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Fussell's Mill (2nd Deep Bottom)

Core Battlefield Preserved: In four separate land transactions over a three year period (2009-2012), Richmond Battlefields Asociation has assembled the core of the Second Deep Bottom batttlefield. The targeted property contains the millpond, mill site, earthworks, a road trace, and a wartime house. RBA successfully competed for matching funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia to maximize the impact of our members' contributions. Fussell's Mill is one of the lesser known Civil War battlefields in the Richmond area, despite its 4,600 casualties. It is lies outside the purview of the National Park Service and so, it falls to private groups like RBA to protect these hallowed grounds or lose them forever.

Grant's Two-Front Strategy

Throughout the summer of 1864, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant employed a strategy of simultaneous operations on both sides of the James River in an attempt to break the stalemate around Petersburg. By forcing the Confederates to deploy troops on two-fronts, Grant hoped to stretch their lines to the breaking point. In mid-August, Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock was tasked with threatening Richmond north of the James, while Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren's command operated against the Weldon Railroad south of Petersurg. On the night of August 13, the Union Second and Tenth Corps, along with Gregg's cavalry division, crossed James River at Deep Bottom.

fussells mill map

August 14, 1864

Army of the Potomac II Corps: Deadly heat slowed the advance of the II Corps, giving the Confederates time to reinforce the Fussell's Mill area with Brig. Gen. George T. Anderson's Georgia brigade. Hancock had intended for Barlow's two divisions to carry out his primary attack. But Barlow extended his 10,000 man force too far north in the thick woods and was left with only a single brigade attacking Fussell's Mill. The Federals drove away two Confederate cavalry regiments from Brig. Gen. Martin W. Gary's brigade at the mill, but Anderson's brigade repulsed them.

fussells mill map

August 16, 1864

Army of the James X Corps: The heaviest fighting of the campaign occurred on the 16th. A bold frontal assault by Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Terry's division shattered the Southerners' line. Newly promoted general Victor J. B. Girardey, commanding a Georgia brigade, fell dead while attempting to rally his whipped troops. Parts of several Confederate brigades, buoyed by the presence of R.E. Lee, responded to the crisis.

Confederate counterattacks surged to the lip of a Dry Ravine (below). Leading two Alabama regiments, Col. William C. Oates was severley wounded, losing an arm in the fight. In time, the Rebels fought their way into and across the ravine, driving the Federals out of a line of captured works. Heavy skirmishing continued throughout the remainder of the day.

dry ravine

On August 20th, after four days of inactivity,the Federals returned to the southside of the James, maintaining their bridgehead at Deep Bottom. Confederate losses approached 1,500.

The failed operation north of the river had cost the Union 2,900 casualties. The action had, however, drawn a substantial number of Confederates away from Petersburg. Grant seized the opportunity and in the Battle of Globe Tavern (Aug 18-21), captured the Weldon Railroad below Petersburg, depriving Lee of a yet another vital supply line.

acres saved

Above: Led by historian Michael Andrus, members of the Richmond Battlefields Association skirt the millpond at Fussell's Mill while touring the battlefield they helped preserve (June 2009).

miller house

The miller's house at Fussell's Mill.

fussells mill

War time Fussell's Mill gave the battle its name.

rk krick

Historian Robert K. Krick delivers a talk on the role of the Alabama troops engaged at Fussell's Mill.