Battle of Wilson's Wharf facts for kids
The Battle of Wilson's Wharf (also known as the Battle of Fort Pocahontas) was a fight during the American Civil War. It was part of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
On May 24, 1864, Confederate Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division, with about 2,500 men, attacked a Union supply base. This base was located at Wilson's Wharf, on the James River in eastern Charles City, Virginia. However, they were stopped by about 1,100 African American soldiers. These soldiers were from the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and were led by Brig. Gen. Edward A. Wild. At the time, they were building a fort there, which was later named Fort Pocahontas. This battle was the first time Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia fought against African-American troops.
Why the Battle Happened
Brig. Gen. Edward A. Wild was a doctor and strongly against slavery. He lost his left arm in a battle in 1862. After he got better, he formed a group of soldiers made up of formerly enslaved people. This group was called Wild's African Brigade.
In the winter of 1863–64, Wild led his soldiers on a trip along the coast of North Carolina. His brigade became known for helping enslaved people find freedom. They also recruited new soldiers from these freed people.
Wild's brigade arrived in Virginia in May 1864. They started building a fort at Wilson's Wharf. This fort was one of many outposts protecting the supply routes for Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler's Bermuda Hundred campaign. The wharf was in an important spot on the James River, near high cliffs.
News of Wild's actions spread. The newspapers in Richmond, Virginia, which was the Confederate capital, strongly criticized these activities. They put pressure on Confederate President Jefferson Davis to stop Wild.
Because of this pressure, Davis's military advisor, Gen. Braxton Bragg, ordered Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division to "break up this nest." Fitz Lee was Robert E. Lee's nephew. While his uncle was fighting Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of North Anna, Fitz Lee took about 2,500 men and one cannon. They marched about 40 miles (64 km) to reach Wilson's Wharf. Lee expected an easy fight, but the defenders of Fort Pocahontas were ready.
Wild commanded 1,100 men and two cannons. The Union force included the 1st United States Colored Infantry Regiment (1st USCI) and four companies of the 10th USCI. The only all-white unit defending the fort was Battery M, 3rd New York Artillery. The gunboat USS Dawn was in the James River. It was ready to provide fire support to the fort's defenders. The fort was about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long. It was built to protect the road to the wharf. It was strong on both ends and had a deep ditch and sharp stakes (called abatis) in front of it. This made it hard to attack from the sides.
The Battle Begins
Around noon on May 24, Lee's soldiers attacked. They pushed back the Union guards who were positioned about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the fort. By 1:30 p.m., the fort was surrounded. Lee sent two officers with a message demanding that the Union soldiers surrender. He promised that the black soldiers would be treated as prisoners of war. However, he also warned of bad consequences if they did not surrender.
Wild and his men understood this to mean that some of them might be sent back to their former enslavers. Others might be put on trial by state authorities. Wild sent back a written reply that simply said, "We will try it." He also told the officers verbally, "Take the fort if you can."
Lee planned to attack from two sides. Brig. Gen. Williams Carter Wickham's brigade moved to the east of the fort, hidden in ravines. To distract the Union soldiers, Col. John Dunovant's men from the 5th South Carolina attacked the western end of the fort. Dunovant's men got as far as the ditch and stakes, but heavy gunfire forced them back. Wickham's men then charged across an open field. They were met with strong musket fire, cannon shots from two 10-pounder Parrott rifles, and naval gunfire from the Dawn.
As Lee searched for a weak spot in the fort's defenses, 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 to Charles City Court House. The next morning, they rode back to Atlee's Station.
What Happened After
About 200 Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded in the attack. The Union forces had 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 enslaver in Richmond.
This battle did not change the overall outcome of the war much. However, it was a big victory for the Union in terms of public opinion. It was the first important fight where the Army of Northern Virginia faced black soldiers. These soldiers had fought well in a defensive battle against a larger attacking force. Southerners did not want to admit they were defeated by a force made mostly of African-American soldiers. So, they claimed that six gunboats and many white Union soldiers were involved in the fight. In his report, Fitz Lee made his own strength and losses seem smaller than they were.
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