Overview
Following the Battle of North Anna (May 23–26, 1864), General Ulysses S. Grant continued his Overland Campaign rather than retreating. Grant’s strategy focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia through repeated engagements. On May 27, Grant ordered General George Meade and the Army of the Potomac to move southeast toward Totopotomoy Creek, deeper into Confederate territory.
As Union forces moved toward the area, Confederate troops intercepted Union cavalrymen attempting to cross the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and Crump’s Creek on May 27. Infantry from both armies arrived the following day. Confederate soldiers fortified positions along the south bank of Totopotomoy Creek, preparing to block the Union advance.
On May 29, Union troops carried out several probes to determine the location and strength of the Confederate defenses. Fighting intensified on May 30 when the Union 2nd Corps attacked and drove some Confederate soldiers from their entrenchments. This allowed Union troops to gain a position on the south side of Totopotomoy Creek.
As the 2nd Corps advanced, Confederate troops commanded by General Jubal Early attacked the Union left flank. Early’s assault forced the Union soldiers back, and the fighting ended that evening.
The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek ended inconclusively. Confederate forces remained in possession of the battlefield, but they failed to stop Grant’s larger campaign. On May 31, Grant evacuated his position at Totopotomoy Creek and ordered the Army of the Potomac to continue moving southeast.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle of Bethesda Church, Battle of Crumps Creek, Battle of Matadequin Creek, Battle of Shady Grove Road, Battle of Hanovertown.
- Date: May 29–30, 1864.
- Location: Hanover County in east-central Virginia, along Totopotomoy Creek.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade.
- CSA Commanders: Robert E. Lee, Jubal A. Early.
- Who Won: The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek was inconclusive.
- Campaign: Overland Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, May–August, 1864.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: 731, including 679 killed and wounded and 52 captured.
- Forces Engaged: Army of the Potomac.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 100,000.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: 1,593, including 263 killed, 961 wounded, and 369 captured or missing.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Northern Virginia.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 50,000.
Significance
The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek is important to American History because of the role it played in Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. After the Battle of North Anna, Grant moved the Army of the Potomac further southeast instead of retreating. Confederate forces stopped Union attacks along Totopotomoy Creek and remained on the battlefield, but they failed to stop Grant’s overall advance. On May 31, Grant left Totopotomoy Creek and continued southeast, maintaining pressure on Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia as Union forces moved closer to Richmond.
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 into that area, Grant’s offensive focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia instead of 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.
Meade Moves South
Following the Confederate victory at the Battle of North Anna (May 23–26), Grant did not retreat. Rather, on May 27, he ordered Meade to move his army deeper into Confederate territory, southeast towards Totopotomoy Creek. On May 27, Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalrymen as they attempted to cross the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and at Crump’s Creek. The following day, infantrymen from both the North and the South began to arrive.
May 28–30, 1864 — Clash Along Totopotomoy Creek
Beginning on May 28, Confederate soldiers fortified the south bank of Totopotomoy Creek, and on May 29, Union forces launched several probes to establish the location of the Confederates’ position. On May 30, the Union’s 2nd Corps drove a portion of the Confederate soldiers from their entrenchments, gaining a foothold on the south side of Totopotomoy Creek. As the 2nd Corps advanced, Confederate soldiers, under the command of Jubal Early, attacked the Union left, driving the Northerners back. The engagement ended that evening, bringing the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek to a conclusion.
Aftermath
The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek was a technical victory for the Confederates. Southerners remained in possession of the battlefield at the engagement’s end. Confederates suffered 1,100 men killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The Northerners sustained a similar number of casualties. Despite their accomplishments, the Confederates did not stop Grant from continuing his advance into the heart of the Confederacy.
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 27 — Grant ordered George Meade to move the Army of the Potomac southeast toward Totopotomoy Creek.
- 1864, May 27 — Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalrymen attempting to cross the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and Crump’s Creek.
- 1864, May 28 — Union and Confederate cavalry fought the Battle of Haw’s Shop for about seven hours before Confederate infantry reinforced the Southern position.
- 1864, May 29 — Union forces launched several probes to find Confederate positions along Totopotomoy Creek.
- 1864, May 30
- The Union 2nd Corps drove Confederate troops from some entrenchments and gained a foothold south of Totopotomoy Creek.
- Confederate troops under Jubal Early attacked the Union left and forced the Union troops back.
- 1864, May 31 — Grant evacuated his position at Totopotomoy Creek and ordered the Army of the Potomac to continue southeast.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Totopotomoy Creek (1864) — The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek was fought from May 29–30, 1864, in Hanover County, Virginia, during Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. After the Battle of North Anna, Grant ordered George Meade to move southeast toward Totopotomoy Creek. Confederate troops fortified the south bank, while Union forces probed their defenses. The Union 2nd Corps gained a foothold south of the creek, but Jubal Early counterattacked the Union left and drove it back. The inconclusive battle failed to stop Grant’s advance toward Richmond.
Alignment
The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek is part of the following AP US History sections:
