Fighting for Petersburg: Jerusalem Plank Road
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Conflict & Date:
The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road was fought June 21-23, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Armies & Commanders:
Union
- Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant
- Major General David B. Birney
- Major General Horatio G. Wright
- 27,000 men
Confederate
- General Robert E. Lee
- Lieutenant General A.P. Hill
- Major General William Mahone
- 8,000 men
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Background:
Advancing against General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in May 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and Major General George G. Meade first engaged the enemy at the Battle of the Wilderness. Over the next several weeks, Union and Confederate forces clashed at Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. Stalemated at Cold Harbor, Grant elected to disengage and moved to cross the James River with the aim of capturing the key railroad hub of Petersburg and isolating Richmond. Moving out on June 12, Meade's Army of the Potomac reached the south bank and began pushing towards Petersburg. They were aided in this by elements of Major General Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James.
While Butler's initial efforts against the Petersburg began on June 9, they failed to achieve success. Joined by Grant and Meade, additional assaults on June 15-18 pushed the Confederates back but did not carry the city. Digging in opposite the enemy, Union forces commenced the Siege of Petersburg.
Anchoring his line on the Appomattox River in the north, Grant's earthworks extended south towards the Jerusalem Plank Road. Assessing the situation, the Union commander decided to move against the Richmond & Petersburg, Weldon, and Southside Railroads which supplied Lee's army in Petersburg. While a force of cavalry under Brigadier Generals James H. Wilson and August Kautz was sent south and west to raid the Weldon and Southside Railroads, Grant commenced plans to strike the former closer to the city.
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Grant's Plan:
For this mission, Grant withdrew II and VI Corps from the siege lines and replaced them with troops from the Army of the James. As Major General Winfield Scott Hancock was suffering from the effects of a wound sustained the previous year at the Battle of Gettysburg, direction of II Corps fell to Major General David B. Birney while Major General Horatio Wright led VI Corps. Commencing their movement on June 21, Grant's plans were complicated by an unexpected visit by President Abraham Lincoln to his headquarters. Arriving at City Point, Lincoln stressed that he did not wish to interfere in the army's activities. After briefly discussing strategy with Grant, he met with some troops from VI Corps before returning to Washington.
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - The Union Advance:
Moving into position with II Corps on the right and VI Corps on the left, Union troops formed east of Jerusalem Plank Road and began probing west. Grant's plan called for Birney and Wright to advance approximately two miles west before turning northwest to strike the Weldon Railroad. After skirmishing with Confederate cavalry on June 21, II and VI Corps found their movements slowed by rough terrain and swamps. Pausing for the night, they resumed operations the next morning. Pressing forward, a gap opened between the two corps due to the terrain. This widened when Birney turned northwest as planned. To the south, Wright found his path blocked by troops from Major General Cadmus Wilcox's division of Lieutenant General A.P. Hill's corps. Rather than force the issue, VI Corps entrenched opposite the enemy.
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Mahone Attacks:
Assessing the situation, Brigadier General William Mahone, another of Hill's division commanders, found that the gap between II and VI Corps had expanded. Having surveyed the area before war while working as a railroad engineer, he informed his superiors of a ravine that could be used as cover for an attacking force. Authorizing an assault, Lee directed Mahone to strike that day. Moving through the ravine, the Confederates emerged in the rear of II Corps and struck Major General Francis C. Barlow's division. Taken by surprise, Barlow's men quickly broke as did part of Major General John Gibbon's division. Seeking to exploit the advantage, Mahone called for aid from Wilcox, but the latter moved slowly as he remained concerned about VI Corps on his front. As a result, II Corps was able to rally behind earthworks it had built the previous night. As darkness fell, the fighting came to an end.
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Aftermath:
The next day, Birney intended to counterattack to retake the ground that had been lost. Advancing, he found that the Confederates had withdrawn. In the south, Wright pushed forward a strong force in an attempt to reach the Weldon. Meeting heavy resistance, he elected to pause fearing that his men would meet a fate similar to II Corps' the previous day. Despite pleas from Meade to advance, VI Corps held its position. In the fighting at the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, Union forces sustained 2,962 casualties including around 1,700 prisoners. Confederate losses numbered 572. Though Confederate forces succeeded in holding the Weldon Railroad, the battle saw Grant extend the siege lines further south and west. He would continue this tactic as the siege wore on, further stretching Lee's smaller army.
Selected Sources:
Source...