Army of the James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Army of the James |
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Negro quarters, Army of the James
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| Active | April 1864 – August 1865 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Field Army |
| Engagements | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Benjamin F. Butler Edward Ord |
The Army of the James was a special group of soldiers in the Union Army during the American Civil War. They were made up of different units that served near the James River in Virginia. This army played a big part in the final battles of the war.
Contents
History of the Army of the James
How the Army of the James Was Formed
In 1863, two important Union Army groups, the Departments of Virginia and North Carolina, joined together. Soldiers from these groups first formed the XVIII Corps. A "corps" is a large military unit, like a big division of an army.
In April 1864, another group called the X Corps joined them. These two corps then officially became the Army of the James. Major General Benjamin F. Butler was chosen to lead this new army.
Early Battles and Challenges
During Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant's big plan to end the war in 1864, General Butler and his army tried to capture the cities of Petersburg and Richmond. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. However, these attempts were not successful at first.
At the Battle of Cold Harbor, part of the Army of the James (the XVIII Corps) fought alongside the main Army of the Potomac. Later, the XVIII Corps also took part in the long Siege of Petersburg. A "siege" is when an army surrounds a city or fort to cut off supplies and force it to surrender. During this time, the Army of the James mostly worked on surrounding Richmond.
A Key Victory and Changes
General Butler's biggest success as commander happened in September 1864. This was at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Here, the Army of the James managed to capture a large part of the Confederate defenses around Richmond, including a strong fort called Fort Harrison.
In December, the army was reorganized. The XVIII and X Corps were temporarily stopped. All the African American soldiers in the army were grouped into a new unit called the XXV Corps. The white soldiers formed the XXIV Corps.
General Butler also led a group of soldiers to attack Fort Fisher. However, this attack failed. Because of this, General Grant removed Butler from command. Major General Edward Ord then took over as the new leader of the Army of the James.
Final Successes of the Army
Under General Ord's leadership, the Army of the James achieved its greatest victories. The XXIV Corps played a crucial role in the final attacks on Petersburg. The XXV Corps, made up of African American soldiers, was the first Union unit to enter the fallen city of Richmond.
General Ord and the XXIV Corps then chased the Confederates to Appomattox Court House. There, they helped block Robert E. Lee's escape route. The Army of the James was present when General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia surrendered, which was a major turning point that helped end the Civil War.
Command history
- Major General Benjamin F. Butler (April 28, 1864 – January 8, 1865)
- Major General Edward Ord (January 8, 1865 – August 1, 1865)
Major battles and campaigns
- Bermuda Hundred Campaign
- Battle of Cold Harbor (Only the XVIII Corps was involved from the Army of the James)
- Siege of Petersburg
- Siege of Richmond
- Battle of Chaffin's Farm
- First Battle of Fort Fisher
- Second Battle of Fort Fisher
- Battle of Wilmington
- Fall of Petersburg
- Fall of Richmond (Only the XXV Corps was involved from the Army of the James)
- Appomattox Campaign
See also
In Spanish: Ejército del James para niños
