it right flank rusting on FUSSELL’S mill pond near the Darbytown Road.
it’s necessary to point out that the rain fall on the night of August 13 occurred in the middle of a drought and a heat wave. The scarcity of water shaped the operations of the cavalry of both sides. For the federals, the only water available was a pond south of the Long Bridge Road . For the Confederates The only drinkable water was in the vicinity of white’s Tavern. The horses belonging to the union and Confederate cavalry could not safely drink the water in White oak swamp. The scarcity of water meant that Each night the Brigades of troopers on both sides had to camp near the two ponds of water.
Birney’s two divisions began their march at 9 AM with William Birney’s division and the lead. Alfred Terry division followed behind him. the last of Terry’s marching infantry arrived at about 2 PM. major general, David Birney commanding the 10th army CORPSBegan his March with 9000 men and 3000 of them dropped out of the ranks because of Heat stroke. Adrian Terry, the brother and staff officer for Alfred Terry, wrote in a letter that if the march had lasted one more hour, the entire two divisions would’ve been set by struck by the sun and falling out of the ranks. Terry’s division formed east of the Mill Pond. William Birney’s division prolonged the union line so that it Extended north of the Mill Pond
at 10 AM Hancock detached Calvin Craig’s brigade from Mott’s division and sent it to join William Birney. It caught up with Birney after the division halted its march and took position north of the Mill pond.
Meanwhile, the confederates were arriving north of the James and taking positions to oppose Hancock
in early in the morning of August 15, Rooney Lee arrived with his two cavalry brigades and camped near White’s Tavern. Later in the morningof August 15 the confederate infantry brigade of girardey and john CC sanders arrived and took up a position west of the Mill Pond. Lanes and McGowan’s brigades formed on their left flank and extended the confederate line nortward towards the Charles city Road.
Colonel John Aubin Greg sent a squadron of cavalry on a reconnaissance to White Tavern up to Charles City Rd. They encountered Rooney Lee’s North Carolina brigade. The fifth North Carolina Calvary pursuit and attacked the eighth and 15th Pennsylvania, which had been left on Pickett at Fisher‘s farm. The tar heels drove the Yankees down the Charles city Road for 2 miles. The Yankees then built a barricade A short distance north of the Long Bridge Road. At this point the Confederate halted and fell back. Paul means, sketch of the 63rd regiment inWalter Clark, history of North Carolina troops in the great war, 18 61–65,volume three, page 619.
Later, Hancock ordered Birney to march from the New Market Road to a series of hills east of FUSSELL’S mill where smythe’s Second division was located. Birney Was ordered to attack the Confederate north of the Mill Pond near the Darbytown Road. He also ordered David M Gregg to Simultaneously followa narrow road reading from Fussell’s mill to Charles City road. This would place the Yankees in the rear of the Confederates defending Charles city Road. Gregg would send John Irwin Gregg’s cavalry brigade and Calvin Craig‘s infantry brigade to accomplish this
Saturday, August 15, 2026
The second battleof deep bottom, Virginia,August 15, 1864 part one
Before I start writing about the events of August 15, 1864 I want to acknowledge that I am basing my writing on August 15, 1864 ion a book by John Horn, The siege of Petersburg: the battles for the Weldon railroad August 1864 pages 47 through 60
I also consulted reports and correspondence in the official records, volume 42 part one and part two
Robert Lee took grants appearance north of the James very seriously. On the evening of August 14 he canceled the departure to the valley of Charles Field and his division of infantry. He sent William HF (“Rooney”) Lee and his cavalry division to the north side of the James River. William Mahone dispatched two of his infantry brigades under Sanders and Girardey to join Charles Field. Lee also recalled nack to Richmond wade Hampton and Butler’s cavalry division which had been en route to the Shenandoah Valley
In obedience to suggestions from u.s. Grant to turn the Confederate left flank north of FUSSELL’S mill pond, The commander of the expedition, general Winfield ScottHancock ordered David Birney to abandon the battlefield of August 14 and to move his command to a position on the new market road north Tillman’s gate. Part of the 10th Army Corps Reached their objective by passing over two pontoon, bridges, an exhausting process that took many hours. The rest of the soldiers crossed 4 mile Creek and passed through Mott’s Infantry division on their way to Newmarket Road.
Later, Hancock ordered Birney to march from the New Market Road to a series of hills north of FUSSELL’S mill where smythe’s Second division was located. Birney Was ordered to attack the Confederate north of the Mill Pond near thedarby town Road. He also ordered David M Gregg Simultaneously take a narrow road reading from Longbridge Road to Charles City road. This would place the Yankees in the rear of the Confederates defending Charles city Road. Gregg would send John Irwin Gregg’s cavalry brigade and Calvin Craig‘s infantry brigade to accomplish this
During the night of August 14th it rained heavily. During the storm General David Birney and his two divisions of infantry departed the Battlefield, August 14 andcrossed four Mile Creek and spent the night on the Newmarket Road north of tilman’s wharf.
at 10 AM Hancock to attached Calvin Craig’s brigade from March division and Senate to join William and Bernie. It caught up with Bernie after the Yankees halted their march and took position north of the Millpond.
At sunrise the union, the second army corps was deployed in front of major general Charles Fields division along the eastern end of the Newmarket Heights line.
General Mott’s third division occupied trenches that stretched from the Newmarket road to the Long Bridge Road. Barlow‘s first division was positioned on its right point to the north. On the far right and northern end of the union line, General Smyth and his second division occupied the union right with it right flank rusting on FUSSELL’S mill pond near the Darbytown Road
it’s necessary to point out that the rain fall on the night of August 13 occurred in the middle of a drought and a heat wave. The scarcity of water shaped the operations of the cavalry of both sides. For the federals, the only water available was a pond south of the Long Bridge Road . For the Confederates The only drinkable water was in the vicinity of white’s Tavern. The horses belonging to the union and Confederate cavalry could not safely drink the water in White oak swamp. The scarcity of water meant that Each night the Brigades of troopers on both sides had to camp near the ponds of water.
Birney’s two divisions began their march at 9 AM and the last of the marching infantry arrived at about 2 PM. Birney Began his March with 9000 men and 3000 of them dropped out of the ranks because of Heat stroke. Adrian Terry, the brother and staff officer for Alfred Terry, wrote in a letter that if the march had lasted one more hour, the entire two divisions would’ve been set by struck by the sun and falling out of the ranks. Terry’s division formed east of the Mill Pond. William Bernie’s division prolonged the union line so that it Extended north of the Mill Pond
The confederate infantry brigade of girardey and sanders Took position west of the Mill Pond. Lanes and McGowan’s brigades Formed on their left flank and extended the confederate line nortwad towards the Charles city RoadRooney Lee and his cavalry arrived early in the morning and camped Near White’s Tavern
Friday, August 14, 2020
I plan to submit a posting every day for the next seven days. This will cover the second battle of deep bottom, Virginia, which lasted from August 14 through August 20, 1864.
This posting is about the battles on August 14, 1864 Which was the first day of the seven day battle called the second battle of deep bottom. Virginia.
Before I start writing, I want to point out where I got most of my information. That’s from Francis A. Walker, history of the second army corps in the army of the Potomac pages 568 through 580.
Grant launched this expedition for two purposes. He mistakenly believed that Lee had sent three divisions of infantry to reinforce Early in the Shenandoah Valley. He wanted to Threaten Richmond, in order to force Robert Edward Lee to recall those infantry
Actually, lee had only sent Kershaw’s division and Butler’s division of Cavalry. Their objective was Alexandria, Virginia, but because Early was facing a crisis, they abandoned this expedition and joined himbinstead.. Lee may have intended to send Charles Field and his division to the valley at some future date. This is what Charles field believed was about to happen according to an article he wrote for the southern historical Society papers
The other reason for the second deep, bottom expedition was Grant hoped to lure Lee Lee into sending most of his army to Richmond, so that the gGarrison at Petersburg would be reduced. He planned to send General Warren and the fifth army corps to Seize the weldon railroad at GlobeTavern. This would fulfill an important goal of his which was to cut the supply lines to Petersburg.
As I mentioned in my posting for August 13, 1864, the second army corps under Winfield Scott Hancock embarked on 16 Ocean going steamers at city point, Virginia. The steamers then traveled down the James River towards Fort Monroe. The infantryman believed in the hoped that they were heading to the Shenandoah Valley To join Sheridan.
After dark the steamers reversed course and steamed to Tillman‘s wharf, located on Strawberry Plains
Grant’s plan was to lure Lee north of the James by threatening Richmond With Hancock’s infantry and with the infantry from David birney’s 10th army corps. . He would then send the fifth army CORPS under Warren to gain a Foothold on the.weldon railroad Near Globe Tavern
On August 14, 1864 he inaugurated the second battle of deep bottom which lasted from August 14, 1864 through August 20, 1864
GRANT’s plans for August 14 called for simultaneous Attacks at two vital points on the Newmarket heights line. This began a short distance east of Fort Harrison and stretched northeastward beyond the Darby Town Road.
At dawn General David Birney would attack at the center of the Newmarket Heights line located directly north of the Union Garrison at deep bottom. At the same hour Hancock would attack at the eastern end of the line by striking near the Jennings house due north of Tillman’s wharf and Tillman‘s gate
Birney and two divisions of his tenth army corps were right on time to execute their part of the plan. They Marched from Petersburg to Bermuda hundred and up the road located behind the unionBermuda 100 lines to the northern end of butler’s earthworks. Then, they crossed pontoon bridges, to deep bottom. Birney deployed the two divisions south of the Kingsland Road. on the other side of the road, there were confederate pickets from Charles Fields division of The army of Northern Virginia’s first army CORPS . North of the picket line and along the new market height line Charles Field’s division occupied strong entrenchments.
General Field did not have enough men to occupy all 8 miles of the new market Heights line so The eastern end of the new market Heights line was defended only by a brigade of cavalry under Martin Gary
Unfortunately for the Yankees the landing of Hancock at Tillman‘s wharf did not go as planned.
On August 12, Accompanied by General Rufus Ingalls, The army quartermaster-General, Hancock visited Tillman’s wharf The three wharves were falling apart, so Hancock proceeded to City Point and then sent up a tug-load of lumber with one of his own staff and put him to work building the three wharves..
During his visit on August 12, Hancock also discovered that the water near the wharf was too shallow for the boats to dock there. the transports would to moor in a straight line of vessels leading to the wharf The infantryman on the transports would need to march over gangs planks from one vessel to the next. All of this would take hours. They already fatigued men who had not slept while on the transport were exhausted. By the time they landed they would be hours behind schedule.
Debarkation began at 2:30. It wasn’t until 7:40 AM that Gersham, Mott’s third division was on shore. He was ordered to advance nortwardnvto Bailey’s Creek on the Newmarket Road.
August 14 was the hottest day of the summer of 1864. the temperature exceeded 100°. One of Motts brigades led the march from the wharf to the Newmarket Road. In just two regiments of the brigade, 105 men were overcome by heat and drop out of the ranks.
By 1130 the two divisions of Barlow and Colonel smith Had landed, six hours behind schedule. Hancock put Barlow in charge of the two divisions within instructions to march to the Jennings house and to assault the rebel earthworks there. Instead of attacking with two divisions at the Jennings house, over the next five hours Barlow launched a series of brigade sized attacks against the confederate lines ss he advanced Northward. The final attack occurred South of FUSSELL’S mill pond near the Darbytown Road All of them failed at a cost of 300 casualties. The entire army of the Potomac was no longer reliable because of its terrible casualties suffered between May 4, 1864 andcJuly 30, 1864. The second army.corps Had suffered more than most of the troops and was a shadow of its former self. The men simply would not attack earthworks.
The firing along Birneys front began at 5 AM. Fields picket line and captured 100 prisoners. But he was ordered to suspend operations until Hancock could disembark. halting General Birney’s operations permitted field to transfer his division to defend the eastern portion of the new market height line near the Darby town road against Barlow.
in the late afternoon, Birney resumed operations and captured four 8 inch howitzers north of the Buffin house. he also sent troops into the ravine north of the Kingsland Road and skirmished heavily with Confederate infantry. the Confederates were behind a formidable natural earthwork created by 4 mile Creek.
meanwhile, general David M. Gregg’s cavalry division marched all night and after crossing the pontoon bridge to the north bank of the games, the division rested for several hours at the Allen farm on Strawberry Plains. Later in the day General Charles Davies’s first brigade rode to the Long bridge Road, and fought a skirmish against Martin Gary’s Cavalry at gravel Hilk. It drove them back, and occupied the Charles City Rd. Colonel John Irvin Gregg’s second brigade travel along the Charles City Rd. to deep Creek on the edge of White Oak Swamp, where it fought a skirmish. (Itinerary of second division Cavalry corps in official records, volume 42 part one page 81)
During August 14th the loss of the 10th army corps amounted to two or 300 men. The second army Corps lost 600 casualties. The cavalry lost fewer than 100 . The total Union loss was over 900 men for August 14.
The confederate loss was probably less than 300.
US war department assigned names to these battles, but they aren’t necessarily accurate. Birney's two battles are the first battle of New Market Heights and the battle at the Buffin house. Barlow’s battles are the first battle of fussell’s mill.
They sail down river from City point. All the soldiers assume they are going to join Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley
After dark, they reverse their course and steam towards Tillman‘s wharf.
Ulysses S. Grants plan is to threaten to Richmond in order to lure Lee army north of the James so that he can send the fifth army CORPS to seize the weldon railroad.
Who came up with the idea of sloping sides for these boats?
Bryce
The Tennessee seems to have been the best of the iron clads because it took on the whole union fleet at Mobile Bay. The Atlanta seems to have been one of the least effective because two monitors knocked it out of service.
Have any of you studied these iron clads and figured out why some of them were successful in battle and others were not
What were the weak points of each iron clad.
Bryce
This novel was written by the same author who wrote falling angel, which was made into a movie with Mickey work
I will lead a battlefield tour in March 17 2027 BRYCE
This serving the Western campaigns, including Kentucky, East Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina
If any of you are interested in the cavalry battles in these states, let me know and I’ll send you photographs of pages from the book
I am hoping one of you civil war enthusiasts owns copies of the Earl Hess book, the Michael Cavanaugh book, and the Richard slotkin book
I only own the book by John schmutz and it’s not helping me
I want to know the position of Warren’s fifth Army CORPS on July 30. I also want to know the July 30 placement of each of the brigade in Mahone’s division.
I’m also asking for help from John Horn and from Hampton Newsome
Bryc
I own a copy of this book which was written by Robert J. Driver, Junior. Would any of you like me to copy pages about the service of either of these two cavalry units? BRYCE my email address is street stories@juno.com and my telephone number is 202–5 56–8483. One of my favorite parts is the attack onMoorefield on August 7, 1864
What if early had not attacked at Cedar Creek on October 19? Sheridan was sending portions of his army of the Shenandoah away from the Shenandoah Valley.
Suppose Early had the way until the sixth Army CORPS and other parts of the army had departed
As you all know, Braxton Bragg invaded Kentucky with his army of Tennessee and Edmund Kirby Smith invaded with a separate force. Because Kirby Smith wouldn’t cooperate with Bragg, the confederate were forced to withdraw from Kentucky.
What if the confederate had combined their forces and coordinated their strategy?
During most of the Wilson – Kautz raid, the union cavalry were followed by major general, William H.F. Lee, a.k.a. Rooney Lee. Accompanying him was Barringer’s North Carolina brigade. The further south Lee pursued the Yankees, the smaller his brigade got because the horses became exhausted.
Wilson was aware that the riskiest part of the raid would be when he neared Petersburg. The evening before he began the raid, Wilson met with Andrew Humphries, Meade’ s chief of staff and expressed his concern. Humphrey assured him that the army of the Potomac would’ve captured ream’s station by the time Wilson returned from his raid. In other words, Wilson would be safe once he reached Ream’s station. Unfortunately for Wilson and Kautz, the army of the Potomac had not captured Ream’s Station. That was not the case.
While the Yankees were on the raid, Hampton returned to Petersburg from TREVELIAN station with his own division and the division of Fitzhugh Lee.
Hampton decided to use his troopers to block one of the roads back to Petersburg. He had with him the brigades of Thomas Rosser and John Chambliss. They took up a position at Sappony Church.
Wilson decided to take that road. His lead brigade under McIntosh collided with Hamptons confederates and was engaged for hours. During the battle Hampton was reinforced by Rooney Lee.
At night, the battle was still raging, but McIntosh withdrew under cover of darkness and joined the main column.
Wilson Greene and John Horn have published books that describe the raid in detail.
.
PS
The SAPPONI WERE AN INDIAN TRIBE THAT LIVED IN THAT AREA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson%E2%80%93Kautz\_Raid
https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/battle-of-sappony-church/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nueces\_massacre
A group of German Americans left Texas and headed from Mexico to join the union army. They were pursued and ambushed on the river and 60 of them were murdered.
https://www.13thmass.org/1863/aldie.html. This is the link to the booklet on the battle.