Battle of the Crater

U.S. Grant began the siege of Petersburg on June 20, 1864, bottling up Lee’s army in and around that city. The Union forces cut off all supplies destined for that strategic railhead, a move that would later make starvation a stark reality for Confederate soldiers.

Ambrose E. Burnside, one of the Union commanders, undertook a major effort to break the deadlock at Petersburg. His men devoted weeks to tunneling under a Confederate artillery position. Four tons of black powder were quietly transported to the end of the tunnel and detonated on July 30. The Confederate position was totally destroyed and a huge crater was left in its place. After the smoke cleared, Union forces streamed through the tunnel. The Confederates quickly overcame their confusion and ringed the crater, mowing down wave after wave of advancing foes.

The Battle of the Crater resulted in about 5,300 casualties, mostly Union. Burnside was stripped of his command after this disaster.

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Oregon Trail in Idaho--Craters of the Moon
I see heat waves rippling off of the lava; the trees are leaning to the southeast, pushed as they grew by the prevailing winds no doubt, and the smoother rings of lava encircle chunkier lava. Finer cinder domes lie to the east of this vantage point.
^{http://www.idahohistory.net/OTcraters.html}

Crater The Mine
... CWSAC Reference #: VA070 Preservation Priority: III.1 (Class A) Courtesy of the National Park Service Petersburg Public Library Digital Maps Collection Exploring the Ring Top Back Home Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Send e-mail to ...
^{http://www.buffalosoldier.net/CraterTheMine.htm}

Introduction to The Crater
... but a distant, volcano, changes the aspect of crater-land, raising the crust of the earth, bringing reef and rock some additional feet shove the waves. Then, at the end of a few years, the young wife left on the banks of the Delaware comes ...
^{http://external.oneonta.edu/cooper/susan/susan-crater.html}

Wars and BattlesBattle of the CraterJuly 30, 1864

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Wars and Battles
Battle of the Crater
July 30, 1864