Brig. Gen. Henry C. Pleasants

Brigadier General Henry Clay Pleasants (February 16, 1833-March 26, 1880) was the commander of the 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry. He is best known for organizing the building of an underground tunnel with explosives under the Confederate lines outside Petersburg, Virginia, resulting in the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, an opportunity for Union troops to break the defense of Petersburg which was, by most accounts, bungled by the North. He is also known, in fiction, as a character in Harry Turtledove's alternate history book, The Guns of the South who conceives a similar idea to break a stalemated siege. 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 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... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Ambrose E. Burnside Robert E. Lee Strength IX Corps elements of the Army of Northern Virginia Casualties 5,300 total 1,032 total {{{notes}}} The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Harry Turtledove at Worldcon 2005 in Glasgow Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949), is a historian and prolific novelist who has written historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction works. ... Alternative history or alternate history can be: A History told from an alternative viewpoint, rather than from the view of imperialist, conqueror, or explorer. ... The Guns of the South (1992, ISBN 0-345-37675-7) is a novel by writer Harry Turtledove. ... A siege is a prolonged military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. ...

Biography

Pleasants, a civil engineer from Pottsville, Pennsylvania[1] in civilian life, had worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and in anthracite coal mines. He began as a second lieutenant in the 6th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which enlisted for only three months. He re-enlisted as a captain in the 48th Pennsylvania in July 1861.[2]. The regiment initially saw service in the West, but came east and fought in such battles as Antietam, Second Bull Run, Battle of Fredricksburg and in the Battle of the Wilderness. Motto: Nickname: Map [[Image:|px|center|Location of Pottsville, Pennsylvania]] Political Statistics Founded 1806 Incorporated February 19, 1828 Schuylkill County Mayor John D. W. Reiley Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 10. ... 1893 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad existing 1846–1968, after which it merged into Penn Central Transportation. ... Anthracite coal Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster. ... Battle of Antietam Conflict American Civil War Date September 16–18, 1862 Place Near Sharpsburg, Maryland Result (Union strategic victory) The Battle of Antietam (known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in the South), fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862 near Sharpsburg, Maryland, was the first major battle of the American... Second Battle of Bull Run Conflict American Civil War Date August 28–30, 1862 Place Prince William County Result Confederate victory The Second Battle of Manassas, known as the Second Battle of Bull Run in the North, was a battle during the American Civil War. ... Battle of Fredericksburg Conflict American Civil War Date December 11–15, 1862 Place Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg Result Confederate victory The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought on December 13, 1862 between General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. ... This article is about the Battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War. ...

By 1864, Pleasants had risen to command the 48th Pennsylvania, which was one of the units outside Petersburg. Many of the 48th were coal miners, and Pleasants supposedly heard his men suggest running a shaft under the Confederate lines.[[3]]. Pleasants went to his superiors, who approved the plan. He battled a lack of supplies, as well as a lack of interest on the part of Union generals (until other attacks on Petersburg failed). He was successful in his construction to such an extent that the explosion killed nearly three hundred Confederate soldiers. However, the Union troops failed to take advantage of the explosion, and suffered considerable casualties. The Confederates recovered their original position.

Pleasants was brevetted as a Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. The citation brevetting him specifically mentions his service at Petersburg--it was not his fault that other officers bungled the opportunity. 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Pleasants is buried in the Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville.[4]

Fictional appearance (The Guns of the South)

In The Guns of the South, Pleasants, who in the book remains in the Confederacy after the end of hostilities, and who enlists in the Confederate Army after the Rivington men attempt to overthrow the government, hears a fellow soldier jokingly suggest going under the Rivington men's fortified position. He conceives a similar scheme as he did in real life, a scheme which is quickly accepted by his commanding general, Nathan Bedford Forrest. This attempt is more successful than that at Petersburg and a massive crater is created, allowing the Confederates to break the Rivington men's defenses. Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821 – October 29, 1877), was a Confederate general and perhaps the American Civil Wars most highly regarded cavalry and partisan ranger (guerrilla leader). ...