Battle of Sappony Church

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Battle of Sappony Church
Part of the American Civil War
A map of the Union raider's route
Date June 28, 1864 Location Sussex County, Virginia. Result Confederate victory
Combatants
United States of America (Union)	Confederate States of America
Commanders
Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Brigadier General August V. Kautz	General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee and Major General Wade Hampton
Casualties
unknown	unknown[1][2]

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 Sappony Church was an engagement of the American Civil War, between the Confederate States of America and the Union, which took place on June 28, 1864 during the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign.

Contents 1 Background 2 The Battle 3 See Also 4 Notes

[edit] Background

Petersburg, Virginia was the supply centre for the Confederate capital of Richmond, and was under siege by Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant. Petersburg was supplied by rail along two rail lines, the South Side and the Richmond & Danville. On June 22, Grant dispatched a 5000 strong cavalry force under the command of Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Brigadier General August V. Kautz to cut the rail lines. This lead to a series of raids which led to the destruction of 60 miles of rail track and culminated with the Battle of Staunton River Bridge on 25 June, where the raiders were defeated and began a retreat back to Union positions.

Since the outset of the raid, the Union force had been pursued by Confederate General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee. Lee's forces had finally been able to catch up to the Union cavalry at Staunton Bridge, and had attacked them in the rear and then continued to pursue them as they retired to Union lines.

[edit] The Battle

On June 28, the Union cavalry crossed the Nottoway River and reached the Stony Creek Depot on the Weldon Railroad. Here, they were attack by Confederate Major General Wade Hampton and his cavalry division. During the resulting battle, Lee arrived on the field with his own forces and attacked the Union raiders. By nightfall, Kautz and Wilson ordered their forces to fall back in an attempt to reach Reams Railway Station to the north. During the retreat, a large number of slaves who had been accompanying the Union forces were left behind.

[edit] See Also

• American Civil War
• Siege of Petersburg, Virginia

[edit] Notes