Boydton Plank Road, VA

Date(s): October 27-28, 1864

Campaign(s): Richmond-Petersburg Campaign [June 1864-March 1865]

Battles in Campaign:

• Petersburg, VA I - June 9, 1864 D¹

• Petersburg, VA II - June 15-18, 1864 A

• Jerusalem Plank Road, VA - June 21-24, 1864 B

• Staunton River Bridge, VA - June 25, 1864 C¹

• Sappony Church, VA - June 28, 1864 D¹

• Ream's Station, VA I - June 29, 1864 C¹

• Deep Bottom, VA I - July 27-29, 1864 C¹

• Crater, VA - July 30, 1864 A

• Deep Bottom, VA II - August 13-20, 1864 B

• Globe Tavern, VA - August 18-21, 1864 B

• Ream's Station, VA II - August 25, 1864 B

• Chaffin's Farm/New Market Heights, VA - September 29-30, 1864 B

• Peebles' Farm, VA - September 30-October 2, 1864 B

• Darbytown and New Market Roads, VA - October 7, 1864 C¹ 

• Darbytown Road, VA - October 13, 1864 D¹  

• Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, VA - October 27-28, 1864 C¹  

• Boydton Plank Road, VA - October 27-28, 1864 B

Situation:

• At the Battle of Peebles' Farm earlier in October, the Union V Corps had seized a portion of the Confederate works around Hatcher's Run.
• The entire II Corps, under Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, was pulled out of the trenches and moved to operate against the Confederates' Boydton Line.
• The II Corps was reinforced by divisions from the V Corps, IX Corps, and David McM. Gregg's cavalry division already operating in the area.

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock

• Confederate: Maj. Gen. Henry Heth

Principal Forces:

• Union: II Corps

• Confederate: Third Corps

Description:

• Directed by Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, divisions from three Union corps (II, V, and IX) and Gregg’s cavalry division, numbering more than 30,000 men, withdrew from the Petersburg lines and marched west to operate against the Boydton Plank Road and South Side Railroad.

• The initial Union advance on October 27th gained the Boydton Plank Road, a major campaign objective.

• But that afternoon, a counterattack near Burgess’ Mill spearheaded by Maj. Gen. Henry Heth’s division and Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry isolated the II Corps and forced a retreat.

• The Confederates retained control of the Boydton Plank Road for the rest of the winter.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³:

• Union: 1,758

• Confederate: 1,300

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Battle of Boydton Plank Road  - Wikipedia

• Burgess Mill - National Park Service

Recommended Resources:

¹National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009