Map detailing the area surrounding Ream's Station

Reams Station

Second Battle of Reams Station

Dinwiddie County, VA  |  Aug 25, 1864

As the Union siege of Petersburg began to take hold, Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant looked for ways to sever the railroads supplying the city and Gen. Robert E. Lee's army. One of these critical routes was the Weldon Railroad, which led south to the Confederacy's only remaining major port at Wilmington, North Carolina. On August 24th, the Army of the Potomac Second Corps moved south along the railroad, tearing up track, and screened by Brig. Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg’s cavalry division. To stop Hancock, Lee ordered Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill to take a force of two cavalry divisions and two infantry divisions and attack the Union positions along the railroad. The next afternoon, Hill's column struck. Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, supported by a division of Maj. Gen. William Mahone, hit the center and right of Hancock's men. Brig. Gen. Wade Hampton's cavalry overran the trenches on the Union left. Hancock personally attempted to rally his men, but by the end of the afternoon the Union lines were breached.  Hill's Confederates captured 9 guns, 12 colors, and many prisoners. The old Second Corps was shattered.  That night, Hancock withdrew to the main Union line near the Jerusalem Plank Road, bemoaning the declining combat effectiveness of his troops.

All battles of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign

Petersburg
City of Petersburg, VA  |  Jun 15 - 18, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 11,386
Union: 8,150
Confederate: 3,236
First Battle of Deep Bottom
Henrico County, VA  |  Jul 27 - 29, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 1,167
Union: 488
Confederate: 679
The Crater
Petersburg, VA  |  Jul 30, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 5,289
Union: 3,798
Confederate: 1,491
Second Deep Bottom
Henrico County, VA  |  Aug 13 - 20, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 4,399
Union: 2,899
Confederate: 1,500
Reams Station
Dinwiddie County, VA  |  Aug 25, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 3,561
Union: 2,747
Confederate: 814
New Market Heights
Henrico County, VA  |  Sep 29 - 30, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 5,900
Union: 4,150
Confederate: 1,750
Fort Harrison
Henrico, Virginia  |  Sep 29 - 30, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Union: 4,150
Confederate: 1,750
Peebles' Farm
Dinwiddie County, VA  |  Sep 30 - Oct 2, 1864
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 4,140
Union: 2,900
Confederate: 1,240
Hatcher's Run
Dinwiddie County, VA  |  Feb 5 - 7, 1865
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 2,539
Union: 1,539
Confederate: 1,000
Fort Stedman
Petersburg, VA  |  Mar 25, 1865
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 3,850
Union: 950
Confederate: 2,900

Related Battles

Dinwiddie County, VA | August 25, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Commanders
Forces Engaged
18,500
Union
9,000
Confed.
9,500
Estimated Casualties
3,561
Union
2,747
Confed.
814

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