"The Battle of the Crater"

This past summer we took some friends from Iowa to see the Petersburg National Battlefield. With some occasional punctuations, there were few battles at Petersburg. The federal forces of the government of the United States moved into positions around Petersburg in an effort to cut off nearby Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, from all sources of supply. Grant and Lincoln hoped this would force the surrender of Richmond, which everyone believed would shorten the war. The siege proved successful after many more months than anticipated and Confederate forces under Lee's command surrendered not long after abandoning Richmond.

The most noteworthy punctuation of Petersburg's long siege was what is popularly known as the Battle of the Crater. The battle, which turned into a wretched defeat for the federal forces, was born of a good idea; too cute, perhaps, but a good idea nonetheless. A regiment of Pennsylvania coal miners burrowed under a Confederate salient, placed tons of charges, and was primed to set off an explosion. A regiment of African-American soldiers was drilled to move through the anticipated opening in the Confederate line, which would have split the defending forces and opened the way to Richmond.

The good idea turned into a wretched defeat for several reasons, all familiar to many of those who have served in the military: poor materials, worse communications, and, saddest of all, political infighting among the federal commanders.

Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen (well, probably mostly Forstchen, I suspect) have written a nice work of historical fiction painting a fine picture of the glory, heroism, egoism, and tragedy of this event. Props to Pete and Maria for sending it to me for my birthday.