The Crater
Library of Congress
The Crater
Two weeks after Union forces arrived to invest the Confederate defenders of Petersburg, the battle lines of both sides had settled into a stalemate. Since Cold Harbor, Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was reluctant to mount a frontal attack against well-entrenched Confederates. By late June, Grant's lines covered most of the eastern approaches to Petersburg, but neither side seemed ready to risk an offensive move. Part of the Union line was held by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's Ninth Corps. Some of Burnside's men were Pennsylvania miners, and they approached Burnside with a plan. They would tunnel underground from behind Union lines to a point underneath a Confederate position and fill the mine with explosives. When detonated, the resulting explosion would destroy a portion of the Rebel lines that could be exploited by infantry. Grant demurred but the digging began. On July 30th, after weeks of preparation, the Federals exploded the mine beneath a Confederate salient, blowing a gap in the defenses. At that point, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union attackers. Unit after unit, most of whom were U. S. Colored Troops, charged into and around the crater, where most of them milled in confusion in the bottom of the crater. The Confederates quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks led by Maj. Gen. William Mahone. The break was sealed off, and the Federals were repulsed with severe casualties. Most of the black soldiers were badly mauled. Instead of ending the siege, both sides settled in for eight months of trench warfare. Burnside was relieved of command for his role in the debacle.
Battle Facts
Result
Confederate Victory
COMMANDERS
Forces Engaged
14,600
Union
8,500
Confederate
6,100
Total Estimated Casualties
5,289
Union
3,798
504
killed
1,881
wounded
1,413
missing & captured
Confederate
1,491
361
killed
727
wounded
403
missing & captured
Civil War
Battle Map
BATTLE MAP | American Battlefield Trust’s map of the Battle of The Crater, Virginia on July 30, 1864
Civil War
Battle Map
BATTLE MAP | American Battlefield Trust's map of the Battle of Second Petersburg, Virginia on June...
Civil War
Animated Map
See the entire Civil War unfold, from Fort Sumter to Appomattox and beyond, on our animated map,...
Explore The Crater
Join t Fight
Donate today to preserve battlefields in America and protect the legacy of our nation’s defining conflicts.
Topics
|
Topic
|
Topic
|
|
|
|
|
Topic
|
Topic
|
|
Topic
|
Topic
|
Related Battles
Civil War
In combination with Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s offensive north of the James River at New Market...
Civil War
In September 1864, in order to draw Gen. Robert E. Lee's attention from a movement against the...
Civil War
By February 1865, the stalemate around Petersburg had entered its eighth month. Lieut. Gen. Ulysses...
Civil War
As he had done in late July during the Battle of the Crater, Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant called...
51,000
ACRES SAVED
The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 51,000 acres in 24 states!
SEE THE LAND WE'VE SAVED
Shop and Preserve
Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Every purchase supports the mission.
Give with Confidence!
The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education.