Second Battle of Deep Bottom

Second Battle of Deep Bottom. "A Fearful Sacrifice of Life".

"My regiment rose up instantly and rushed forward at a double-quick, cheering loudly ... on arriving within fifty yards of the works we came upon a slashing of fallen trees ... through it we went with a will, and over their works, driving the enemy before us" , - Capt. John Thompson, 7th Connecticut Infantry, USA

, You are standing behind the center of the Confederate line held by Gen. Charles Field. Union Gen. Alfred Terry's division of the X Corps spent the morning of August 16 maneuvering into position. About noon, supported by an artillery barrage, Terry's infantry surged forward, shattering Field's position and occupying this area. Field along with Gen. Robert E. Lee scrambled to send reinforcements to plug the breach., Soldiers from Alabama and Georgia advanced from your right rear and behind you. "We came to a little old rail fence at the edge of the field, where we confronted the enemy's left," wrote Col. William C. Oates, the commander of the 48th Alabama. "Both lines opened a terrific fire ... I made the Forty-eighth get over the fence and boldly charge against the enemy's flank, overlapping and enfilading their line, and consequently drove it back about two hundred yards." Other units from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina counterattacked from the north toward the modern intersection of Darbytown Road and Yahley Mill Road. These efforts sealed the breakthrough and then entirely restored the line., Hancock sent forward a flag of truce the next day, only to find the Confederates had removed many of the wounded during the night. Although fighting continued on August 18 along the Charles City Road, Hancock elected not to launch another attack and withdrew south of the James River. Richmond remained safe for the time being. Within days of his return, Hancock would fight a battle at Reams Station, another site preserved and interpreted by the American Battlefield Trust., (sidebar) The monument in front of you was placed in 2013 to the 48th Alabama Infantry on land preserved by the Richmond Battlefields Association. To the left of the monument is Oblique Ravine, an area initially held by Terry's soldiers after the breakthrough. Please exercise caution when crossing Yahley Mill Road., (captions) , Known mainly for commanding the 15th Alabama that engaged the 20th Maine for control of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, William C. Oates received a wound during the fighting here that caused the amputation of his right arm. After the war Oates served in Congress and received a commission of brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. Courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History, Terry's breakthrough temporarily opened the road to Richmond and threatened to flank the Confederate line at New Market Heights. Union troops finally captured New Market Heights on September 29, 1864.