The Battle Of Po River

May 10 –11, 1864

In May of 1864, Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant began a campaign with the singular purpose of destroying the Confederate army led by General Robert E. Lee. On May 5 th , these two armies clashed in a heavily wooded section of northern Virginia known as the Wilderness. For nearly three days, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia fought each in spite of the woods catching on fire and burning many of the wounded. Grant broke off his attack and moved against Lee's flank in a hope to out maneuver the wily Lee. These engagements will forever be known as Grant's Overland Campaign. This was a series of large and small battles that would eventually lead to Lee's army being forced into a defensive position at Petersburg.

Po River is an excellent example of one these battles. The Union Army had fought at Todd's Tavern and was again on the move to out flank the Confederate Army. In order to accomplish this, Grant ordered Major General Winfield Scott Hancock to cross the Po River with the II Corp and attack the Confederates' left flank. Lee, being warned of this action, redeployed his men from the right flank. Confederate General William Mahone was in position at the Block House Bridge while Confederate General Henry Heth maneuvered his division to attack the Hancock from the south. Hancock's troops also used pontoon bridges west of Laurel Hill. These bridges would prove to be very helpful to the Union Army.

General Grant decided to attack the Confederate center and brought up as much strength as he could. In doing this, He ordered Hancock to withdraw two of his three divisions to assist the assault. This left Union General Francis Barlow's division south of the Po River. Mahone's Confederates blocked the Union advance and Barlow's isolated division soon found itself in a bad position. Confederate artillery fire was able to enfilade the Union line. When Hancock learned that Barlow's divison was under attack, he decided to remove it from this precarious position.

The Union Army managed to get Barlow's division back across the Po, but it was not an easy task. During this action, just like the Wilderness, artillery fire caught the woods on fire. The Union troops retreated through this hellish scene as the flames consumed the wounded. The intensity of this moment is best illustrated by the story of the Union artillery piece that became wedged between two trees; this misfortune fell on Battery A First Rhode Island Light Artillery. The gun could not be removed and was left behind making it the first piece of artillery lost by the Second Corps in battle. Entrenched Union artillery provided effective covering fire for Barlow's retreating division. The Confederate attack came to an end and each side held their position until May 12 th .

Rhode Island Battery B would see a fair amount of action during the Battle of Po River. They were position near the Block House Bridge, when Lieutenant James E. Chase ordered the third section to open fire on a Rebel battery. No counter battery fire ensued and the Rebels withdrew. Around ten A.M. a Confederate infantry column came view and Battery B sent spherical case into the enemy infantry. Their fire was so well placed that the Rebel column was broken in several places. A Confederate Battery returned fire, but their shot went wild and did not last long. Only one artilleryman was slightly wounded in this action. Afterwards, Battery B was ordered to retreat to the north side of the Po River. **

The Union army was making a successful withdrawal when the Confederates pressed their attack at the Block House Bridge. It was at this point that the woods caught fire and forced the Union to abandon their lines. It was impossible for the Union infantry to hold this position because of the fire. As the Union troops rushed through burning woods, the Rebels opened fire on them. The Union artillery returned fire and blew up either two of their limbers or caissons. This had the desired effect as the Confederate pieces were silenced.

Battery B was in line to cover the retreat of the Union infantry over the earlier mentioned pontoon bridges. They fired rapidly and with good effect against the enemy infantry. However, the battery found soon found itself under enemy artillery fire. The left section turned and delivered a fire in the direction of the enemy. Yet, this action did not last long and the Rhode Islanders were again engaging the advancing enemy infantry.

It was at this point that Sergeant John H. Rhodes notice that his piece was firing to the right toward our own troops. Upon examination, it was discovered that the iron axle was broken, after being hit with either solid shot or shell. This caused the gun to lean to the right and was interfering with an effective, well-directed shot. Rhodes ordered the gun to cease-fire and reported his piece as disabled to chief of the section, Lieutenant Chace.

The gun was sent to the rear and repair were attempted by the Joseph B. Place, the Blacksmith. Even though Battery B had been engaged nearly all day, it did not sustain many casualties. All told, only one horse was killed and four men slightly wounded. Little did these artillerymen know what would lie ahead. For May 12 th would bring the battle of the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania. Along with that, the only instance in the history of the war, of artillery charging breastworks. With Battery B right in the middle of that charge.

** Battery A First Rhode Island Was still on the south side of the Po River.