The Battle of North Anna

May 23-26, 1864

The Battle of North Anna was part of Union General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Unlike many of the battle of this campaign, North Anna was a series of small actions that was fought in different locations. Grant ordered the Union's II Corps, now under the command of Major General Winfield S. Hancock, to cross the west bank of the Mattaponi River. There, the II Corps was to attack any Rebel forces they encountered. Furthermore, Grant was hoping that Lee would take the bait of an isolated Union corp and attack. This would draw the Confederates into the open and give Grant the chance to use his numbers against Lee's army.

Lee realized this was yet another Union attempt to turn his flank and he began to withdraw his forces south to the North Anna River. Lee received a mixed bag of news with the arrival of much needed reinforcements. In spite of this good news, many of Lee's senior officers were not up for the tasks at hand due to sickness. Even Lee was suffering from a debilitating bout of diarrhea. However, the Confederates managed to establish a well-defended position behind the steep bank of the North Anna. It was a five-mile ling line that formed an inverted “V” shape that took the of the “hog snout line.” This defensive position helped to separate the Federal crossing points. In fact, Lee held an advantage if he chose to attack. Grant's troops had moved forward so quickly that they had become separated into three parts. Any Union forces that went to reinforce a flank would need to cross the North Anna twice losing precious time.

On May 23, Union General Gouverneur K. Warren's V Corps crossed near Ox Ford and were attacked by Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill's corps. Hill was sick and did a poor job with this piecemeal attack. Lee was furious at him for not using his entire corp. Hancock's II Corps attacked the next day and had some success. Union General Ambrose Burnside's IX Corps, located in the center of the Federal Line, tried to cross at Quarles Mills. Here they met fierce resistance and Burnside called the attack off. The Federals could not breach Lee's defenses, and Grant, unable to unite the Union lines, abandoned North Anna. Grant ordered the Union troops to head southwest and his next encounter – Cold Harbor.

Since Rhode Island Battery B was attached to the II Corps, it would be actively engaged over the course of this minor engagement*. On the morning of the May 22 nd , the Battery remained behind their breastworks and rested. Some of the men were treated to receiving mail. This was always a moral boost for any soldier, even in today's modern army.

On the morning of May 23 rd the Battery went back to the business of war. Battery B was ordered to follow the Second Brigade. Around 4:00p.m. they encountered rebel videttes on the north side of the North Anna River and went into position near the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. They opened fire on the Confederates as the rebels began to put their troops into formation. The sharp artillery fire caused the Rebels to retreat to their earthworks. The joint effort of the infantry and artillery soon compelled the Confederates to with draw over the North Anna River as the Second Corp pushed forward. The retreating Rebels tried to burn Country Road Bridge to slow the Union advance, but they were not successful. During the battle on the 23 rd , Battery B, and two other batteries, was warmly engaged with the enemy. Fortunately, the Battery did not sustain any causality.

On the 24th , the infantry crossed the North Anna around eight A.M. and captured the first line of Confederate works. In the meantime, Battery B was assisting from the north bank of the river. Battery B continued to shell the Rebel lines through most of the afternoon and did sustain enemy fire for part of the engagement. Around five P.M. the Battery was hitched up and crossed a pontoon bridge and advanced about a mile. Here, they went into position and began to finish a partially constructed breastwork. Rebel sharpshooters caused some trouble for the men, but nobody was hurt during the days events.

The 25th and 26th were active days for the Battery. The men moved their pieces within 600 yards of the enemies' picket line. Here, the Rhode Island men set to establishing their own breast works for protection. Only a few shots were at the Confederates and the Battery withdrew for a good night's rest. They returned to their position on the 26 th and watched the enemies' line and men going about their routine.

Towards evening, a brief engagement occurred and the men rushed to their cannons. However, they held their fire for fear of hitting their own infantry. Around eleven P.M. the order was given to quietly withdraw and the men went into the position they had occupied on the 24th .

* The word minor is not meant to insult the contributions of any unit that fought at North Anna. It is meant as reminder that this engagement, in scale, was not a major battle.