Battle of Fort Stedman

Fallen: 72 wounded: 450 missing / captured: 522

Fallen / wounded: 1600 missing / captured: 1900

Petersburg I - Petersburg II - Jerusalem Plank Road - Staunton River Bridge - Sappony Church - Reams Station I - Deep Bottom I - crater battle - Deep Bottom II - Globe Tavern - Reams Station II - New Market Heights - Peebles Farm - Darby Town & New Market Roads - Darby Town Road - fair Oaks & Darby Town Road - Boydton Plank Road - Hatcher's Run - Fort Stedman

The attack on Fort Stedman was a battle during the American Civil War. He ended March 25, 1865 east of Petersburg, Virginia Richmond -Petersburg campaign. General Robert E. Lee contemplated by the attack on the U.S. Fort Stedman, restore its freedom of action. The attack was the last serious attempt by the Confederates to end the siege of Petersburg.

Starting position

Since the beginning of the Richmond - Petersburg campaign in July 1864, the Union armies had their troops between Richmond and Petersburg, intensified ever more and more shifted to the south of Petersburg the leftmost edge to the March 1865 west to the Northern Virginia Army surpass. The positions of the Northern Virginia Army were therefore so thinned out that Lee was afraid not stop a vigorous attack a Union army or the interruption of the single supply line of the Northern Virginia Army to the west - the Southside Railroad line - not being able to prevent. The performance of the Southside railroad also meant the encirclement of the Northern Virginia Army. The planned attack Lee, Grant hoped to withdraw troops from parts to force the western part of the Union's positions. Then he intended to evade the Northern Virginia Army along the railway line and to unite with the Tennessee Army General Johnston.

Therefore, Lee instructed Major General John B. Gordon with the II Corps east of Petersburg to break through in a surprise attack the positions of the Potomac Army, roll up the positions left and right of the breakdown section and reach out to the east. These imputed Lee the four brigades of the II Corps III. Corps and the Cavalry Division, Major General Rooney Lee, in order to expand the latter with the breakthrough in the depth can.

The attack

Operation Plan

Gordon planned the attack even before dawn to begin. As a point of penetration Gordon chose Fort Stedman. This attachment was very close to the Confederate positions and was less attached than other parts of the front with the Spanish riders. After the capture of the fort should first be taken in the depths artillery positions and with their support the fortifications Fort Stedman's north and south of conquered. The main attack forces should follow and take a first supply depot one mile east and then continue to move eastward. To this end, he had about 10,000 men of the amplified II Corps and 5,000 men in reserve.

Implementation

The attack began at four clock early with a list. Disguised as deserters sniper and pioneers approached the Union sentries to overwhelm them and to remove the barricades that could affect the approach of infantry. The surprise succeeded and the Southerners conquered Fort Stedman with the artillery batteries X and XI. These stormtroopers also artillerymen who should use the captured guns immediately against the former owners were.

The defenders, members of a heavy New York artillery battery were not able to organize an effective defense. Also mortar fire from artillery XII in the Fort remained ineffective. Up to this time the Confederates had made about 1,000 prisoners, including the local commander of the Union forces, Brigadier General Napoleon McLaughlen.

The Southerners attacked further to the east to take the recognizable in the looming twilight field fortifications beyond Fort Stedman and to relocate the fire north and south of the surge point in the back of the defenders of the fort from there. But this was no rear forts of the Union, but in June 1864 Discontinued field fortifications of the Confederates under General Beauregard. Therefore, under the fire remained support for the continuation of the attack.

At the same time strengthened the defensive fire of the Potomac Army of the artillery positions IX and XII and rapidly contracted field artillery, the artillery position was XII temporarily hit by friendly fire. Gordon realized that the continuation of the attack was impossible without fire support, and ordered against eight clock in agreement with General Lee to cancel the operation.

Counterattack

About eight clock began the counterattack of IX. Corps of the Potomac Army of the Reserve Division under Major General John Hartranft. It succeeded the newly-formed regiments from Pennsylvania with the support of all the available artillery of the army to catch not only the attack of the Confederates, but to take Fort Stedman repossess and restore the original positions of the Union.

Many of the pre- initiated by Fort Stedman Confederate soldiers dodging through the artillery barrage on their own positions was impossible in the course of the counterattack and the Confederates suffered losses of about 3,500 soldiers.

Effects

The attack on Fort Stedman was a four-hour battle with no impact on the course of field fortifications of the Potomac Army. Both opponents were back in their original positions.

Lieutenant General Grant was convinced that General Lee had to have withdrawn and deployed troops from the positions in the west of the Southside railroad. He therefore ordered an attack against the right flank of the III. Corps Lieutenant General A. P. Hills near Hatcher's Run. The Potomac Army overran the Confederate outpost, occupied their positions and was now in sight of the field fortifications of the III. Corps. Thus, the starting positions for the Battle of Five Forks were captured on April 1, which was the beginning of the Appomattox campaign.

The losses of the Northern Virginia Army were high, however, was the decisive weakening of field fortifications in the west of Petersburg. General Lee's attempt to once again win the freedom of action had failed with the defeat. The defeat of the Northern Virginia Army was now only a matter of time.