d714
Posts: 111
Joined: 4/11/2007 Status: offline
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LATE JUNE 1864 continued, Union VP 19/corrected to 27 (national will -5), Conf VP -4 (national will -3) Bloodshed continues. Grant bombards Richmond and the forts surrounding them in a series of aggressive siege attacks during late June that cost Grant over 12,000 casualties. But Grant has manpower to spare, and is welcome to trade men for time if it means an end to the war. Jefferson Davis compels the trusted and beloved Robert E. Lee, still recovering from his wound and escape from capture in Maryland, to engage in one last all or nothing offensive to relieve Richmond. Thus 51,000 confederates, loyal to the end to Virginia and the confederacy, march into the James River to confront an enemy of almost four times their number. 2nd Battle of Richmond Lee’s movement takes Grant by surprise, engaged as they are by his siege of Richmond. Union troops are momentarily shaken, forced to move into line, unlimber artillery, and move supply wagons to the rear under fire. But these are battle tested troops, the Army of the West. The relatively green Army of the Potomac had moved south to camp near Petersburg after the first battle. Thus Grant and Sherman’s forces recover quickly and return fire. Lee, outnumbered, is forced back to his fortifications and flanked on both sides. Union take casualties as they approach Lee’s forts, cannon fire opening up huge gaps in their lines. But northern soldiers, seeming to know the end is near, stay in good order and move up against the rebel works. Lines of rebels line up in front of the forts, futily attempting to keep the union at bay with musket fire. But the Virginians are flanked, fired on from enfilade, fall back leaving behind hundreds dead, and the action continues. As in Maryland, again Lee is wounded. Rebels fight on beyond the limits of normal endurance, seeming to know that with this defeat the confederate cause will end. Finally, with one of every two rebel on the field dead, dying, or wounded, the battle ends. Barely 7,000 confederates leave the field that day, scattered around fleeing into the Virginia countryside. The Union’s second victory ends the confederate Virginian army as a threat – 24,000 rebel casualties are recorded, along with 21,000 prisoners (6 brigades). Union casualties are 13,000.
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< Message edited by DI7 -- 8/3/2007 11:12:58 PM >
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