Battle of Suffolk (Norfleet House)

Battle of Norfleet House
Part of the American Civil War
Date April 14, 1863 (1863-04-14) – April 15, 1863 (1863-04-15) [1]
Location Suffolk, Virginia
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
John J. Peck [1] James Longstreet [1]
Strength
17,000 [2] 20,000 [2]
Casualties and losses
unknown [3]
Longstreet's Tidewater Operations

The Battle of Suffolk at the Norfleet House Battery took place from April 13 to April 15, 1863, in Suffolk, Virginia, as part of Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet's Tidewater operations during the American Civil War.

In cooperation with Major General D. H. Hill's advance on Washington, North Carolina, Longstreet with divisions under Major Generals John Bell Hood and George Pickett besieged the Union garrison at Suffolk commanded by Brigadier General John J. Peck. The Union works were formidable and manned by 25,000 men, opposed to Longstreet's 20,000. On April 13, the Confederate troops pushed their left flank to the Nansemond River and constructed a battery on Hill's Point, which closed off the garrison to Union shipping. On April 14, Union gunboats attempted to run the batteries at the Norfleet House slightly upstream, but the USS Mount Washington was crippled. The Federals, at the same time, constructed batteries to command the Confederate works at Norfleet House. On April 15, these batteries were unmasked and opened fire, driving the Confederates out of this important position.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c National Park Service battle description
  2. ^ a b CWSAC Report Update
  3. ^ National Park Service battle description cites 1,160 casualties for the entire siege