Battle of Globe Tavern

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Globe Tavern


caption=
partof=the American Civil War
date=August 18 – August 21, 1864
place=Petersburg, Virginia
result=Union victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1863 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=Gouverneur K. Warren
commander2=A.P. Hill
strength1=V Corps
strength2=Third Corps
casualties1=4,279
casualties2=1,600

The Battle of Globe Tavern, also known as the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, fought from August 18 to August 21, 1864, saw the Confederate forces lose control of the vital Weldon Railroad to the Union Army during the Siege of Petersburg of the American Civil War.

Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered an attack against the Weldon Railroad while the II Corps attacked Deep Bottom. The V Corps supported by units from the IX Corps and II Corps was chosen for the attack under the overall command of V Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren.

On August 18, Warren reached the Weldon Railroad and drove off the Confederate pickets. He ordered the division of Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin to destroy the track. Confederate General Robert E. Lee reacted quickly, sending the Third Corps under Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill to secure the important rail line. Hill sent the division of Maj. Gen. Henry Heth against Warren while he attacked Brig. Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres's division. The Federals fell back and entrenched for the night.

On August 19, Maj. Gen. William Mahone's Confederate division attacked Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford's division, driving back its flank. Warren brought up reinforcements and counterattacked. The Federals succeeded in retaking nearly all the lost ground by the day's end. Warren had established a strong defensive position in an L-shape around Globe Tavern on August 20.

The next day Hill attacked Warren's new position. Parts of three Confederate divisions assailed the Union works but were repulsed. At the corner of the L, Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood's division managed to break through the Union lines, but then nearly became cut off before fighting its way back out. The IX Corps extended the Union siege lines to connect with Warren's current position.

The Confederates had lost the Weldon Railroad and were forced to cart supplies 30 miles from the railroad at Stony Creek up the Boydton Plank Road into Petersburg. The Union army had gained its first decisive victory during the siege of Petersburg and achieved a major objective. Grant had severed the Weldon and extended his siege lines to Globe Tavern. The Union high command wanted to extend the army's control over the railroad. Grant recalled the II Corps from its failed attempt at Deep Bottom to destroy the Weldon further south, an action that resulted in the Second Battle of Ream's Station.

CS General J.C.C.Saunders was killed August 21, 1864.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va072.htm National Park Service battle description]
* [http://members.aol.com/siege1864/globe.html Globe Tavern]