Confederate Armies & Departments in the Eastern Theater
< to June • July 1864 • to August >
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The Army of Northern Virginia commanded by General Robert E. Lee continued to hold the trench lines around Petersburg and Richmond, throwing back a Federal assault and mine explosion on July 30 in the Battle of the Crater. |
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The Army of the Valley commanded by Major General Jubal A. Early headed toward Washington. On July 9 it won a sharp action against hastily assembled Federal troops at the Battle of Monocacy, but the battle delayed Early’s march for a day. By the time they reached Washington on July 11 Federal reinforcements had arrived. After two days of skirmishing Early concluded it was not worth attacking the city. He had succeeded in his mission of drawing troops away from Grant’s forces beseiging Richmond and Petersburg, and Early withdrew back into Virginia with Federal troops in pursuit. |