Third Battle of Petersburg Facts

April 2, 1865

Third Battle of Petersburg 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.

Ulysses S Grant, at Cold Harbor, Portrait

Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant forced Confederate forces to retreat from their entrenchments around Petersburg after the Third Battle of Petersburg. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Third Battle of Petersburg Definition

The Third Battle of Petersburg was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America on April 2, 1865, during the American Civil War.

Third Battle of Petersburg Facts

Also Known As: The Third Battle of Petersburg is also called the “Breakthrough at Petersburg” and the “Fall of Petersburg.”

Date Started: The Third Battle of Petersburg started on Sunday, April 2, 1865.

Date Ended: The fighting ended on April 2, 1865.

Location: The battle took place in Dinwiddie County, near Petersburg, Virginia.

Who Won: The United States of America won the Third Battle of Petersburg.

Civil War Campaign: The Third Battle of Petersburg was part of the Appomattox Campaign.

Third Battle of Petersburg, Illustration

This illustration depicts the fighting at the Third Battle of Petersburg. Image Source: Library of Congress.

Commanders and Forces Involved

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Potomac

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Army of Northern Virginia

Casualties and Statistics

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 63,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 18–20,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 3,500 (killed, wounded, and captured/missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 4,250 (killed, wounded, and captured/missing)

Results of the Third Battle of Petersburg

  • The outcome of the Third Battle of Petersburg was a Union victory.

Timeline of the Third Battle of Petersburg

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