June 15^th, 1864

Hancock's Corps had completed ferrying to Windmill Point and began marching to Petersburg at about 10:00 A.M. All through the flanking movement, particularly at this point, every second counted. The day before, the Confederates had discovered Grant's approximate position and realized Petersburg was in danger, but Lee could not leave Richmond until he was certain Grant's entire army was south of the James.

. . . the Confederates had discovered Grant's approximate position

At about the time Hancock's Corps began to leave Flowerdew, Union cavalry riding point for Smith's Corps approached Petersburg and were driven away. Smith's men, carried by boat from the Pamunky River, had landed at Bermuda Hundred and were immediately ordered to attack Petersburg. As the 15th wore on, the 2,200 Confederate defenders were pushed back by Smith's 15,000 troops, but Smith, expecting reinforcements from Hancock, stopped his assult. Beauregard, the Confederate commander, rushed every available man to Petersburg and begged Lee for troops from Richmond. Hancock, meanwhile, got lost in Prince George County and didn't reach Petersburg until dark. One of his soldiers wrote,

All night we heard the whistling of the engines as the cars came from Richmond loaded with troops for Lee. . .. By morning the works . . . were fully manned and bristling with bayonets.

Grant's brilliant move had failed to crush Lee's supply line, the war would last another nine months and thousands more would die.

Exhibit

Grant's Crossing
June 4^th, 1864
June 12^th, 1864
June 14^th, 1864
June 15^th, 1864
June 16^th, 1864

Interpretations

Mary Jane Willcox

Wainwright