Second Battle of Petersburg Facts, Details, and Timeline

June 15–18, 1864

Facts about the Second Battle of Petersburg, including dates, casualties, participants, who won, and more interesting details 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.

Ulysses S Grant, at Cold Harbor, Portrait

Recognizing that he had lost the opportunity to seize Richmond while it was lightly defended, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant called off the Second Battle of Petersburg and focused on cutting off the city’s supply lines. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Definition

The Second Battle of Petersburg was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America from June 15 to June 18, 1864, during the American Civil War.

Quick Facts

  • Also Known As: The Second Battle of Petersburg is also called the “Assault on Petersburg.”
  • Date Started: The Second Battle of Petersburg started on Wednesday, June 15, 1864.
  • Date Ended: The fighting ended on Saturday, June 18, 1864.
  • Location: The battle took place in Petersburg, Virginia.
  • Who Won: The Confederate States of America won the Second Battle of Petersburg.
  • Civil War Campaign: The Second Battle of Petersburg was part of the Petersburg Campaign.

This photograph shows members of the 18th Army Corps occupying Confederate fortifications that were captured during the Second Battle of Petersburg. Image Source: Library of Congress.

Interesting Facts

  • Some historians consider the Second Battle of Petersburg to be the initial engagement of the Petersburg Campaign of 1864–65.

Commanders and Forces Involved

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

Confederate Forces Engaged

Casualties and Statistics

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 62,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 42,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 11,000 (1,688 killed, 8,513 wounded, and 1,185 missing/captured)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 4,000 (200 killed, 2,900 wounded, and 900 missing/captured)

Results of the Second Battle of Petersburg

  • The outcome of the Second Battle of Petersburg was a Confederate victory.

Timeline of the Second Battle of Petersburg

This list shows the main battles and events that took place before and after the Second Battle of Petersburg, and how it fits into the chronological order of the Petersburg Campaign.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Second Battle of Petersburg Facts, Details, and Timeline
  • Date June 15–18, 1864
  • Author
  • Keywords Second Battle of Petersburg, Civil War Facts for Kids, Social Studies Resources, APUSH Study Material
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date December 8, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 31, 2023

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