American Civil War
Stuff Happened · War
American Civil War
›
Eastern
›
Fort Stedman
Battle · Eastern Theatre
Battle of Fort Stedman
March 25, 1865 · Petersburg, Virginia
Narrative
Commanders
At a glance
Outcome
1
Lee’s last card
A general out of options
Nine months in the Petersburg trenches, an army starving and deserting, and Gordon brings Lee a plan to break out before Grant’s noose closes.
2
The assault
Before dawn
Axemen and fake deserters clear the way in the dark; the fort and its batteries fall in an hour, then the breakthrough goes looking for forts that aren’t there.
3
The counterattack
The ring of guns
Parke keeps his head and Hartranft (North) builds a wall of troops around the breach; the captured ground becomes a killing pocket.
4
The cost & the meaning
The last sortie
4,000 men gone for nothing in four hours. The Army of Northern Virginia’s final attack, and a week later the line breaks for good.
Part of
the American Civil War
All battles & theatres