The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff - May 16, 1864

The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff - May 16, 1864. . After capturing the outer line of defenses at Drewry's Bluff, Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler prepared to make an attack on the main Confederate line. After considering the stout earthworks facing his men, Butler decided his reserves were too few in number. The attack was canceled and the Army of the James transitioned to the defense., As Butler considered his options, Confederate commander Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard made plans for an attack. Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom's division was massed on the Confederate left with the mission of smashing the Federal right and driving it west. (Ransom's Division stretched from where you are standing to the water tower in the distance to your left.) Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's division was tasked with making a supporting attack to hold the Federal center and left in place. Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Colquitt's division was held in reserve. Maj. Gen. Chase Whiting's division at Swift Creek was to move north along the Richmond Turnpike and block the Federal routes of retreat southward., (1) The Confederate attack against the Federal Right , At 4:30 am on May 16, Ransom's Division attacked in a heavy fog. Pivoting on Fort Stevens, Ransom's men swept from your left to your right, pushing aside the pickets of the 2nd US Colored Cavalry. The attack smashed the Brigade commanded by Gen. Charles Heckman, who himself was captured during the rout. After Heckman's brigade collapsed, the remainder of the Federal right held., (2) The Confederate attack against the Federal Center , With Ransom's attack stalled HOke attacked the Federal center with the brigades of Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood and Brig. Gen. Bushrod Johnson. After some initial success, with Hagood's brigade capturing some artillery, the Federal center held and repulsed the flanks of the Confederate attack. Brig. Gen. Alfred Colquitt committed his former brigade from the reserve to bolster the Confederate attack on the Federal right and center. Units of the 10th Corps shifted from the Federal left to the center. This stabilized the Federal line and it held., (3) The Confederate attack against the Federal Left , Hoke attacked the Federal left with the remainder of his division and was repulsed. Gen. William F. Smith believed his 18th Corps to be more damaged than it actually was and ordered a withdrawal. This forced the 10th Corps to withdraw in turn. The Confederates were too disorganized and damaged to pursue the retreating Federals. To the south near Walthall Junction, Whiting failed to cut off the Federal retreat. This allowed Butler's troops to march back to their defensive positions in Bermuda Hundred., The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff was the largest battle of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign with over 30,000 troops engaged. The Army of the James suffered approximately 3,000 casualties in the fighting from May 12-16. Confederate forces suffered approximately 1,000 casualties.