Overview
On October 13, 1864, Union forces moved forward to locate and assess the Confederate defensive line near Richmond. Although the engagement mainly involved skirmishes, a brigade from the Federal side launched an attack on fortifications situated north of Darbytown Road. Unfortunately, they were met with strong resistance and suffered significant casualties. As a result, the Union forces withdrew to their fortified positions along New Market Road.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle of Alms House.
- Date: October 13, 1864.
- Location: Henrico County, Virginia, southeast of Richmond.
- Opponents: United States of America (USA) and Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: August Kautz and Alfred Terry.
- CSA Commanders: Robert E. Lee, Richard H. Anderson, Charles Field, and Robert Hoke.
- Winner: Confederate States of America.
- Part Of: Petersburg Campaign (1864–1865).
- Era: Civil War (September–December, 1864).
History
Grant in Charge
On March 10, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States. Grant brought with him, from his successes in the Western Theater of the war, a reputation for the doggedness that Lincoln was seeking in his generals. Unlike other Union generals, Grant was tenacious.
Grant Focuses on Lee
Upon his arrival in Washington, Grant drafted a plan to get the various Union armies in the field to act in concert. He also devised his Overland Campaign to invade east-central Virginia. Unlike previous Union campaigns in the area, Grant’s plan focused on defeating General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia (CSA) rather than capturing or occupying geographic locations. Grant instructed Major General George G. Meade, who commanded the Army of the Potomac (USA), “Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.” Grant realized that, with the superior resources he had at his disposal, Lee would lose a war of attrition, as long as Northern troops persistently engaged the Confederates.
Overland Campaign
On May 4, 1864, Grant launched his Overland Campaign when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers, occupying an area locally known as the Wilderness. For the next eight weeks, the two sides engaged in a series of horrific battles that produced unprecedented numbers of casualties.
- Following a bloody frontal assault at Cold Harbor that cost the Federals roughly 13,000 casualties, Grant abandoned his hope to defeat Lee’s army head-on.
- Instead, Grant aimed to isolate the Army of Northern Virginia at Richmond and slowly starve it into submission by cutting off its supply lines.
- The key to the plan was capturing Petersburg, Virginia.
Petersburg Geography and Railroads
Petersburg, Virginia, sits on the south bank of the Appomattox River, approximately twenty miles south of Richmond. During the Civil War, the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad was an important conduit for supplies to the Confederate capital. Besides the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, two other rail lines converged at Petersburg.
- Weldon Railroad — Also known as the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, connected Petersburg to the Confederacy’s last connection to overseas markets at Wilmington, North Carolina.
- South Side Railroad — Further west, it joined Petersburg to Lynchburg, Virginia, and points westward.
If Grant could cut the rail lines, it would force Lee to abandon Richmond.
Forcing Lee to Defend Two Fronts
Although Grant’s focus during the summer and fall of 1864 was on cutting off supply routes into Petersburg, he also launched several assaults north of the James River against Richmond. Grant recognized that forcing Lee to defend two fronts would thin the Confederate defenses around Petersburg, enhancing Union expectations for success.
At the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights (September 29–30, 1864), Federal soldiers captured Fort Harrison and other portions of Richmond’s outer defenses along Darbytown and New Market Roads.
Darbytown and New Market Roads run roughly parallel to each other into Richmond from the southeast. The federals anchored the right flank of their lines outside Richmond at Darbytown Road, several miles north of New Market Road. Attempting to regain the ground lost at the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights, Lee ordered an offensive against the newly extended federal lines one week later.
Confederates Turn Union Flank
On October 7, 1864, two Confederate divisions turned the Union right flank and forced the Union troops defending Darbytown Road to retreat south to the safety of their earthworks at New Market Road. Later that day, Union forces entrenched at New Market Road repulsed a second Confederate assault, forcing them to retreat to the Richmond defenses.
Determined to re-secure the area they had abandoned outside of the Confederate capital, Lee ordered Major General Charles Field and Major General Robert Hoke to build a new line between the Union lines and Richmond’s inner defenses. The work began on October 11. The next morning, Union pickets observed the construction activity and reported it up the line through Major General August Kautz to Major General Benjamin Butler to Grant.
Federals Attack
Upon learning of Lee’s efforts to create new breastworks outside of Richmond that afternoon, Grant ordered Butler to drive the Confederates away from the new works. Butler selected the 1st and 3rd divisions of Major General Alfred Terry’s 10th Corps for the mission. Butler advised Terry to expect to encounter up to 6,000 Confederates and that Kautz’s cavalry would support him. Concerned that his infantry totaled only 4,700 soldiers, Terry requested more men, but Butler refused.
Terry’s soldiers moved forward at 4 a.m. on October 13 for an attack on the enemy lines scheduled for dawn. When Kautz’s late arrival delayed the assault, however, the Federals spent the next few hours completing reconnaissance and organizing battle lines.
Federal Delays
While Terry conducted his surveillance, Lee strengthened his left after learning that Union forces were attempting to flank him. At 10:30 a.m., Terry advised Butler, “As at present advised, I think we cannot pierce their works except by massing on some point and attacking in column. I hesitate to do this without further instructions from you after our conversation of last night. Please direct me in regard to it.”
At 12:10 p.m., Butler directed Terry to remain in position until he could consult with Grant. Upon being apprised of the situation, Grant cautioned Butler that “I would not attack the enemy in his intrenchments.” Before Grant’s recommendation reached the field, however, Kautz reported to Terry that he had found an opening in the Confederate line that he believed he could exploit. Despite his misgivings, Terry ordered his men to move against the Confederates.
Federal Disaster
Shortly before 2 p.m., the Union forces attacked a Confederate position approximately one-half mile south of Charles City Road. The Confederate infantry caught the Federals in a crossfire while they raked them with artillery fire. Some of the strike force, which included men from the 10th Connecticut, 62nd Ohio, 39th Illinois, and 67th Ohio, reached the Confederate breastworks before being repulsed. By 3 p.m., the assault was a disaster, and Terry ordered a retreat. The Confederates pursued until federal artillery fire drove them back. By 6 p.m., the battle was over, and Terry’s men had returned to their lines.
Aftermath
Although the Confederates lost about 513 soldiers compared to 437 Union casualties (thirty-six killed, 358 wounded, and forty-three captured), the Battle of Darbytown Road was a Confederate victory. The Federals failed in their attempt to prevent Lee from constructing new defenses east of Richmond.
Statistics
United States of America
- Forces Engaged: Army of the James (10th Corps).
- Number of Soldiers: Undetermined.
- Estimated Casualties: 437 (36 killed, 358 wounded, 43 captured).
Confederate States of America
- Forces Engaged: Field’s and Hoke’s Divisions.
- Number of Soldiers: Undetermined.
- Estimated Casualties: 513 (killed, wounded, captured/missing).
