Overview
On May 4, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant launched the Overland Campaign when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River and the Rapidan River. Grant accompanied George Meade’s army and focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.
In May, the two armies fought the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and the Battle of North Anna. Although Confederate forces inflicted heavy casualties, Grant continued moving southeast, forcing Lee to reposition his army to defend Richmond, Virginia.
Next, Grant moved against Cold Harbor. Philip Sheridan’s Union cavalry captured the important crossroads there on May 31 and defeated a Confederate counterattack the following day. By June 2, the main armies had entrenched along a seven-mile front. On June 3, Grant ordered a frontal assault that cost the Union nearly 7,000 casualties.
Grant then moved the Army of the Potomac toward Petersburg, an important supply center south of Richmond. He also sent Sheridan’s cavalry into Louisa County to destroy portions of the Virginia Central Railroad. On June 11 and 12, Sheridan’s troops fought Wade Hampton’s Confederate cavalry at the Battle of Trevilian Station. Union soldiers destroyed about six miles of railroad track, but Confederate resistance forced Sheridan to withdraw eastward.
On June 24, Hampton intercepted two brigades of Sheridan’s cavalry near Saint Mary’s Church in Charles City, Virginia. David McMurtrie Gregg commanded the Union troops. Gregg’s men delayed the Confederates long enough for the Union supply train to escape. The Federals then withdrew from the battlefield. Also known as the Battle of Nance’s Shop, it was the final battle of Grant’s Overland Campaign.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle of Nance’s Shop.
- Date: June 24, 1864.
- Location: Charles City, Virginia.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Philip Sheridan, David McMurtrie Gregg.
- CSA Commanders: Wade Hampton.
- Who Won: The Confederate States won the Battle of Saint Mary’s Church.
- Campaign: Overland Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, May–August, 1864.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: Not specified; combined casualties totaled 630.
- Forces Engaged: Sheridan’s Cavalry, Army of the Potomac.
- Troop Strength: Undetermined.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: Not specified; combined casualties totaled 630.
- Forces Engaged: Hampton’s Cavalry, Army of Northern Virginia.
- Troop Strength: Undetermined.
Significance
The Battle of Saint Mary’s Church is important to American History because it was the last battle of Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. The engagement took place when Philip Sheridan’s cavalry tried to reunite with the Army of the Potomac after the Battle of Trevilian Station. Wade Hampton’s Confederate cavalry intercepted Union forces led by David McMurtrie Gregg on June 24, 1864. Although the Confederates won the battle, Gregg’s men delayed Hampton long enough for the Union supply train to escape before withdrawing.
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 Lincoln was seeking. Unlike other Union generals, Grant was tenacious.
The Overland Campaign — Grant Pursues 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 campaigns in that area, Grant’s offensive focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia rather than capturing or occupying geographic locations. Grant instructed General George Meade, who commanded the Army of the Potomac, “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 Union forces persistently engaged the Confederate army.
Overland Campaign
On May 4, 1864, Grant launched the Overland Campaign, when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. Although Meade nominally commanded the Army of the Potomac, Grant accompanied the army in the field so he could supervise overall campaign operations.
Throughout the month of May, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia slugged it out in a series of battles including the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5–7), Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21), and the Battle of North Anna (May 23–26). Although the Confederates inflicted high casualties on the Federals during those battles, Grant continued his strategy of moving south and east (to Lee’s right) and then re-engaging. Grant’s moves forced Lee to reposition his lines continually to defend Richmond.
Bloodbath at Cold Harbor
Grant’s next objective was Cold Harbor, where he intended to link up with Union troops from the Army of the James. Again, Lee expected Grant’s move, and he ordered his cavalry to hold Cold Harbor until his infantry arrived. On May 31, Major General Philip Sheridan’s Union cavalry seized the vital crossroads at Cold Harbor from the Confederates. The next day, Sheridan repulsed a counterattack by Confederate infantry trying to recover the position. By June 2, both armies had arrived at Cold Harbor and entrenched along a front that extended for seven miles.
On June 3, Grant ordered an ill-advised frontal assault on the Confederate lines and lost nearly 7,000 men, compared with 1,500 Confederate casualties. Grant later commented in his memoirs that this was the only attack he wished he had never ordered. For the next ten days, the two armies continued to confront each other until Grant abandoned his strategy of attacking Lee’s army.
On to Petersburg
On May 12, Grant evacuated Cold Harbor and moved Meade’s army across the James River to begin an assault on Petersburg, a crucial supply depot for Richmond and Lee’s army, located south of Richmond. Grant sent Sheridan’s cavalry forces into Louisa County, Virginia to destroy portions of the Virginia Central Railroad, an important Confederate supply line. Grant hoped that Lee would send his cavalry in pursuit of Sheridan, making it easier for Meade to move toward Petersburg.
Battle of Trevilian Station
On June 11, Sheridan’s men engaged Confederate cavalry divisions, commanded by Major General Wade Hampton, at Trevilian Station. Initially, the Federals divided the Confederates, but the tide shifted on June 12, when the Confederates dismounted and repulsed several Union assaults. Federal soldiers destroyed about six miles of railroad track before the Confederates forced them to withdraw and return east.
June 24, 1864 — Cavalry Clash at Saint Mary’s Church
On June 24, 1864, Hampton’s men intercepted two brigades of Sheridan’s cavalry, commanded by Brigadier General David McMurtrie Gregg, at Saint Mary’s Church in Charles City, Virginia, as they retreated eastward. The Federals fought a brief holding action, allowing their supply train to escape the Confederates. Gregg’s men then withdrew, bringing the battle to a conclusion.
Outcome
The engagement produced a combined 630 casualties. The Battle of Saint Mary’s Church, also known as the Battle of Nance’s Shop, was the final battle of Grant’s Overland Campaign.
Timeline
- 1864, March 10 — President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States.
- 1864, May 4 — Grant launched his Overland Campaign when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River and the Rapidan River.
- 1864, May 5–7 — The inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness took place.
- 1864, May 11 — Union forces won the Battle of Yellow Tavern.
- 1864, May 8–21 — The inconclusive Battle of Spotsylvania Court House took place.
- 1864, May 23–26 — The inconclusive Battle of North Anna took place.
- 1864, May 28 — The inconclusive Battle of Haw’s Shop took place.
- 1864, May 29–30 — The inconclusive Battle of Totopotomoy Creek took place.
- 1864, May 31–June 12 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Cold Harbor.
- 1864, June 11–12 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Trevilian Station.
- 1864, June 24
- Hampton’s cavalry intercepted forces under David McMurtrie Gregg at Saint Mary’s Church.
- Gregg’s men protected their supply train before withdrawing, and the battle ended in a Confederate victory.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Saint Mary’s Church (1864) — The Battle of Saint Mary’s Church was fought in Charles City, Virginia, on June 24, 1864, during the Overland Campaign. After Union cavalry suffered defeat at Trevilian Station, Philip Sheridan’s forces retreated eastward. Wade Hampton’s Confederate cavalry intercepted Union forces commanded by David McMurtrie Gregg. The Federals fought a holding action that allowed their supply train to escape before withdrawing. This was the final battle of the campaign.
Alignment
The Battle of Saint Mary’s Church is part of the following AP US History sections:
