Battle of Sutherland's Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sutherland's Station
Part of the American Civil War
Date April 2, 1865 (1865-04-02) Location Dinwiddie County, Virginia Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Nelson A. Miles	Henry Heth Cadmus M. Wilcox
Strength
1,500	3,000
Casualties and losses
370	600

The Battle of Sutherland's Station was an important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 2, 1865, in Dinwiddie, Virginia. This battle was part of the Appomattox Campaign, which was the final push of the war.

During this battle, Union soldiers attacked Petersburg. They broke through the Confederate defenses. Confederate General Robert E. Lee needed time for his army to escape. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched more attacks.

At a place called Fort Gregg, Confederate soldiers fought hard. This slowed Grant's army down. Meanwhile, Union Major General Nelson A. Miles attacked Confederate General Henry Heth's troops near Sutherland's Station. Miles's soldiers won, scattering the Confederates.

This victory meant the Union now controlled the South Side Railroad. This was General Lee's last way to get supplies into Petersburg. However, the long fight at Fort Gregg and Grant's delay allowed Lee to move his army out of Petersburg that night.

What Happened at Sutherland's Station?

Map of the Sutherland's Station Battlefield area.

General Ulysses S. Grant had been trying to capture Petersburg for ten months. But in April 1865, the Army of the Potomac was finally ready to break through. This army was led by General George G. Meade.

On April 2, 1865, at 4:30 in the morning, four Union army groups attacked. The VI Corps broke through the Confederate lines. Union soldiers poured through the gap. They took control of the defenses from Hatcher's Run to Boydton Plank Road.

General Robert E. Lee knew Petersburg was lost. He ordered his army to leave the city. He told his commanders to hold their positions as long as possible. This would allow his army to retreat safely. Union troops attacked Fort Gregg many times. Only 500 Confederates defended it. They fought bravely and held the fort for a long time. This gave Lee time to set up a new defense line. This line protected his army as it left.

Cutting the Supply Line

Grant then focused on the west. The South Side Railroad was very important. It was Lee's last supply line. Major General Andrew A. Humphreys's II Corps faced General Henry Heth's forces. Heth's men were on the far right side of Lee's army.

General Nelson Miles's division was sent to help Philip Sheridan. But Sheridan did not need more soldiers. So, Miles was sent back. After the VI Corps broke through, Humphreys was ordered to attack. Heth had already started to pull back to a second line of defense. Humphreys had only one division ready to attack.

Miles's division of three brigades returned. They found the trenches empty. Humphreys wanted to attack Heth right away. But Meade ordered all Union soldiers to turn towards Petersburg. Humphreys turned north, but left Miles to deal with Heth.

Miles chased the retreating Confederates. He followed them along Claiborne Road to Sutherland's Station. This was about nineteen miles from Petersburg. There, Heth had gathered four Confederate brigades. They tried to defend the South Side Railroad. Their left side was at Ocran Methodist Church.

Heth had learned that Lieutenant General A. P. Hill had been killed earlier that day. This meant Heth was now in charge of the Third Army Corps. He quickly went to Petersburg. But Lee had decided to break up the corps. Its units would go to James Longstreet.

The Final Push

At 3:00 p.m., Miles attacked from White Oak Road. Grant had ordered him to follow up on Humphreys's earlier success. Heth's division fought back two Union attacks. Miles then asked for more soldiers. Humphreys went back to Sutherland Station to help Miles.

But Miles launched a third attack. Heth's tired Confederates finally gave way. They broke and ran. General John R. Cooke's brigade fought hard to hold back the Union soldiers. This allowed the rest of Heth's troops to escape west.

Miles's victorious soldiers pushed forward. They captured nearly 1,000 Confederate prisoners and two cannons. Meanwhile, Grant had delayed the final attack on Fort Gregg. He was waiting for news from Miles. This delay also helped Lee move more troops out of Petersburg. By the time Fort Gregg finally fell, Lee had gained enough time. He successfully moved most of his army away.

In the fierce fighting around Sutherland's Station, Miles reported 370 Union soldiers were hurt or killed. The Confederates lost about 600 men killed or wounded. They also had 1,000 men taken as prisoners of war. Humphreys later said that if his whole army group had been allowed to attack, Heth's entire force would have been destroyed.