| The same location today. The bridge allowed Union troops to
easily cross the James River, and when Grant abandoned his works at Cold
Harbor he directed Butler to hold on to Deep Bottom, and used to to keep
additional pressure on the defenses of Richmond.
I wasn't actually looking to go to Deep Bottom, but while looking for
Malvern Hill I ran across a sign and followed the trail. I've
really got to start using maps more when I go on my battlefield
hunts. I did find Malvern Hill, and I'll have pics of that up as
well shortly.
There were three battles involving Deep Bottom, although none were
actually at Deep Bottom. Deep Bottom was the base or beachhead
where the Union troops started from.
At the First Battle of Deep Bottom, Sheridan's cavalry were
stopped in their advance towards Richmond by General Joseph Kershaw,
June 28, 1864.
The Second Battle of Deep Bottom took place August 16, 1864
when Lee's counterattack forced Union forces away from Fussell's mill
pond, and kept them bottled up at Deep Bottom.
Finally, two brigades of the United States Colored Troops attacked at
the Battle of New Market Heights and drove several miles deep
past the Confederate entrenchments, before being stopped at Richmond's outer
defenses. |
