Battle of the Crater

Overview

The Battle of the Crater took place during the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It occurred on Saturday, July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade under the direct supervision of the general-in-chief, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of the Crater unfolded during the Siege of Petersburg, a critical phase of the American Civil War in which Union forces under Grant sought to sever Confederate supply lines and force Lee's Army of Northern Virginia from its defensive works. With Union forces numbering 8,500 against a Confederate strength of 6,100, the engagement resulted in a severe disproportion of casualties: 3,798 Union losses against 1,491 Confederate. The outcome reinforced Confederate ability to hold the Petersburg lines and denied Grant a potential breakthrough that might have accelerated the collapse of Lee's position. The battle implicated Union commanders Burnside and Ledlie in the failure, and the lopsided casualty exchange extended a siege that would continue to grind down both armies into 1865.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)