June 15 Second Battle of Petersburg

siege of petersburg, assaults on june 15–18, 1864






national park service marker depicting capture of batteries 5 , 7



national park service marker depicting capture of batteries 8-10

baldy smith , men crossed appomattox shortly after dawn on june 15. force consisted of infantry divisions of brig. gens. william t. h. brooks, john h. martindale, , edward w. hinks, , cavalry division of brig. gen. august kautz. transport vessels delivered these divisions @ random landing sites on opposite shore, confusing smith s plans , wasting time reorganizing. kautz s cavalry division ordered clear line of advance infantry, brooks , martindale march down city point railroad, , hinks s u.s. colored troops approach on jordan point road.

delays in advance continued after landing. cavalry encountered unexpected stronghold @ baylor s farm northeast of petersburg. hinks s men launched 2 attacks on confederates , captured cannon, overall advance delayed until afternoon. smith performed reconnaissance and, despite sense of nervousness strength of enemy position, planned carry defensive works strong skirmish line. delayed again when artillery commander allowed of horses watered simultaneously, making impossible bring guns until 7 p.m.

while smith delaying, kautz reached railroad near redan number 20 on right flank of confederate line around noon. approximately 600 confederates under brig. gen. james dearing bombarded kautz artillery , union cavalrymen got no closer 500 yards (460 m) line. in manner similar july 9 battle, kautz listened evidence smith attacking right and, hearing none, gave , withdrew.

when smith started attack, skirmishers swept on earthworks on 3.5-mile (5.6 km) front, capturing batteries 3 , 5–11, causing confederates retreat weaker defensive line on harrison s creek. despite initial success , prospect of virtually undefended city front, smith decided wait until dawn resume attack. time winfield hancock had arrived @ smith s headquarters. decisive , pugnacious hancock, outranked smith, uncertain of orders , disposition of forces, , uncharacteristically deferred smith s judgment wait. smith s timid service on june 15 turn out last combat command. butler indirectly accused smith of dilatoriness , dispute escalated grant. although grant contemplated replacing butler smith commander of army of james, retained butler , reassigned smith new york await further orders, never issued.

beauregard wrote later petersburg @ hour @ mercy of federal commander, had captured it. used time had been granted advantage. receiving no guidance richmond in response urgent requests, unilaterally decided strip defenses howlett line, bottling butler s army in bermuda hundred, making divisions of maj. gens. robert hoke , bushrod johnson available new petersburg defensive line. butler might have used opportunity move army between petersburg , richmond, have doomed confederate capital, once again failed act.