At Petersburg, the Union siege continued in mid-August 1864. In an effort to divert attention from Petersburg, for a full week there were demonstrations by Federal forces on the north bank of the James River east of Richmond at Four-Mile Creek, Deep Bottom, Dutch Creek, Charles City Road, and New Market Road. Robert E. Lee was attentive to these demonstrations but not overly concerned. On Monday, August 15, a Federal expedition to Chaflin’s Bluff at Richmond’s outer defenses encountered delays and stiff resistance by Confederate defenders. After unsuccessfully attacking on the 16th near Fussell’s Mill, the Union high command decided that it had erroneous information as to the strength of Richmond’s defenses, and the expedition was terminated, with Federal forces returning to Bermuda Hundred or to Petersburg’s siege by August 22.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.