The Union Army, having failed in its initial attack on Petersburg, was
now committed to doing something further to effect its capture. From
June 19 to July 9, the Union forces were engaged in three kinds of
activity. First, elements of the army were set to work consolidating the
positions captured in the 4-day battle and constructing the devices
needed for siege operations. Second, jabbing cavalry thrusts were made
at the important supply routes into Petersburg. And third, they
reconnoitered the Confederate defenses to determine a plan which would
force Lee out of his lines.
A threatening movement toward the Weldon Railroad was promptly
undertaken by the Northern troops. Three days after the failure to
capture the city, two corps (the II and VI) began to push to the
southwest of Grant’s flank on the Jerusalem Plank Road. The following
day, June 22, Confederate divisions led by Generals Cadmus M. Wilcox and
William Mahone advanced from the defense line south of Petersburg and
rolled by the Federals, capturing 1,700 prisoners, four cannons, and
eight stands of colors.
[Illustration: Map.]
Union Troops Advance on Petersburg
JUNE 15-18, 1864. Portion of Original Confederate Line Captured and
New Line Built Nearer City
JUNE 22-24, 1864. Union Attempt to Capture the Weldon R.R. Turned Back
The next morning saw the resumption of the advance toward the Weldon
Railroad. A Union patrol succeeded in reaching the tracks on the 23d and
promptly started the work of destruction. Alarmed by the threat to this
important supply line, the Confederates launched a sharp attack that
forced the withdrawal of the Union forces from the vicinity of the
railroad. However, the Union lines confronting Petersburg had been
extended across the Jerusalem Plank Road, thus cutting off its use to
the city.
In itself, the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road on June 22-24 was not too
important militarily. The North could quickly replace the loss of 2,300
men. The Weldon Railroad, although its days were numbered, was still
able to deliver supplies to Petersburg. But as an indication of Grant’s
tactics, it pointed the course of the campaign ahead. It marked the
first of several attempts to encircle Petersburg, and the others to
follow would not all be as disappointing to Northern hopes. In these
repeated drives to the west lay the essence of the basic plan to capture
Petersburg.
On July 9, the plan of operations decided upon by the Union high command
was revealed in an order from Meade’s headquarters giving detailed
instructions for the building of fortifications and the development of
siege tactics. It thus became apparent that the Union plan was to reduce
Petersburg by a process of attrition—a process that was to last for 9
months.
There were still those in the attacking forces, however, who felt that,
with a little imagination, the city could be taken by direct assault.
While most of the troops were digging siege lines, another smaller group
had already begun work on a unique plan which would, if successful, make
further encirclement unnecessary.
[Illustration: _The Federal cavalry saw little battle action during
the siege, but it did its share in destroying Lee’s lines of
communication. Combat artist Alfred R. Waud of Harper’s Weekly made
this sketch of Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson’s troopers tearing up part
of the Weldon Railroad, south of Petersburg, during their June 1864
raid._]
[Illustration: _The “Dictator,” also called “The Petersburg
Express,” was a 17,000-pound, 13-inch Federal seacoast mortar
mounted on a reinforced railroad car. During the early part of the
siege, this huge weapon fired 200-pound explosive shells into
Petersburg, 2½ miles away, from a curved section of the Petersburg
and City Point Railroad. On July 30, 1864, it was part of the
artillery support for Union troops during the Battle of the
Crater._]
[Illustration: _The men who commanded the “Dictator”—Col. H. L.
Abbot (the man on the left in front) and officers of the 1st
Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Next to Abbot is Maj. Gen. Henry J.
Hunt, in charge of all artillery operations on the Petersburg
front._]
[Illustration: _The “Dictator” in permanent position near Union
Battery IV, formerly Confederate Battery 5._]
[Illustration: _A 13-inch seacoast mortar on display at Petersburg
National Battlefield today, on the site where the “Dictator” stood
during most of the siege._]