Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm: To Surprise and Capture Richmond

by Douglas Crenshaw

Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm features gripping firsthand accounts of the terrors of war. Early in the morning of September 29, 1864, two Union corps under the command of General Benjamin Butler crossed the James with the goal of overwhelming Robert E. Lee's army and capturing Richmond. The Confederate defenders were vastly outnumbered; many were inexperienced and initially without trusted leadership. Fort Harrison and the other works at Chaffin's Farm held the key to the Confederate defenses. The drama that ensued was a battle between the Confederates' resiliency and the Union's ability to capitalize on one of its greatest opportunities. Join historian Doug Crenshaw as he chronicles the events of an often-forgotten episode of Civil War history. Through gripping firsthand accounts, Crenshaw follows the action through the eyes of the men who fought at Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Experience the terror and heroism displayed on both sides of the battle line in this harrowing tale of war.

Genres: American Civil War, Civil War

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2013

Reviews

[Sean Chick]

Crenshaw provides, in the space allotted, a good battle narrative, with excellent maps and a good use of anecdotes. I am particularly impressed with his narrative of the fighting. I was never lost, understanding who was where and doing what. I knocked off a star for not covering in detail the storming of New Market Heights. Seemed to be an odd omission.