Battle of Wilson's Wharf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Wilson's Wharf |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Edward A. Wild | Fitzhugh Lee | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,100 2 guns USS Dawn |
2,500 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 killed 40 wounded |
200 killed and wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Wilson's Wharf was an important fight during the American Civil War. It is also known as the Battle of Fort Pocahontas. This battle was part of a larger plan by Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. His goal was to defeat Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army.
On May 24, 1864, Confederate Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee led about 2,500 cavalry soldiers. They attacked a Union supply base at Wilson's Wharf. This base was located on the James River in Charles City, Virginia.
The Union soldiers defending the base were mostly United States Colored Troops (USCT). These were African American regiments, about 1,100 men strong. They were led by Brig. Gen. Edward A. Wild. These soldiers were busy building a fort, which later became known as Fort Pocahontas.
The Union troops successfully fought off the attack. This battle was the first time Robert E. Lee's main army fought against African American soldiers.
Contents
Why This Battle Happened
Meet General Edward Wild
General Edward A. Wild was a doctor and a strong supporter of ending slavery. He lost his left arm in an earlier battle in 1862. After he got better, he created a special army unit. This unit was made up of former slaves and was called Wild's African Brigade.
In the winter of 1863–64, Wild and his soldiers went on a trip to North Carolina. Their actions scared the local white population. These people were used to having African people as slaves for a long time.
Building Fort Pocahontas
In May 1864, Wild's brigade arrived in Virginia. They started building a fort at Wilson's Wharf. This fort was one of many outposts. These outposts protected the supply lines for Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler's army.
The wharf was in a very important spot on the James River. It was on high ground, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Sherwood Forest. This was the home of former U.S. President John Tyler.
Wild's unit had a scary reputation among Southerners. His soldiers freed slaves and even recruited them to join the army. In one case, they punished a plantation owner known for being cruel to his slaves. Newspapers in Richmond, Virginia wrote angry stories about these actions. They pressured the Confederate government to stop Wild.
Confederate Attack Plans
Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president, faced a lot of political pressure. His military advisor, Gen. Braxton Bragg, ordered Fitzhugh Lee to act. Lee was told to "break up this nest" and stop Wild's "uncivilized proceedings."
While his uncle, Robert E. Lee, was fighting Grant, Fitz Lee moved his cavalry. He took about 2,500 men and one cannon. They marched about 40 miles (64 km) to reach Wilson's Wharf. Fitz Lee expected to fight a disorganized group. Instead, he found the defenders of Fort Pocahontas ready for battle.
Union Defenses
General Wild commanded 1,100 men and two cannons. The Union force included the 1st United States Colored Infantry Regiment and parts of the 10th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. There was also one all-white unit, Battery M, 3rd New York Artillery.
The gunboat USS Dawn was in the James River. It was ready to fire its guns to help the fort's defenders. The fort itself was about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long. It was built across the road to the wharf. The fort was protected on both sides. It had a deep, wide ditch and sharp stakes in front of it.
The Battle Begins
Around noon on May 24, Fitz Lee's men attacked. They pushed back the Union guards who were outside the fort. By 1:30 p.m., the fort was surrounded. Lee sent two officers with a message. He demanded that the Union soldiers surrender.
Lee promised that the black soldiers would be treated as prisoners of war. But if they did not surrender, he said he would not be "answerable for the consequences." Wild and his men understood this to mean that some would be sent back to slavery. Others might be put on trial for causing trouble.
Wild sent back a written reply that simply said, "We will try it." He also told the officers, "Take the fort if you can."
Confederate Attacks Fail
Lee planned to attack from two sides. Brig. Gen. Williams Carter Wickham's brigade moved to the east of the fort. They tried to hide in the ravines of Kennon Creek. To distract the Union soldiers, Col. John Dunovant attacked the western end of the fort.
Dunovant's men got as far as the ditch and stakes. But heavy gunfire pushed them back. Wickham's men rushed across an open field. They were met by intense rifle fire and cannon shots. The USS Dawn also fired its naval guns.
As Lee searched for a weak spot, Union reinforcements arrived. Around 4 p.m., the steamer George Washington brought four more companies of the 10th USCI. Lee then ordered his men to pull back. The next morning, they rode back to their starting point.
What Happened Next
About 200 Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded in the attack. The Union forces had fewer losses: six killed and 40 wounded. A few African American soldiers were captured. Some of them were shot, and one was sent back to his former owner in Richmond.
This battle did not change the overall outcome of the war much. However, it was a big victory for the North in terms of public opinion. It was the first major fight where Robert E. Lee's main army faced black soldiers. These soldiers fought bravely and well against a larger attacking force.
Southerners did not want to admit they lost to a mostly African American force. They claimed that six gunboats and many white Union soldiers were involved. In his report, Fitz Lee made his own strength and losses seem smaller than they were.
