Battle of Ware Bottom Church Facts

Date

• May 20, 1864

Location

• Chesterfield County, Virginia

Campaign

• Bermuda Hundred Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

• Major General Benjamin F. Butler
• Major General Quincy A. Gillmore
• Major General William F. Smith

Principal Confederate Commanders

• General P.G.T. Beauregard

Union Forces Engaged

• Army of the James

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Petersburg garrison, local militia

Number of Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 10,000 (both sides combined)

Estimated Union Casualties

• 750 (killed, wounded, captured/missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

• 750 (killed, wounded, captured/missing)

Result

• Confederate victory

Significance

• The Confederate victory at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church enabled General P. G. T. Beauregard to construct the Howlett Line, which effectively trapped the Army of the James on the tip of the Bermuda Hundred Peninsula.
• The Battle of Ware Bottom Church was the final engagement of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.

Timeline of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign

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

• May 6–7, 1864 – Battle of Port Walthall Junction
• May 9, 1864 – Battle of Swift Creek
• May 10, 1864 – Battle of Chester Station
• May 12–16, 1864 – Battle of Proctor’s Creek (also known as the Second Battle of Drewry’s Bluff and the Battle of Fort Darling)
• May 20, 1864 – Battle of Ware Bottom Church