First Battle of Deep Bottom

This article is about the first 1864 American Civil War battle on New Market Road. For the 1862 American Civil War battle, see Battle of Glendale. For the second 1864 American Civil War battle on New Market Road, see Second Battle of Deep Bottom.
First Battle of Deep Bottom
Part of the American Civil War

Capture of four guns by Barlow's Division, July 27, 1864
DateJuly 27–29, 1864
Location
Henrico County, Virginia
Result Strategic Union Victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Winfield S. Hancock
Philip H. Sheridan		 Richard S. Ewell
Richard H. Anderson
Casualties and losses
488 (62 killed, 340 wounded, 86 missing/captured).[1] 679 (80 killed, 391 wounded, 208 missing/captured)[1]

The First Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as Darbytown, Strawberry Plains, New Market Road, or Gravel Hill, was fought July 27–29, 1864, at Deep Bottom in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Siege of Petersburg of the American Civil War. A Union force under Maj. Gens. Winfield S. Hancock and Philip H. Sheridan was sent on an expedition threatening Richmond, Virginia, and its railroads, intending to attract Confederate troops away from the Petersburg defensive line, in anticipation of the upcoming Battle of the Crater. The Union infantry and cavalry force was unable to break through the Confederate fortifications at Bailey's Creek and Fussell's Mill and was withdrawn, but it achieved its desired effect of momentarily reducing Confederate strength at Petersburg.

  1. ^ a b Bonekemper, p. 314. The author presents casualty figures from a wide variety of sources and provides his best estimate. Salmon, p. 418, estimates 488 Union, 650 Confederate. Horn, p. 108, estimates 488 Union, 700 Confederate. Kennedy, p. 355, estimates 1,000 total.