Battle of Sappony Church

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Sappony Church
partof=the American Civil War


caption=A map of the Union raider's route
date=June 28, 1864
place=Sussex County, Virginia.
result=Confederate victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1863 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=James H. Wilson
August V. Kautz
commander2=William Henry Fitzhugh Lee
Wade Hampton
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=unknown
casualties2=unknown [Most sources state unknown for this battle, though the total casualties for the raid overall are often citied as approximately 2000.] [eHistory [http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/BattleView.Cfm?BID=744 page] on the battle, retrieved on March 10 2007]

The Battle of Sappony Church was an engagement of the American Civil War, between the Confederate States of America and the Union, which took place on June 28, 1864 during the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign.

Background

Petersburg, Virginia was the supply centre for the Confederate capital of Richmond, and was under siege by Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant. Petersburg was supplied by rail along two rail lines, the South Side and the Richmond & Danville. On June 22, Grant dispatched a 5000 strong cavalry unit under the command of Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Brigadier General August V. Kautz to cut the rail lines. This led to a series of raids which led to the destruction of 60 miles of rail track and culminated with the Battle of Staunton River Bridge on 25 June, where the raiders were defeated and began a retreat back to Union positions.

Since the outset of the raid, the Union force had been pursued by Confederate General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee. Lee's forces had finally been able to catch up to the Union cavalry at Staunton Bridge, and had attacked them in the rear and then continued to pursue them as they retired to Union lines.

The Battle

On June 28, the Union cavalry crossed the Nottoway River and reached the Stony Creek Depot on the Weldon Railroad. Here, they were attack by Confederate Major General Wade Hampton and his cavalry division. During the resulting battle, Lee arrived on the field with his own forces and attacked the Union raiders. By nightfall, Kautz and Wilson ordered their forces to fall back in an attempt to reach Reams Railway Station to the north. During the retreat, a large number of slaves who had been accompanying the Union forces were left behind.

ee also

* American Civil War
* Siege of Petersburg, Virginia

Notes