Hypothetical Scenario
Glory and fame were of no consequence when the bullets started flying thick as flies…
- - Col. Samuel Smith, 18th Texas Infantry, CSA
Historical Background
Repeated Yankee attempts to take Richmond had failed.
Officers such as McDowell, McClellan, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade had not been successful in wither destroying the Confederate army or in entering the Rebel capital city. Now, with Ulysses Grant's Army of the Potomac bottled up in trench warfare in front of Petersburg and Richmond, and Butler's forces stalemated, the Federal government decided to attack from a different front, hoping to cut railroad access to the city. Union Major General Richard T. Carney was selected to lead a division to attack vital lines of communications, as well as to capture supply depots.
Carney moved out in mid-June. By early July, his men had advanced to within 20 miles of Richmond, and had captured a number of supply depots, as well as wrecking two key railroad bridges. Local scouts had reported that there was a large cache of Rebel ammunition and guns located in the small Virginia hamlet of Archersville. Carney set out to capture these supplies, which were alleged to stored in the center of the town in and around an old two-story hotel.
As his division approached, Carney found the village guarded by a small force of local Confederate militia with artillery support. Reports indicated that battle-toughened veteran CSA units were in the general area, having been ordered by General Robert E. Lee to protect important supplies. General Carney approached the small town from the north and deployed his three brigades for attack just as additional Confederates arrived. With a shout, the Yankees slowly advanced across the farm fields towards the waiting Virginia militia. Sporadic firing from the skirmishers crackled as the Union lines pushed toward their goal.
Meanwhile, celebrated Rebel General J. K. Douglas had force-marched his division to Archersville upon receiving news that Yankees were threatening the supplies at the Blue Bird Hotel. Douglas arrived just as the Yankee attack was starting. Brandishing a sword, Douglas with his voice booming, ordered his column forward.
Battle of Archersville Virginia: July 2nd, 1864
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© Copyright 2004 by Marc Shefelton.
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