Reenactment of ~ DEEP BOTTOM II ~ Roxbury, Connecticut July 26-27, 2003 by the Roxbury Historical Society and the Roxbury Land Trust

The Roxbury Historical Society is pleased to sponsor the "Federal Advance at Deep Bottom, Virginia - August, 1864," a Civil War event on July 26 - 27, 2003 on the Roxbury Land Trust Property at the intersections of Route 317 and Upper County Road, Roxbury, CT. The 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry will serve as reenactor coordinators.

The Deep Bottom campaign consisted of a series of engagements also known as New Market Road, Fussell's Mill, Bailey's Creek, Charles City Road, and White's Tavern in Henrico County, Virginia during the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (June 1864 - March 1865). Federals will be portraying the 7th Connecticut Infantry.

Directions: Event will be held at the intersection of Route 317/Upper Country Rd. in Roxbury, CT. From the North and East: Take I-84 to Exit 16 (Southbury - Route 6). Bear right onto Route 6. Head North on Route 6 bearing left at the third traffic light onto Route 67. At the intersection of Route 67 and 317, bear right up the hill, and follow the signs.

Public: The public is cordially invited at a cost of $5.00 per person. Children are free.

Parking: Parking will be nearby. Transportation will be provided to reenactors and the public if parking is offsite.
Food: A Saturday night chicken barbecue dinner and Sunday morning breakfast is free to uniformed/costumed participants. The dinner is also available to the public.

Reenactors: Invitation packages can only be obtained by writing to the address below. Registration deadline is Jul 1, 2003. Checks should be made out to "Roxbury Historical Society," and registrations mailed to:

Matt Minor
91 Great Hollow Rd.
Woodbury, CT 06798
(203) 266 - 4313

Questions: mminor285@earthlink.net

~ THE DEEP BOTTOM STORY ~
by Dr. M.Labadia

The date is early August 1864. The Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee is entrenched on the outskirts of Petersburg facing General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Potomac. Grant has just sent General Philip Sheridan to Harper's Ferry to consolidate the Federal forces in Western Virginia. It was only a month ago that General Jubal Early led his men down the Shenandoah Valley, crossed into Maryland and pushed the Federal forces back in site of the capital dome in Washington. Grant was determined to rid western Virginia of Jubal Early. However, Lee had other plans. He dispatched Kershaw's division and Fitz Lee's cavalry division to the valley to reinforce Early. This would hopefully force Grant to divert his attention away from Petersburg and the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee was already spread too thin trying to protect both Petersburg and Richmond.

On August 10th, Grant received news that Lee was sending up to three divisions to the valley. Grant quickly countered by ordering the 2nd Corps under General Hancock and the 10th Corps under General Birney to Deep Bottom. Deep Bottom is located at the northern tip of a two-mile loop in the James River and was approximately five miles southeast of Richmond. Elements of Butler's Army of the James held a bridgehead at Deep Bottom since June. Hancock's men boarded river steamers at City Point and set for Deep Bottom on the 13th of August. While Hancock's men were steaming north, the First and Second brigades including the 7th Connecticut of General Terry's 10th Corps division moved from their positions at Bermuda Hundred and marched north towards Richmond.

The Confederate defenses guarding the southern approach to Richmond consisted of Charles Field's five-brigade division, a brigade of Tennessee troops, artillery, and a cavalry brigade. Terry's men approached Deep Bottom early morning on the 14th and began to cross over to the northern banks of the James. Hancock's men arrived and had to wait until sufficient wharves could be built for his men to disembark. Grant's plan was for the 2nd Corps to advance to the east along Bailey's creek while the 10th Corps pushed west towards New Market Heights. By daylight, Terry's 10th Corps started their advance to the west pushing the Confederate resistance back to their entrenchments.

~ DETAILS OF THE SCENARIO ~

	Summary of Deep Bottom II	The National Park system's summary of the battle at Deep Bottom II.
	Details of Deep Bottom II	A detailed description of the actions leading up to, and during the Deep Bottom II events.
	The Seventh Conn. Vols.	The Dyer's Compendium entry for the Seventh Connecticut Regiment Infantry Vols.
	Official Records of Deep Bottom II	The Official Records reports concerning the Deep Bottom actions Aug. 13-20, 1864, before, during, and after the battle.

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