Battle of the Crater (nonfiction): Difference between revisions
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The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (under the direct supervision of the general-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant). | [[File:Petersburg crater aftermath 1865.jpg|thumb|Crater with Union soldier, 1865.]]The '''Battle of the Crater''' was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (under the direct supervision of the general-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant). | ||
After weeks of preparation, on July 30, Union forces exploded a mine in Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's IX Corps sector, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg, Virginia. From this | |||
After weeks of preparation, on July 30, Union forces exploded a mine in Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's IX Corps sector, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg, Virginia. From this formidable beginning, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union attackers. Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where soldiers milled in confusion. | |||
The Confederates quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks led by Brig. Gen. William Mahone. | |||
The breach was sealed off, and Union forces were repulsed with severe casualties. Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero's division of black soldiers were badly mauled. | |||
This may have been Grant's best chance to end the Siege of Petersburg. Instead, the soldiers settled in for another eight months of trench warfare. | |||
Burnside was relieved of command for the last time for his role in the debacle, and he was never again returned to command. | |||
Grant considered the assault "the saddest affair I have witnessed in this war." | |||
== In the News == | == In the News == | ||
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Crater Battle of the Crater] @ Wikipedia | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Crater Battle of the Crater] @ Wikipedia | ||
[[Category:Nonfiction (nonfiction)]] | [[Category:Nonfiction (nonfiction)]] | ||
[[Category:War (nonfiction)]] | [[Category:War (nonfiction)]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:52, 20 June 2017
The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (under the direct supervision of the general-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant).
After weeks of preparation, on July 30, Union forces exploded a mine in Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's IX Corps sector, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg, Virginia. From this formidable beginning, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union attackers. Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where soldiers milled in confusion.
The Confederates quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks led by Brig. Gen. William Mahone.
The breach was sealed off, and Union forces were repulsed with severe casualties. Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero's division of black soldiers were badly mauled.
This may have been Grant's best chance to end the Siege of Petersburg. Instead, the soldiers settled in for another eight months of trench warfare.
Burnside was relieved of command for the last time for his role in the debacle, and he was never again returned to command.
Grant considered the assault "the saddest affair I have witnessed in this war."
In the News
Fiction cross-reference
Nonfiction cross-reference
External links:
- Battle of the Crater @ Wikipedia