Page 99

(Chaffin's Farm & New Market Heights)

Chaffin’s Farm

September 29-30, 1864
Also known as: New Market Heights, Combats at New Market Heights, Forts Harrison, Johnson, and Gilmer; Laurel Hill
Henrico County, VA
Campaign: Siege of Richmond and Petersburg

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, USA
Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell, CSA

Both sides had elements of their main armies

Casualties totaled about 4,430.

During the night of September 28-29, Ben Butler’s Army of the James crossed the James River to assault the Richmond defenses north of the river, while other Union columns moved to the southwest of Petersburg.

The attack started at dawn. After initial Union successes at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, the Confederates rallied and contained the breakthrough. Lee reinforced his lines north of the James and, on September 30, he counterattacked unsuccessfully. The Federals entrenched, and the Confederates erected a new line of works cutting off the captured forts.

As Grant anticipated, Lee shifted troops to meet the threat against Richmond, weakening his lines at Petersburg.  Grant was winning the war of attrition in two ways: he was killing enough Confederates, and he was stretching the remainder thinner and thinner.

Page 99

(Chaffin's Farm & New Market Heights)