Chaffin's Farm/New Market Heights, VA

Date(s): September 29-30, 1864

Campaign(s): Richmond–Petersburg Campaign [June 1864-March 1865]

Battles in Campaign:

• Petersburg, VA I - June 9, 1864 D¹

• Petersburg, VA II - June 15-18, 1864 A

• Jerusalem Plank Road, VA - June 21-24, 1864 B

• Staunton River Bridge, VA - June 25, 1864 C¹

• Sappony Church, VA - June 28, 1864 D ¹

• Ream's Station, VA I - June 29, 1864 C¹

• Deep Bottom, VA I - July 27-29, 1864 C¹

• Crater, VA - July 30, 1864 A

• Deep Bottom, VA II - August 13-20, 1864 B

• Globe Tavern, VA - August 18-21, 1864 B

• Ream's Station, VA II - August 25, 1864 B

• Chaffin's Farm/New Market Heights, VA - September 29-30, 1864 B

• Peebles' Farm, VA - September 30-October 2, 1864 B

• Darbytown and New Market Roads, VA - October 7, 1864 C¹ 

• Darbytown Road, VA - October 13, 1864 D ¹  

• Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, VA - October 27-28, 1864 C¹  

• Boydton Plank Road, VA - October 27-28, 1864 B

Situation:

• The Union army was laying siege to Richmond and Petersburg.

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler

• Confederate: Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell

Principal Forces:

• Union: Army of the James

• Confederate: Second Corps

Description:

• On the night of September 28-29th, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Army of the James crossed James River to attack Richmond's defenses north of the river.

• The Union forces attacked at dawn and were successful at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison.

• However, the Confederate forces rallied and contained the breakthrough.

• Lee reinforced his lines north of the James.

• On September 30th, Lee launched an unsuccessful counterattacked.

• The Federals entrenched and the Confederates built a line of works that cut off the captured forts. 

• The attack worked as Grant had planned.

• When Lee shifted troops to meet the threat against Richmond the Confederate  lines at Petersburg were weakened.

Photo Gallery²:

Empty Victory Union forces take Fort Hoke as part of actions against Fort Harrison			Decription of Actions at Fort Harrison/Chaffin's Farm
Fort Harrison Trail Map Showing Earthworks of Fort Harrison and Fort Burnham	Confederate Counterattack on Fort Harrison	Fort Harrison Parapet	Confederate Earthworks
Gun Embrasure	Bombproof and Casemate	"The Big Guns Spoke" Ground over which Union fotces attacked the fort.	Braving the Fire Place where Union troops regrouped before attack on earthworks.
		Surprise Attack Union General Hiram Burham is killed during the fort's capture and the fort is renamed in his honor.
	Black Troops Attack at Chaffin's Farm Nearly all of Seventh U.S. Colored Troops were casualties in attack on Fort Gilmer.	Infantry Earthworks	Sutler's Cabin at Fort Harrison
Reconstruction of Abatis on Earthworks	Reconstruction of Abatis on Earthworks	Reconstruction of Abatis on Earthworks	Cannon Embrasure
Motor Embrasure		Bombproof
Soldier's Cabins	Meade Station Trail	Monotonous Toil
		Prince George Court House Road

Slide Presentation: None

Classification³: B

Casualties⁴: 4,430 total

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Battle of Chaffin's Farm - Wikipedia

• The Shootout at Chaffin's Farm - Findarticles.com

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 09/16/2009