Operations against Petersburg, and Richmond

Attached to Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina

Battle of Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Heights

General Butler moved the 18th Corps across the James River to Aiken’s Landing in an attempt to draw Confederte forces away from Petersburg, where Grant was launching a major attack. The 3rd Division would attack the Confederate lines at New Market Road and take the artillery positions behind it on New Market Heights.

The regiment assaulted the center of the Confederte line defended by the Texas Brigade. The first attack stalled under the heavy fire of the Texans, with most of the regiment’s officers killed or wounded. But three enlisted men led a second attack, making their way through the abatis and into the defensive works, engaging in hand to hand fighting, and opening the way for the rest of the division to follow.

The successful attack forced the Confederates to withdraw from the position. Lee would move 10,000 men north from Petersburg, leading to the Union victory at Peeble’s Farm.

The three men who fought their way into the Confederate lines were awarded the Medal of Honor:

Sergeant Edward Ratcliff of Company C “Commanded and gallantly led his company after the commanding officer had been killed; was the first enlisted man to enter the enemy’s works.”

Sergeant James H. Harris of Company B was cited for “gallantry in the assasult.”

Private William Henry Barnes was “Among the first to enter the enemy’s works, although wounded.”

Deep Bottom

Battle of Fair Oaks