Battle of Ware Bottom Church

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Battle of Ware Bottom Church Began: May 20, 1864 Ended: Same day Location: Chesterfield County, Virginia Theater: Eastern Theater Campaign: Bermuda Hundred Campaign Outcome: Confederate victory Combatants Commanders Benjamin F. Butler Major General, USA P.G.T. Beauregard General, CSA Strength Casualties 1,500 total US and CS 1,500 total US and CS

On May 20, Confederate forces under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard attacked Butler's Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. About 10,000 troops were involved in this action. After driving back Butler's advanced pickets, the Confederates constructed the Howlett Line, effectively bottling up the Federals at Bermuda Hundred. Confederate victories at Proctor's Creek and Ware Bottom Church enabled Beauregard to detach strong reinforcements for Lee's army in time for the fighting at Cold Harbor. (NPS summary)

Ware Bottom Church and the Howlett Line

Beauregard’s audacious attack on the 16th pushed Butler back almost to the original line established on 6 May. The Union pickets, however, still held some advanced positions as far west as Ware Bottom Church. Determined to drive the Union forces back on to the peninsula Beauregard launched a “vigorous attack” on these outposts held by Ames and Terry’s divisions on 20 May. Nearly 10,000 men fought over the disputed territory until the “picket-line was driven and the enemy occupied our rifle pits.” The Federals now faced the disheartening task of counter-attacking their own works. Ames attempt was repulsed with heavy loss. A portion of Terry’s line was restored by an attack conducted by Colonel Howell’s brigade (39th Illinois, 85th Pennsylvania, and 62nd and 67th Ohio) reinforced by the 6th Connecticut and 142nd New York. Another 1600 casualties were added to the rolls as Beauregard accomplished his purpose. The retreat of the Union army into their old positions allowed him to construct a parallel set of works effectively hemming in Butler. His new line consisted of eight miles of trenches, rifle pits and artillery redoubts that ran from the Appomattox River in the south to the James River in the north. Here near Dr. Howlett’s house, hence the name of the line stood Battery Dantzler. This dominating position, named for the fallen Colonel Olin Dantzler of the 22 South Carolina Infantry, interdicted all water traffic trying to move up the James River. So intimidated by this position was the Union navy that the Dutch Gap Canal was started to bypass its guns.

Life along the contending lines quickly fell into pattern of artillery duels and an occasional outbreak of picket clashes. June 1st saw a particularly aggressive move by the Confederate pickets on Hawley’s brigade (6th and 7th Connecticut and 3rd and 7th New Hampshire) of X Corps. In the usual fashion the regiments in this brigade were alternating 24 hour shifts on the picket line. The 7th Connecticut was unfortunate enough to be on duty when the Confederate line, in spots only 20 yards away, dashed forward unexpectedly. The 324 men of the 7th were stretched extremely thin “with little or nothing for reserves.” The men of companies C and H were in an exposed position and immediately “cut off and a large portion of them captured.” The remnants gathered themselves together for a counter-attack. Assisted by two companies of the 3rd New Hampshire they regained their positions. Aggregate Union losses in the affair totaled 109 soldiers.

In another incident, Confederate gunners tired of being harassed by Yankee sharpshooters in a nearby church, stole out in the night and burned it to the ground. During the first week of June Beauregard was so convinced that Butler could make no further moves against his line that he began sending portions of his force to reinforce Lee. This was exactly the opposite of the scenario Grant had envisioned when he sent Butler on this campaign. Realizing the futility of Butler’s effort Grant removed XVIII Corps from the peninsula to strengthen his own army for operations at Cold Harbor. Intermittent skirmishing continued but for all real purposes the Bermuda Hundred Campaign was over.