June 21-24 – Jerusalem Plank Road

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While the rest of the army dug in to defensive positions east of Petersburg, Grant sent the Second Corps under Major General David Birney (who took command from Winfield Hancock, suffering from his Gettysburg wound) and Major General Horatio Wright’s Sixth Corps on a flank march to seize the Weldon Railroad. Confederate counterattacks stopped the Union forces short of their goal. The Second Corps fought poorly, losing large numbers of prisoners. Grant called off the attack and ordered the two corps to dig in and fortify their positions.

Map of the strategic situation at Petersburg on June 15-18, 1864

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