Near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hatcher's Run Battlefields

The Federal Attack, October 27, 1864

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

1. Hatcher's Run Battlefields Marker

Inscription.

Hatcher's Run Battlefields. The Federal Attack, October 27, 1864. , "Every point of the enemy's [line] was carefully felt and examined for a weak point; none such, however, was found." , , Gen. John F. Hartranft, USA, "Our boys went into line with their accustomed cheer, and the yankees seeing our line reinforced, withdrew in considerable confusion, leaving many of their dead and wounded behind them." , , Lt. Charles R. Jones, 55th North Carolina Infantry, CSA, Motivated to win a significant victory on the eve of the all-important 1864 presidential election, Union Gen.-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant decided to launch a sixth major combined offensive in late October. He committed most of the Army of the James and the Army of the Potomac to attacks north of the James River and here, southwest of Petersburg. Grant's plan for this portion of the offensive included advances by the Ninth, Fifth, and Second Corps aimed at capturing the Boydton Plank Road and South Side Railroad., This modest home, the Clements house, marked the rough dividing line between the Ninth Corps sector of the battlefield to the north and the Fifth Corps zone of approach to the south. Grant ordered both forces to test the Confederate defenses in front of this position, probing for places where a breakthrough to the Boydton Plank Road might be achieved. Meanwhile, the Second Corps swept in a wide arc farther south, beyond Hatcher's Run, to reach the highway. The most serious combat on October 27 resulted from that movement. Here, despite several spirited lunges toward the Confederate line, the Fifth and Ninth Corps failed to coordinate their attacks or achieve the desired penetration. Instead they fortified their advanced positions and hoped that Gen. Winfield S. Hancock and his Second Corps would carry the day. Mostly unpressured from the front, the Confederates fell on Hancock's men from all sides and drove them back with heavy casualties., (captions)
- Courtesy Library of Congress, Gen. John Grubb Parke led the Ninth Corps at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864. He had replaced Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, who was removed following the disastrous Battle of the Crater. , Courtesy Library of Congress, Ninth and Fifth Corps advance on the morning of October 27, 1864

"Every point of the enemy's [line] was carefully felt and examined for a weak point; none such, however, was found."
—Gen. John F. Hartranft, USA

"Our boys went into line with their accustomed cheer, and the yankees seeing our line reinforced, withdrew in considerable confusion, leaving many of their dead and wounded behind them."
—Lt. Charles R. Jones, 55th North Carolina Infantry, CSA

Motivated to win a significant victory on the eve of the all-important 1864 presidential election, Union Gen.-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant decided to launch a sixth major combined offensive in late October. He committed most of the Army of the James and the Army of the Potomac to attacks north of the James River and here, southwest of Petersburg. Grant's plan for this portion of the offensive included advances by the Ninth, Fifth, and Second Corps aimed at capturing the Boydton Plank Road and South Side Railroad.

This modest home, the Clements house, marked the rough dividing line between the Ninth Corps sector of the battlefield to the north and the Fifth Corps zone of approach to the south. Grant ordered both forces to test the Confederate defenses in front of this position, probing for places where a breakthrough to the Boydton Plank Road might be achieved. Meanwhile, the Second Corps swept

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in a wide arc farther south, beyond Hatcher's Run, to reach the highway. The most serious combat on October 27 resulted from that movement. Here, despite several spirited lunges toward the Confederate line, the Fifth and Ninth Corps failed to coordinate their attacks or achieve the desired penetration. Instead they fortified their advanced positions and hoped that Gen. Winfield S. Hancock and his Second Corps would carry the day. Mostly unpressured from the front, the Confederates fell on Hancock's men from all sides and drove them back with heavy casualties.

(captions)
- Courtesy Library of Congress

Gen. John Grubb Parke led the Ninth Corps at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864. He had replaced Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, who was removed following the disastrous Battle of the Crater.
Courtesy Library of Congress

Ninth and Fifth Corps advance on the morning of October 27, 1864

Erected by Civil War Trust and Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

2. Hatcher's Run Battlefields Marker

. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 27, 1864.

Location. 37° 8.863′ N, 77° 29.333′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker can be reached from Duncan Road (Virginia Route 670) 0.6 miles south of Wheaton Road (Virginia Route 674), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the Civil War Trust Hatcher's Run Battlefield hiking trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9221 Duncan Road, Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Hatcher's Run Battlefields (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Hatcher's Run Battlefields (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Hatcher's Run Battlefields (approx. half a mile away); Burgess Mill (approx. 1.6 miles away); Hatcher's Run (approx. 1.6 miles away); Battle of Hatcher’s Run (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Hatcher’s Run (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Also see . . . Hatcher's Run. American Battlefield Trust (Submitted on October 29, 2021.)

The Clements House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

3. The Clements House

The house is being restored to its wartime appearance by the American Battlefield Trust.

Closeup of Battle Map on the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

4. Closeup of Battle Map on the Marker

The battle action can be seen on the map in relation to the Clements House.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 28, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.