Union Forces Commanded by: Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock
Confederate Forces Commanded by: Maj. Gen. Charles Field
**Missing and Captured Conclusion: Confederate Victory |
BATTLE SUMMARY
As a diversionary operation to assist the scheduled July 30th detonation of the Petersburg mine at the "Battle of the Crater", Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered a surprise attack north of the James River, commiting to the secret movement Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps and 2 cavalry divisions under Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. Grant intended to divert Confederates from the Petersburg lines to the north side of the James River. If the operation succeeded, Sheridan was to enter Richmond or raid the Virginia Central Railroad. Rumors of this Union thrust north of the James forced Gen. Robert E. Lee to send Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw north on the 23rd.