Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads

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Not to be confused with the First Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as the Battle of Darbytown, on July 27–29, 1864 or the Battle of Darbytown Road on October 13, 1864 or the Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road on October 27–28, 1864.
Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads
Part of the American Civil War
Harper's Weekly - Battle of Darbytown Road October 7 1864.jpg
DateOctober 7, 1864 (1864-10-07)
Location
Henrico County, Virginia
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
David B. Birney
August V. Kautz		 Robert E. Lee
Strength
X Corps 2 Divisions
Casualties and losses
458
(Killed 49,
Wounded 253,
Captured or
Missing 156)[1]		 700[2]
Map of Darbytown and New Market Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

The Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads ( or Johnson's Farm or Four Mile Creek) was an engagement between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War, which took place on October 7, 1864, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign.

Background[]

Further information: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign

The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (June 15, 1864 – March 25, 1865) was a Union effort to capture the city of Petersburg, Virginia, from Confederate forces under the command of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. During the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Union forces captured Fort Harrison from the Confederates on September 30. This prompted Lee to order an offensive on the right flank of the Union forces, which were under the command of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, on October 7.

Opposing forces[]

Union[]

Further information: Union order of battle

Confederate[]

Further information: Confederate order of battle

Battle[]

The Union defensive lines, commanded by Brig. Gen. August V. Kautz and Maj. Gen. David B. Birney, were positioned along the length of New Market Road, with further Union cavalry defending Darbytown Road.

The initial Confederate attack, commanded by Maj. Gens. Robert Hoke and Charles W. Field, was successful in dislodging the Union Cavalry from Darbytown Road. The cavalry forces routed from the field, the confederates then attacked the Union defensive lines on the New Market Road. During this attack, the Confederate Texas Brigade's commander Brig. Gen. John Gregg was killed, and the attack was repulsed. The engagement resulted with a Confederate withdrawal to Richmond and thus Union victory.

References[]

  • Kennedy, Frances H., ed., The Civil War Battlefield Guide, 2nd ed., Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998, ISBN 0-395-74012-6.
  • John Gregg's wife, Mary Francis Garth
  • National Park Service battle summary
  • CWSAC Report Update and Resurvey:Individual Battlefield Profiles

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Number 7. Return of Casualties in the Union Forces". Official Reports Part 1 (Serial Number 87) – Reports. The Siege of Petersburg Online. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  2. ^ Kennedy, p. 438.

Coordinates: 37°27′27″N 77°20′48″W / 37.4576°N 77.3467°W / 37.4576; -77.3467

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