Battle of Saint Mary's Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Saint Mary's Church (Samaria Church)
Part of the American Civil War
Date June 24, 1864 (1864-06-24) Location Charles City, Virginia Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
David McM. Gregg	Wade Hampton
Strength
2,147	4,000
Casualties and losses
350	250

The Battle of Saint Mary's Church was a cavalry battle during the American Civil War. It happened on June 24, 1864, in Charles City, Virginia. People in the South sometimes called it the Samaria Church battle or Nance's Shop.

This battle was part of a bigger plan by Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. He was trying to defeat Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army.

Union cavalry, led by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, was returning from a failed mission. They had tried to attack the Virginia Central Railroad. On their way back, they picked up supplies from a depot at White House. Then, they headed towards the James River.

On June 24, Confederate cavalry, led by Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton, attacked them. Hampton's men attacked a group led by Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg near St. Mary's Church. The Confederates had more soldiers. They pushed the Union cavalry back from their defenses. However, Gregg's soldiers managed to protect the supply wagons. The wagons kept moving safely towards the James River.

What Happened Before the Battle

Sheridan's return to the Army of the Potomac after his raid to Trevilian Station.      Confederate      Union

After the Battle of Trevilian Station (June 11–12, 1864), Sheridan's cavalry started heading back. They had not succeeded in their mission to damage the Virginia Central Railroad. On June 13, they began their journey home.

They crossed the North Anna River and moved towards Spotsylvania Court House. By June 18, they reached King and Queen Court House.

While Sheridan was away, Grant's main army was moving. They were going from Cold Harbor to cross the James River. Their goal was to attack Petersburg. Grant ordered that the main supply base be moved. It went from White House on the Pamunkey River to City Point on the James River.

Sheridan found out that the White House supply depot was still there. So, he sent his wounded soldiers, prisoners, and African-Americans who were with his group to White House. This happened on June 19. Then, he marched his troops back to Dunkirk to cross the Mattaponi River.

Hampton's Confederate cavalry followed Sheridan. They moved on roads roughly parallel to Sheridan's path. Hampton's force included several brigades (smaller groups of soldiers). These were led by Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler, Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser, Brig. Gen. Williams C. Wickham, Brig. Gen. John R. Chambliss, and a new group led by Brig. Gen. Martin W. Gary.

On June 20, a Confederate general named Fitz Lee tried to attack the Union supply depot at White House. But Sheridan's arrival helped protect the soldiers there. On June 21, Sheridan crossed the Pamunkey River. He broke through Confederate lines at St. Peter's Church. He then led 900 supply wagons towards the James River.

They crossed the Chickahominy River on June 22 and 23. They faced strong resistance south of Jones's Bridge on June 23. Hampton had not been able to stop Sheridan before this. So, Hampton crossed the Chickahominy upstream and hurried south.

Sheridan was heading towards Deep Bottom. He wanted to meet up with Union foot soldiers at Bermuda Hundred. Near Westover Church, Union Brig. Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert's group was stopped by Confederate soldiers.

On June 24, Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg's group took a position near Samaria Church. This was on the road to Charles City. From here, they protected the area while Sheridan moved Torbert's group and the supply train. They were crossing the James River at Douthat's Landing.

The Battle Begins

On June 24, Torbert's group continued to guard the wagons. They were moving towards Harrison's Landing on the James River. Gregg's group followed a path next to them, protecting the right side. Torbert met Brig. Gen. Lunsford L. Lomax's group near the Charles City Court House and pushed them back.

Around 8 a.m., Gregg's soldiers, led by Brig. Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr., arrived near Samaria Church. This was where three roads met. They found Confederate pickets (guards) there. A charge by the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry pushed the pickets north. Davies's group then dug in (built defenses) to the west of the crossroads. Davies took the right side of the line, and Col. J. Irvin Gregg (General Gregg's cousin) took the left.

Hampton's Confederate force arrived and got ready to attack. They fought on foot, while also building their own defenses. From 3 to 4 p.m., Hampton's five brigades attacked Gregg's two brigades. The Union cavalrymen were under too much pressure. They began to pull back down the road towards Charles City Court House. They reached it around 8 p.m. Small fights continued until 10 p.m.

One Confederate soldier wrote about the battle. He said the enemy's position was strong. He also said, "They fought hard for a while. But as our boys got closer, they ran away. When they broke, the mounted cavalry was ordered to charge. They chased them for 3 miles, capturing many prisoners. The enemy left their dead and wounded for us to care for."

After the Battle

Most of Gregg's group escaped without too much harm. However, some men were left behind. Among the prisoners was Col. Pennock Huey from the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. About 350 Union soldiers were hurt or captured. Around 250 Confederate soldiers were hurt or captured.

Hampton's cavalry had blocked Sheridan. So, Sheridan pulled back on June 25. He moved through Charles City Court House to Douthat's Landing. There, the supply trains crossed the James River on flatboats. His cavalry followed on June 27 and 28. The Confederate cavalry tried to get ready for another attack. But the Union force was too strong, and the Southern horsemen were very tired.

Hampton then received new orders from Robert E. Lee. He was told to go to Petersburg as fast as possible. He needed to deal with the Wilson-Kautz Raid. This raid was attacking railroads south of Petersburg. Hampton's men crossed the James River on a pontoon bridge at Chaffin's Bluff on June 27 and 28.

Sheridan's raid to Trevilian Station and back had mixed results. He did manage to distract the Confederates. This helped Grant's army cross the James River. But Sheridan did not achieve his main goal. He failed to cut the Virginia Central Railroad. This railroad was a very important supply line for the Confederate capital and Lee's army.

Sheridan also had many soldiers hurt or killed. Many of his horses were lost due to battle and heat. Yet, Sheridan said his raid was a clear victory. In his official report in 1866, he wrote, "The result was constant success and the almost total destruction of the rebel cavalry. We marched when and where we pleased; we were always the ones attacking, and always won."

The results of Hampton's cavalry actions against Sheridan were also mixed. But they are usually seen as more positive than Sheridan's. Hampton succeeded in protecting the railroads. He also indirectly protected Richmond. He won tactical victories on the second day of Trevilian Station and against Gregg at Samaria Church. However, he did not destroy the Union cavalry or their supply trains. In August, Hampton became the commander of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. This position had been empty since the death of J.E.B. Stuart.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Saint Mary´s Church para niños