Battle of Darbytown Road facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Darbytown Road
Part of the American Civil War
Date October 13, 1864 (1864-10-13) Location Henrico County, near Sandston, Virginia Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Alfred Terry	Richard H. Anderson
Strength
X Corps	Corps
Casualties and losses
437 (36 killed, 358 wounded, 43 captured).	513

Map of the Darbytown Road battlefield area.

The Battle of Darbytown Road was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on October 13, 1864. This battle took place near Richmond, Virginia.

Union (Northern) and Confederate (Southern) soldiers fought here. The Confederates tried to win back land they had lost. They wanted to push the Union forces away from Richmond. However, their efforts were not successful.

Why the Battle Happened

This battle was part of a bigger plan. It was called the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. The Union army was trying to capture Richmond. Richmond was the capital city of the Confederacy. They also wanted to capture Petersburg. Petersburg was an important supply city.

The Union army had built strong defenses. These were trenches and forts. They were close to Richmond. The Confederates wanted to break these lines. They hoped to push the Union soldiers back.

Who Fought Here

The Union forces were led by General Alfred Terry. They were part of the X Corps. The Confederate forces were led by General Richard H. Anderson.

Both sides had many soldiers. They were ready for a tough fight. The battle was mostly about finding out where the enemy was. It was also about testing their strength.

What Happened During the Battle

On October 13, Union soldiers moved forward. They wanted to find the new Confederate defense lines. These lines were in front of Richmond.

Most of the fighting was between small groups. These groups are called skirmishers. They try to find the enemy. They also try to cause trouble.

A Union group attacked some Confederate forts. These forts were north of Darbytown Road. The Union soldiers faced heavy fire. They were forced to retreat. Many soldiers were hurt or captured.

After the attack, the Union forces pulled back. They went to their own strong lines. These lines were along New Market Road. The Confederates held their ground. They stopped the Union advance.

After the Battle

The Battle of Darbytown Road was a Confederate victory. The Union army did not reach its goals. They failed to break the Confederate lines. This battle showed how strong the Confederate defenses were. It was one of many battles around Richmond. These battles lasted for many months.