Union forces entrenched around Petersburg have for weeks been planning a surprise, and unusual, offensive against the Rebel enemy. Today they spring their surprise — or more appropriately, they blow their surprise, as in setting off a mine near the Confederate lines. In what becomes known as the Battle of the Crater, the Union-detonated mine…
The Union and Confederate armies are by now in full preparation for the looming spring campaigns. While the federal Red River Campaign in Louisiana has become bogged down and Confederates have manged to regain control of Plymouth, North Carolina, Union forces, largely victorious on the battlefield since July of the year prior, clearly remain on…
On the heels of the Confederate defeat in the Chattanooga Campaign, Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet today attempts to break through federal lines surrounding the Union-occupied city of Knoxville and under the command of Major General Ambrose Burnside. The Battle of Fort Sanders, however, proves to be one of the quickest and most lopsided battles…