Key Facts
- Dates
- June 21–23, 1864
- Also known as
- First Battle of the Weldon Railroad
- Union corps engaged
- 2 infantry corps, Army of the Potomac
- Confederate unit
- Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
- Duration
- 3 days
Strategic Narrative Overview
On June 21–23, 1864, two Union infantry corps advanced toward the Weldon Railroad but failed to maintain cohesive contact with one another. Confederate Third Corps commander, exploiting a gap between the Union corps, launched a sharp counterattack spearheaded by Brig. Gen. William Mahone's division. Mahone's men struck the exposed Union flank, routing a portion of the force and capturing prisoners, driving the Federals back before they could cut the railroad.
01 / The Origins
By mid-1864 the Union Army of the Potomac had settled into the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, seeking to strangle Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army by cutting the rail lines supplying the city. The Weldon Railroad was a critical supply artery, and Union commanders planned to sever it by pushing two infantry corps southwest of existing siege lines, initiating what would become a prolonged series of engagements around Petersburg's western approaches.
03 / The Outcome
The Confederates retained possession of the Weldon Railroad following the battle, a tactical victory that kept the supply line open temporarily. However, the Union Army did not abandon its strategic objective; instead it began extending its fortifications westward, tightening the siege perimeter. Further battles along the Weldon Railroad later in 1864 would eventually result in Union control of that line.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
William Mahone.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.