First Battle of Deep Bottom Facts

July 27–29, 1864

First Deep Bottom Battle facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant

Strategically, First Battle of Deep Bottom was a Union victory because Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant achieved his objective of forcing General Robert E. Lee to send large numbers of reinforcements to the Confederate capital. [Wikimedia Commons]

Also Known As

  • Battle of Darbytown
  • Battle of Strawberry Plains
  • Battle of New Market Road
  • Battle of Gravel Hill

Date

  • July 27–29, 1864

Location

  • Henrico County, Virginia, southeast of Richmond and northeast of Petersburg

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac
  • Two divisions of Major General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry

Confederate Forces Engaged:

  • Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell’s 2nd Corps
  • Army of Northern Virginia, and subsequent reinforcements

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Undetermined

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Undetermined

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 488 (62 killed, 340 wounded, 86 missing/captured)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 679 (80 killed, 391 wounded, 208 missing/captured)

Result

  • Confederate victory

Significance

  • Tactically, the First Battle of Deep Bottom was a Confederate victory because the Rebel defenders forced Hancock and Sheridan to withdraw without threatening Richmond.
  • Strategically, the First Battle of Deep Bottom was a Union victory because Grant achieved his objective of forcing Lee to send large numbers of reinforcements to the Confederate capital.

Timeline of the Petersburg Campaign

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