Battle of the Crater Facts

Also Known As

• Battle of the Mine

Date

• July 30, 1864

Location

• Confederate defenses east of Petersburg, Virginia, known as Elliott’s Salient

Campaign

• Petersburg Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

• Major General Ambrose Burnside
• Brigadier General James H. Ledlie

Principal Confederate Commanders

• General Robert E. Lee
• Brigadier General William N. Pendleton
• Brigadier General William Mahone

Union Forces Engaged

• 9th Corps (Army of the Potomac)

Confederate Forces Engaged:

• Department of North Carolina And Southern Virginia
• Pendleton’s Artillery
• Mahone’s Brigade of the 3rd Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 8,500

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 6,100

Estimated Union Casualties

• 3,798 (504 killed, 1,881 wounded, 1,413 captured/missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

• 1,491 (361 killed, 727 wounded, 403 captured/missing)

Result

• Confederate victory

Significance

• The blast at the Battle of the Crater occurred at 4:44 a.m. on July 30, 1864.
• The blast at the Battle of the Crater created a gaping chasm more than 170 feet long, 60 feet across, and 30 feet deep.
• At least 278 Rebel soldiers were killed instantly by the blast at the Battle of the Crater, some being blown as high as 100 feet in the air.
• The United States Colored Troops suffered 1,327 casualties at the Battle of the Crater, some of whom were murdered as they attempted to surrender, or after they were captured.
• Following the Battle of the Crater, Ambrose Burnside was relieved of his command and would never lead troops in battle again.
• The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War criticized Major General George Meade for his decision to replace Ferraro’s colored troops with white soldiers.

Timeline of the Petersburg Campaign

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

• June 9, 1864 — First Battle of Petersburg
• June 15 – 18, 1864 — Second Battle of Petersburg
• June 21 – 23, 1864 — Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
• June 22–July 1, 1864 – Wilson-Kautz Raid
• June 25, 1864 — Battle of Staunton River Bridge
• June 28, 1864 — Battle of Sappony Church
• June 29, 1864 — First Battle of First Ream’s Station
• July 27–29, 1864 — First Battle of Deep Bottom
• July 30, 1864 — Battle of the Crater
• August 13–20, 1864 — Second Battle of Deep Bottom
• August 18-21, 1864 — Battle of Globe Tavern
• August 25, 1864 — Second Battle of Ream’s Station
• September 29–30, 1864 — Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights
• September 30–October 2, 1864 — Battle of Peebles Farm
• October 7, 1864 — Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads
• October 13, 1864 — Battle of Darbytown Road
• October 27-28, 1864 — Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road
• October 27-28, 1864 — Battle of Boydton Plank Road
• February 5-7, 1865 — Battle of Hatcher’s Run
• March 25, 1865 — Battle of Fort Stedman