Battle of Port Walthall Junction Facts

May 6–7, 1864

Key facts about the Battle of Port Walthall Junction.

Benjamin F. Butler portrait

At the Battle of Port Waltham Junction, Major General Benjamin F. Butler’s Union troops cut the railroad at Port Walthall Junction, but the Confederate defenders retired to a stronger position behind Swift Run Creek. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date

  • May 6–7, 1864

Location

  • Chesterfield County, Virginia

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

  • Major General Benjamin F. Butler
  • Brigadier General Charles Heckman
  • Brigadier General William H. T. Brooks

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union forces Engaged

  • Heckman’s Brigade (Army of the James)

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Brigadier General Johnson Hagood’s South Carolina brigade, assigned to Major General Bushrod Johnson’s Division

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 8,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 2,600

Union Casualties

  • 300 (killed, wounded, missing/captured)

Confederate Casualties

  • 200 (killed, wounded, missing/captured)

Result

  • Union victory

Significance

  • Despite the Union victory, Butler’s army was no closer to achieving his goal of capturing Richmond.

Timeline of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign in order.