The Last Citadel Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hiram Burnham

The Battle of Chaffin's Farm was composed of two segments: The Battle of New Market Heights and The Battle of Fort Harrison. The Battle of New Market Heights started on September 29, 1864 when Union General David Birney made a rush against Fort Gregg, at the center of the CSA lines protecting Richmond.

The assault was utterly repulsed, with very heavy casualties for the attackers. Simultaneously, at the Fort Harrison front, Union troops under E.O.C. Ord took the fort, despite Burnham's death and casualties. Birney, reinforced by General Alfred Terry, took some of the earthworks at the New Market Heights and pressed, but they were driven back.

At the same time, the Federals inside Fort Harrison lost consistency and failed to renew the attack, ending the US drive for Chaffin's Bluff. On September 30, the Confederates attempted to recapture the position, but they were checked. According to Civil War historian Shelby Foote, Grant paid too high a price for a rather useless strip of land.

Answer: Battle of Poplar Springs Church

The Battle of Peebles' Farm was planned to be an extension to the offensive known as Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Grant wanted to capitalize on the fact that Lee had weakened his lines at the Peebles' Farm area, in order to reinforce the other sector. The Union effort was conducted by the V Corps, led by Gouverneur K. Warren and the IX Corps, led by John G. Parke. General Lee had placed A.P. Hill's Third Corps at the Peebles' Farm area. The assault began by Warren on October 1, 1864 and made initial headway, but the Federal commander halted in order to catch up with Parke. Confederate General Henry Heth attacked Parke, routing the IX Corps and capturing a brigade. Warren brought help to the line, rallying the pinned down IX Corps and the fighting turned into a stalemate. On October 2, 1864 the two Federal corps launched an assault against the Boydton Plank Road, but they were repulsed and returned to their entrenched lines.

Answer: John Dunovant

The Battle of Vaughan Road was a minor cavalry skirmish, sometimes regarded as a part of the Battle of Peebles' Farm. The battle itself was inconclusive, with attacks and counterattacks throughout the day (October 1, 1864). The Union cavalry showed improvement in both strategy and tactics, while the Confederate cavalry managed to keep it off the infantry, thus preventing further extension of Grant's lines.

Answer: John Gregg

After the Battles of Chaffin's Farm and Peebles' Farm, General Lee decided to counterattack. The object was the Union right flank, anchored at the Darbytown and New Market Roads. The assault initially achieved complete surprise, routing the Union cavalry from the Darbytown Road.

Then, the Confederate troops attacked New Market Road, making some progress, but Gregg's death resulted in disorganization. The CSA forces returned to the Darbytown Road, while the USA troops remained at the New Market Road.

Answer: Richard Heron Anderson

After the Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads, Grant decided to recapture the lost ground. Alfred Terry's Union troops assaulted Anderson's lines, but they were checked and stopped. The battle gradually died down, since it was limited to skirmishers' and sniper fire.

Answer: Benjamin F. Butler

The Federal plan was to conduct an assault north and south of the James River, in order to extend the siege lines. Butler undertook the effort north of the river. The XVIIIth Corps attacked Charles Field's Confederates, but they were beaten back. The Confederates counterattacked, smashing their opponent and taking hundreds of prisoners. That offensive is said to be the most easily handled by the Petersburg defenders.

Answer: Henry Heth

The Battle of Boydton Plank Road was an effort to cut Lee's supply lines, compelling him to evacuate the city. The Union commander at the battle was Winfield Scott Hancock. Hancock advanced making some progress, but he was halted by his superiors. Reinforcements ordered to him encountered Heth's opposition and never reached him. Wade Hampton and his cavalry occupied Hatcher's Run, thus isolating Hancock's command.

Heth seized the Dabney Mill Road, surrounding Hancock. The Union force was driven back and the Boydton Plank Road remained in CSA occupation.

This battle was Hancock's last hurrah, since he soon departed because of relapses caused from his Gettysburg wound. His position was taken by Andrew A. Humphreys.

Answer: John Pegram

The Battle of Hatcher's Run started on February 5, 1865 when Grant sent Gouverneur K. Warren and Andrew A. Humphreys to capture the Boydton Plank Road and cut off Lee's communications. Confederate General John B. Gordon probed the Union right flank on the day, but no headway was made. On the next day, Pegram's Division attacked and was initially stopped, but Clement A. Evans halted the Union force and William Mahone smashed their center.

The Union advance was checked without achieving the capture of the Boydton Plank Road, but they managed to extend the siege lines even further.

Answer: Napoleon B. McLaughlen

The Battle of Fort Stedman was an attempt by the Confederates to disrupt the siege. The effort was assigned to General Gordon and was planned for March 25, 1865. The assault achieved complete surprise, capturing the fort itself and the nearby earthworks.

However, it lost momentum and a Union counterattack, led by John G. Parke, reoccupied the fort and restored the line. Parke tried to follow the recapture of the fort up, but found Lee's lines well manned and occupied only some secondary parapets.

Answer: 138th Pennsylvania

The battle was actually a combination of several engagements, more or less important. Despite the fact that Lee's men resisted the attacks and stopped some of them, Grant's superior numbers had the final word and Lee evacuated Richmond and Petersuburg on the night between April 2 and 3, 1865.

The battle is summed up by the phrase, "Grant's resources, manpower, and inexorable strategy overcame Lee's brilliant defense"(from the web site mycivilwar.com). The battle is depicted in the miniseries "North and South" Book II, Episode 6.