Battle of Port Walthall Junction explained

Conflict:Battle of Port Walthall Junction
Partof:the American Civil War
Date:May 6–7, 1864
Place:Chesterfield County, Virginia
Map Type:Virginia
Map Size:300
Result:Union victory
Combatant1: United States (Union)
Combatant2: CSA (Confederacy)
Commander1:Benjamin Butler
Commander2:Johnson Hagood
Strength1:8,000
Strength2:2,600
Casualties3:550

The Battle of Port Walthall Junction was fought May 6–7, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces during the Bermuda Hundred Campaign of the American Civil War. Although initially successful, the Confederates were eventually defeated, allowing Union forces to cut a railroad. The Port Walthall Junction on the Richmond-Petersburg Railroad connected with the spur to Port Walthall.

Battle

In conjunction with the opening of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler's Army of the James, 33,000 strong, disembarked from transports at Bermuda Hundred on May 5, threatening the Richmond-Petersburg Railroad. On May 6, Confederate Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood's brigade stopped initial Federal probes at Port Walthall Junction. On May 7, a Union division drove Hagood's and Brig. Gen. Bushrod Johnson's brigades from the depot and cut the railroad at Port Walthall Junction. Confederate defenders retired behind Swift Run Creek and awaited reinforcements.

Aftermath

Union casualties were more than 300, Confederates fewer than 200, primarily from Hagood's brigade.[1]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Salmon, p. 311.