The Battle of Peebles' Farm (or Poplar Springs Church) was the western part of a simultaneous Union offensive against the Confederate works guarding Petersburg, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia. The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Petersburg is an independent city located in Virginia. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861 until captured May... Gouverneur K. Warren Gouverneur Kemble Warren (8 January 1830 - 8 August 1882) was a civil engineer and prominent officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9, 1825 _ April 2, 1865), was a Confederate States of America general in the American Civil War. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps) was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. ... Battle of Petersburg Conflict American Civil War Date June 9, 1864 Place Petersburg, Virginia Result Confederate victory The first Battle of Petersburg was a minor, unsuccessful Union assault against the city of Petersburg, Virginia, June 9, 1865. ... Assualts on Petersburg Conflict American Civil War Date June 15–18,1864 Place Petersburg, Virginia Result Inconclusive The second Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Assault on Petersburg, was the major attempt by the Union Army to take Petersburg, Virginia, before the main Confederate Army could reinforce the city. ... Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road Conflict American Civil War Date June 21–24,1864 Place Petersburg, Virginia Result Inconclusive (Union extended siege lines) The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, also known as the First Battle of the Weldon Railroad, was the first of a series of battles during the Siege... The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. ... Battle of Globe Tavern Conflict American Civil War Date August 18–21,1864 Place Petersburg, Virginia Result Union victory The Battle of Globe Tavern, also known as the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, saw the Confederate forces loose control of the vital Weldon Railroad to the Union army during... Battle of Reams Station Conflict American Civil War Date August 25, 1864 Place Dinwiddie County, Virginia Result Confederate victory The second Battle of Reams Station was fought in the American Civil War on August 25, 1864, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. ... Map of Battle of Chaffins Farm The Battle of Chaffins Farm, also known as New Market Heights (September 29–30, 1864), was fought as part of the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War. ... The Battle of the Boydton Plank Road (or First Hatchers Run) followed the successfull battle of Peebles Farm. ... Battle of Fort Steadman Conflict American Civil War Date March 25, 1865 Place Petersburg Result Union victory The Battle of Fort Steadman occurred on March 25th, 1865, during the final days of the American Civil War. ... Union has several meanings. ... For other meanings of confederate and confederacy, see confederacy (disambiguation) National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Largest... Several places in the United States of America have the name Petersburg: Petersburg, Alaska Petersburg, Illinois Petersburg, Indiana Petersburg, Iowa Petersburg, Michigan Petersburg, Nebraska Petersburg, Ohio Petersburg, Virginia Petersburg, West Virginia Slight variations appear in the names of: Petersburgh, New York Saint Petersburg, Russia Saint Petersburg, Florida Petersburg was the... Richmond may refer to multiple places: Australia Richmond, New South Wales Richmond, Queensland Richmond, Tasmania Richmond, Victoria (also Richmond railway station) Canada Richmond, British Columbia Richmond, Ontario Richmond, Prince Edward Island Richmond, Quebec federal electoral districts: Richmond (electoral district), British Columbia (current) Richmond (Nova Scotia electoral district) (historic) Richmond (Quebec...

Background

In September, 1864 Union General Ulysses S. Grant planned simultaneous attacks against both flanks of Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. The eastern attack would be carried out by the Army of the James under Benjamin Butler against the Confederate works at Chaffin's Farm See Battle of Chaffin's Farm for more details. The western attack was to be carried out by the Union V Corps under Gouverneur K. Warren and a cavalry division under David McM. Gregg with units from the IX Corps and II Corps in support. September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was a Union general in the American Civil War and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Robert Edward Lee, as a U.S. Army Colonel before the war Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career army officer and the most successful general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of unites from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the last opperations of the Civil War in Virginia. ... Benjamin Franklin Butler (1795–1858) was a U.S. lawyer. ... Map of Battle of Chaffins Farm The Battle of Chaffins Farm, also known as New Market Heights (September 29–30, 1864), was fought as part of the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps) was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. ... Gouverneur K. Warren Gouverneur Kemble Warren (8 January 1830 - 8 August 1882) was a civil engineer and prominent officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... David McM. Gregg David McMurtrie Gregg (April 10, 1833 – August 7, 1916) was a farmer, diplomat, and a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War. ... IX Corps (Ninth Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War that distinguished itself in combat in multiple theaters: the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. ... There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps (Second Corps) during the American Civil War. ...

The Battle

Grant had two intentions for Warren. First was to attack the opposite end of Lee's line to relieve pressure on Fort Harrison. The second was to take advantage of the units Lee had removed from his right to attack Fort Harrison. Warren's attack was aimed at the fortifications guarding the Boydton Plank Road, which was being used to carry supplies into Petersburg from the Confederate railhead at Stony Creek to the south. This line was being extended to reach the vicinity of the Union flank at Globe Tavern. While the lines were being constructed a temporary line was held along the Squirrel Level Road. On September 30, the same day Lee was attempting to retake Fort Harrison, Warren and Gregg began marching along the Poplar Springs Road toward the Squirrel Level line in the area of Peebles' Farm and Poplar Springs Church. September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ...

Lee had indeed pulled forces from this flank for the counter attack on Fort Harrison (including the Light Division under Cadmus Wilcox) so Warren was marching against Ambrose P. Hill's reduced corps. Around 1:00pm Charles Griffin lead the attack against the Confederates near the Poplar Springs Church. Griffin quickly captured Fort Archer on the extreme Confederate flank and the Squirrel Level line broke and fled so quickly that prisoners captured were minimal. Warren halted the attack to fortify the new position and not advance to far in front of the IX Corps. The Union attack forced Lee to recall the Light Division from its march towards Fort Harrison. The IX Corps under John G. Parke moved up on Warren's left but did not make an effective link with the V Corps flank. General Henry Heth was preparing to mount a counter attack which came about 4:30 and routed the IX Corps and forced one of it's brigade's to surrender. Warren who had originally feared a counter attack now helped rally the broken IX Corps units and check Heth's attack and the fighting died down. Heth tried another flank attack the following day which was repulsed as was a cavalry attack under Wade Hampton. On October 2 the Union position was reinforced by Gershom Mott's division from the II Corps. Mott spearheaded a Union attack that day which was aimed for the Boydton Plank Road. The attack easily overran Fort McRae but was checked before it reached the Boydton Plank Road. Ambrose Powell Hill Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9, 1825 – April 2, 1865), was a Confederate States of America general in the American Civil War. ... John Grubb Parke (Sept. ... Henry Heth Henry Heth (December 16, 1825 – September 27, 1899) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... There were three men in American history -- grandfather, father, and son -- called Wade Hampton: Wade Hampton (1754—1835), captain in the War of Independence and brigadier-general in the War of 1812; Wade Hampton (1791—1858), one of the wealthiest planters in the South; and Wade Hampton (1818—1902), Confederate... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ...

Results

The Confederate defenders had lost works on both sides of their lines. The Union army extended the siege lines past the Peebles' Farm area bringing them all the more closer to their ultimate goal of the Boydton Plank Road. The Union army was firmly entrenched in the area and later that month the II Corps would make an attempt to cut the Boydton Plank Road.

References

• National Park Service battle description
• Peebles Farm
• National Park Handbook