Despite having much of its most valuable territory retaken by the summer of 1864, the Confederacy continued to resist. If it could hold on, perhaps it could win the war by wearing down the Union enough to seek peace terms. Thus, new general-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant needed to crack the heavily fortified defenses around Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia and end the war in a timely fashion.
Victory Goes to the Union
The siege, which lasted for nine and a half months, was finally won by the Union when it broke the city’s strong defenses on April 2, 1865. Twelve major battles were fought during the course of the siege, ending with the Battle of Five Forks. That afternoon and evening, on April 1, 1865, Union forces broke the Confederate lines of General George Pickett, forcing Pickett to flee and opening up Petersburg to capture. This final battle featured the actions of young general George Armstrong Custer, a Union cavalry officer, who later became [in]famous for his “last stand” during the Indian Wars of the 1870s.
Before dawn on April 2, Ulysses S. Grant ordered a general assault on the Petersburg defenses, and they finally broke. At the time of this final assault, Confederate defenders were outnumbered almost four-to-one and were weakened from almost a year of reduced rations. By 5:15 AM, Confederate General Robert E. Lee knew the city would have to be evacuated and that Richmond, the Confederate capital, could not be held. Twenty-four hours later, Union troops entered the battered city and raised the United States flag.
Timeline of the Siege of Petersburg
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterThe siege began on June 15, 1864 under the command of the Union’s new general-in-chief, Ulysses S. Grant, with a major battle. Unable to take the city, the Union’s Army of the Potomac remained in place, creating a siege. Lee chose to focus on Petersburg rather than Richmond itself, as Petersburg served as the supply depot for the Confederate capital.
Over several months, both the Confederates in the city and the Union forces surrounding them alternated between brief assaults and long periods of construction. The result was trench warfare and entrenched artillery, previewing the destruction of World War I in Europe.
On July 30, after weeks of trenched stalemate, the Union detonated black powder they had placed after digging under Confederate trenches, sparking the Battle of the Crater. Although many Confederates were killed in the blast, they fought hard and prevented a Union breakthrough.
During the autumn of 1864, Union general Ulysses S. Grant made slow, incremental gains in seizing territory around Petersburg, further isolating the city.
After a winter lull, Union attacks began again in February 1865.
By March, the Confederates were almost entirely out of supplies, and the final coordinated Union offensive began on March 29.
On April 2, 1865, Grant’s troops finally breached the city’s defenses.
What Caused the Siege of Petersburg?
The siege was caused by the need to deliver a final, crushing blow to the Confederacy before the 1864 presidential elections. After three years of warfare, many in the North were growing tired of the mounting casualties…and wanted to negotiate an end to the hostilities. This would mean a victory for the Confederacy. US President Abraham Lincoln needed to show that the Civil War could be won, and in a reasonable time frame. Lincoln’s new appointee as general-in-chief, Ulysses S. Grant, was given this difficult task.
Only a few months after taking the reins of the entire Union army, Grant embarked on the offensive against Petersburg, Virginia due to its status as the “key to Richmond.” If Petersburg could be taken, Richmond would be without supplies and access to the remaining (dwindling) Confederacy. Unfortunately for Grant, the initial offensive in June 1864 failed, resulting in the need for a lengthy siege. The siege continued for months to apply continuous pressure on Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and keep it trapped in the Petersburg-Richmond area, giving other Union armies easier access to retake the South.
Why Was the Siege of Petersburg Significant?
The Siege of Petersburg was effectively the endgame of the American Civil War. Once Petersburg was taken, Richmond would fall…and the war would effectively be over. All other major cities in the Confederacy had already been retaken by the Union, leaving the Confederate government with no other suitable base of operations. The nine-month siege showed the grit and determination of both armies, which dug in and built tremendous defenses between brutal attacks.
In the longer term, the trench warfare and massive use of artillery during the Siege of Petersburg helped prepare the United States for the horrors of World War I. When the US entered that war in 1917, Germany felt it would be unprepared for the rigors of modern warfare. However, whereas Europe had not suffered a major conflict since the Napoleonic era, the American Civil War had been industrialized. Thanks to the Civil War and the Siege of Petersburg, the US was not unprepared for industrialized war as Germany had thought.
5 Facts About the Siege of Petersburg
1. Casualties
The casualties during the nine-and-a-half-month siege were tremendous: up to 70,000 total. As the attackers facing entrenched defenses, the Union suffered considerably more casualties—some 60 percent of the total. The Confederates suffered about 40 percent of the total casualties, which was still substantial. Thanks to its industrial advantage, the Union could regularly attack Southern defensive works with massive siege guns.
2. Commanders
Union forces were led by General-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant and several of Grant’s subordinates, including General George Meade, who led the final breach on April 2, 1865. Meade was a longtime officer who was given command of the Army of the Potomac just before the Battle of Gettysburg in the summer of 1863. Although Meade stopped Robert E. Lee’s assault on the North, he was criticized for not aggressively pursuing Lee’s retreating army. Meade and Grant together commanded the Army of the Potomac after Grant was appointed general-in-chief, with Meade being largely overshadowed by his more aggressive superior.
Confederate forces were led by Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, and P.G.T. Beauregard. During the siege, Lee was named general-in-chief of all Confederate armies on January 31, 1865. This created a powerful dichotomy: the opposing generals at Petersburg were now the respective generals-in-chief of their nation’s armies. Similar to Meade, Beauregard’s role at Petersburg was overshadowed by his superior officer.
3. Number of Forces Involved
Roughly 180,000 men participated in the Siege of Petersburg, which included eight significant battles. At the beginning, about 62,000 Union troops faced 42,000 Confederates. By the end, however, about 63,000 Union troops significantly outnumbered only 20,000 Confederate defenders. Due to its reduced condition, the Confederacy could no longer rebuild its forces. The Union, however, could easily replace battlefield losses.
4. Visiting Petersburg Fortifications Today
Today, the Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia gives visitors historical tours of the longest engagement of the Civil War. The national park hosts many events conducted by park rangers, such as informational tours. For those who want to learn more before they go, the Petersburg National Battlefield website has several educational videos about conditions during the siege. Visitors who stay in Petersburg, Virginia can see historic sites from both the Civil War and Revolutionary War eras!
5. Trivia: Trench Warfare Predating World War I
The Siege of Petersburg was unique during the American Civil War for featuring trench warfare, which would become widespread fifty years later during World War I. When Union attackers were unable to breach Confederate lines, they simply dug in and created their own trenches that ran parallel to those of the defenders. This resulted in months of exhausting stalemate, where artillery and sharpshooters targeted any movement on the other side. Attempts to attack the opposing side were made deadly by various obstacles created to slow down or ensnare attackers. Additionally, defenders were made extra effective due to their ability to pre-sight their weapons on landmarks, giving them a high degree of accuracy.
Aftermath of Petersburg: Robert E. Lee on the Run
When the Confederate defenses at Petersburg broke on April 2, 1865, Confederate general-in-chief Robert E. Lee had no choice but to evacuate both Petersburg and Richmond. With no city around which to base his Army of Northern Virginia, Lee had to go on the run. He hoped to link up with fellow Confederate general Joseph Johnston in North Carolina. Union forces moved faster than anticipated, however, and blocked Lee’s path. This set the stage for the Battle of Appomattox, often considered the de facto end of the American Civil War.
The cities of Petersburg and Richmond were severely damaged by warfare. Most citizens, unaware of the true conditions of the nearby war, were surprised by the sudden collapse of the Confederate defenses. Many were only alerted that the city would soon be seized by the Union by the sight of Confederate government offices burning documents! Chaos seized Richmond as citizens sought alcohol and other valuables to keep them out of Union hands, which soon turned to looting as many hungry citizens realized that some upper-class families had been hoarding goods during the war. Order was only restored on April 3, 1865, when Union troops occupied both cities.
