Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road

Other Names: Second Fair Oaks

Location: Henrico County, Virginia

Campaign: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (June 1864-March 1865)

Date: October 27-28, 1864

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler [US]; Lt. Gen. James Longstreet [CS]

Forces Engaged: Corps

Casualties and losses: 1,750 total

Result(s): Confederate victory

Brief Description:

In combination with movements against the Boydton Plank Road at Petersburg, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler attacked the Richmond defenses along Darbytown Road with the X Corps. The XVIII Corps marched north to Fair Oaks where it was soundly repulsed by Field's Confederate division. Confederate forces counterattacked, taking some 600 prisoners. The Richmond defenses remained intact. Of Grant's offensives north of the James River, this was repulsed most easily. In the end, the three distinct elements of this battle combined to produce a bloody disaster for Butler. Despite being explicitly ordered not to attack entrenched positions, Butler disregarded orders and pressured his corps commanders Terry and Weitzel to do something. The Confederates managed to drive off this assault, but firsthand accounts written by members of Gary’s brigade exists which indicates wounded and captured Black soldiers were murdered by their Confederate antagonists after the fighting was over.