Trench Warfare at Petersburg
The Battle of Petersburg was such a significant one because it basically resulted in the destruction of roadways that supplied Richmond, the Confederate capital. Robert E. Lee was able to escape Petersburg along with his soldiers the night the battle ended. this meant that Petersburg was left in the hands of the Union. Additionally, since the Union was now in charge of the most important supply center for the confederate capital, there was only a certain amount of time until the South would finally surrender. On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia.
Siege of Petersburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkE3v5dyKYU
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| Ulysses S. Grant |
The American civil war was the bloodiest war in American history with the greatest deaths yet recorded, it was initiated on April 12, 1861 and finally concluded on May 10, 1865. Growing issues between the Northern and Southern states involving tariffs, railroad taxes, and especially slavery were what caused this war. the Southern states felt that as an independent nation they would succeed and decided to secede, they were known as the Confederate states and had Robert E. Lee as their military general. The northern states however, were known as the Union and had Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederate capital was Richmond and Ulysses S. Grant thought that if his army could take over Petersburg ( an important supply center for
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| Robert E. Lee |
the capital which had 5 railroads and various roadways ) then they could destroy Richmond. They fought for four days starting June 15th but when Grant realized that it was useless, he ordered his army to siege operations (this was the longest siege in American war history). Grant ordered the roadways to be destroyed but the siege lasted a total of ten months. finally on April 2nd, Grant ordered an attack on Lee's men, which were then destroyed. Luckily for Lee, he was able to escape on time. The Petersburg siege and battle went on from June 15, 1864 to April 6, 1865, it had the involvement of over 180,000 soldiers, 8,150 Union casualties, and 3,236 casualties for the Confederate states.
The Battle of Petersburg was such a significant one because it basically resulted in the destruction of roadways that supplied Richmond, the Confederate capital. Robert E. Lee was able to escape Petersburg along with his soldiers the night the battle ended. this meant that Petersburg was left in the hands of the Union. Additionally, since the Union was now in charge of the most important supply center for the confederate capital, there was only a certain amount of time until the South would finally surrender. On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. Siege of Petersburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkE3v5dyKYU
This battle altered the course of the Civil War because the roadways were destroyed and there was less supply to Richmond which was one of the capitals of the Confederacy.
ReplyDeleteThe destruction of the railroads ultimately led to the surrender of the Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant.
ReplyDeletePetersburg remains the longest siege in American history but was not a siege, at least in the traditional sense.
ReplyDeleteThe Battles and Siege of Petersburg involved more than 180,000 soldiers and produced some 60,000 casualties.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the cause for Robert Lee surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant?
ReplyDeleteThere was very few battles the union won at the beginning of the war and this is one of them.
ReplyDelete