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The Union capture of the Weldon Railroad in August forced the Confederates to transfer cargo onto wagons thirty miles to the south and bring them into Petersburg on the Boydton Plank Road. To protect the road a defensive line was created along Squirrel Level Road to Fort Archer while longer fortifications were being constructed closer to Boydton Plank Road.
Union construction gangs had also been active, building a military railroad that extended from the existing City Point Railroad and along the rear of the Federal lines. A secondary line of Union defenses was built to the south to protect the Union rear from Confederate raids.
North of the James River Union General Benjamin Butler launched a successful attack on the Richmond defenses, capturing Confederate Fort Harrison. Lee stripped the Petersburg line of troops to reinforce the attempt to regain the fort.
On September 30 Grant took advantage of the weakened Confederate line to launch yet another attempt to outflank Lee’s Petersburg line. Two divisions of Warren’s Fifth Corps along with Gregg’s Cavalry Division left the Union position around Globe Tavern and quickly captured Fort Archer. The outflanked defenders of the the Squirrel Level Line fled into the main Petersburg defenses. Warren paused to fortify his position while divisions from the Second and Ninth Corps moved up in support. The Confederate reinforcements heading for Fort Harrison north of the James had turned around and by late afternoon launched a counterattack that broke the Ninth Corps. But the Union line stabilised and darkness ended the fighting.
On October 1 Hill launched another attack, which was turned back. A cavalry attack by Hampton’s Division was also repulsed. On October 2 the Union position was reinforced by Mott’s Division from the Second Corps. It launched an attack that gained ground but was stopped before it could break through to the Boydton Plank Road. Meade suspended the offensive, and the new position was connected with the exiisting siege lines.
previous battle map, August 18-21, 1864 * Main Timeline * next battle map, October 27, 1864