Battle of Suffolk (Hill's Point)

The Battle of Suffolk, also known as the Battle of Hill's Point and the Battle of Fort Huger, took place from April 11 to May 4, 1863, as part of the Siege of Suffolk, during the American Civil War.

Battle of Hill's Point
Part of the Siege of Suffolk
Map of Suffolk Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program
Suffolk Battlefield
DateApril 11, 1863 (1863-04-11) – May 4, 1863 (1863-05-04) [1]
Location
Suffolk, Virginia
36.7149°N 76.5829°W / 36.7149; -76.5829
Result Union victory [1]
Belligerents
 United States (Union)  Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
United States John J. Peck[1] Confederate States of America James Longstreet[1]
Strength
45,000 [2]
Casualties and losses
17 total
6 killed
11 wounded		 143 total
1 killed
11 wounded
1 missing
130 captured

Battle

On April 19, 1863, detachments of the Union Army's 8th Connecticut and 89th New York Infantry Regiments landed on Hill's Point at the confluence of the forks of the Nansemond River. This amphibious force assaulted Confederate-held Fort Huger from the rear, quickly capturing its garrison, thus reopening the river to Union shipping. On April 24, Brig. Gen. Michael Corcoran's Union division mounted a reconnaissance-in-force from Fort Dix against Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett's extreme right flank. The Federals approached cautiously and were easily repulsed. On April 29, Gen. Robert E. Lee directed Gen. James Longstreet to disengage from Suffolk and rejoin the Army of Northern Virginia at Fredericksburg. By May 4, the last of Longstreet's command had crossed the Blackwater River en route to Richmond.

References

Notes
  1. National Park Service battle description
  2. CWSAC Report Update


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