Battle of Peebles' Farm

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Date	September 30–October 2, 1864
Location	Petersburg, Virginia
Result	Union victory

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

Gouverneur K. Warren

A.P. Hill

Strength

V Corps

Third Corps

Casualties

3,000

1,239

Richmond–Petersburg Campaign
1st Petersburg – 2nd Petersburg – Jerusalem Plank Road – Staunton River Bridge – Sappony Church – 1st Ream's Station – 1st Deep Bottom – Crater – 2nd Deep Bottom – Globe Tavern – 2nd Ream's Station – Chaffin's Farm – Peebles' Farm – Darbytown & New Market Roads – Darbytown Road – Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road – Boydton Plank Road – Hatcher's Run – Fort Stedman

The Battle of Peebles' Farm (or Poplar Springs Church) was the western part of a simultaneous Union offensive against the Confederate works guarding Petersburg and Richmond.

1 Background
2 The battle
3 Results
4 References

[edit] Background

In September 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant planned simultaneous attacks against both flanks of Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. The eastern attack would be carried out by the Army of the James under Benjamin Butler against the Confederate works at Chaffin's Farm See Battle of Chaffin's Farm for more details. The western attack was to be carried out by the Union V Corps under Gouverneur K. Warren and a cavalry division under David McM. Gregg with units from the IX Corps and II Corps in support.

[edit] The battle

Grant had two intentions for Warren. First was to attack the opposite end of Lee's line to relieve pressure on Fort Harrison. The second was to take advantage of the units Lee had removed from his right to attack Fort Harrison. Warren's attack was aimed at the fortifications guarding the Boydton Plank Road, which was being used to carry supplies into Petersburg from the Confederate railhead at Stony Creek to the south. This line was being extended to reach the vicinity of the Union flank at Globe Tavern. While the lines were being constructed a temporary line was held along the Squirrel Level Road. On September 30, the same day Lee was attempting to retake Fort Harrison, Warren and Gregg began marching along the Poplar Springs Road toward the Squirrel Level line in the area of Peebles' Farm and Poplar Springs Church.

Lee had indeed pulled forces from this flank for the counter attack on Fort Harrison (including the Light Division under Cadmus Wilcox) so Warren was marching against Ambrose P. Hill's reduced corps. Around 1:00pm Charles Griffin lead the attack against the Confederates near the Poplar Springs Church. Griffin quickly captured Fort Archer on the extreme Confederate flank and the Squirrel Level line broke and fled so quickly that prisoners captured were minimal. Warren halted the attack to fortify the new position and not advance to far in front of the IX Corps. The Union attack forced Lee to recall the Light Division from its march towards Fort Harrison. The IX Corps under John G. Parke moved up on Warren's left but did not make an effective link with the V Corps flank. General Henry Heth was preparing to mount a counter attack which came about 4:30 and routed the IX Corps and forced one of its brigades to surrender. Warren who had originally feared a counter attack now helped rally the broken IX Corps units and check Heth's attack and the fighting died down. Heth tried another flank attack the following day which was repulsed as was a cavalry attack under Wade Hampton. On October 2 the Union position was reinforced by Gershom Mott's division from the II Corps. Mott spearheaded a Union attack that day which was aimed for the Boydton Plank Road. The attack easily overran Fort McRae but was checked before it reached the Boydton Plank Road.

[edit] Results

The Confederate defenders had lost works on both sides of their lines. The Union army extended the siege lines past the Peebles' Farm area bringing them all the more closer to their ultimate goal of the Boydton Plank Road. The Union army was firmly entrenched in the area and later that month the II Corps would make an attempt to cut the Boydton Plank Road.