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
- Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant
- Major General George G. Meade
- Major General Benjamin Butler
- Brigadier General William F. “Baldy” Smith
- Major General Winfield Scott Hancock
- Brigadier General August Kautz
Principal Confederate Commanders
- General Robert E. Lee
- Major General P. G. T. Beauregard
Union Forces Engaged
Confederate Forces Engaged
- Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia forces
- Army of Northern Virginia
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.
- 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
