Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18–July 1, 1864

by John Horn

The nine-month siege of Petersburg was the longest continuous operation of the Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, it was anything but static trench warfare, as John Horn ably demonstrates in Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864. Large-scale Union “offensives”—grand maneuvers that triggered some of the large-scale battles—broke the monotony of siege warfare. Once his First Offensive (the assaults of June 15-18) failed to capture the city, the Union commander planned and launched his next major effort within hours.

This Second Offensive was one of the most dramatic operations of the entire war. To pave the way for success, Grant brought the city’s bridges under the fire of his siege guns to slow the transfer of enemy troops in and out of Petersburg. He also seized a bridgehead at Deep Bottom on James River’s north bank to draw Confederate forces out of Petersburg by menacing Richmond. Next, he took more ambitious measures by sending infantry to hem in Petersburg from the Appomattox River above and below the city. The move was designed to cut the critical Weldon and South Side railroads and force the Rebels to abandon Petersburg and Richmond. As his infantry went to work, his cavalry set out to cut the Confederate railroads below Petersburg to slow reinforcements coming up from the south and west.

Grant’s opponent, however, was General Robert E. Lee with his veteran infantry, not the inept John Floyd of Fort Donelson or the distracted John C. Pemberton of Vicksburg. Lee and his infantry subordinate William Mahone marched to meet the enemy and in a stunning turn of events routed Grant’s foot soldiers at Jerusalem Plank Road. Together, Confederate cavalry leader Wade Hampton and Mahone smashed Grant’s troopers at the battles of Sappony Church and First Reams Station. Thousands of Federal prisoners of war flooded into Confederate camps. Not until April 1865, after seven more offensives, would Grant reach the Appomattox above Petersburg and force Lee to relinquish that city and the capital of Richmond. This is tactical battle action at is finest.

Horn’s explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864 is the first full-length book to put Grant’s second effort into its proper perspective—not only in the context of Petersburg’s siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare’s history.

448 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book earned a place on the top shelf of my bookcase. It was that good. First off, it was published by Savas Beatie, so those of you who know who they are know the quality involved in everything they touch. Secondly, and perhaps more important, this book fills a void in the historiography of the Petersburg Campaign. The author incorporates over 1,000 direct quotes and forty maps within the narrative. Overall, a very very good effort and well worth the time spent reading it.

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horn's latest book is his best and another great addition to the literature on the Petersburg campaign. The prose is direct and accessible, although not flashy. It might have the record for the most maps in any book at 40. Best of all, this offensive at long last has a dedicated single campaign study. Now we just need one for Hatcher's Run and Fort Stedman.

[William Olenick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a full account of the Second Offensive of the Petersburg Campaign. Described is the actions along the Jerusalem Plank Road in am attempt to reach the W&W Railroad. Also in this is the actions of the Wilson-Kautz Raid. Both actions are finally put "in proper perspective-not only in context of the Petersburg siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare's history ". Supported by many photos and illustrations it has a grand 40 maps to track the cavalry raid and infantry assaults.
John Horn again shows a great knowledge of the campaign with an excellent telling. Very much recommended to all readers.